U SPORTS Report: Feb. 21, 2024
A total of 228 OHL alumni are playing in the U SPORTS men’s hockey ranks this season. Throughout the year the U SPORTS Report will keep tabs on former OHL names doing great things in the OUA, AUS and Canada West ranks on the road to the 2024 U SPORTS University Cup to be held from March 14-17 in Toronto, Ont.
U SPORTS PLAYOFFS BEGIN
The U SPORTS men’s hockey playoffs kicked off last week, with OHL alumni going head-to-head in quarterfinal action.
The Laurier Golden Hawks faced off against the University of Toronto, defeating the Varsity Blues 7-4 on Wednesday as Patrick Brown (North Bay Battalion), Sam Rhodes (Barrie Colts), and Callum Chisholm (Barrie Colts) each contributed a pair of assists to the win. The Golden Hawks closed out the series with a 5-3 victory on Saturday with a winning contribution from Hamilton Bulldogs graduate Conor Ali. Laurier will take on the TMU Bold in OUA West Quarter-Final action.
The Ottawa Gee-Gees bested the UOIT Ridgebacks, the Windsor Lancers advanced in two games with wins over Lakehead while the Queen’s Gaels were upended by the Concordia Stingers in two games.
OUA quarterfinals 🔜@LaurierHockey host game 2⃣ of its second round series against @tmubold on Friday night and tickets are on sale now!
🎟️ https://t.co/jhps0emLaW#SoarAbove · #BannerSeason pic.twitter.com/tmuDFlmxnf
— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) February 20, 2024
The StfX X-Men move on to the AUS Semi-Final, besting the Acadia Axemen in a pair of triple-overtime matchups. Former Barrie Colts forward Josh Nelson was Wednesday’s overtime hero, building off Owen Sound Attack graduates Matthew Struthers and Matthew Philip‘s two-point performances. Punching their ticket to the next round of the playoffs, The X-Men secured a 3-2 win as former London Knights netminder Joseph Raaymakers backstopped the X-Men to victory, blocking 61 of the 63 shots that came his way.
The Saint Mary’s Huskies are also into the second round following back-to-back wins over the UPEI Panthers. Kitchener Rangers graduate Reid Valade scored the OT winner 30 seconds into the extra frame of Game 2 on Saturday.
ON TO THE NEXT! 🧹#goxgo pic.twitter.com/hNifIOl3kU
— X-Men Hockey (@XMenhockey) February 18, 2024
OHL ALUMNI SHINE AT AUS AWARDS
The AUS Men’s Hockey Most Valuable Player for the 2023-24 season is former Ottawa 67’s forward Austen Keating of the UNB Reds. The UNB forward topped the AUS and finished second in U SPORTS in points this season, recording an impressive 50 points (23-27-50) in 30 regular season games played. His +47 plus/minus rating was best among all U SPORTS skaters. In addition to being selected as the AUS MVP, Keating has also been named an AUS First-Team All-Star for the second time – his first coming in 2021-22. He now becomes the AUS nominee for the for the U SPORTS Senator Joseph A. Sullivan trophy as the nation’s top player.
Congrats to Austen Keating on being named MVP of the AUS‼️ pic.twitter.com/ZqhsQkCpbn
— UNB Men’s Hockey (@UNBMHockey) February 16, 2024
In his fourth season with the UNB Reds, Saginaw Spirit alumnus Brady Gilmour has been chosen as the 2023-24 AUS Men’s Hockey Most Sportsmanlike Player and recipient of the Don Wells Trophy. Gilmour finished fourth in AUS scoring this past season, recording 41 points (12-29-41) in 30 games.
Congratulations to Brady Gilmour on being named Most Sportsmanlike Player in the AUS‼️ pic.twitter.com/YRHGsvsE8M
— UNB Men’s Hockey (@UNBMHockey) February 16, 2024
Gilmour, Keating, and Owen Sound Attack graduate Matthew Struthers of the StFX X-Men were each named to the AUS First Team All-Star squad, while former Hamilton Bulldogs blueliner Kade Landry and Owen Sound Attack alumnus Kaleb Pearson earned spots on the Second Team.
New OHL grads also took centre stage as Mississauga Steelheads graduate Charlie Callaghan of StFX and former London Knights forward Sean McGurn of UNB were each named to the AUS All-Rookie Team.
AUS Men's Hockey All-Rookie Team pic.twitter.com/VAKLPmUST5
— Atlantic University Sport (@AUS_SUA) February 16, 2024
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