OHL This Week: April 14 to 17, 2022

 

It’s another busy week in the Ontario Hockey League, the final week of the 2021-22 regular season. The playoffs are right around the corner – here’s a look at how things are shaping up across the League:

Ontario Hockey Federation Announces Exceptional Player Status for Michael Misa:
2022 OHL Cup champion and MVP Michael Misa of the Mississauga Senators has been granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada, making him eligible for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Read more | Media Availability

2022 OHL Playoff Tracker:
An updated look at clinching scenarios and where things stand entering the final week of the 2021-22 regular season. Read more

2022 U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario underway in Oakville:
The 2022 U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario and hosted by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association is underway at Joshua’s Creek Arena in Oakville, Ont. Read more | Photo Gallery

Bulldogs, Spitfires, Battalion included in Week 24 Edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Hamilton Bulldogs, Windsor Spitfires and North Bay Battalion are included in the Week 24 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more

Three OHL players named to CHL Team for the Week for Apr. 4-10:
Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Jack Thompson of the Soo Greyhounds, Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes and LA Kings prospect Martin Chromiak of the Kingston Frontenacs has been named to the CHL Team of the Week. Read more

Frontenacs’ Chromiak named OHL Player of the Week:
Los Angeles Kings prospect Martin Chromiak of the Kingston Frontenacs is the OHL Player of the Week, leading all players with six goals along with four assists for 10 points. Read more

Petes’ Michael Simpson named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a perfect 3-0 record with a 1.32 goals-against average, .954 save percentage and one shutout. Read more

Bulldogs Claim Hamilton Spectator Trophy as Regular Season Champions:
The Hamilton Bulldogs defeated the Ottawa 67’s 6-0 on Friday in the nation’s capital, effectively securing first place in the OHL regular season standings. Read more

London Knights secure third straight Midwest Division crown:
The London Knights managed to lock-in their spot in the Western Conference standings, securing their third straight Midwest Division title. Read more

Battalion claim Central Division Title:
The North Bay Battalion have returned to the top of the Central Division for the first time since 2014, claiming the Emms Trophy as Division champions. Read more

Spitfires are 2022 West Division Champions:
The Windsor Spitfires stretched their winning streak to 13 as they clinched the West Division title for the first time since 2010. Read more

OHL Weekend Notebook:
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Read more

One first goal and a shutout in OHL Milestone Moments:
Witness a first goal from Erie’s Artyom Kulakov along with a first shutout for Peterborough’s Michael Simpson. Watch

OHL Plays of the Week:
Press play and see highlight reel stuff from Kingston’s Martin Chromiak and Shane Wright, Peterborough’s J.R. Avon, Erie’s Elias Cohen, and Windsor’s Oliver Peer. Watch

Rolling back the OHL Saves of the Week:
With the season winding down, we look to the League’s top saves including contributions from Saginaw’s Brett Fullerton, Peterborough’s Michael Simpson, Sudbury’s Mitchell Weeks, Barrie’s Matteo Lalama, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, Sarnia’s Ben Gaudreau, and Kingston’s Aidan Spooner. Watch

Rangers’ Pinelli signs with Kings:
The LA Kings have signed Kitchener Rangers forward Francesco Pinelli to a three-year entry-level contract. Read more

Generals’ Paputsakis commits to Acadia:
Oshawa Generals’ goaltender Zachary Paputsakis has committed to the Acadia University Axemen for this upcoming fall. Read more

OHL Mourns the loss of John Humphreys
The Ontario Hockey League is mourning the loss of former long-time Oshawa Generals President and Governor John Humphreys who passed away on Wednesday. Read more

OHL Mourns the loss of Garrett Burnett
The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by news of the loss of former Soo Greyhounds and Kitchener Rangers player Garrett Burnett who passed away this week at the age of 46. Read more

 

COMMUNITY CORNER

Greyhounds’ MacKay nominated for Dayna Brons Honorary Award: Soo Greyhounds overage forward Cole MacKay has been nominated for the Dayna Brons Honorary Award. MacKay’s level of commitment to Canada’s Lifeline has inspired others to follow his lead. As a blood donor, stem cell registrant and registered organ and tissue donor, MacKay is a true leader. The Dayna Brons Honourary Award is presented in honour of Dayna Brons, the former athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos hockey club who tragically passed away on April 11, 2018. Dayna was known for her humility, dedication and kindness and as a regular blood donor she made a meaningful impact in her community.

Attack’s Woolley donates $25,000 to Diabetes Canada:
Owen Sound Attack captain Mark Woolley made a $25,000 donation to Diabates Canada through his Woolley’s Warriors initiative in advance of Wednesday night’s game. The 2022 donation brings the total raised by Woolley’s Warriors to over $65,000 since launching in September 2019. For more information visit woolleyswarriors.com

Petes raise over $76,000 in 13th Annual Petes Pink in the Rink Campaign: The Peterborough Petes and the Petes Pink in the Rink committee are thrilled to announce that a total of $76,952.18 was raised during the 13th annual Petes Pink in the Rink game in front of a season-high 3,228 fans. Read more

Firebirds Fight Hunger: The Flint Firebirds have partnered with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan as they host a Fight Hunger game on Friday. The Firebirds ask that all fans bring five nonperishable food items to receive a free ticket to the game. Donations can also be made at the box office.

 

ALUMNI NOTES

Neal helps the Thunderbirds on their push to the Calder Cup: James Neal returned to the AHL from the St. Louis Blues as he played his first three-in-three weekend in nearly 14 years. Receiving Neal from St. Louis brought a player with 559 points (296 goals, 263 assists) in 869 NHL games into the Springfield Thunderbirds lineup. Read more

Bahl scores his first NHL goal: Ottawa 67’s alumni Kevin Bahl scored his first National Hockey League career goal on Wednesday for the New Jersey Devils. Bahl played 65 games in the OHL and was selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes.

First pro goal for Mattinen: Nicolas Mattinen scored his first professional hockey goal on Monday for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League. Mattinen spent five years in the OHL, skating for the London Knights, Hamilton Bulldogs, Flint Firebirds and Oshawa Generals.

Garreffa named ECHL Player of the Week: Joe Garreffa of the Tulsa Oilers was named the ECHL Player of the Week. Garreffa scored four goals and added three assists and was a +5 in two games last week. Prior to turning pro, Garreffa recorded 315 points (108g-207a) in 297 career games in the Ontario Hockey League with Kitchener and Ottawa. Read more

Kohn rewarded Lancers’ Male Athlete of the Year: Mason Kohn was reward the Unviersity of Windsor Lancers’ Male Athlete of the Year Award. Kohn played in the OHL from 2013-2018 for the Kitchener Rangers, Oshawa Generals and Saginaw Spirit.

Knights add six to Don Brankley London Knights Hall of Fame
Danny Syvret, Tom Kostopoulos, Dave Simpson and  Pat Riggin were honoured pre-game on Wednesday while Darryl Edestrand and former head coach Bill Long were remembered posthumously. Watch

 

KEY MATCHUPS

Windsor Spitfires at Erie Otters
Friday April 15th – 7:00pm

The Windsor Spitfires have first place locked up, but the Erie Otters are fighting for their playoff lives. Trailing the Sarnia Sting by a point in the Western Conference standings, the Otters need to catch a break, but also help themselves if they wish to return to the postseason for the first time since hoisting the OHL championship in 2017.

Saginaw Spirit at Sarnia Sting
Friday April 15th – 7:05pm

The Sarnia Sting are in control of their own destiny, leading the Erie Otters by one point for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. On Friday they’ll host an opponent that always gives them a handful in the Saginaw Spirit who, despite being out of playoff contention, will certainly take pleasure in playing the spoiler. If the Sting keep winning, the last playoff spot is theirs but it won’t be easy on the final weekend of the season.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Thursday April 14:
Oshawa at North Bay – 7:00pm
Hamilton at Barrie – 7:30pm

Friday April 15:
Sault Ste. Marie at Flint – 7:00pm
Kingston at Ottawa – 7:00pm
Niagara at Hamilton – 7:00pm
Windsor at Erie – 7:00pm
North Bay at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Kitchener at Guelph – 7:30pm
Mississauga at Oshawa – 7:35pm

Saturday April 16:
Ottawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
Barrie at Niagara– 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Flint– 7:00pm
Windsor at Guelph – 7:00pm
London at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Kitchener at Owen Sound– 7:30pm

Sunday April 17:
Hamilton at Erie – 2:00pm
North Bay at Oshawa – 2:05pm
Kingston at Peterborough – 3:05pm
Sarnia at London– 4:00pm