Firebirds’ Braeden Kressler named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler of the Flint Firebirds is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording two goals, five assists, and seven points over three contests as the Firebirds moved up to second place in the West Division.
Kressler had a strong showing on Wednesday, registering three helpers to earn second star honours as the Firebirds defeated the Owen Sound Attack 6-3. The 5-foot-9, 170lb. centreman found the scoresheet again on Friday, tallying a goal and an assist as the Firebirds fell to the Erie Otters in a 4-3 shootout loss. Kressler closed out the weekend with another goal and assist on Saturday in a 5-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads. He won 54 percent of his faceoffs last week, and rides a current trend of six consecutive multi-point outings.
A 20-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., Kressler has recorded seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points in 12 games played so far this season. Signed as a free-agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs after an impressive training camp in 2021, Kressler comes off a standout 2022-23 season, tallying 52 points (25-27-52) in 47 appearances with Flint. The overage forward was Flint’s second round (28th overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
Also considered for the award this week, Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf of the Kitchener Rangers scored three times and added four assists in three appearances to boost his OHL scoring lead. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan of the London Knights also had a solid performance last week, tallying a pair of goals and four assists in three games.
2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Braeden Kressler (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Kirill Kudryavtsev (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Jordan D’Intino (Soo Greyhounds)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Jax Dubois (Peterborough Petes)
