OHL Weekend Notebook: Jan. 2, 2023
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Colts keep cruising, adding more points in the standings
The Barrie Colts are among the hottest teams in the OHL, stringing together a 10-game point streak that continued on Saturday in a lopsided 8-0 win over the Guelph Storm to close out 2022. The overage duo of Evan Vierling and Ethan Cardwell each had two goals and two assists in Saturday’s win as they lead Barrie in scoring with 43 and 41 points respectively. Another Colts overager, forward Declan McDonnell, has picked up the pace offensively after a slow start, recording 11 points in his last eight outings. 2023 NHL Draft prospect Beau Akey, who was named to the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game set to take place this month in Langley, BC, was the overtime hero in Friday’s 5-4 win over the Owen Sound Attack. The Colts, who have required six of their last 10 matchups to extend beyond regulation time, have crept up the Eastern Conference standings to third, owning a record of 17-9-4-2.
The @OHLBarrieColts veterans were on fire tonight 🔥
OA forwards @EthanCardwell2 and @evan_vierling each had 2️⃣ goals and 2️⃣ assists tonight as the Colts shutout the Storm 🎥 pic.twitter.com/V9yjVcqnyh
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 1, 2023
Petes big line tears up the scoresheet
The Peterborough Petes were scoring at will to ring in the new year, racking up 17 goals over three victories, and the big line of Connor Lockhart, Tucker Robertson and J.R. Avon had a lot to do with that. The veteran trio combined for 27 points as the Petes, who are missing Brennan Othmann at the World Juniors competing for Canada, extended their winning streak to five. In goal, Michael Simpson was lights-out, stopping 73 of the 75 shots that came his way in a pair of wins while Liam Sztuska picked up the win in Kitchener on Friday, making 33 saves.
Hey @Canucks fans: here's a Connor Lockhart hat-trick for your viewing pleasure 😎🍿@C_lockhart73 scores three-straight second-period goals and the @PetesOHLhockey are cruising in Oshawa 🎥 pic.twitter.com/3JwVYQaG2M
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 1, 2023
Knights stretch winning streak to six
The London Knights have won 18 of their last 20 contests, continuing their success over the weekend with back-to-back wins in their first two meetings of the season against the 402 rival Sarnia Sting. London’s winning streak has extended to six games, a trend dating back to December 9th prior to the tragic loss of forward Abakar Kazbekov, who the Knights honoured prior to their game on Wednesday night at home to the Erie Otters. Hometown product George Diaco continues to be a force in green and gold as he’s put up 36 points (14-22–36) in 29 games since joining the Knights in a trade with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Brett Brochu surpassed Tyler Parsons on Wednesday, earning his 76th career win to move into third in all-time Knights victories by a goaltender. He was dynamite again on Saturday, earning first star honours in a 4-1 win over Sarnia.
🗣️ THE LONDON KNIGHTS HAVE WON 18 OF THEIR LAST 20 GAMES 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/wXwGF9eSsv
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) January 1, 2023
67’s rattle off two more wins against Kingston
The Ottawa 67’s are still kings of the OHL standings, adding two more victories last week to give them an overall record of 26-6-0-1. Ottawa’s last three wins have all come against Kingston, who they will play once again at home on January 11th. Rookie defenceman Henry Mews scored twice in Friday afternoon’s 5-1 win at home before Collin MacKenzie shut the door for his first OHL shutout on Sunday in the Limestone City. The 67’s continue to run the League’s top power play at 25.9 percent. Their penalty kill sits second behind North Bay, operating at 84.7 percent.
We had a season-high 5,898 fans in the building yesterday to cap of 2022 with a bang 💥
See you all at The Arena at @TD_Place in 2023 🎉 pic.twitter.com/PCe1nCw09N
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) December 31, 2022
Spirit score consecutive wins over Flint, stay on top in West
The Western Conference-leading Saginaw Spirit took a 4-1 lead in the I-75 Divide Cup, picking up two more wins over the Flint Firebirds to close out 2022. Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov was a game-changer once again, collecting eight points (1-7–8) including an overtime winner as the Spirit improved to 23-9-2-0, defeating Sault Ste. Marie before doubling-up Flint. Rookie sensation Michael Misa was also on the scoresheet frequently, with five points (2-3–5) in the three victories. Mid-season acquisition Hunter Haight has been an asset in Saginaw since coming over from the Barrie Colts, recording 18 points (7-11–18) over 10 games. Also worth keeping an eye on, rookie defender Zayne Parekh keeps the points coming, with his 11 goals the most among all OHL freshman blueliners.
"PAVEL MINTYUKOV, OVERTIME WINNER" 🗣️🗣️
The @AnaheimDucks first-round pick teams up with 15-year-old Michael Misa to put the icing on the cake of an "instant classic" for the @SpiritHockey 🎥@MilkUPOntario | #MilkUPxOHL pic.twitter.com/Q5wT22YLSV
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 30, 2022
Spitfires close out 2022 with pair of one-goal victories
The reigning Western Conference champion Windsor Spitfires are in the conversation again trailing first place Saginaw by two points in the West Division following victories over Guelph and Kitchener this past weekend. Noah Morneau scored the game winner with 4:25 remaining in Guelph on Friday as netminder Joey Costanzo earned first star honours with 33 saves. Saturday’s New Year’s Eve win came in front of a 6,251 at the WFCU Centre as Alex Christopoulos scored his 24th of the season in overtime to complete a 5-4 triumph over the Kitchener Rangers. Captain Matthew Maggio extended his current point streak to 11 games. Rookie forward Liam Greentree had a goal and an assist, wrapping up an impressive month of December that saw him collect 12 of his 16 points this season.
Listen to those @SpitsHockey fans roar! 🗣️👂
Alex Christopoulos (@alex_christo25) wins it in overtime and the sell-out crowd at the WFCU Centre goes nuts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dm7cNA68xj
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 31, 2022
Morrison inches up OHL scoring race as Bulldogs end 2022 on high note
The defending OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs closed out a memorable 2022 calendar year collecting five of a possible six points last week. Captain Logan Morrison is within three points of OHL scoring leader Ty Voit of the Sarnia Sting, picking up six in the last two games. Morrison capped the weekend with four points (1-3–4) in Hamilton’s 5-3 road win over Mississauga on Saturday. Fellow overage teammate Avery Hayes scored a pair of goals last week. He’s tied with Windsor’s Matthew Maggio for the OHL goal-scoring lead with 26. Hamilton sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, two points back of Kingston with a 15-13-4-0 record.
#OHL Performer of the Night ⭐️@BulldogsOHL captain @LoganMorrison02 led his team to a 5-3 win in Mississauga with a four-point performance pic.twitter.com/jXvB5H0ApY
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 1, 2023
Hardie closing in on Steelheads history
Overage veteran James Hardie is within reach of a pair of significant Mississauga Steelheads franchise records. The Innisfil, Ont. native is two goals shy of Owen Tippett‘s mark of 114 in a Steelheads uniform from 2015-19, and six points back of Michael McLeod‘s record of 207 set from 2014-18. Hardie, who has attended some NHL camps while remaining without a pro contract, leads the Trout with 22 goals on the campaign. His 39 points (22-17–39) in 32 games are the second-most on the team.
Keep an eye out, James Hardie's 22nd goal of the year puts him 2 goals away from the franchise record 👀 #MadeofSteel
🚨: Hardie pic.twitter.com/RlGY9QSHSC
— Mississauga Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) December 31, 2022
Wolves leapfrog Generals with pair of weekend victories
The Sudbury Wolves came up with four points over the weekend, getting past Central Division-leading North Bay in the third period on Friday before Nick DeGrazia led the way with a hat trick in a 7-5 road win over Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday. The Wolves were without head coach Derek MacKenzie, who was serving a two-game suspension, but they got the job done in his absence to jump ahead of the Oshawa Generals into the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Landon McCallum enjoyed a productive pair of games, scoring the game winner on Friday before racking up four assists on Saturday. The Wolves meet the Generals at home on Friday with two big points on the line.
DeGrazia's first OHL hat-trick led the @Sudbury_Wolves to a win in Sault St. Marie 🐺@DegraziaNick opened the scoring and netted the game-winner before adding an empty-netter to cap off the night 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/2CW98P1zpy
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 31, 2022
Hounds, Storm knotted for final playoff spot in Western Conference
The Soo Greyhounds and Guelph Storm both had forgettable finishes to 2022 as they sit tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Hounds lost three straight and surrendered 17 goals in the process, letting a lead slip away on Thursday night in Saginaw before dropping a 7-5 decision to the Sudbury Wolves at home on Saturday. Guelph defeated Windsor on the road Wednesday night before dropping a 3-2 decision to the Spitfires at home on Friday. They came out flat on Saturday in Barrie, falling 8-0 to the Colts. The Storm are without 2023 NHL Draft prospect Cam Allen on the blue line for 2-4 weeks after he suffered a minor shoulder dislocation. The Erie Otters are the other team outside of the Western Conference playoff picture as they sit three points back of Sault Ste. Marie and Guelph. The Otters have a pair of intriguing new additions in draft eligible Slovakian forward Ondrej Molnar and new addition Pano Fimis, who was acquired from the Niagara IceDogs on New Year’s Day.
2023 #NHLDraft prospect Ondrej Molnar rips home a rocket for his first career #OHL goal, bringing the @ErieOtters to within one 🎥 pic.twitter.com/iLi7lZYVMK
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 31, 2022
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