CHL Weekend Review: A golden start to 2020
It’s 2020 and as the calendar changes to a new year we’re already a week into the Canadian Hockey League’s second half schedule!
Here’s a look at some of the decade’s first action on and off the ice.
Gold Medal Celebration
Canada’s National Junior Team are 2020 IIHF World Junior champions following a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory on Sunday over Russia with Niagara IceDogs captain Akil Thomas scoring the golden goal late in the third period.
The CHL stars celebrated their title with song and dance, received a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and received a hero’s welcome upon their return home.
Sing it loud and sing it proud. 🇨🇦
Canada, this is for you! 🍁🏆pic.twitter.com/ZJ9poCPeLW
— #WorldJuniors (@WorldJuniors) January 5, 2020
Heyyyy baby baby! @HC_WJC 🇨🇦🥇 #WorldJuniors #Champions pic.twitter.com/RDg2GHCsra
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2020
Next up: World Karaoke Champions 🎤 pic.twitter.com/Mautf8uqN4
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) January 6, 2020
What a game. What a tournament! Congrats boys. #WorldJuniors
🏆🇨🇦
Quelle partie! Quel tournoi! Félicitations, les gars. #MondialJunior https://t.co/L9Ut8tf3Ue— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 5, 2020
Welcome home, @AkilThomas2 🇨🇦 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oz2llPtbUS
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) January 6, 2020
Celebrating in the Nation’s Capital
While the World Junior win was celebrated by Canadians from coast-to-coast, there’s no better place to cheer than at the rink! That’s exactly what happened at the Ottawa 67’s game where fans enjoyed the game’s final minutes on the big screen.
When intermission lines up with the last 5 minutes of the #WorldJuniors finals.🇨🇦
| @HC_WJC pic.twitter.com/80tFbVBdFe
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) January 5, 2020
World Juniors wasn’t the only thing to celebrate in Ottawa either as the club hosted their annual Teddy Bear Toss. A little late due to a pre-Christmas game postponement however fans still found plenty of fur to fire to the ice in support of local families and children in need.
🐻📸#OTTvsER | @VWutti pic.twitter.com/zUpT3lt5IF
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) January 5, 2020
On the ice, the 67’s extended their franchise record winning-streak to 16 games with a 5-0 shutout over the Erie Otters.
Road Trip Bonding
The schedule aligned perfectly for the Otters to take advantage of a Senators game while in Ottawa for their season’s single trip to Canada’s capital. Even better, the team was able to cheer on some Erie alumni on both sides of the ice.
A little team bonding on the road catching #OttersAlumni Connor Brown, Anthony Cirelli, and Erik Cernak in action in Ottawa with @TBLightning vs @Senators! pic.twitter.com/uTeuEUqrFn
— Erie Otters 🦦 (@ErieOtters) January 5, 2020
Much like the Otters, the Everett Silvertips enjoyed an Edmonton Oilers game as part their Eastern Conference road swing and made it the highlight of their New Year’s Eve celebration.
Hey! We spent the last night of the decade at the @EdmontonOilers vs @NYRangers game, a thread:
» Hello, Great One. #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/7tMYN3hMam
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) January 1, 2020
Happy New Year
Several CHL teams celebrated New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with their fans. In addition to having holiday games, the North Bay Battalion, Niagara IceDogs, Portland Winterhawks, and Saskatoon Blades all took part in some fun for the family.
Closing 2019 with some fun 📸⛸️🐶
The boys took a stop by the Families First #NewYearsEve Celebrations at the Gardens following a win on home ice! pic.twitter.com/MEEZ9iwsfz
— North Bay Battalion (@OHLBattalion) January 1, 2020
How did you end 2019?
Playing around with @ivan_lodnia on home ice 😜 pic.twitter.com/wNbsEVsVMZ
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) January 2, 2020
🥳 NYE SKATE 🥳 pic.twitter.com/n8IsExyXAP
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) January 1, 2020
Check out all the snaps from yesterday's @mosaicincanada Family Skate Day 📸
FULL GALLERY » https://t.co/Ce1jT6ROAE#BladeCity pic.twitter.com/QuTcBlv6pW
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) January 2, 2020
New Jerseys for the New Year
Fans will see a different look of their favourite teams now that the season’s second half is underway. QMJHL and WHL clubs now where white at home while OHL teams have gone to their darks.
Fidèle à la tradition, on portera le chandail blanc à la maison pour la dernière portion du calendrier! 🔄 #gameday pic.twitter.com/HZIqpn89qX
— Cataractes de Shawinigan (@Cataractes_Shaw) January 3, 2020
Rockin’ the red! pic.twitter.com/MzTp6GBaef
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) January 1, 2020
Pearl whites.⚪️⚪️⚪️#LetsGoTips pic.twitter.com/g59w9IQ6NO
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) December 27, 2019
First Goal of the Decade
The honour of 2020’s first goal belongs to Ottawa 67’s overage forward Joseph Garreffa who opened the scoring during afternoon action in Oshawa on January 1.
The first goal of 2020 belongs to Joey G!
@russianhunter28 finds a wide open Joseph Garreffa as the @Ottawa67sHockey take an early lead on New Year’s Day. pic.twitter.com/x8qtqQqFBH
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 1, 2020
Pre-Game Ceremonies
The Kitchener Rangers and their fans helped welcome 34 new Canadians following a citizenship ceremony held in venue. The group was on the ice for anthems and stayed for the game to see their hosts win 4-2 over the Saginaw Spirit.
🎤 Cara McLaughlin did a great job singing tonight's 🇨🇦 and 🇺🇸 anthems with 34 new Canadian citizens by her side!#RTown #OHL #Kitchener pic.twitter.com/JS4fm8UHrZ
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) January 4, 2020
An even larger pre-game ceremony was held in Peterborough recognizing over 150 members of the Petes minor hockey community.
Small pre-game ceremony last night.
So proud to recognize over 150 @AAAMinorPetes athletes before Thursday's sold out crowd, with PMHC alumnus @Avonjr_1010 getting a crack at the ceremonial faceoff.#GoPetesGo #ptbo pic.twitter.com/VRcOHOYSsu
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 3, 2020
Broncos Saved By The Bell
While retro nights are becoming a popular theme game across the CHL, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better promo video than this one produced by the Swift Current Broncos who pay tribute to the 90’s classic television show Saved By The Bell.
Retro Night Friday. Retro tunes, retro items in The Stable and some retro good times! pic.twitter.com/IGRAuEJOv7
— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) January 1, 2020
Goal of the Year?
It may be early but Evgeniy Oksentyuk of the Flint Firebirds will undoubtedly be seen on the 2020 highlight reels with his lacrosse style ‘Svechnikov’ goal…..and cheeky celebration.
"The Svechy" makes an @OHLHockey appearance. 👀 Perfectly executed by @ev_oksentyuk of the @FlintFirebirds. 🔥pic.twitter.com/0E7eDRLJLb
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 5, 2020
Welcome Back BO
Just days after joining the Moncton Wildcats by trade, former Halifax Mooseheads star Benoit-Olivier Groulx returned to the place he spent more than three seasons since being selected first overall in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft. Moose Country gave their former captain a warm welcome and touching tribute.
Just.Plain.Weird @BO_groulx57 pic.twitter.com/hjkXAXpI9T
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) January 3, 2020
We just shared a great moment in Moose Country with @BO_groulx57. Thanks for everything BO. pic.twitter.com/YuBC8APZIB
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) January 3, 2020
BO Groulx saluted the fans of Moose Country after a standing ovation last night during his tribute video. pic.twitter.com/WHKQ4MuIvB
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) January 4, 2020
Pleasant Surprise for Storm
20-year-old Los Angeles Kings prospect Markus Phillips has been reassigned to the Guelph Storm. Signed to an entry-level contract during last season’s championship run, the defenceman was splitting time this year between the AHL’s Ontario Reign and the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets.
ROSTER MOVE – The @LAKings have assigned defenseman Markus Phillips to @Storm_City (OHL).
📝 – https://t.co/HjR3kWQkiU pic.twitter.com/7vr5dRkfAf
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) January 1, 2020
Next Pro Step for Prosvetov
Just months after helping the Saginaw Spirit claim the OHL’s West Division title, goaltender Ivan Prosvetov has been called up by the Arizona Coyotes. Signed to an entry-level deal in July, the 20-year-old has won 11 of his 15 games between-the-pipes for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners.
OFFICIAL — #Yotes Recall Prosvetov from @RoadrunnersAHL:https://t.co/kK5bkQRVQq
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) January 5, 2020
New Americans Captain
The Tri-City Americans have announced Krystof Hrabik as the team’s new captain following the departure of Kyle Olson to trade. The 20-year-old Hrabik, a native of the Czech Republic, is playing in his second WHL season and has 20 points through 31 games.
The Americans have named Krystof Hrabik as the new team captain.
Congrats, Krystof!
📰 → https://t.co/epomZqDy9j
📸 → Donovan MacGowan pic.twitter.com/mGshIjt4pq— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) January 6, 2020
Warriors Make Changes
The Moose Jaw Warriors announced on Monday that associate coach Mark O’Leary, a member of the organization since 2012-13, will take over the head coaching duties in place of Tim Hunter who was in the midst of his sixth season as bench boss.
PRESS CONFERENCE: Mark O’Leary has been named the new Head Coach of the Moose Jaw Warriorshttps://t.co/nBhUnOMZs7
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) January 6, 2020
Sweet 16 for Shane
The CHL’s youngest full-time player, Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs, celebrated his 16th birthday on Sunday. The 2004-born exceptional star will be eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
Happy Birthday @shane_wright51 ! You no longer have to hear "at just 15 years old…"
Good luck with the drivers test!#WeRiseTogether pic.twitter.com/p8Fxe0XB5S
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) January 5, 2020
