The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Spitfires take down Spirit, Knights
The Windsor Spitfires made a statement last week, collecting six points against the Saginaw Spirit and London Knights to climb into top spot in the Western Conference. Shane Wright joined the squad to collect six points (4-2–6) in his first three games as the Spits defeated Saginaw 7-4 at home on Thursday, 5-3 on the road on Saturday and got the better of the London Knights 4-1 at Budweiser Gardens on Sunday afternoon. Boston Bruins prospect Brett Harrison stayed hot with seven points last week, giving him 10 (5-5–10) in six games with Windsor. Sophomore goaltender Joey Costanzo went 3-0, extending his winning streak to nine games while newly added blueliner Rodwin Dionicio chipped in with seven assists. Overage captain and New York Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio enters this week with the OHL lead in goals, lighting the lamp 30 times this season.
✅ First to 30 in the #OHL
✅ Sunday afternoon victory
✅ Holding on to 1st in the West@NYIslanders prospect Matthew Maggio became the first in the OHL to score 30 goals, helping the @SpitsHockey secure a huge road win in London to hold onto first in the Western Conference 🎥 pic.twitter.com/BStjWF0940— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 15, 2023
New look Bulldogs find success on the road
The Hamilton Bulldogs hit the road over the weekend with a new group in tow following the OHL trade deadline. Recent additions Nick Lardis, Ben Bujold and Cedricson Okitundu helped Hamilton take four points with victories in Ottawa over the first place 67’s as well as the Kingston Frontenacs. Matteo Drobac stopped 75 of the 79 shots. that came his way to earn OHL Goaltender of the Week honours, helping the Bulldogs keep pace in the Eastern Conference as they’re tied for the sixth spot with a record of 17-18-4-0. Lardis, who will play in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, has been especially impressive, scoring five goals in as many games since joining Hamilton from the Peterborough Petes. Hamilton product Patrick Thomas has climbed into the Bulldogs’ scoring lead with 31 points (12-19–31) in 39 games. Fourth round 2022 OHL Priority Selection choice David Egorov made his OHL debut on Wednesday against the Guelph Storm.
.@NickLardis91 stays hot 🌶️
Fresh off a three-point performance against the 67’s, the @BulldogsOHL forward stuffs in his 16th of the season 🎥 pic.twitter.com/PlVxhmvuyR
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 15, 2023
Attack gain ground in Western Conference
After going nine games without a regulation win throughout most of December, the Owen Sound Attack appear to be back in business, winning three straight last week. Led by Cogeco OHL Player of the Week Colby Barlow, the Bears defeated Niagara, Erie and Guelph to climb to leap-frog Sarnia into fourth place with a record of 21-14-3-1. Montreal Canadiens prospect Cedrick Guindon (2-5–7) joined Barlow (4-3–7) with seven points while veteran winger Ethan Burroughs got involved offensively, scoring twice in Niagara before netting the overtime game winner on Saturday night in Erie. The Attack return to action on Tuesday at home to the Barrie Colts.
Scoring in three straight @AttackOHL victories while putting up a total of seven points, 2023 #NHLDraft prospect Colby Barlow is the @cogeco #OHL Player of the Week.
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 16, 2023
Colts cruise to three straight wins
The Barrie Colts had LA Kings prospect Brandt Clarke back in their lineup and the 19-year-old defenceman didn’t disappoint, recording six points (2-4–6) in a trio of victories (vs. Flint, Sault Ste. Marie and Mississauga) as Barrie held down third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-10-4-2. Evan Vierling, Beau Jelsma and Jacob Frasca each had four points on the week as the Colts scored by committee in front of more great goaltending from Anson Thornton and Ben West. Newcomer Braden Haché scored his second goal of the season and was a plus-5 through his first three games with Barrie, playing on a pairing with Clarke. Recent addition Tyler Savard also scored his first as a Colt.
Brandt Clarke has his first two of the season for the @OHLBarrieColts! 🚨
The @LAKings prospect has two of 6⃣ goals in the opening 🔟 minutes between the Colts and Steelheads in an offensive explosion to kickstart Sunday afternoon 🎥 pic.twitter.com/wP7dr2lScP
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 15, 2023
Battalion extend winning streak to six
The North Bay Battalion remain kings of the Central Division, extending their winning streak to six games with a trio of wins last week. Kyle McDonald scored the shootout winner in a 2-1 road win over Sudbury on Wednesday before the boys in green logged back-to-back seven-goal performances in wins over Sault Ste. Marie and Flint at home on Thursday and Sunday. McDonald headlined the effort with five goals and an assist in the three wins while Seattle Kraken prospect Ty Nelson finished the week with four goals and an assist, reaching 100 points on his OHL career. Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis built on his League-best numbers, coming away with a record of 22-6 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. The Battalion have won nine straight games at home, scoring seven goals in six of their last seven games at the Gardens.
It’s Kyle McDonald bringing down the hats at home in another @OHLBattalion victory! 🎩🎩🎩
The overager records the second hat trick of his #OHL career helping the Troops secure a sixth straight win and their ninth straight at home! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/f9aqiwAniB
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 15, 2023
Generals stay in playoff hunt with pair of victories
The Oshawa Generals took centre stage on Friday night in Kitchener, defeating the Rangers 5-2 before a crowd of over 7,000 at The Aud while fans from coast-to-coast tuned into the first CHL on TSN broadcast of the season. 2023 NHL Draft prospect Calum Ritchie stepped up in a big moment, picking up first star recognition with two goals and an assist. Overage forward Ryan Gagnier followed up Friday’s three-point showing in Kitchener with another three on Saturday in Erie, scoring twice while adding an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Otters. Jacob Oster made 26 saves for his first win as a General on Saturday as Oshawa extended its winning streak to three, remaining within one point of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Calum Ritchie was dialled in before a national audience on @TSN_Sports 🚨🚨
2023 #NHLDraft prospect potted a pair of goals as the @Oshawa_Generals took two points in Kitchener 🎥 pic.twitter.com/skNkwuWed1
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 14, 2023
Rangers return to win column
The Kitchener Rangers dug their way out of a seven-game slide on Sunday night in Saginaw, closing out the weekend with a 4-3 victory thanks to two goals from Reid Valade. Kitchener fell 5-2 to the Oshawa Generals before a national audience on TSN as veteran forwards Francesco Pinelli and Mitchell Martin both returned to the lineup. Marcus Vandenberg took over between the pipes on Sunday in Saginaw, making 34 saves while 2023 NHL Draft prospect Hunter Brzustewicz logged two assists in his home state of Michigan. The 16-18-2-0 Rangers have their work cut out for them this week, taking on London and Ottawa at home before making visits to Sarnia and London next weekend.
A pair of first period Reid Valade markers sees the @OHLRangers up 2-1 after 20 minutes in Saginaw 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/ldYxeckx2c
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 15, 2023
Bowman keeps the goals coming, Poitras dishing out assists
Guelph Storm forward Braeden Bowman helped the Guelph Storm pick-up four points last week, stretching his current goal-scoring streak to five games. Bowman lit the lamp five times in three outings as Guelph defeated Hamilton and London before falling short against Owen Sound. The 19-year-old from Kitchener who missed the entire month of November due to injury has 15 goals in 27 games, following up a 27-goal campaign last season. While Bowman tickles the twine, Boston Bruins prospect Matthew Poitras is riding a five-game assist streak, collecting six in three games last week. New addition Patrick Leaver got off to a strong start in the Guelph crease, going 2-0, stopping 51 of 54 shots against Hamilton and London. The Storm sit seventh in the Western Conference with a record of 17-19-4-1, two points back of sixth place Flint.
Bowman is here with last night’s WICKED SHOT of the game sponsored by @dixon_spirits.
Wicked flavoured gins available from Guelph’s own award winning Dixon’s Distilled Spirits. pic.twitter.com/rVjzG1KtWL
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) January 12, 2023
Sting meet their match on the road
The Sarnia Sting started strong on Thursday night in Peterborough as hometown product Nolan Burke scored the game winner in a 4-2 win at the PMC, but the Sting fell short against both Kingston and Ottawa, returning home where they’ll face Erie and Kitchener next weekend. Ethan Del Mastro scored his first goal in a Sting uniform on Friday in Kingston as blueliners Tommy Budnick and Duncan Schneider scored to help the Fronts come back from a 3-2 deficit, taking it by a score of 5-3. Canadian World Junior gold medalist Ben Gaudreau, who started all three games, was solid on Sunday in Ottawa, but the first place 67’s became the League’s first 30-win team thanks to a 30-save shutout from Max Donoso in a 2-0 decision. Sting forward Ty Voit starts this week with a one-point lead on the OHL scoring race, recording 62 points (11-52–62) through 39 games.
MAKE NO MISTAKE!
Ethan Del Mastro gets his first in the black and yellow 🚨#SwarmWarning🐝 pic.twitter.com/GRGvzEEZDv
— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) January 14, 2023
Firebirds have forgettable road trip
The Flint Firebirds surrendered 19 goals in losses in Barrie, Sudbury and North Bay to see their record drop to 19-18-2-1 on the campaign. The best road team in the OHL last season, Flint saw a 4-1 lead evaporate on Friday night in Sudbury as the Wolves scored five third period goals enroute to a 6-4 win. Opponents managed to keep Flint’s big shooters at bay as the ‘Birds get a week of practice under their belt before returning to action on Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie.
Zacharie Giroux scores in front of his hometown crowd 🔥
The Sudbury native and @FlintFirebirds forward finishes off the feed from Ty Deline to notch his 14th goal of the season 📽️ pic.twitter.com/BYBuYgA1bm
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 14, 2023
