The World Juniors come to their dramatic conclusion tonight alongside three games in action across the OHL to kick-off another busy weekend, with playoff races heating up across the League.
Eight OHL players go for gold at the World Juniors:
Eight OHL players will be going for gold on Thursday night at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Six OHL players compete for Canada (Clarke, Del Mastro, Gaudreau, Matier, Othmann, Wright) against two representing Czechia (Hamara, Sapovaliv) when the puck drops at 6:30pm ET on TSN. Read more
Boucher, Oke win World Junior bronze with United States:
Ottawa 67’s forward Tyler Boucher and Saginaw Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke and World Junior bronze medalists as members of Team USA. The Americans slipped by Sweden in an 8-7 overtime thriller in Halifax on Thursday afternoon. The U.S. returns to the podium after not medalling this past summer. They last won bronze in 2018.
OHL Trade Deadline set for Tuesday, January 10:
The 2022-23 OHL Trade Deadline is Tuesday, January 10 at noon. The League’s trade deadline for overage players is Monday, January 9 at noon. Clubs must also reduce the number of overage players on their active rosters to three. OHL Media Notes
Rangers, Generals on TSN next Friday:
The first CHL on TSN broadcast for the 2022-23 season is right around the corner, with the Oshawa Generals visiting the Kitchener Rangers on Friday, January 13 at The Aud. CHL on TSN Broadcast Schedule
Pinelli, Mintyukov, Thornton and Parekh named Top Performers for December:
The OHL has announced Top Performers of the Month for December, including including Kitchener Rangers forward Francesco Pinelli and Barrie Colts netminder Anson Thornton along with Saginaw Spirit teammates Pavel Mintyukov and Zayne Parekh. Read more
OHL announces Academic Players of the Month for December:
The OHL named Academic Players of the Month for December including Callum Cheynowski of the Hamilton Bulldogs, Grayson Tiller of the Barrie Colts, Nathan Sauder of the Erie Otters and Tristan Bertucci of the Flint Firebirds. Read more
67’s and Knights make Week 13 edition of Kia CHL Top 10:
The Ottawa 67’s and London Knights are included in the Week 13 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings while the Saginaw Spirit and North Bay Battalion received honourable mentions. Watch
Petes’ Lockhart named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
Vancouver Canucks prospect Connor Lockhart of the Peterborough Petes is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, posting four goals, five assists and nine points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-7. Read More
Petes’ Simpson named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average and .973 save percentage. 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
First goals for Dever, McCoy and Paris in OHL Milestone Moments:
Revisit first career OHL goals by Ottawa’s Jack Dever, Peterborough’s Donovan McCoy and London’s Mathieu Paris in the latest edition of OHL Milestone Moments! Watch
Rangers’ Zhilkin signs with Jets:
Kitchener Rangers forward Danny Zhilkin has signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Zhilkin was selected by the Jets the third-round (77th overall) pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Read more
Bradley Horner commits to 67’s:
The Ottawa 67’s have received a commitment from 2021 seventh-round draft pick defenceman Bradley Horner. A native of Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Horner was selected 131st overall by the Barber Poles in the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. Read more
Steelheads’ Beck added to Canada’s National Junior Team:
Mississauga Steelheads forward Owen Beck has been added to Canada’s National Junior Team roster at the 2023 World Juniors tournament as an injury replacement. Read more
Firebirds’ Lombardi dazzles in OHL Plays of the Week:
This week’s OHL Plays of the Week feature appearances from Niagara IceDogs teammates Daniel Michaud and Anthony Agostinelli, Saginaw’s Hunter Haight, the North Bay duo of Ethan Procyszyn and Anthony Romani, Kingston’s Paul Ludwinski and Flint Firebirds forward Amadeus Lombardi. Watch
Battalion’s DiVincentiis headlines OHL Saves of the Week:
Check out the first edition of OHL Saves of the Week in the new year, featuring North Bay’s Dom DiVincentiis, Niagara’s Owen Flores, Sault Ste. Marie’s Samuel Ivanov, Mississauga’s Ryerson Leenders and Ottawa’s Max Donoso. Watch
Host Marlboros reign supreme in Holiday Classic Tournament:
Fresh off their victory at the Whitby Silver Stick in late November, the #1 ranked Toronto Marlboros picked up right where they left off, securing their second tournament win of the U16 season. The Marlies prevailed in their own event, the Marlies Holiday Classic. Read more
20 players selected to represent Ontario at 2023 Canada Winter Games:
The Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Northwestern Ontario have announced the Team Ontario roster for the men’s hockey team that will represent the province at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in PEI. Held every four years, the Canada Winter Games showcases the top under-16 hockey talent in the country that sees one province or territory emerge as the best in the Nation. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Frontenacs to host Indigenous Peoples night on Friday:
The Kingston Frontenacs are set to host their Indigenous Peoples night on Friday as they will be recognizing the culture, talent and creativity of Indigenous communities. The Kingston Indigenous community continues to reflect the area’s Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee roots. Read more
Wolves to host First Responders night on Friday:
The Sudbury Wolves are set to host their First Responder night on Friday as Sudbury’s Police Chief & Fire Chief will join the team for a special ceremonial puck drop. First responders in attendance will have the chance to win great prizes. Read more
Firebirds to host Firebirds Fight Hunger games on Friday and Saturday:
The Flint Firebirds are set to host their Firebirds Fight Hunger games on Friday and Saturday as fans who bring in five non-perishable food items prior to the Firebirds game will receive a free complimentary ticket to either Fight Hunger game. Read more
Petes to host Harry Potter night on Saturday:
The Peterborough Petes are set to host their Harry Potter night on Saturday. There will be various activations throughout the game with a focus on everyone’s favourite wizard, including Harry Potter customized Petes stickers and a sorting hat to tell you what Hogwarts house you’re in!
Otters to host Sunday Funday game:
The Erie Otters are set to host their Sunday Funday game on Sunday as the first 500 kids will receive a voucher for popcorn/drink and the Otters’ 2022-2023 Team Card Set. Face painting, caricature drawings and an autograph session with the players post-game will be available!
ALUMNI NOTES:
OHL mourns the loss of Barry Cullen:
The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by news of the loss of former Memorial Cup champion and NHL forward Barry Cullen, who died on December 16th in Guelph, Ont. at the age of 87. Read more
Devante Smith-Pelly announces retirement:
Former Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors forward Devante Smith-Pelly announced his retirement from professional hockey to close out the year 2022. The 30-year-old appeared in 395 career NHL contests between Anaheim, Montreal, New Jersey and Washington from 2011-19, helping the Capitals win a Stanley Cup title in 2018. The Scarborough, Ont. product played three OHL seasons in Mississauga, helping the Majors reach the Memorial Cup Final in 2011. He last played professionally with the AHL’s Laval Rocket in 2021-22.
Bitten named AHL Player of the Week:
Hamilton Bulldogs graduate Will Bitten is the AHL Player of the Week, recording six points (2-4–6) in three games for the Springfield Thunderbirds. Bitten, who made his NHL debut with the St. Louis Blues earlier this season, has recorded 19 points (10-9–19) in 25 games with Springfield. The 24-year-old from Ottawa, Ont. played four seasons in the OHL between Plymouth, Flint and Hamilton, graduating as an OHL champion with the Bulldogs in 2018.
Evangelista, Tomasino next up in Predators’ pipeline:
With continued development, London Knights graduate Luke Evangelista and Oshawa Generals alumnus Phil Tomasino know they are just a few years away from being key members of the Nashville Predators. The American Hockey League’s Jason Karnosky covers the two up-and-coming Nashville prospects and their progress with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season. Read more at theahl.com
Alumni Report – Liam Hawel:
Suiting up for more than 300 career games over five seasons split between the Soo Greyhounds, Guelph Storm, and Kitchener Rangers from 2015-20, Liam Hawel has since graduated to the U SPORTS level where he continues to play varsity hockey while also pursuing a degree in business. Read more about his story
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information
Thursday January 5th
Oshawa at North Bay – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Ottawa at Barrie – 7:30pm
Friday January 6th
Owen Sound at Kingston – 7:00pm
Barrie at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Ottawa at Niagara – 7:00pm (Free for TSN Digital subscribers)
Sault Ste. Marie at Flint – 7:00pm
Hamilton at London – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Windsor at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Kitchener at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Erie at Guelph – 7:30pm
Saturday January 7th
Sudbury at Hamilton– 7:00pm
Kitchener at Flint – 7:00pm
Guelph at Erie – 7:00pm
Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm
London at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Niagara at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sunday January 8th
Oshawa at Hamilton – 2:00pm
Owen Sound at Ottawa – 2:00pm
Sudbury at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Niagara at North Bay – 2:00pm
Sarnia at Erie – 2:00pm
London at Sault Ste. Marie – 2:07pm
Flint at Windsor – 4:05pm
