The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Namestnikov a difference-maker in Storm tunraround
It’s been an adventurous start to the season for the Guelph Storm, but things have settled down in Storm City. Guelph took consecutive 4-3 wins over the Midwest-leading Owen Sound Attack this past weekend, improving to 8-12-1-1. Cooper Walker tied Friday’s contest at three apiece with 6:05 left in the third period before newcomer Max Namestnikov continued to be a difference-maker, scoring the shootout winning goal. Namestnikov picked up an assist on Danny Zhilkin‘s OT winner Saturday night in Owen Sound. After recording seven points (4-3–7) in 18 games with Sarnia to start the season, Namestnikov has nine (5-4–9) through his first four with Guelph.
“He’s making people remember the name!” 🎙️
Max Namestnikov has been lighting the lamp since joining the @Storm_City, finding the back of the net yet again for the third consecutive game 📽️ pic.twitter.com/u9X1xj4UuK
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 26, 2022
Smooth sailing in Saginaw
The Saginaw Spirit have strung together a franchise record-tying nine straight wins, chipping in three last week in defeating divisional foes Flint, Sarnia and Windsor. Anaheim Ducks first round pick Pavel Mintyukov continues to be a force with 35 points (12-23–35) in 24 games, but the Spirit youngsters were also keys to success last week, with rookie phenom Michael Misa recording seven points (2-5–7) including an OT winner, and fellow first round pick Zayne Parekh excelling on the blue line with four goals and two assists. Special teams have been a strength for Chris Lazary’s club as they own the League’s second-best power play and top penalty kill.
Michael Misa with his first career @OHLHockey OT winner‼️ @SpiritHockey pic.twitter.com/uhO1ZT3A0D
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) November 24, 2022
IceDogs outscore Colts, Battalion in successful home weekend
The Niagara IceDogs put a five-game losing slide behind them as interim coach Jeff Angelidis earned his first OHL victory in Friday’s 7-4 win over the Barrie Colts. The Dogs came out a night later and outgunned the Central Division-leading North Bay Battalion 6-5 thanks to a Daniel Michaud hat trick. Rookie forward Kevin He scored a pair of goals in Saturday’s win, including the teddy bear launcher 12:09 into the first period. The Dogs were outshot 50-24 on Saturday, but Josh Rosenzweig stood tall, making 45 saves for the win. Niagara sits tied with Oshawa at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, put more weekends like this one would change that. The IceDogs are back at home against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Thursday night.
Daniel Michaud’s Saturday night hat trick was a thing of beauty 😍
Big centreman scored the tying and winning goals as the @OHLIceDogs skated to a second straight win 🎥 pic.twitter.com/HPmsOIqvyT
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 27, 2022
Knights stay hot with wins in four straight
The London Knights seem to have found their rhythm after early struggles to start the season. The green and gold have won eight of their last nine, continuing their success with road wins over Kitchener and Oshawa this past weekend. Brett Brochu was at his best in Kitchener on Friday, stopping all 28 shots he faced in a 4-0 blanking of the rival Rangers. The Knights bested the Generals 4-2 on Sunday evening as Sean McGurn had a goal and two helpers and 2023 NHL Draft prospect Denver Barkey extended his point streak to eight games with his seventh goal of the season. London is creeping up the standings, now just three points back of first place Owen Sound in the Midwest Division with a pair of games in hand.
Never. Doubt. Brett. Brochu. pic.twitter.com/Zp7qFQ5lQF
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) November 26, 2022
Bulldogs, Firebirds unload double-digit offensive production
There were a pair of crooked numbers on the scoreboard this past weekend. The Flint Firebirds were scoring at will on Saturday, lighting the lamp 10 times on 48 shots as the Sarnia Sting had no answers for the ‘Birds, who continue scoring despite the recent trade of former captain Brennan Othmann. Overage defenceman Tyler Deline scored Saturday’s Teddy Bear Toss goal 1:33 into action, opening the floodgates as he’d finish the game with a goal and three assists. Flint sits second in the West Division, owning a record of 13-8-2-1 while trailing rival Saginaw by six points. The Hamilton Bulldogs got in on the offensive fireworks as well, striking for 10 goals on Sunday afternoon in a 10-6 win over the Soo Greyhounds. Ottawa Senators prospect Jorian Donovan had a hat trick from the blue line while Logan Morrison and Avery Hayes each scored twice. The Bulldogs skated to back-to-back wins over the weekend, coming within a game of .500 as they sit fourth in the East Division with a record of 9-10-1-0.
First career #OHL hat trick for Jorian Donovan! 🧢🧢🧢
The @Senators prospect scored three in a high-scoring affair in Hamilton part of a 10-6 @BulldogsOHL victory! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/u63eZqPMX6
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 27, 2022
Frontenacs’ Arcuri keeps the goals coming
Win or lose, Francesco Arcuri keeps scoring for the Kingston Frontenacs. The Dallas Stars prospect struck twice on Friday night against the Sudbury Wolves, netting a pair of third period goals in an eventual 5-4 overtime win. He lit the lamp two more times on Sunday afternoon in Mississauga as the Frontenacs fell 5-3. Kingston’s second round pick back in 2019, Arcuri has a League-leading 22 goals in 24 games. He scored 34 during the 2021-22 season.
Frenchie has been UNSTOPPABLE.
Goal 2⃣2⃣ for Francesco Arcuri comes on a breakaway snipe to make it a 2-1 game for the Fronts.
🍎: Matthew Soto#KGNvsMISS | #FrontsHockey | @OHLHockey | @DallasStars pic.twitter.com/R5JtI89qGE
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) November 27, 2022
Barlow with goals in seven straight outings
2023 NHL Draft prospect Colby Barlow has a nose for the net. The 17-year-old has scored in seven consecutive games dating back to Nov. 12th, racking up 17 goals in 20 games this season. The Orillia native netted a hat trick in Owen Sound’s 6-3 win over Windsor on Wednesday. Owen Sound’s captain, Barlow’s seven-game trend is the longest by an Attack player since Andrew Fritsch struck in seven straight during the month of November 2010. Barlow set an Attack franchise record for rookies last season, scoring 30 goals in 59 games.
That’s 9⃣ goals in the last 5⃣ games for Colby Barlow! 🎩🎩🎩
The top 2023 #NHLDraft prospect has goals in five straight and a hat trick for the @AttackOHL in Windsor tonight! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/h0hnoudUjr
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 24, 2022
Injury-shortened Sting drop consecutive contests
The Sarnia Sting are working their way through some injury setbacks and felt the effects over the weekend. Sarnia fell 4-1 to the Saginaw Spirit at home on Friday before coming up empty in a 10-0 road loss to the Flint Firebirds on Saturday. The Sting lost former League goal-scoring leader Nolan Burke back on Nov. 19th, big 6-foot-5 defender Ryan Mast missed the weekend’s action as did suspended OA blueliner Ethan Ritchie. A trio of other defencemen in captain Nolan Dillingham, local product Josh Hoover and Ottawa Senators prospect Chandler Romeo have been out of the lineup for much of the season. There’s been plenty to like about Sarnia’s season as they feature the League’s top point producer in Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit while the Sting have also recently acquired Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov from the Guelph Storm. The Sting prepare for a three-in-three weekend with matchups at home to Oshawa, in Saginaw and at home to Barrie.
Sticking together in Friday night’s Kel-Gor Capture. #SwarmWarning🐝 pic.twitter.com/vwxcslj6f6
— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) November 26, 2022
Troops outdone on the road
The North Bay Battalion suffered consecutive losses for the first time all season. The boys in green dropped a 4-1 decision to the Hamilton Bulldogs at FirstOntario Centre on Friday, and were outgunned by the Niagara IceDogs in a 6-5 loss Saturday night despite outshooting their opponent 50-24. The Battalion were missing big winger Kyle McDonald who hasn’t played since Nov. 13th, along with Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis in the crease. The Troops are also waiting on some defensive reinforcements as Detroit Red Wings prospect Tnias Mathurin has only seen one game this season while overage rearguard Avery Winslow has been sidelined since Nov. 5th. North Bay saw the debut of 16-year-old goaltender Mike McIvor in Hamilton on Friday as he stopped 37 of 39. McIvor was the Battalion’s fourth round pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.
Just fell short. pic.twitter.com/64RAsse31P
— North Bay Battalion (@OHLBattalion) November 27, 2022
