The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Change of fortunes for Rangers as Mesar makes big impact
The Kitchener Rangers put their season-opening frustrations in the rear-view mirror, defeating Sudbury and Guelph to extend their winning streak to three games. Montreal Canadiens first round pick Filip Mesar performed as anticipated, with six points in his first two games including an overtime winner in Guelph on Saturday. Rangers captain Francesco Pinelli took centre stage in Friday’s 7-2 win over Sudbury, scoring his first career OHL hat trick before a crowd of 5,954 at The Aud. First-year blueliner Hunter Brzustewicz owns a seven-game point streak that has yielded 10 assists as he leads the club in scoring.
FILIP MEŠÁR ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 🥶🥶
The @CanadiensMTL first-rounder with the OVERTIME WINNER in his second game for the @OHLRangers 🎥 pic.twitter.com/n6RVsACA5L
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 23, 2022
67’s keep winning streak alive, complete northern sweep
The Ottawa 67’s snatched their season-opening run of perfect from the jaws of peril on Sunday afternoon in Sudbury, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with five unanswered goals. The Barber Poles won games in North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury over the weekend, with Collin MacKenzie‘s OHL record 15-save shootout performance in the Soo standing out as a highlight. MacKenzie entered the game in relief on Sunday afternoon in Sudbury, stopping all 14 shots he faced over 40 minutes to improve to 7-0 in his OHL career. Nashville Predators prospect Jack Matier has been a force on the blue line, sitting tied for second in scoring among OHL rearguards with 11 points (5-6–11) over nine games. The 67’s remain as one of three undefeated CHL clubs, joining the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels (10-0) and Seattle Thunderbirds (8-0).
The @Ottawa67sHockey come all the way back!@Senators prospect Tyler Boucher scores the game-winner as the Barber Poles scored FIVE unanswered goals to extend their record-setting start to 9-0! 📽️ pic.twitter.com/hNcq80AiaR
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 23, 2022
Spits stay undefeated in regulation
The Windsor Spitfires join the Ottawa 67’s as one of just two OHL teams undefeated in regulation this season. After falling 3-2 in overtime to the Saginaw Spirit on Thursday, Windsor responded with an intense 6-5 road win over the Flint Firebirds on Saturday before doubling the Niagara IceDogs 8-4 at home on Sunday. Saturday’s win over Flint featured a pair of goals from Alex Christopoulos as Windsor held off a late Flint surge with some big saves out of goaltender Mathias Onuska. Ryan Abraham rides a five-game point streak, sitting tied with Matthew Maggio for the team lead in scoring as both players have 12 points on the campaign. The defending Western Conference champions are back in action on Thursday at home to North Bay.
The reigning @cogeco player of the week remains white hot! 🔥@NYIslanders prospect Matthew Maggio catches the IceDogs changing and pots one to cap off a three-goal first period for the @SpitsHockey! 📽️ pic.twitter.com/VO2FJZfYgW
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 23, 2022
Fronts continue to benefit from strong goaltending
The Kingston Frontenacs have won five of their last six games and goaltenders Ivan Zhigalov and Mason Vaccari have both had something to do with it. After a 5-1 setback in Peterborough on Thursday, Zhigalov returned to the crease Friday night at home against the Petes, stopping 34 of 35 in a 2-1 victory. Vaccari took to the crease on Sunday in Oshawa, stopping all 29 shots that came his way for his first OHL shutout as the Frontenacs blanked the Generals 2-0 and improved to 6-2-0-1. Kingston has surrendered a league-low 19 goals over nine games.
Massive save by Mason Vaccari late in this one.#FrontsHockey | @OHLHockey | @MasonVaccari pic.twitter.com/jU4IIZY7sE
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) October 24, 2022
Misa off to great start for high-scoring Spirit
Ten games into his OHL career, 15-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa is tied for the OHL lead with eight goals. The youngster continued lighting the lamp last week, scoring in Saginaw’s 3-2 overtime win over Windsor on Thursday, finding the twine twice in London on Friday night before scoring two more at the Dow Event Center against London on Saturday. Saginaw has scored a League-high 47 goals in 10 games and owns the OHL’s second-ranked power play at 35.1%. It’s a remarkable start for Misa as another exceptional status rookie in Connor McDavid had five goals through his first 10 games while Kingston’s Shane Wright had four.
Keep em’ coming, Michael Misa 🚨🚨
Two more goals for the 15-year-old @SpiritHockey rookie on Saturday, tying him for the #OHL lead with eight in his first 10 games 🎥 pic.twitter.com/aSFS97kjQr
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 23, 2022
Voit climbs to top of League scoring
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit had himself another productive week, racking up a goal and seven assists over three games. Voit’s Sarnia Sting won one of their three contests, but the Pittsburgh, Penn. product increased his point total to 21 (6-15–21) over 10 games. He was a fifth round pick of Toronto in 2021 and signed an entry-level deal with the Leafs in December 2021. Voit’s linemate Nolan Burke sits second in OHL goal-scoring with seven tallies to his credit.
The @StingHockey dynamic duo link up for #BestOfOHL honours 🤝
Nolan Burke and @MapleLeafs prospect Ty Voit show off the chemistry, going back and forth to score a highlight reel goal 🎥 pic.twitter.com/Rfsw9SLyh1
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 22, 2022
Colts in pair of close games over the weekend
The Barrie Colts had fans on the edge of their seats against a pair of Central Division foes this past weekend. Saturday’s contest against the visiting Mississauga Steelheads saw Barrie trailing 5-2 midway through the third period before the Colts scored four unanswered the rest of the way to win 6-5. Tai York scored the deciding goal with 1:16 remaining as Barrie snapped Mississauga’s six-game winning streak. The Colts fell short in North Bay on Sunday as Roenick Jodoin forced overtime late in the third period before Barrie was burned by Battalion captain Liam Arnsby, who scored a highlight reel OT winner in a 5-4 final. The Colts sit second in the Central Division with a 5-2-1-0 record.
GWG ✔️
Three-goal deficit erased ✔️Tai York caps the comeback for @OHLBarrieColts❗️#CHLTVGOTW pic.twitter.com/ACXKG3Qoqm
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) October 23, 2022
Knights offence comes alive against Saginaw
The London Knights took back-to-back wins over the Saginaw Spirit, overcoming an early deficit at home on Friday as Landon Sim netted the third period winner in a 4-3 victory. London bested Saginaw on Saturday at the Dow Event Center as overage winger George Diaco scored twice and added an assist and Montreal Canadiens prospect Logan Mailloux scored his first of the season. Rookie netminder Zach Bowen earned the win in his first OHL start, making 14 saves on Saturday. New York Islanders prospect Isaiah George remained out of London’s lineup with an injury. The Knights are now 3-4-1-0 after starting the season 0-3-1-0.
Diaco 🤝 Del Monte
The newest @LondonKnights link up to take an early lead in Saginaw 🎥 pic.twitter.com/eqRjeSE4eV
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 22, 2022
Defending champs endure second straight winless weekend
The Hamilton Bulldogs are adjusting to life after Marco Costantini and George Diaco, two members of last season’s championship squad that have moved on to other teams. Hamilton dropped an 8-2 decision in Mississauga on Friday night before falling 5-2 to the Peterborough Petes at home on Saturday afternoon. Veteran captain Logan Morrison continues to produce, with two points in each loss while fellow overager Avery Hayes had a goal in both outings. The Bulldogs still have several members of last year’s team on the roster and look to get back on track Friday in Oshawa as they try and put a four-game slide behind them.
The Peterborough Petes skated away with a 5-2 win on Saturday afternoon but Bulldogs rookie defenseman Callum Cheynowski recorded his first #OHL point.
Details: https://t.co/Q5p36fY9pv#HamOnt #DawgMentality
— Hamilton Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) October 22, 2022
Shorthanded IceDogs drop three despite scoring efforts
The Niagara IceDogs have the injury bug, losing the services of captain Landon Cato and forwards Andrew LeBlanc, Brenden Sirizzotti, Daniel Michaud and Anthony Agostinelli in recent weeks. Niagara picked up a point on Thursday, falling in overtime at home to Erie before hitting the road for games in Sarnia and Windsor. The Dogs scored four goals in both contests, but would come home empty-handed, being limited to 15 skaters Sunday in Windsor after blueliner Rodwin Dionicio was handed a suspension. The IceDogs haven’t had too much trouble scoring this season but they’ve had their share of trouble keeping pucks out, allowing 44 goals over 10 games. Daniel Fitzgerald’s club looks to get back into the win column with back-to-back home games on Thursday and Friday against London and Windsor.
Watch out for @Pano_Fimis 👀
The @OHLIceDogs forward steals the puck off the defender and pulls off a slick finish in tight 🔥 #BestOfOHL pic.twitter.com/1JVqBiTiC2
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 23, 2022
