The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Lavoie starts with a bang
We begin this week with where it all started in 2022-23 – Mississauga Steelheads forward Zakary Lavoie bagging an opening night hat trick. Following up 23 goals as a rookie last year, Lavoie got things going out of the gate on Thursday in Niagara, scoring the first goal of the OHL season and later finishing his hat trick 1:48 into overtime. The Orleans, Ont. native was passed over in the NHL Draft this past summer, but may have big things in store for his sophomore OHL season.
First career #OHL hat trick capped by an OT winner! Miss it last night? Here’s all three goals from @OHLSteelheads‘ Zakary Lavoie 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/snuxOwWVSd
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) September 30, 2022
Misa scores twice in OHL debut
Exceptional status 15-year-old rookie Michael Misa came up big in his OHL debut, scoring twice as the Saginaw Spirit defeated the Guelph Storm 10-6 on opening night at The Dow. Misa’s first came with 2:42 left in the second period with help from Dean Loukus before he struck again 5:53 into the third. Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov earned first star honours in the win with a goal and four assists. The Spirit fell 7-2 to the Niagara IceDogs on Sunday as Misa picked up his first OHL assist on a goal by Theo Hill.
Miss Michael Misa’s sensational debut last night? Check out his first TWO #OHL goals as @SpiritHockey hung up double-digits in their home opener! 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/GAWMVoRBAe
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 2, 2022
Petes start hot in front of home crowd
The Peterborough Petes are off to a 2-0 start, putting together back-to-back five-goal efforts in wins over Erie and defending champion Hamilton. Former Otter Connor Lockhart met his old mates on opening night, recording three assists while Seattle Kraken prospect Tucker Robertson took first star recognition with a goal, assist and the shootout winner. Petes head coach Rob Wilson earned his 100th career victory in the process. Robertson is this week’s Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording five points (1-4–5) in two games while going 66 percent in the faceoff circle. Sixth overall 2022 OHL Priority Selection choice Jack Van Volsen found the net for the first time while New Jersey Devils first round pick Chase Stillman returned to the lineup in Saturday’s win.
✅ Shootout goal for the @SeattleKraken prospect
✅ Three saves for @SIMSHOW31
✅ Two points for the @PetesOHLhockey!Tucker Robertson scores the only goal of the shootout helping the Petes secure a win on opening night 📽️ pic.twitter.com/1hamHaQQou
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) September 30, 2022
IceDogs triumphant in Michigan
The Niagara IceDogs rallied from an opening night overtime loss, coming back strong in both Flint and Saginaw. Without suspended forward Pano Fimis for both road contests, the Dogs spoiled opening night and the return of Brennan Othmann to Flint, surrendering a pair of goals against the New York Rangers prospect but getting three of their own, with Brenden Sirizzotti netting the late second period winner. Josh Rosenzweig made 40 saves for the win before Owen Flores took the crease in Saginaw, making 28 behind two goals and an assist from Daniel Michaud as the IceDogs defeated the Spirit 7-2.
Daniel Michaud finds the loose puck in front to open the scoring for the @OHLIceDogs on the road south of the border! 📽️ pic.twitter.com/4NiySRlCUH
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 2, 2022
Pinelli putting up points as 67’s start 2-0
Luca Pinelli scored four times in his first two outings, netting his first OHL hat trick on Friday as the 67’s defeated the Oshawa Generals 7-6 in a shootout. Montreal Canadiens prospect Vinzenz Rohrer scored the shootout winner in a high-scoring affair, chipping in two assists in the victory. Ottawa’s home opener was a 4-2 win over the Erie Otters on Sunday afternoon as Pinelli struck again. Brad Gardiner earned first star honours with a goal while Jack Beck logged his second straight two-assist outing.
Luca Pinelli (@Lucapinelli44) is on FIRE 🔥
The #NHLDraft prospect and @Ottawa67sHockey forward notched his first career #OHL hat-trick in under two periods on the road in Oshawa 📽️ pic.twitter.com/3ZHZKacBx7
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 1, 2022
Sting beat Rangers, Spitfires on the road
The Sarnia Sting are 2-0 to begin the season, crashing an opening night party in Kitchener on Friday to claim a 6-3 win before a crowd of 6,025 at The Aud. Marcus Limpar Lantz and Ty Voit both had a goal and two assists as Sarnia charged out to a 6-1 lead before holding on for two points. Voit was in the thick of things again on Saturday in Windsor, scoring the overtime winner on a set up by Ryan Mast as the Sting won 2-1 just 19 seconds into overtime. Ben Gaudreau earned second star honours in the win enroute to being named this week’s OHL Goaltender of the Week. Limpar Lantz went 18-for-20 in the faceoff circle on Saturday night.
This one ends in a hurry! 🚨⌚️@MapleLeafs prospect Ty Voit scores the OT Winner for the @StingHockey just 19 seconds into the extra frame! pic.twitter.com/fyJeDRInaI
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 2, 2022
Attack defeat Rangers, Knights on opening weekend
An honourable mention in the pre-season edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings, the Owen Sound Attack did their part to try and crack the rankings in Week 1, defeating rivals London and Kitchener in opening week play. A pair of goals from nearby Ingersoll, Ont. native Gavin Bryant powered a 5-3 win on opening night at The Bud before a crowd of 9,036 while rookie Tomislav Brennan recorded two assists in his OHL debut. Owen Sound returned home on Saturday, besting the Kitchener Rangers 4-3 as Nick Chenard provided a late game-saver to preserve the win. Blueliner Sam Sedley picked up a goal and an assist, and even won a pair of key defensive zone face-offs late in the game. Having not played in a game since the 2019-20 season, Los Angeles Kings prospect Kaleb Lawrence game out with a goal and two assists in his first two outings of the season.
He saved the best for last! 🚫🥅
Nick Chenard’s 36th save of the evening proved to be the difference-maker, getting the @AttackOHL off to a 2-0 start in #OHLOpeningWeek 📽️ pic.twitter.com/Qoh0NjlTnr
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 2, 2022
Roobroeck pays early dividends as Generals take two of three
The Oshawa Generals had contributions from 6-foot-7 addition Dylan Roobroeck over the weekend as he put up a point in each of the club’s three outings. The Gennies defeated the Barrie Colts 2-1 on Thursday, fell 7-6 in a shootout to visiting Ottawa on Friday and defeated the Kingston Frontenacs 4-2 at home on Sunday evening. Newly-minted captain Lleyton Moore had five assists on the weekend while both 2023 NHL Draft prospect Calum Ritchie and overage winger Cameron Butler had two goals and two helpers.
In the perfect place at the perfect time✅
Roobroeck makes it a 3-1 game!#OSHvsKGN pic.twitter.com/wdlo4JDb0F
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) October 2, 2022
Gibson starts strong for Greyhounds
Rookie defenceman Andrew Gibson put together two goals and two assists in his first two OHL contests. Last year’s NOJHL Defenceman of the Year and league champion as a member of the Soo Thunderbirds scored his first career OHL goal on opening night against North Bay before adding a goal and two helpers in Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Battalion. Gibson, from, LaSalle, Ont., was Sault Ste. Marie’s fourth round pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. The Hounds split decisions with North Bay and host the Flint Firebirds on Wednesday night before heading out on the road for three on Thanksgiving weekend. Peter Ruicci reported last week that the club will be without forward Owen Allard for at least four months after he underwent surgery on a shoulder he injured while at Ottawa Senators Development Camp.
🚨GOAL HOUNDS🚨
Gibson puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/bKwTxZsBL6
— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) October 1, 2022
Wolves split decisions after 11-goal weekend
The Sudbury Wolves aren’t going to have too much trouble scoring goals this season. The Wolves were outgunned by the Barrie Colts in their home opener, falling 6-5 despite a third period comeback fuelled by Kocha Delic and David Goyette. Both players finished the loss with a goal and an assist, building off that on Sunday afternoon in Mississauga as Sudbury took the game 6-2. Delic finished with a goal and two assists while Goyette scored a highlight reel goal in front of 41 saves by goaltender Joe Ranger, who shut down his former club. Former first overall 2021 OHL Priority Selection choice and 2023 NHL Draft prospect Quentin Musty scored his first goal of the season as well.
A #BestOfOHL spin 🌀 for the @SeattleKraken prospect!@Sudbury_Wolves forward David Goyette scores his first of the season in a 6-2 Wolves win Sunday afternoon 📽️ pic.twitter.com/cFRx6GVhUe
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 3, 2022
