A total of 217 OHL alumni are playing in the U SPORTS men’s hockey ranks this season. Throughout the year the U SPORTS Report will keep tabs on former OHL names doing great things in the OUA, AUS and Canada West ranks on the road to the 2023 U SPORTS University Cup to be held from March 16-19 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Returning back for the second half of the 2022-2023 U SPORTS hockey season, OHL grads powered their respective teams to perfect weekends across the country.
Gaels get going after the break:
Queen’s University men’s hockey scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Nipissing Lakers 4-2 Friday night in North Bay.
The Gaels trailed 2-1 after two periods before a big third period led to a comeback win to kick off the second half of their regular season. The Gaels scored on the power play two minutes into the third period to tie the game before Guelph Storm alumnus Matthew Hotchkiss gave Queen’s the lead late in the third period.
Kingston Frontenacs graduate Ryan Cranford also scored for Queen’s in the win, opening the scoring just minutes into the game with a goal assisted by Hotchkiss. Erie Otters alumnus Hayden Fowler and former Guelph Storm blueliner Owen Lalonde also recorded assists for the Gaels in the win. Former Kitchener Rangers netminder Luke Richardson finished with 37 saves for Queen’s.
The Gaels continued their weekend in North Bay on Saturday, topping the Lakers 4-3 in a shootout to sweep their weekend series. Richardson turned away all three Nipissing shooters for the win on top of his 32 stops in regulation and overtime for the Gaels.
With the win, Queen’s improved their record to 7-9-2 on the season.
.@QueensMHockey topped the Nipissing Lakers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday afternoon in North Bay to sweep their weekend series with the Lakers.
🗞️: https://t.co/C5CselIMXp#ChaGheill | #GoGaelsGo
— Queen’s Gaels (@queensgaels) January 8, 2023
Huskies improve with fifth straight win:
The Saint Mary’s Huskies defeated the STFX X-Men 2-0 on Friday. Former Kingston Frontenacs netminder Jeremy Helvig stopped all 36 shots he faced on the night, earning the shutout.
The Huskies opened up the scoring with first and secondary assists from Flint Firebirds alumnus Jake Durham and London Knights graduate Nathan Dunkley. Kitchener Rangers alumnus Justin MacPherson tallied the Huskies second goal of the game, wiring home a one-timer off a drop pass from former Hamilton Bulldogs forward Liam Van Loon.
MacPherson earned first star and Player of the Game honours.
The Huskies continued their winnings as they extended their win-streak to five games with a 5-1 win over the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday night.
Durham, Dunkley, MacPherson and Flint Firebirds alumnus Dennis Busby each recorded an assist in the victory.
The Huskies fifth straight win improved their record to 13-7-0 on the season.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS 🏒
Captain Keith Getson gets @SMUMensHockey on the scoreboard just 13 seconds into the game!
🚨K. Getson (8)
🍏J. Durham
🍏N. Dunkley pic.twitter.com/iF8NPenbUc— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 7, 2023
Panthers’ pair of wins:
Erie Otters alumnus and UPEI Panthers Athlete of the Week Kyle Maksimovich delivered the game-winner in overtime, as the Panthers came away with a 3-2 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Wednesday.
Owen Sound Attack alumnus Kaleb Pearson also scored in the win while Sudbury Wolves graduate Drake Pilon recorded the assist.
The Panthers returned to action on Saturday night, defeating the top ranked UNB Reds 5-4.
Sudbury Wolves alumnus Cole Candella and Pilon found the back of the net in the win, while Maksimovich, Sarnia Sting graduate Troy Lajeunesse and former Oshawa Generals Matt Brassard blueliner all contributed assists to the high-scoring victory.
The Panthers improve to to 14-5-0-1 on the season.
Candella loads up and fires a missile!#GoPanthersGo | #Hockey pic.twitter.com/kx9l7a7u1t
— UPEI Men’s Hockey (@UPEIMHockey) January 8, 2023
TMU’s two-win week:
The Toronto Metropolitan Bold men’s hockey team kicked off the new year with a bang, defeating the Western Mustangs 4-1.
Mississauga Steelheads alumnus Ryan Wells opened the floodgates for TMU with a power play tally. Leading by three, Saginaw Spirit graduate Jesse Barwell would also find the back of the net.
The Bold’s scoring ways would continue as newly acquired Daniel D’Amico from the Windsor Spitfires picked up his initial point for the program with a power play goal.
Wells doubled up his scoring in the second period, netting the Bold’s fourth goal of the night while former Mississauga Steelheads goaltender Kai Edmonds made 23 saves for the win.
TMU returned to action on Saturday as they defeated rival Brock Badgers by a score of 5-3.
The Bold found the score sheet in the second period as Niagara IceDogs alumni Ian Martin and Elijah Roberts each tallied a goal as TMU trailed by one heading into the final frame.
Looking to secure a comeback win, the Bold came out hot in the third period with three unanswered goals including one from former North Bay Battalion blueliner Zach Shankar.
The OUA’s leading scorer and Oshawa Generals graduate Kyle Bollers continued his dominance over Brock this season, picking up a trio of assists to cap off a 10-point season against the Badgers.
The Bold improve to sixth in the nation.
Zachary Shankar evens things up on the man-advantage!
We got a tie game here in Thorold!
TMU 3 | BRO 3
P3 | 11:38 pic.twitter.com/2W7G6qj7U9— TMU Bold Men’s Hockey (@tmuboldmhky) January 7, 2023
