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Ontario Hockey League

Bonk and Simpson Named OHL Top Performers of the Week

January 15, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release


Toronto, Ont. - The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, January 14, 2024.

Knights' Oliver Bonk Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, contributing five goals and six assists while registering a plus-6 rating in three victories.

Bonk recorded a career-high five-point night with two goals and three assists on Wednesday, being named the game's second star as the Knights defeated the Sarnia Sting 9-2. He found the scoresheet again on Friday, registering a goal and an assist in the Knights' 6-1 win over the Saginaw Spirit. Bonk closed out the weekend with a third consecutive multi-point contest, extending his current point streak to eight games with a pair of goals and assists as the Knights blanked the Owen Sound Attack 10-0. Bonk's current eight-game run has included seven goals, 13 assists and 20 points.

A recently turned 19-year-old from Ottawa, Ont., Bonk ranks third among all OHL defencemen in points this season, recording 44 (12-32-44) through 33 outings as the Knights own a record of 29-11-0-1, good for third in the Western Conference. Selected in the second-round (26th overall) by London in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-2, 179lb. blueliner has put up 22 goals, 65 assists and 87 points in 110 regular season contests. Bonk helped the Knights reach the OHL Championship Series last season, recording 11 assists in 21 playoff matchups. Selected in the first-round (22nd overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bonk recently represented Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship earlier this month. He signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract with Philadelphia on Aug. 21, 2023.

Also considered for the award this week, 2024 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit recorded nine points (5-4-9) in three games. Newly acquired Spirit teammate Owen Beck also had a standout week, as the Montreal Canadiens prospect registered nine points (3-6--9) in three games, including a single-game club record-tying six in his debut with the team.

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week - Regular Season:

Jan. 8 - Jan. 14: Oliver Bonk (London Knights)

Jan. 1 - Jan. 7: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)

Dec. 28 - Dec. 31: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)

Dec. 11 - Dec. 18: Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights)

Dec. 4 - Dec. 10: Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)

Nov. 27 - Dec. 3: Pano Fimis (Erie Otters)

Nov. 20 - Nov. 26: Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit)

Nov. 13 - Nov. 19: Donovan McCoy (Peterborough Petes)

Nov. 6 - Nov. 12: Denver Barkey (London Knights)

Oct. 30 - Nov. 5: Braeden Kressler (Flint Firebirds)

Oct. 23 - Oct. 29: Kirill Kudryavtsev (Soo Greyhounds)

Oct. 16 - Oct. 22: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)

Oct. 9 - Oct. 15: Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)

Oct. 2 - Oct. 8: Jordan D'Intino (Soo Greyhounds)

Sep. 28 - Oct. 1: Jax Dubois (Peterborough Petes)

Knights' Michael Simpson Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Michael Simpson of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 2-0 record including a shutout, along with a 0.50 goals-against average and .983 save percentage.

Making a total of 58 saves last week, Simpson stopped 30 of the 31 shots that came his way on Friday night as the Knights defeated the Saginaw Spirit 6-1 at home. The 6-foot-1, 198lb. netminder closed out the weekend with a 28-save shutout to earn third star honours on Sunday, blanking the Owen Sound Attack in a lopsided 10-0 victory.

Playing to a 22-7-0-0 record, the 20-year-old from London, Ont. holds a league-low 2.58 goals-against average, along with a .908 save percentage in 31 games this season. The only goaltender to reach 20+ wins this season, the former 2023 OHL champion has appeared in 127 career regular season contests, recording a 2.98 goals-against average and .904 save percentage over three seasons, going 66-47-5-3 in the process. Selected in the 10th round (193rd overall) by the Peterborough Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, the 2023 OHL Playoffs MVP attended development camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer.

Also considered for the award this week, Jacob Oster of the Oshawa Generals went 2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, while Kitchener Rangers netminder Tristan Malboeuf also went 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week - Regular Season:

Jan. 8 - Jan. 14: Michael Simpson (London Knights)

Jan. 1 - Jan. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)

Dec. 28 - Dec. 31: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)

Dec. 11 - Dec. 18: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)

Dec. 4 - Dec. 10: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67's)

Nov. 27 - Dec. 3: Marcus Vandenberg (Niagara IceDogs)

Nov. 20 - Nov. 26: Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads)

Nov. 13 - Nov. 19: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)

Nov. 8 - Nov. 12: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)

Oct. 30 - Nov. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)

Oct. 23 - Oct. 29: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)

Oct. 16 - Oct. 22: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)

Oct. 9 - Oct. 15: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67's)

Oct. 2 - Oct. 8: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)

Sep. 28 - Oct. 1: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)

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