OHL Ontario Hockey League

OHL this Week

Published on January 30, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release


Toronto, ON - The month of January comes to an end with an action packed weekend around the Ontario Hockey League.

Here's a look at what's going on around the league:

AT THE RINKS:

Ryan Ellis jersey retirement on Saturday: The Windsor Spitfires will honour one of the best defencemen to ever don the uniform on Saturday night as Ryan Ellis' #6 will ascend to the heights of the WFCU Centre. Ellis was one of the centerpieces of the Spitfires' back-to-back MasterCard Memorial Cup titles in 2009 and 2010 before recording a 100-point season as CHL Defenceman of the Year in 2011. Ellis is the Spitfires all-time franchise leader in points by a defenceman with 313 over 226 career regular season games.

Firebirds fight hunger on Saturday: The Flint Firebirds continue their fight against hunger throughout the month of January on Saturday night at home to the Sarnia Sting. Fans who bring in five cans of food receive $5 off a silver ticket.

Shocks and Saves in Saginaw Saturday: The Saginaw Spirit host their annual Shocks and Saves charity hockey game on Saturday prior to squaring off against the Kitchener Rangers. Fans can asks for a charity ticket when ordering and $5 will support the fight against heart disease. For more information please visit saginawspirit.com.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Greyhounds support Healthy Kids Community Challenge: The Soo Greyhounds took to the streets for some ball hockey in support of a new community initiative in Sault Ste. Marie. Visit soogreyhounds.com for the full story.

Help design the next Bulldogs jersey: Fans can have a say in the next Hamilton Bulldogs jersey that is set to be revealed prior to the start of next season! Submit your designs through e-mail, social media or in-person before February 13th. Download the jersey template at hamiltonbulldogs.com.

IceDogs Pink in the Rink jersey auction set for Sunday: At the conclusion of the IceDogs home game on Sunday, January 31st there will be a live auction held in Section 105 of the Meridian Centre to bid on the specially made pink jerseys the Niagara IceDogs wore for their annual Pink in the Rink event in support of the Canadian Cancer Society and Women's Cancer Research. For full details on the jersey auction please visit niagaraicedogs.net.

PETES' MATTHEW MANCINA TAKES WEEKLY HONOURS:

Goaltender Matthew Mancina of the Peterborough Petes is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 24 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .963. Mancina stopped 78 of 81 shots faced last week helping the Petes win back-to-back games to maintain their hold on second place in the OHL's East Division standings with 50 points. He currently carries a 14-10-1-3 record with one shutout, and holds the league's sixth best goals-against-average with a mark of 2.67 and the fifth best save percentage at .920.

2016 BMO CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME:

20 NHL Draft eligible OHL prospects took centre stage in Vancouver on Thursday at the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game led by Team Orr captain Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights, and Team Cherry captain Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting. The prospects participated in a variety of on and off-ice testing on Wednesday, before competing under the national television spotlight and before the eyes of over 250 NHL scouts and 10,000 fans at Pacific Coliseum Thursday night. For more information about the event and to recap Team Orr's 3-2 victory visit bmotopprospects.ca.

TVCOGECO HOCKEY DAY IN THE OHL ON SUNDAY:

Sunday January 31st is TVCOGECO Hockey Day in the OHL! For the third year in a row, TVCOGECO will be airing exclusive OHL coverage and live hockey action across Ontario. The excitement begins at 1:00pm when the Sarnia Sting visit the Windsor Spitfires followed by a 4:00pm clash between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Niagara IceDogs. The Kingston Frontenacs visit the Peterborough Petes at 7:00pm to round out the day. For more details on TVCOGECO Hockey Day in the OHL, visit tvcogeco.com.

TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 17:

Peterborough Petes captain Eric Cornel headlines the 17th edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week! Be sure to vote for Eric in this week's CHL Fan Choice poll at www.fanchoice.ca!

GETTING ON THE BOARD: FIRST OHL GOALS IN 2015-16:

Check out the players who have scored their first OHL goal in the past week! 138 different players have accomplished the milestone this season! Click on a player's name below to watch his first OHL goal!

Daniel Bernhardt, Joseph Garreffa, Connor Hall, Stephen Templeton

ALUMNI NOTES:

Thornton collects 1,300th career point: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds graduate Joe Thornton became the 33rd player in NHL history to earn 1,300 points on Monday with a pair of assists in a 6-1 San Jose Sharks win over Colorado. Thornton also joined Patrick Marleau on Saturday in becoming just the second Sharks player in franchise history to play 800 games with the club. Thornton's remarkable career continues, one that found its junior beginnings in Sault Ste. Marie from 1995-97 when he collected 71 goals, 127 assists and 198 points over 125 career OHL regular season games.

McDavid eyes return: Erie Otters grad Connor McDavid continues on the road to recovery in Edmonton as he works his way back from a broken collarbone he suffered on November 3rd against Philadelphia. The 2015 CHL Player of the Year had five goals, seven assists and 12 points through his first 13 NHL games earlier this season. McDavid has been cleared for full contact and is aiming to make his return on Tuesday February 2nd when the Oilers host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

DeMelo scores first NHL goal: Mississauga Steelheads graduate Dylan DeMelo scored his first career NHL goal on Monday, helping the San Jose Sharks defeat Colorado 6-1. The London, ON, native has played 23 games with the Sharks this season after spending two seasons in the American Hockey League. A former sixth round pick by the Sharks in 2011, DeMelo played four seasons with Mississauga, appearing in 218 regular season games to record 25 goals, 100 assists and 125 points to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-34.

McCarron's road to success documented: This week's AHL Over The Boards segment focuses in on Oshawa Generals graduate and former MasterCard Memorial Cup champion Michael McCarron. Learn more about his journey to the NHL at theahl.com.

Campbell named ECHL Goaltender of the Week: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds graduate Jack Campbell is the ECHL's Goaltender of the Week after going 2-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average, a .986 save percentage and one shutout last week for the Idaho Steelheads, the ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. The Port Huron, MI, native is 6-3-0 with three shutouts, a 1.45 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage in the ECHL this season. He's also seen 12 games with the AHL's Texas Stars. Campbell played two OHL seasons from 2010-12, going 45-29-5-6 with a 3.62 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage in 91 regular season games between Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie.

16 OHL graduates participating in NHL All-Star Weekend: 16 OHL graduates are attending NHL All-Star Weekend in Nashville. The NHL All-Star Skills Competition is slated for Saturday before players represent their respective divisions in a brand new 3-on-3 tournament format on Sunday. OHL graduates make up 16 of the 44 players competing in this weekend's events. Read more.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS:

Niagara IceDogs (23-15-3-3) vs. Barrie Colts (27-16-0-2)

Saturday January 30th at Barrie

The Barrie Colts host the Niagara IceDogs on Saturday as the two Central Division foes meet for the fifth time this season. The Colts currently hold down first place in the Central with a four point edge on Niagara and North Bay who are neck-and-neck with 23 wins each. Barrie is currently 13-6 against divisional opponents this season, having split their four games against Niagara at two wins apiece. Newly acquired forward Dylan Sadowy enters the weekend on a five game point streak having collected six goals and an assist in three games last weekend. The IceDogs enter action off a 4-1 win over Erie on Sunday. Having been prone to streaky play over the past two months, the Dogs are looking to find consistency down the stretch toward the postseason with a veteran group in place.

Sarnia Sting (25-14-5-1) vs. Windsor Spitfires (29-13-5-0)

Sunday January 31st at Windsor

The two top clubs in the West Division go head-to-head in Windsor on Sunday afternoon. The Spitfires and Sting have only met twice so far this season, splitting their encounters with a win apiece. Sunday's encounter marks the first of four meetings the rest of the way as eight big points are up for grabs. Windsor currently holds a seven point lead on Sarnia in the West Division standings.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday, January 29

Owen Sound 5 at Kingston 2

Peterborough 2 at Ottawa 3

Niagara 6 at Sudbury 1

Flint 3 at Sarnia 4

Saginaw 5 at Sault Ste. Marie 3

North Bay 4 at Guelph 0

Windsor 0 at Kitchener 2

Erie 6 at London 2

Hamilton 1 at Mississauga 5

Barrie 6 at Oshawa 3

Saturday, January 30

Owen Sound 5 at Ottawa 2

Oshawa at Hamilton - 7:00pm

Kitchener at Saginaw - 7:05pm

London at Windsor - 7:05pm

Niagara at Barrie - 7:30pm

Sarnia at Flint - 7:30pm

Sunday, January 31

Sarnia at Windsor - 1:00pm

Sudbury at North Bay - 2:00pm

Kitchener at Sault Ste. Marie - 2:07pm

Hamilton at Niagara - 4:00pm

Guelph at Saginaw - 4:00pm

Mississauga at Erie - 5:00pm

Ottawa at Oshawa - 6:05pm

Kingston at Peterborough - 7:00pm

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2016


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