OHL Ontario Hockey League

OHL this Week

Published on February 25, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release


Toronto, ON - Just four more weeks until the 2016 Ontario Hockey League playoffs with lots of exciting battles for position continuing this weekend with 24 games tonight through Sunday.

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

AT THE RINKS:

OHL and CMHA team up to raise mental health awareness: Nine different teams around the league will host CMHA #TalkToday initiatives at games this week. The Oshawa Generals and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hosted CMHA events in their facilities on Wednesday while the Windsor Spitfires will raise awareness on Thursday. The Flint Firebirds and Mississauga Steelheads will move the conversation forward on Friday before the Mississauga Steelheads, Hamilton Bulldogs and Niagara IceDogs wrap up the weekend with CMHA #TalkToday games on Sunday. The Owen Sound Attack will host the final #TalkToday game on Monday, rescheduled from this past Wednesday. The awareness campaign is part of the ongoing commitment by OHL clubs and local CMHA Ontario Branches to implement Talk Today. Full Details

Bob Perani Bobblehead Night in Flint: The first 1,000 into the Dort Federal Event Center for Friday's Flint Firebirds game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will receive a free Bob Perani bobblehead! Friday is also Scout Night in Flint. For full details on this weekend's events, please visit flintfirebirds.com.

Storm host Pevs Protects Night on Friday: Fans are encouraged to wear red on Friday as the Guelph Storm host the Kitchener Rangers on Pevs Protects Night. After having his life saved by an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), former NHL forward and Guelph native Rich Peverley has set out to try and save more lives by raising awareness of this very important issue. For more on the story, visit guelphstorm.com.

Meet the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday: Ottawa 67's fans can meet players from the CFL's Ottawa Redblacks on Friday when the 67's host the Sudbury Wolves. Fans will be able to have their photo taken with the East Division championship trophy! The much anticipated annual weiner dog race will be held during the second intermission! Don't miss out, check out ottawa67s.com for details.

Petes recognize 1996 champions on Saturday: The Peterborough Petes will honour members of the 1996 OHL Championship team in a special pre-game ceremony prior to puckdrop on Saturday at home to the Sudbury Wolves. Fans are encouraged to come early to help honour the championship team with notable attendees including MasterCard Memorial Cup MVP Cameron Mann, captain Adrian Murray, and several others.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Veteran Otters graduate leadership class: The Erie Otters are proud to partner with the Manufacturer and Business Association of Erie and celebrate the 11 graduates of their Leadership for Team Leader Series program. The veteran Otters players participated in the local program which focuses on building foundations for success, effective communication and problem-solving, and equates to 40 hours of instructor-led training. Full Story

Colts host 13th annual 'Colt For The Day' Charity Game: The Barrie Colts teamed up with the Kempenfelt Rotary Club as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie & District last weekend for the 13th annual 'Colt For The Day' Charity Game, giving children the chance to skate with their favourite Barrie Colts players. Check out the photo gallery on the Colts Facebook page.

Rangers meet and greet with fans: The Kitchener Rangers will be meeting fans at six different Sobeys locations across Kitchener and Waterloo. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items which will be donated to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. For the full schedule be sure to visit kitchenerrangers.com.

BATTALION'S MIKE AMADIO TAKES WEEKLY HONOURS:

Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 21 after scoring seven goals and two assists for nine points in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-10. After setting a new Battalion record with five goals in a single game on February 13, Amadio continued his goal-scoring prowess finding the back of the net in all four games last week as the Troops' offense exploded for 26 goals in four straight wins over Eastern Conference opponents. A 19-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Amadio is playing in his fourth career OHL season with the Battalion who chose him in the second round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection. He currently ranks sixth in league scoring with 42 goals and 42 assists for a career-high 84 points in 56 games while riding an 11-game point-streak.

TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 21:

Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Mangiapane of the Barrie Colts headlines the 21st edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week! Be sure to visit fanchoice.ca and cast your vote for Andrew who is this week's OHL's representative in the CHL Fan Choice vote!

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! 143 different players have accomplished the milestone this season! Click on a player's name below to watch his first OHL goal!

Brock Welsh

ROAD TO THE 2016 OHL CUP CONTINUES:

The OMHA ETA semi-finals are in full swing as the York-Simcoe Express, Quinte Red Devils, Barrie Jr. Colts and the Kingston Frontenacs are all vying to secure spots in the annual OHL Cup Showcase set for March 15-21 in Toronto. The winners of the York-Simcoe vs. Quinte and Barrie vs. Kingston series will advance to the OMHA Championship in Clarington next weekend where the host Clarington Toros and two finalists from the SCTA will join them in a five-team tournament. The top four clubs from that tournament will secure OHL Cup berths. This week, we take a look at top talent coming out of the OMHA ETA. Full Story

MILESTONES AND RECORDS ABOUND OVER BUSY WEEKEND:

Otters' Williams earns 100th career win: Erie Otters netminder Devin Williams made 23 saves and turned aside three shootout attempts in a 6-5 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday, becoming the fifth goaltender in OHL history to record 100 career victories. Full Story

Dal Colle collects 300th career point: New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle extended his point streak to 14 games with a goal and two assists, collecting his 300th career OHL point in the process as the Kingston Frontenacs blanked visiting Niagara 4-0 Sunday on Sportsnet. Dal Colle reaches the 300-point mark in his 236th career regular season contest, becoming the first Frontenacs player to reach the milestone since Nathan Moon on November 26, 2010.

Dvorak second OHL player to reach 100-point mark: Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak became the 11th player in London Knights history and first since Dylan Hunter (2005, 2006) to record back-to-back 100-point seasons. Dvorak scored twice and added an assist in Saturday's 4-0 win over Flint to become the second OHL player to reach the century mark this season.

Korostelev sets new Sting record: Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nikita Korostelev set a new Sarnia Sting franchise record on Sunday for the fastest goal to start a game, eclipsing Ryan Tocher's 1994 mark of 12 seconds with his 17th of the season coming just nine seconds into the first period.

ALUMNI NOTES:

Spaling reunited with DeBoer, Spott in San Jose: Kitchener Rangers graduate Nick Spaling has been reunited with former OHL coaches Peter DeBoer and Steve Spott with the San Jose Sharks after he was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade on Monday. The 27-year-old Spaling had a goal and six assists in 35 games with Toronto this season, his seventh in the NHL. Spaling played three seasons in Kitchener under DeBoer and Spott from 2005-08, winning an OHL title in 2008 while also being named the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player. The Drayton, ON, native played 179 career regular season games, recording 71 goals, 85 assists and 156 points. In 34 playoff contests he scored 16 goals and added 22 assists for 38 points.

Paul scores first NHL goal: North Bay Battalion graduate Nick Paul scored his first career NHL goal in Ottawa's 4-1 win over Edmonton on Tuesday. Paul was playing in his fourth NHL contest and also had three shots in the victory. The Mississauga, ON, native has six goals, 11 assists and 17 points in 45 games with the AHL's Binghamton Senators this season after a three year career between Brampton and North Bay that saw him record 75 goals, 65 assists and 140 career regular season points in 191 games. The OHL's Humanitarian of the Year in 2015, Paul was a fourth round (101st overall) pick by the Dallas Stars in the 2013 NHL Draft before being dealt to Ottawa in a deal that saw the Stars receive centreman Jason Spezza.

Kuhnhackl scores first NHL goal: Niagara IceDogs graduate Tom Kuhnhackl scored his first NHL goal in Pittsburgh's 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday. Kuhnhackl's goal came shorthanded, one that made highlight reels as he lit the lamp in his 17th career NHL contest. The Landshut, Germany native was Pittsburgh's fourth round (110th overall) pick in 2010 and has spent parts of the last four seasons with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. Kuhnhackl has seven goals, eight assists and 15 points with the AHL Penguins in 23 games this season. The left-winger had 47 goals, 50 assists and 97 points in 97 career OHL contests between Windsor and Niagara from 2010-12, also appearing in 38 playoff contests where he recorded 17 goals, 17 assists and 34 points, making it to the OHL finals with Niagara in 2012.

Gaudet scores first NHL goal: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds graduate Tyler Gaudet scored his first NHL goal in Arizona's 6-3 win over Dallas last Thursday. The Hamilton, ON, native was playing in his 12th career NHL contest after spending much of the season with the AHL's Springfield Falcons where he had a goal and six assists in 26 games. Signed as a free agent by the Greyhounds in 2012, Gaudet played two seasons in Sault Ste. Marie, recording 29 goals, 40 assists and 69 points in 99 regular season games. He was signed as a free agent by the Coyotes in November of 2013.

Schremp's road to redemption documented: This week's AHL Over The Boards feature shines a light on London Knights graduate and former MasterCard Memorial Cup champion Rob Schremp who is enjoying a comeback campaign with the Portland Pirates. A pro journey that has included 114 NHL games, 268 AHL contests and four seasons in Europe, Schremp's story is one with many elements. For the full story, visit theahl.com.

Meurs sets new ECHL record: OHL graduate Garrett Meurs set a new ECHL record for fastest two goals by one player on Sunday, scoring four seconds apart in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Colorado Eagles. Meurs scored 6:05 into the first period and again at 6:09 to bring his goal total to 12 on the season. The Ripley, ON, native has 12 goals, 13 assists and 25 points in 38 games with the Fort Wayne Komets this season, the ECHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. A former fifth round (123rd overall) pick by the Avalanche in 2011, Meurs played four seasons with the Plymouth Whalers from 2009-13, recording 78 goals, 115 assists and 193 points in 265 regular season games. The right-winger also compiled nine goals, 11 assists and 20 points in 35 playoff contests.

Battochio named ECHL Goaltender of the Week: Ottawa 67's graduate Danny Battochio is the ECHL's Goaltender of the Week. The 30-year-old Rapid City Rush netminder went 3-0-0 with one shutout, a 0.94 goals-against average and a save percentage of .965 in last week's action. A native of Lively, ON, Battochio has appeared in 35 games for the Rush this season going 16-14-3 with two shutouts, a 2.66 goals-against average and a save percentage of .915. Battochio played three seasons with Ottawa from 2003-06, going 54-33-6-3 with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage with five shutouts in 110 regular season games. He appeared in 27 playoff contests, going 14-9-3-0 with a 3.15 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage with one shutout. Now in his sixth season with Rapid City, Battochio also attended St. Francis Xavier University from 2006-2009. He appeared in four games with Ottawa at the 2005 MasterCard Memorial Cup in London.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS:

London Knights (41-12-2-1) vs. Kingston Frontenacs (37-15-2-2)

Friday February 26 at Kingston

The two clubs took a shootout to decide their first meeting back in September and if recent performances are any indication, Friday's meeting between the London Knights and Kingston Frontenacs will be a dandy. Both clubs were included in the 22nd edition of the BMO CHL Top-10 Rankings released on Wednesday. The Knights hit the road for games in Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, carrying a three-game winning streak into the trip. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitch Marner is six points away from giving the Knights multiple 100-point scorers in back-to-back seasons. London's scoring depth is evidenced by seven different players with at least 20 goals this season. The Frontenacs face London and Sudbury at home this weekend and currently hold a six point lead over second place Barrie in the Eastern Conference. New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle enters play on a 14-game point streak that dates back to January 17th. The Frontenacs are in the hunt for their first East Division title since 1995.

Barrie Colts (35-18-0-2) vs. Sarnia Sting (33-17-5-2)

Friday February 26 at Sarnia

Another highly anticiapted East-West clash pits the Barrie Colts visiting the Sarnia Sting on Friday. Barrie suffered recent losses to both Kingston and London before getting back on track at home to Oshawa on Saturday. Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Mangiapane as 44 points in 21 games since the turn of the new year, collecting three multi-goal efforts and two hat-tricks in the month of February. OHL leading scorer Kevin Labanc has racked up 16 assists in eight February contests. Sarnia enters the weekend with a one point lead over second place Windsor in the West Division. They'll face Barrie and Guelph at home on Friday and Sunday with a Saturday night trip to Owen Sound in between. Philadelphia Flyers prospect Travis Konecny leads Sting scoring with 23 goals, 61 assists and 84 points in 51 games this season.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Thursday, February 25

London at Peterborough - 7:05pm

Barrie at Windsor - 7:05pm

Friday, February 26

North Bay at Erie - 7:00pm

London at Kingston - 7:00pm

Sudbury at Ottawa - 7:00pm

Barrie at Sarnia - 7:05pm

Sault Ste. Marie at Flint - 7:30pm

Kitchener at Guelph - 7:30pm

Owen Sound at Mississauga - 7:30pm

Saturday, February 27

London at Ottawa - 1:00pm

Kitchener at Oshawa - 2:05pm

Saginaw at Erie - 7:00pm

North Bay at Hamilton - 7:00pm

Guelph at Niagara - 7:00pm

Sudbury at Peterborough - 7:05pm

Mississauga at Barrie - 7:30pm

Windsor at Flint - 7:30pm

Sarnia at Owen Sound - 7:30pm

Sunday, February 28

Sudbury at Kingston - 2:00pm

Windsor at Sault Ste. Marie - 2:07pm

Saginaw at Hamilton - 3:00pm

Erie at Niagara - 3:00pm - CHL on Sportsnet

Peterborough at Oshawa - 6:05pm

Guelph at Sarnia - 7:05pm

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2016


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