OHL This Week: Apr. 15 to 20, 2016
The 2016 OHL Playoffs continue as the conference finals are right around the corner!
Here’s a look at what else is happening around the league:
COMMUNITY CORNER:
New scoreboard coming to Oshawa: Oshawa City Council has approved a new scoreboard for the General Motors Centre, with a new display being installed for the start of the 2016-17 season. For full details, please visit oshawagenerals.com.
Rangers host year-end awards banquet: New this season, the Kitchener Rangers will hold their annual team awards show in the Dom Cardillo Arena at The Aud. This free event is open to the public and gets underway on Saturday April 16th at 7:00pm following a player autograph session.
Steelheads host Rookie Development Camp: The Mississauga Steelheads are hosting their Rookie Development Camp this weekend at Iceland Arena in Mississauga. The players will split into two teams, with the Blue & White game wrapping up the weekend beginning 9:00am on Sunday. Visit mississaugasteelheads.com for full details.
Bulldogs announce Orientation Camp dates: The Hamilton Bulldogs have announced dates for their 2016 Orientation Camp that will take place at the Chedoke Twin Pad. The event that runs April 16-18 features top Bulldogs prospects split up into two teams for weekend practices and scrimmages. Visit hamiltonbulldogs.com for the full schedule.
Spitfires host Spring Mini Camp: Current players, past and new draftees from the 2016 OHL Priority Selection and free agent invites will gather at the WFCU Centre on Saturday for the Windsor Spitfires annual Spring Mini Camp. The players will be on-ice from 1-3pm (Green Shield Rink on the Community Rinks side). Rosters will be announced at windsorspitfires.com in the days to come.
KNIGHTS’ MITCH MARNER TAKES OHL/CHL WEEKLY HONOURS:
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitch Marner of the London Knights is the CHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 10 after scoring twice with five assists for seven points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-5.
Marner becomes the second straight Knight to earn the award after helping his team take a 2-0 lead in their OHL Western Conference Semi-Final series against the Kitchener Rangers. Full Story
ICEDOGS’ ALEX NEDELJKOVIC NAMED VAUGHN CHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK:
Carolina Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedeljkovic of the Niagara IceDogs is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending April 10 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 2.40 and save percentage of .932.
Nedeljkovic made 110 saves in three games last week backstopping the fourth place IceDogs to a 3-0 lead against the first place Kingston Frontenacs in their OHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final series. Full Story
301 PLAYERS CHOSEN IN 2016 OHL PRIORITY SELECTION:
A total of 301 players were selected in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection from 91 different teams across Ontario and parts of the United States. The selected players included 171 forwards, 99 defencemen, and 31 goaltenders. 292 players chosen were 2000-born athletes, with nine players born in 1999. Full Story
8 OHL PLAYERS SET FOR WORLD UNDER-18 HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP:
A total of 8 OHL players are set to represent Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota this week. Full Story
100 OHL GRADUATES EMBARK ON STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS:
OHL alumni represent over 20% of all players competing in NHL post-season action this season, with 100 grads embarking on the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs this week. Past OHL greats such as John Tavares (London Knights/Oshawa Generals/New York Islanders), Steven Stamkos (Sarnia Sting/Tampa Bay Lightning), and Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires/Nashville Predators) hit the ice in pursuit of Stanley Cup glory. Full Story
FOUR PLAYERS SIGN NHL CONTRACTS:
Peterborough Petes defenceman Matt Spencer, Sarnia Sting blueliner Josh Jacobs, Kingston Frontenacs forward Spencer Watson and Barrie Colts centreman Justin Scott have each signed three-year, entry-level NHL contracts.
The Tampa Bay Lightning signed Spencer, who was their second round (44th overall) pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Full Story
The New Jersey Devils inked Jacobs, who was their second round (41st overall) pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. Full Story
The Los Angeles Kings signed Watson, who was their seventh round (209th overall) pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. Full Story
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed Scott as an overage free agent. Full Story
ALUMNI NOTES:
Kane leads NHL in scoring, earns Art Ross Trophy: London Knights graduate Patrick Kane has won the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top scorer during the regular season. Kane finished the year with 46 goals, 60 assists and 106 points in 82 contests. The Buffalo, NY, native claims his first Art Ross Trophy, helping the Chicago Blackhawks finish with a 47-26-9 record in the Central Division. Kane played one OHL season with the London Knights in 2006-07, suiting up in 58 games to record 62 goals, 83 assists and 145 points to lead the CHL in scoring. He was Chicago’s first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft.
Gibson earns Jennings Trophy: Kitchener Rangers graduate John Gibson has won the William Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goaltenders of the NHL club that surrendered the fewest amount of goals during the regular season. Gibson and Anaheim Ducks goaltending partners Fredrik Andersen and Anton Khudobin surrendered an NHL-low 192 goals against. Gibson played to a 21-13-0-4 record with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage with four shutouts in 40 games. The native of Pittsburgh, PA, played two seasons in Kitchener from 2011-13, appearing in 59 career regular season games while playing to a 38-19-0-1 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. He was Anaheim’s second round (39th overall) pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
8 OHL graduates to represent Canada in World Hockey Championship: Eight OHL graduates have been named to Canada’s roster for the 2016 IIHF World Hockey Championship set to take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia beginning May 6th. Defending world champions Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion), Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires) and Ryan O’Reilly (Erie Otters) headline a roster that also includes defenceman Cody Ceci (Owen Sound Attack) and forwards Max Domi (London Knights), Boone Jenner (Oshawa Generals), Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts) and Connor McDavid (Erie Otters). The team will hold a pre-competition camp in Prague before heading to Russia for an opening game matchup with the United States.
Budaj named AHL Player of the Week: OHL graduate Peter Budaj has been named the AHL Player of the Week after allowing only four goals on 111 shots over three games to help the Ontario Reign secure the Pacific Division regular-season title. On Friday, Budaj made 30 saves as Ontario defeated Bakersfield, 4-1, making him just the second AHL goaltender in the last 50 years to win 40 games in a single season. Named a First Team AHL All-Star last week, Budaj (41-14-4) leads the AHL in wins, goals-against average (1.74), save percentage (.932), shutouts (9) and minutes played (3,514) this season for Ontario, starting 59 of the Reign’s first 66 games. The native of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia played three OHL seasons with the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors from 1999-2002, going 49-35-4-9 with a 2.96 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and six shutouts in 113 career regular season games.
Maione named ECHL Defenceman of the Year: Guelph Storm graduate Mathew Maione has been named the ECHL Defenceman of the Year. The 25-year-old rearguard had 11 goals, 43 assists and 54 points in 70 games between Brampton and Wheeling, leading all defencemen in scoring. A native of Toronto, Maione played three OHL seasons between Niagara and Guelph from 2007-10, appearing in 173 games while recording eight goals, 36 assists and 44 points. He played four seasons at the University of Prince Edward Island upon graduating from the OHL.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:
Friday April 15:
Sault Ste. Marie at Erie – 7:00pm (Game 5)
Sunday April 17:
Erie at Sault Ste. Marie – 2:00pm (Game 6)*
Monday April 18:
Sault Ste. Marie at Erie – 7:00pm (Game 7)*
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