OHL This Week: Jan. 22 to 25, 2015
Wednesday January 21, 2015
By Josh Sweetland/OHL
With the NHL Central Scouting Service Midterm Rankings out of the bag and the 2015 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game upon us this week, things in the hockey world are moving at a rapid pace toward the developments in store for the latter half of the season. Don’t miss out on some of these great events around the league this weekend and tune in on Sunday for TVCOGECO Hockey Day in the OHL!
AT THE RINKS
Rangers host Don Cameron Potato Night: Bring your spuds! Friday night at The Aud, the Kitchener Rangers are asking all fans to bring potatoes to be donated to a good cause! In partnership with the House of Friendship’s 20th February Potato Blitz, the Rangers are lending a helping hand.
The House of Friendship aims to collect enough potatoes for food assistance programs for an entire year. This year, the House of Friendship will use 300,000 pounds of potatoes to meet the need in our community and you can help.
Led by ‘Team Blitz Coach’ Don Cameron, Rangers fans showed their generosity during the 2013-14 season by bringing over 4,000 pounds of potatoes to the game and making $5,400 in cash donations. Zehrs Markets matched donated potatoes, making for a very grand total of more than 35,700 lbs of spuds.
For more information on Don Cameron Potato Night, visit kitchenerrangers.com.
Knights honour 1965-68 London Nationals on Friday: As part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations, the London Knights will be honouring London’s hockey heritage on Friday night when they host the Sarnia Sting.
Past players and coaches from these London Nationals teams will be honoured on ice following a video presentation. The Knights encourage all fans in attendance to help honour the early years of the Knights franchise as a Junior A team in London by wearing the London Nationals colours, white and blue.
Hanson and Maxwell to drop puck in Sarnia on Saturday: With a fitting West Division rival in town on Saturday night, former Sarnia Sting bruisers Dennis Maxwell (1994-95) and Mike Hanson (1995-1998) will perform the ceremonial faceoff prior to the Sting facing off with the Windsor Spitfires. Long-time Sting fans looking to get a glimpse of some mid-90’s Sting alumnus won’t want to miss it!
Spitfires honour Ott and Henrique Sunday: After Ed Jovanovski saw his banner rise to the rafters of the WFCU Centre last weekend, a pair of great 14’s in Steve Ott and Adam Henrique will have that opportunity on Sunday when the Spits host the Sarnia Sting.
Ott was the last Windsor Spitfires player to score 50 goals, a feat he accomplished in 2001. The Summerside, PEI, native is now with the St. Louis Blues in his 12th NHL season.
A two-time MasterCard Memorial Cup champion, Adam Henrique collected 228 points (111-117–228) in 238 career OHL games and had a postseason to remember in 2010, scoring 20 goals in 19 games to lead the Spits to their second straight OHL title and Memorial Cup crown to be named OHL Playoff MVP. The Brantford, ON, native is in his fourth season with the New Jersey Devils.
Steelheads host Town Hall Meeting Sunday afternoon: Following this Sunday’s home game against the Kitchener Rangers, the Mississauga Steelheads will host their annual Town Hall Meeting. This is an opportunity for fans to meet with ownership, office staff, coaches and players and get some insight into the team and provide feedback to the group as a whole.
This season the Steelheads are opening Town Hall up to all of their fans as they strive to continue to enhance their game day experience.
2015 BMO CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME SET FOR THURSDAY NIGHT
40 of the CHL’s top draft eligible prospects go head-to-head in St. Catharines on Thursday night, with 13 OHLers competing in the showcase. Connor McDavid, Lawson Crouse and Team Orr take on Dylan Strome, Mitchell Marner and Team Cherry at 7:00pm ET on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
For updates, rosters and content, visit www.bmotopprospects.ca.
OTTERS’ ELIE NAMED PIONEER ENERGY OHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dallas Stars prospect Remi Elie is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 18 with seven points (4-3–7) in two games and a plus-minus rating of plus-5.
Elie is the third Otter to claim the award this season after collecting two multi-point games last week helping his club pick up a pair of victories on home ice. The two wins improve the Otters’ record to 31-9-1-2 as they stand second place in the OHL’s Western Conference with 65 points.
Elie, a 19-year-old from Green Valley, ON, is playing in his third OHL season. Acquired from the Belleville Bulls earlier this month, Elie has 44 points in 40 games this season including 10 points in five games with the Otters. He was selected by the Stars in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft.
TVCOGECO’S HOCKEY DAY IN THE OHL RETURNS SUNDAY
Sunday January 25th is Hockey Day in the OHL! For the second year in a row, TVCogeco will be airing exclusive OHL coverage and live hockey action across Ontario. For more details and programming information, click here.
ALUMNI NOTES
First NHL goal for Lessio: Former Oshawa Generals forward Lucas Lessio notched his first NHL goal on Tuesday night, connecting with former London Knight Sam Gagner at 17:54 of the second period. Lessio’s goal was the lone Arizona marker in a 6-1 loss to Chicago.
Lessio’s first goal comes in his 12th NHL game and ninth this season. The Maple, ON, native has spent most of his time with the AHL’s Portland Pirates. scoring nine goals and seven assists in 27 games this season.
McCollum earns first NHL win: It’s been a long time coming for Thomas McCollum, but at 25 years-old, the former Guelph Storm and Brampton Battalion netminder has his first NHL win. McCollum came on in relief of Petr Mrazek on Sunday against Buffalo, turning aside seven of the eight shots he faced in a 6-4 comeback victory for the Wings.
Since graduating from the OHL in 2009, McCollum has 180 AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, posting a record of 79-78-10. He was a five-time CHL Goaltender of the Week and won a Calder Cup with Grand Rapids in 2013.
Patrick Kane scores 200th NHL goal: While Lucas Lessio scored his first goal, Patrick Kane picked up his 200th. The former London Knight and 2007 CHL Rookie of the Year helped his Hawks claim a 6-1 victory with his 22nd goal of the season.
Now in his eighth NHL season, Kane has amassed a total of 544 career points (200-344–544) and has helped lead Chicago to a record of 30-15-2 on the season.
Percy, Leivo recalled by Leafs: A pair of recent OHL graduates are back up in the NHL, trying to help the Toronto Maple Leafs find a solution to their recent woes. Stuart Percy and Josh Leivo were in the lineup on Wednesday when the Leafs were narrowly defeated by the Ottawa Senators.
Percy, who had a stint with the Leafs earlier this season, has played in nine games and has three assists. In his time with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, Percy has a goal and five assists in 19 games. The former Mississauga Steelhead had 122 career OHL points (25-97–122) in 218 games over four seasons.
Carrick, Prince added to AHL All-Star rosters: As a result of injuries and NHL call-ups, recent OHL grads in Connor Carrick and Shane Prince will have the opportunity to suit up in the AHL All-Star Classic this weekend in Utica, New York.
Carrick a fifth round pick by Washington in 2012, has five goals and 21 assists in 39 games with the Hershey Bears this season. The former Plymouth Whalers assistant captain played in 34 games with Washington last season, scoring a goal and five assists. He played one OHL season in 2012-13, helping the Whalers reach the Western Conference Finals.
Like his fellow American Carrick, Shane Prince will attend the AHL All-Star Classic after a strong first half to the season with the Binghamton Senators. The former Kitchener Rangers and Ottawa 67’s forward had 14 goals and 17 assists in 37 games in the first half, good for second on Binghamton team scoring. Prince played in the OHL from 2008-2012, registering 220 points (86-134–220) in 244 games. He played in 2011 CHL Top Prospects Game.
KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (32-9-0-2) vs. Barrie Colts (26-14-1-1)
Thursday January 22 at Barrie
Two of the OHL’s hottest teams lock horns in Barrie as the Colts, who have won eight of their last ten, host the Greyhounds who scamper into town on a five game winning streak. If their past encounter is any indicator, the Colts will come out of the gate with something to prove in front of the hometown crowd on Thursday.
The Hounds took it to Barrie back on November 8 as eight different players had goals in an 8-3 victory. Rookie goaltender Joseph Raaymakers made 36 saves while Barrie, without goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in the lineup, fell behind 3-0 in the first ten minutes of the game.
Since the start of December, the Colts seem to have turned things around and have had contributions from a variety of sources in their lineup. Led by the strong goaltending of Blackwood who was the NHL Central Scouting Service’s number one ranked North American goaltender in Tuesday’s midterm rankings, the Colts have received scoring depth and solid defence.
San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc saw his 25-game point streak snapped on January 10, but the Staten Island, NY, native has had an integral role in the Colts run up the Eastern Conference standings.
Furthermore, captain Joseph Blandisi was rewarded for his strong play that includes a league-leading seven shorthanded goals this season when he was scooped by by the New Jersey Devils last week, signing an entry level NHL contract with the club.
Across the ice, Sheldon Keefe’s Greyhounds have been as good on the ice as they are on paper, with newcomers Nick Ritchie and Anthony DeAngelo providing an instant spark. They’ll kick off a three game road trip with stops in Barrie, Mississauga and Guelph.
As the standings sit today, the Hounds have a one point edge on Erie to enter the weekend with both teams having played 43 games.
The Colts have only lost twice at home since the beginning of December, but as the most penalized team in the league, they’ll need to be wary of letting the Hounds’ fifth ranked powerplay out of the cage too often.
London Knights (27-13-0-3) vs. Oshawa Generals (33-7-1-1)
Sunday January 25 at Oshawa
With both teams wrapping up a three game weekend, Sunday’s tilt between London and Oshawa will be a good test for both teams and will feature some old teammates getting reacquainted.
The Knights enter the weekend on a three game winning streak, receiving continued contributions from the crafty trio of Arizona Coyotes prospects Max Domi and Christian Dvorak along with draft eligible forward Mitchell Marner. The Knights got back on track at Budweiser Gardens last weekend, shaking off a two game skid at home to win all three of their home games over Windsor, Sarnia and Kitchener. Recently acquired 16 year-old first round draft selection Cliff Pu scored his first goal in London green on Saturday in a win over Sarnia.
The Knights will square off with old friends Michael McCarron and Dakota Mermis for the first time since the two went east. The CHL’s first ranked Generals have found goals a little tougher to come by of late, but have managed to win their last two games by a goal including a narrow edging of Barrie on Sunday at home.
Ken Appleby remains a strong last line of defence for the Generals, making 33 saves for his fifth shutout of the year last weekend. The North Bay native is 27-5-0-1 on the season with a league leading 2.05 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage.
The Generals will have their hands full this weekend, kicking things off with a visit to a Peterborough club that scratched out a 1-0 win over them back on January 10. The Generals will host an always tough North Bay squad at home on Friday before dueling with the Knights on Sunday.
The Generals have been Western Conference specialists this season, playing to a 13-1-0-0 mark against foes from outside the conference. They’ve yet to play the Knights though, who are sure to be preparing themselves for a Sunday showdown.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE: JAN. 22-25
Thursday, January 22
BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game – 7:00pm (Live on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, Pacific, TVA Sports, and Sportsnet 590 The FAN)
Saginaw at North Bay – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Barrie – 7:30pm
Friday, January 23
Plymouth at Niagara – 7:00pm
Erie at Guelph – 7:30pm
Kingston at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Sarnia at London – 7:30pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Mississauga – 7:30pm
Belleville at Ottawa – 7:30pm
Saginaw at Sudbury – 7:30pm
North Bay at Oshawa – 7:35pm
Saturday, January 24
London at Belleville – 7:05pm
Guelph at Plymouth – 7:05pm
Windsor at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Barrie – 7:30pm
Kingston at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday, January 25
Sudbury at North Bay – 1:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Guelph – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Barrie at Niagara – 2:00pm
Erie at Owen Sound – 2:00pm
Peterborough at Belleville – 4:05pm
London at Oshawa – 6:05pm
Sarnia at Windsor – 7:00pm
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