May is nearly upon us as the Bobby Orr Trophy recipient Ottawa 67’s await the winner of the Western Conference Championship Series to determine who they’ll face in the 2019 Rogers OHL Championship Series. Here’s what’s happening across the OHL This Week.
OTTAWA 67’s ARE 2019 EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS:
Tye Felhaber forced overtime, scoring on the power play with 34 seconds to spare in the third period before striking for the game winner 20 seconds into the extra frame as the Ottawa 67’s won 2-1 and claimed the Bobby Orr Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions for the first time since 2005. Felhaber’s second-straight two-goal contest helped the 67’s snatch victory from the clutches of defeat as they completed a four-game sweep of the Oshawa Generals to capture their fourth Bobby Orr Trophy (2001, 2003, 2005, 2019). Recap / Highlights / Post-Game Press Conference / Photo Gallery
SPIRIT REBOUND ON THE ROAD IN GAME 4:
A pair of 2002-born talents shone brightly for the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday as Cole Perfetti (7, 8) found the back of the net twice and rookie netminder Tristan Lennox turned aside 36 of 37 in a 4-1 road win over the Guelph Storm in Game 4. Shorthanded on the blue line, the Spirit leaned on overage rearguard Reagan O’Grady for a big performance as he scored once and added an assist while Florida Panthers prospect Owen Tippett (11) also lit the lamp, helping Saginaw take a 3-1 series lead before a crowd of 4,698 at the Sleeman Centre. Recap / Highlights / Post-Game Press Conference / Photo Gallery
KNIGHTS’ BOUCHARD NAMED OHL DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR:
Edmonton Oilers prospect Evan Bouchard of the London Knights has been named the 2018-19 recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy for OHL Defenceman of the Year. Bouchard recorded 53 points in just 45 games scoring 16 goals and 37 assists while carrying a plus-28 rating. His 1.18 points-per-game mark was the second highest in the OHL this season and he was the only defenceman in the league to average more than four shots on goal per game. Read more
BATTALION’S BRAZEAU NAMED OHL OVERAGE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion is the 2018-19 recipient of the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the OHL’s Overage Player of the Year. Brazeau led the league with 61 goals and finished second overall with 113 points in 68 games played. He becomes the first member of the Battalion to earn this award after establishing a new franchise record for goals in a season while becoming just the second Battalion player following Wojtek Wolski to surpass the century mark for points in a season. Read more
67’s’ ROSSI NAMED OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ AND CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Rookie Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s is both the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week as well as the CHL Player of the Week after recording eight points in three games of the Eastern Conference Final. Rossi extended his personal point-streak to eight games with a trio of multi-point performances last week that helped the Ottawa 67’s stay perfect in post-season play taking a 3-0 series lead against the Oshawa Generals for the Eastern Conference Championship. Read more
67’s’ ROSSI REPRESENTS OHL IN CIBC SHOWDOWN:
Ottawa 67’s forward Marco Rossi is the OHL’s representative in this week’s CIBC Showdown featuring one great play from all three leagues. Watch & Vote
TERRIFIC WORK FROM THIRD ROUND TENDIES IN JANES SAVES OF THE WEEK:
Treat yourself to the terrific work of the OHL’s third round tendies in the latest edition of #JanesSaves. Featured this week is Michael DiPietro of the Ottawa 67’s, Tristan Lennox and Ivan Prosvetov of the Saginaw Spirit, Kyle Keyser of the Oshawa Generals, and Anthony Popovich of the Guelph Storm. Watch
OHL MOURNS THE LOSS OF KELLY THOMSON:
The Ontario Hockey League family is deeply saddened by the loss of former London Knights and Oshawa Generals forward Kelly Thomson who passed away on Sunday. Once a member of what was recently voted the greatest junior hockey team in history, Thomson hoisted the Memorial Cup as a member of the 2005 London Knights before joining John Tavares and the Oshawa Generals a year later. Read more
PETES’ KIRK NAMED TO GREAT BRITAIN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER:
Arizona Coyotes prospect Liam Kirk of the Peterborough Petes will represent Great Britain at the World Hockey Championship for a second straight year. Kirk, who had 26 goals and 21 assists in 63 games with the Petes last season, was a member of last year’s Great Britain squad that earned promotion to the top division after winning the Division I Championship. The 25-man team will compete in the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia from May 11 through May 20. Read more
ETHAN DEL MASTRO COMMITS TO STEELHEADS:
The Mississauga Steelheads have received a commitment from 2019 first round (12th overall) selection Ethan Del Mastro. The Waterdown, Ontario native recorded 44 points (8 goals, 36 assists) in 73 regular season games in his Minor Midget season in the GTHL this year. Del Mastro is described as a big left shot D-Man that likes to play physical, is a smooth skater, moves the puck well and plays with a competitive edge. Read more
LUCA DEL BEL BELLUZ COMMITS TO STEELHEADS:
The Mississauga Steelheads have received a commitment from 2019 third round selection Luca Del Bel Belluz. Del Bel Belluz, 15, appeared in 30 games with the Toronto Red Wings (GTHL) during the 2018-2019 season and registered 32 points (20 goals, 12 assists). Over seven OHL Cup games he recorded 8 points (6 goals, 2 assists) supporting his team to a second-place finish. Read more
SIMON MOTEW COMMITS TO RANGERS:
The Kitchener Rangers have received a commitment from 2019 fourth round selection Simon Motew. Motew was the fourth round, 75th overall pick by the Rangers in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. The Highland Park, Ill. native was a member of the Chicago Mission 15’s during the 2018-19 season where he tallied 3 goals, 10 assists for 13 points in 20 games played. Read more
AVERY WINSLOW COMMITS TO KNIGHTS:
The London Knights have received a commitment from 2018 fifth round selection Avery Winslow. A native of Clearwater, Florida, Winslow was drafted in the fifth round, 94th overall of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Last season Winslow played in the BCHL as a member of the Wenatchee Wild where he accumulated two goals, four assists in 35 games played. Read more
ALUMNI NOTES:
McDavid, Kane named Ted Lindsay Award finalists: Erie Otters graduate Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and London Knights graduate Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks have been named finalists for the NHL’s Ted Lindsay Award given to the League’s Most Valuable Player as judged by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. McDavid finished second in NHL scoring with 116 points (41-75–116) over 78 games while Kane finished with 110 points (44-66–110) for third. Both former first overall NHL Draft picks, McDavid was named CHL Player of the Year with the Erie Otters in 2015 while also earning the Wayne Gretzky ’99’ Award as Playoff MVP. Kane was the CHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2007 while also winning the OHL’s Eddie Powers Trophy as leading scorer with 145 points. McDavid and Kane are joined as finalists by Rouyn-Noranda Huskies graduate and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. More details at NHLPA.com.
Giordano, Simmonds, Williams named Mark Messier Leadership Trophy finalists: Three OHL graduates have been named finalists for the NHL’s Mark Messier Leadership Award. Owen Sound Attack graduate Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames, Soo Greyhounds graduate Wayne Simmonds of the Nashville Predators and Plymouth Whalers graduate Justin Williams of the Carolina Hurricanes are being considered for the annual honour given to the player deemed to best lead by positive example through on-ice performance along with a commitment to charitable causes in the community. Giordano skated in 78 games with Calgary this past season, putting up 74 points (17-57–74) from the back end. Simmonds split the season between Nashville and Philadelphia, recording 30 points (17-13–30) over 79 games. Williams recorded 53 points (23-30–53) over 82 games in Carolina. More details at NHL.com.
Burns, Giordano named Norris Trophy finalists: Brampton Battalion graduate Brent Burns and Owen Sound Attack alumnus Mark Giordano have been named finalists for the NHL’s Defenceman of the Year Award. A Norris Trophy recipient in 2017, Burns registered a career-high 83 points (16-67–83) over 82 games with the San Jose Sharks this past season. The 34-year-old Barrie, Ont. native spent the 2002-03 season in Brampton. Giordano also had a career year with the Calgary Flames, registering 74 points (17-57–74) over 78 contests. Never drafted to the OHL or the NHL, the 35-year-old Giordano played with the Attack from 2002-04. Full details at NHL.com.
Goodrow emerges as overtime hero for Sharks: North Bay Battalion graduate Barclay Goodrow stepped up with the Game 7 overtime winner to send the San Jose Sharks into the second round, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 on Tuesday. Goodrow’s goal came with 1:41 remaining in overtime as he took a feed from Erik Karlsson to tuck the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury. The 26-year-old has two goals over seven playoff contests after putting up 16 points (7-9–16) over 82 regular season matchups. Goodrow played five years with the Battalion franchise between North Bay and Brampton, recording 229 points (127-102–229) over 313 regular season matchups from 2009-14.
Williams finds McGinn for double OT winner as Canes advance: Plymouth Whalers graduate Justin Williams fed Guelph Storm alumnus Brock McGinn in the slot for the Game 7 double-overtime winner as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the defending champion Washington Capitals 4-3. The Hurricanes win their first playoff round since 2009 as McGinn, who won an OHL Championship with the Guelph Storm in 2014, scored the decisive goal. Known as ‘Mr. Game 7’ for his historic success in Game 7 scenarios, the 37-year-old Williams had four points (1-3–4) in the seven game series. Williams played with the Plymouth Whalers from 1998-2000, helping them win a Western Conference title in his final season.
Murray named ECHL General Manager of the Year: Peterborough Petes graduate Rob Murray has been named the ECHL’s General Manager of the Year. The Tulsa Oilers Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations steered his team to a Mountain Division title. The Oilers qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015 with a 16-point improvement over the 2017-18 season. Murray’s time in Tulsa followed six seasons with the Alaska Aces as well as four as the head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Murray played three seasons in Peterborough from 1984-87, before a lengthy pro career that included 107 NHL games spent large with the Winnipeg Jets. Full details at ECHL.com.
SCHEDULE:
Friday April 26th:
Guelph at Saginaw – 7:05pm (Game 5)
Sunday April 28th:
Saginaw at Guelph – 2:00pm (Game 6)*
Monday April 29th:
Guelph at Saginaw – 7:05pm (Game 7)*
*if necessary
The Ontario Hockey League, in association with its digital media partner NeuLion, are proud to offer special packages and rates for OHL Live coverage of the 2019 OHL Playoffs. Powered by NeuLion, OHL Live provides coverage of all 20 teams in the OHL delivering all games throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Single Round Team Pass Home and Away: $25.99
Playoff All Access : $79.99
*All prices in Canadian dollars
In addition to these packages, OHL Live continues to offer single game passes and are available at a rate of $7.99 per game.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT OHL LIVE AND TO SUBSCRIBE
