The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Flint clinches I-75 Divide Cup
The Flint Firebirds won all three games this week becoming the league’s fourth team to get to 20 wins this season. Riley Piercey scored with 26 seconds left in overtime to give Flint the 5-4 win over Guelph on Tuesday in his 150th career OHL game. The OHL Player of the Week has recorded seven points in his last three games. Flint went on to capture the I-75 Divide Cup for the first time since 2016-17 with a 6-3 win over Saginaw on Friday night as Brennan Othmann recorded a career-high five points. Ethan Keppen has eight points (5-3–8) in nine games since re-joining the club from the AHL. Sahil Panwar has been hot as well, with six points in his last two contests. The Firebirds sit in the Western Conference’s third-place spot with a record of 20-13-0-2.
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?: Todd Boone (@Boonerdoggle) pic.twitter.com/qoHhQ4aNPB
— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) January 22, 2022
Fronts back on top in East after perfect weekend
Three straight wins have the Kingston Frontenacs back on top of the East Division standings, sporting a 20-9-3-0 record. The Fronts defeated Hamilton, Niagara and Oshawa on three consecutive days to move back into second place in the Conference, seven points back of first place Mississauga. Ottawa Senators prospect Leevi Merilainen had himself a weekend, becoming the first goaltender in franchise history to stop two penalty shots in one game on Friday before pitching a 26-save shutout on Sunday. Jordan Frasca led the way on the scoresheet with seven points (2-5–7) in four games last week while Shane Wright scored a highlight reel goal in Sunday’s win over Oshawa.
This Shane Wright tally from behind the net has us SPEECHLESS! ?
(?: @KingstonFronts) pic.twitter.com/H9uujUbIX4
— NHL (@NHL) January 24, 2022
Petes stop surging Steelheads
The Peterborough Petes put themselves within two points of a playoff spot after winning both of their weekend games. Defeating first place Mississauga 7-4 on Friday night, the Petes put an end to the Steelheads’ 10-game point streak. Emmett Sproule led the way with four points scoring two goals and two assists. Peterborough owns a record of 12-19-2-0.
Beat the OHL’s top-ranked team:✔️
Snapped their 10-game point streak:✔️
Picked up two points:✔️
Won our last two games:✔️HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE ? pic.twitter.com/lzJLbUMZo8
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 22, 2022
Greyhounds double-up Storm on TSN
Tye Kartye came to play on Friday night, scoring twice before a national audience on TSN. Kartye scored his 28th and 29th goals of the season, with both coming on the power play. The Greyhounds and their top-ranked power play lead the Western Conference with a 21-12-2-1 record. Calgary Flames prospect Rory Kerins leads the Hounds with 60 points (22-38–60) in 36 games, placing him third in League scoring.
Tye Kartye brought his A-game on @TSN_Sports ??
Veteran scored his League-leading 28th and 29th goals and now has 17 on the power play, the most by an @OHLHoundPower player since 2009-10 ? pic.twitter.com/mTQLa0niVK
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 22, 2022
Goyette, Delic continue red hot January as Wolves win twice
2022 NHL Draft prospects David Goyette (10-6–16) and Kocha Delic (4-12–16) both have 16 points through 12 January contests, continuing to contribute this past weekend in wins over Oshawa and North Bay. The two rookies had three-point performances in Sunday’s win as the Wolves climbed into eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 12-20-3-1 record.
??13 Kocha Delic
?88 David Goyette
?49 Payton Robinson pic.twitter.com/3er00R4sq1— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) January 23, 2022
Knights and Storm split weekend set
The two top teams in the Midwest Division split decisions over the weekend, with the London Knights skating to a 5-3 win in Guelph on Saturday. The Storm rebounded with a 3-2 win in London on Sunday. Guelph has defeated London in four of their five encounters this season, but the Knights hold a two-point edge on the Storm in the standings.
Some first goals to start the second half! ? #IamtheStorm | #StormCitypic.twitter.com/XS7B1AEPjS
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) January 24, 2022
Johnston keeps streak rolling
Dallas Stars prospect and OHL top scorer Wyatt Johnston rides an 11-game point streak into this week. The Windsor Spitfires star kept the points coming as his team split decisions with a win over the Soo Greyhounds and loss to the Kitchener Rangers on Thursday and Friday. Johnston sits tied for the League lead with 63 points (21-42–63) over 33 games, and has 17 points (3-14–17) in six January outings.
ICYMI, centre Wyatt Johnston @johnston0055 on pace to become the first member of the Windsor #Spitfires @SpitsHockey to win an outright #OHL scoring title this century. https://t.co/DIH84dZent via @TheWindsorStar
— Jim Parker (@winstarparker) January 21, 2022
Guzda named Goaltender of the Week
The Barrie Colts clinched the 3-2 overtime win against North Bay on Saturday as San Jose Sharks prospect Ethan Cardwell tipped-home a Brandt Clarke point shot for the OT winner 55 seconds into the extra period. OHL Goaltender of the Week Mack Guzda lead the team to victory stopping 34 of 36 shot to improve to 9-2-0-0 in a Colts uniform. Barrie has won five of seven matchups between the two teams this season, climbing their way to one point off of fourth place in the Eastern Conference with an 18-9-3-0 record.
*Acts surprised* ??
? https://t.co/b1i37FM8mA#BackInTheSaddlehttps://t.co/Kd0opEjxmtpic.twitter.com/QNaCXkEngL
— Barrie Colts (@OHLBarrieColts) January 24, 2022
Otters win on historic MLK day
The Erie Otters clinched the home-ice comeback win on their Martin Luther King Jr. Day game where Alex Randall provided the call for the Otters, becoming the first Black play-by-play voice in League history. Erie scored four unanswered goals, including three in the third period to overcome a 4-2 deficit as Otters captain Daniel D’Amato picked up three assists while Connor Lockhart scored twice. The Otters went on to fall 6-2 in London on Friday before splitting a weekend set with the Saginaw Spirit without the services of starting netminder Nolan Lalonde. The Otters are 12-18-1-2, three points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
“I’m glad I’m the first…because I know I won’t be the last. I’m just excited for whoever’s next to have this opportunity.” – @AlexRandall412
Yesterday, Alex became the first Black Play-by-Play voice in @CHLHockey & @OHLHockey History. @BlackPxPFund | #OttersNation? pic.twitter.com/Wsl2Wrgmc6
— Erie Otters ? (@ErieOtters) January 18, 2022
