The Christmas break and holiday trade freeze is finally upon us.
The Canadian world junior roster has been set and 8 players who have suited up in the OHL this year have made team Canada. On the blueline Conor Timmins (SSM) will reprasent the OHL. Up front Alex Formenton (Ldn), Gadjovich (OS), Katchouk (SSM), Kyrou (Sar), McLeod (Mis) Raddysh (Eri) and Thomas (Ldn). You can add OHL alum and current Montreal Canadians rear guard Victor
Mete to that list as well.
Divisional recap
In Hamilton 2017 draft pick Liam Van Loon picked up his first career assist. Van Loon has been tearing up the GOJHL this year playing with Ancaster... After missing almost a month of action due to imjury Kyle Keyser has stopped 105 of 113 shots the last 2 weeks.... The Petes now have only 1 point in their last 5 games Are they getting closer to selling?
Luke Bignell picked up Barries OHL leading 5th suspension of the year for a slewfoot... In sudbury David Levin has come back but Blake Murray and Zack Malik have gone down with injuries with the Malik ailment sounding the more serious off the two.... In Niagara Bradey Johnson looks like he will be out of the lineup for about 3 weeks
Isaac Ratcliffe was seen on crutches after a game this past weekend but the big forward toughed it out and was able to play against the Soo and Oshawa.... With Victor Mete loaned to Team Canada there is speculation swirling that he will be on his way to London soon.
Morgan Frost picked up OHL player of the week. The OHLs 3rd leading score has points in all December games and is the front runner for player of the month... In Saginaw Evan Cormier set the franchise record with his 6th career shutout
We are almost at the official halfway mark of the OHL season (Game 340 is on December 28th). There are a few surprises both good and bad. This week I thought I would look at a unsung here/Breakout star for each OHL team.
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 29-3-2 Power Rank Percentage (PR%) ..8745
Anthony DeMeo and Jacob LeGuerrier: The Hounds 3rd D pair have been flying under the radar in the shadows of the Hounds top 4. DeMeo and LeGuerrier are the Hounds only defenders to play all 34 games this year. They have done a great job easing the pressure on the big 4 and have shown plenty of promise as their games grow.
Games this Week: Dec 28 @ Sag
(2) Hamilton Bulldogs 21-7-6 PR% .7523
Isaac Nurse: The production the Bulldogs have been getting from their 2nd year 3rd liner may be going unnoticed by most casual OHL fans. What he has been able to bring on the PK as well has his secondary scoring has been key to their success. With 7 goals and 6 assist last year he has topped last yeasr 2 goals and 6 assists which came in a full season.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Miss
(3) Barrie Colts 20-10-3 PR% .6727
Jason Wilms: When Svechnikov went down with an injury a lot of people thought the Colts were going to implode. Wilms is one of the main reasons why they did not. The second year forward is averaging a point per game and has already hit career highs in goals and assists. He is also averaging over 3 shots per game as he has developed into an offensive force for the Colts.
Games this week: Next game Dec 28 vs Sby
(4) Windsor Spitfires 18-11-3 PR% .6655
Cole Purboo: On a team with big names Purboo has been a constant source of offensce for the Spitfires thsi year. After averaging .25 points per game last year he is up to .97 this season. He has already scored 11 goals and has added 20 assists. With further trades coming to this Roster he will be leaned on more and more.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 @ Sar
(5) Sarnia Sting 25-8-2 PR% .6501
Sean Josling: One of the main reasons why they Sting have exceeded expectations is that they have exceptional depth in their top 9. Josling has been fantastic on their 3rd line this year chipping in with 24 points through 35 games this year. He has almost doubled last years point production and has seen ice time in almost all situations.
Games this week: Next game Dec 28 vs Wsr
(6) London Knights 18-14-2 PR% .6516
Alec Regula: With Mete playing in the NHL there was a giant hole on the Knights blueline. The first year defender from Michigan has done a great job filling some of that void. Paired for most of the season with Even Bouchard Regula has been shooting up draftboards and has been just what the Knights have needed.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 @ Fli
(7) Niagara 16-11-5 PR% .6503
Bradey Johnson: The 2nd year forward has scored his first 7 career goals this year. With 5 assists he has also surpassed his 4 from last season. You cant complain about that kind of production from a 13th round draft pick.He is scoring a goal once every 5 shots which I cant see him continuing at that pace. That said he should continue to be a key piece for these young icedogs.
Games this week: Next game Dec 28 @ NB
(8) Saginaw Spirit 17-12-3 PR% .6347
Kyle Bollers: The big guns in Saginaw get lots of press but one player who has been integral to their success has been the 2016 Free Agent signing. After picking up only 3 points last year in 63 games he has seen that jump to 12 points in 28 games so far. This team had depth question marks going into the season but the added production on the bottom 6 has been a pleasant surprise.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs SSM
(9) Kingston Frontenacs 17-10-6 PR% .6330
Tyler Burnie: Going into the season the big question surrounding the Fronts would be if they had the scoring depth to compete. They have the high end talent with Robertson, Rasenen and Helvig but needed other players to step up. Burnie has come out of nowhere in the 1st half picking up 15 goals and 11 assists. After averaging .12 points per game last year he us up to .79 in the 1st half of the season.The towering forward from Midhurst is one of the big reasons why Kingston is where it si in the standings.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Ott
(10) Kitchener Rangers 21-11-2 PR% .6295
Jake Henderson: The veteran OA forward continues to work hard and solidify the Rangers bottom 6. He has the best +/- on the team which I know isnt the greatest stat but he is 4 points away from a career high and has seen his point production jump this year by .23 points per game.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 @ OS
(11) Guelph Storm 17-13-3 PR% .5931
Cedric Ralph: With 14 goals in the first half this year Ralph almost has as many goals as he had points last season. What has also been beneficial to the Storm is that all his goals have come at even strength. His 14 goals have come on only 48 shots so I cant see him maintaining this pace in the 2nd half but he should continue to outpace his .29 points per game from last year.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Ptb
(12) Oshawa Generals 15-17-2 PR% .5644
Cole Ceci: Picked up from the Storm while Keyser was injured the Generals were desperate for a life vest to keep them afloat. Ceci did just that sporting a 5-7 record with the Generals which prevented them from free falling in the East standings.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Eri
(13) North Bay Battalion 12-18-4 PR% .5017
Justin Brazeau: The veteran power forward from New Liskard his having a huge year for the Battalion. He has surpassed his career high in goals arlready with 24 on the season and has almost doubled his point production from .55 per game last year to 1.09 this year. He already has 10 goals on the power play and has snagged a player of the week nod.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Nia
(14) Peterborough Petes 15-17-1 PR% .4718
Austin Osmanski: There have been a lot of disappointments with the Petes this year but early season trade pick up Austin Osmanski has been giving the team great value for what they gave up. He is having a breakout offensive year and has shored up some of his defensive issues that plagued him last year with Mississauga.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 @ Gue
(15) Owen Sound Attack 14-13-5 PR% .4577
Jacob Friend: The veteran OA deference has once again been a rock on the blueline for the Attack. In his third full season with the team has continued his strong play for Owen Sound and is an indispensable part of the team even with their struggles.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Kit
(16) Sudbury Wolves 10-19-5 PR% .4402
Reagan O'Grady: With the acquisitions of Candella, Rhodes and Blaisdel the returning 4th year dman somewhat gets lost in the shuffle. He has been a rock on their blueline all year and will likely be very coveted at the deadline. While teams will always covet his defence he is having a career offensive year as well with his production up to .41 points per game up from .27 last year.
Games this week: Next game Dec 28 @ Bar
(17) Ottawa 67s 15-16-3 PR% .4254
Kody Clark: The late '99 birthday has exploded in his 2nd year in the OHL. After picking up 7 goals and 4 assists last year he has 13 and 12 this season. His points per game has jumped up from .19 to .86 and lets not forget his OT heroics that has helped the 67's pick up some extra points along the way.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 @ Kgn
(18) Erie Otters 11-17-6 PR% .4235
Alex Gritz: picked up in the offseason from the Soo Greyhounds. Gritz was looking for more icetime and he has gotten it in Erie. With 8 goals and 8 assists this year he has blown past his totals from last year. His .48 points per game far outpaces is .14 from last season.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 @ Osh
(19) Flint Firebirds 10-20-3 PR% .4083
Jake Durham: the 2nd year forward has slowed down a bit in December with only 3 points in 8 games but on the season he has been a much needed source of offence for the Firebrids. With 5 goals and 13 assists he is averaging .55 points per game, up from .24 last season
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Ldn
(20) Mississauga Steeleheads 13-20-1 PR% .3989
Shaw Boomhower: A free agent signing from 2016 Boomhower filled a bottom 3 role last year and brought great value to the team. He has stepped it up this year with more icetime opening up for him. He has jumped is production from .28 points per game to .50. He has also already set a career high in goals with 8 so far in the 1st half.
Games this week: next game Dec 28 vs Ham
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