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Rowan McCarthy

R_McCarthy@THNew

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Rowan McCarthy is a sports journalist living in Ottawa. He attended Carleton University and is in the process of completing a Master of Journalism. In his free time, he broadcasts hockey games in the EOJHL and CCHL.

Joined at Oct 24, 2024

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Rowan McCarthy·1d·Partner

Pierce Mbuyi Sets Owen Sound Attack Record For Rookie Points

The future is bright for Owen Sound Attack forward Pierce Mbuyi, who set a franchise record on Friday night for most points scored by a rookie. Mbuyi scored two goals in the Attack's 7-2 win over Guelph, bringing his season total up to 28. In 59 games, he's posted 48 points beating out former record holders Joey Hishon and Winnipeg Jets prospect Colby Barlow. Owen Sound drafted the Mississauga native seventh overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection after he scored 94 points in 55 games with Toronto Marlboros U-16 AAA. Mbuyi was second in points on the team trailing only Adam Valentini. It's been a very solid season for the 2008-born rookie. He's the highest-scoring 2008-born player in the league sitting second in rookie scoring between Saginaw Spirit rookies Carson Harmer and Jacob Cloutier. He also represented Canada Red at the U-17 World Hockey Championship where he scored a goal and added two assists to finish the tournament with three points in four games. While Mbuyi has found individual success, Owen Sound's playoff ambitions are balanced on a knife's edge. They are tied with Sarnia for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, just one point behind the seventh place Sault. Ste. Marie Greyhounds. With three games remaining in the regular season, every point matters for Owen Sound who will need a few more points to force their way into the postseason. They play their next game on Thursday night in Barrie when they will have another opportunity to snag a few points. The new rookie scoring record holder will undoubtedly have a role to play in the coming games.

Rowan McCarthy·2d·Partner

67's Beat Generals To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

You can never predict what will happen in junior hockey. The truth is, that is what makes it one of the most interesting levels of the sport to watch. Going into last night's game against Oshawa, Ottawa sat ninth in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the North Bay Battalion. Ottawa's playoff hopes looked to be dashed after they picked up just one point out of six playing against Peterborough twice and North Bay once last week. However, the 67's went toe-to-toe with Oshawa for 60 minutes and snagged a valuable two points by beating one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference 3-2. The lack of Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Gibson and New York Islanders prospect Calum Ritchie certainly helped Ottawa during the game. Additionally, Beckett Sennecke was ejected from the game for a slewfoot early in the second period. That left the Generals without three of their top players. Swedish import player Filip Ekberg played a huge role in the game, picking up a goal and an assist to extend his current point streak to seven games. He has been one of Ottawa's most important players during the last couple of weeks, scoring 13 points in his last 10 games. Goaltender Collin Mackenzie also had a strong performance, making 25 saves on 27 shots during the contest. It was a great bounceback game for Mackenzie after a difficult outing on Wednesday when he allowed four goals against Kingston. It was Columbus Blue Jackets prospect and team captain Luca Pinelli who scored the game-winner halfway through the third. He also assisted on Ryan White's first OHL goal resulting in a two-point performance. The win is all the sweeter for Ottawa as North Bay was pummeled by Kitchener 6-0 on the same night. This means Ottawa now trails the Battalion by just two points. While hope remains alive in Ottawa, the road ahead is still incredibly difficult. They face Kingston on Sunday in their last home game this season before going on the road for games against Niagara, Erie and Brantford. Ottawa needs to find at least two points in their remaining four games to catch North Bay, who also have a very difficult final four games. They play Barrie on Sunday followed by contests against Oshawa, Niagara and Sudbury. The bright side for the Battalion is they play three of their remaining four games on home ice. The race will likely go right to the end. Who knows, we could even end up with a game 69 if things fall just right.

Rowan McCarthy·4d·Partner

Sudbury Wolves Sign 2024 Eighth-Round Pick

Earlier today, the Sudbury Wolves announced the signing of 2008-born defender Finn Kearns to an OHL Scholarship and Development agreement. "We are thrilled to have Finn commit to the Sudbury Wolves," said GM and Vice President Rob Papineau. "He is a big physical defender who has a very heavy shot ... Wolves fans will love his honest, hard nosed work ethic." The Wolves selected Kearns with an eighth-round pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection after the 6-foot-3 defender finished the season with six goals and 12 assists playing for York Simcoe Express U-16 AAA. This season, Kearns attended St. Andrew's College and played for their U-18 AAA squad. In 55 games, he recorded seven goals and 17 assists for a total of 24 points. Kearns was the third highest scoring defenseman on the team. The Aurora, Ont. native is committed to play for Quinnipiac University in the NCAA, however, before then he will have the opportunity to develop under the guidance of the Sudbury Wolves. While it is unknown how Kearns will perform at the OHL level, he is coming from a hockey school with a great reputation. Many players on St. Andrew's roster have committed to NCAA schools, and Kearns is hardly the first to sign an OHL contract. Michael Dec, Kieren Dervin and Aidan Lane signed with Owen Sound, Brampton and Kingston earlier this season, to name just a few. Kearns' biggest asset is likely to be his size. He will fit right in on a Sudbury team that features only one defenseman under 6-foot. He will likely have the opportunity to fight for a spot, as Sudbury is losing overagers Nick DeAngelis and Donovan McCoy. Additionally, they will have to sort out their overagers for next season, making it somewhat unlikely that they will keep both Noah Roberts and Gavin Ewles who are both 2005-born players.

Rowan McCarthy·5d·Partner

Sharks Prospects Thriving In The OHL

Brighter days lie ahead for San Jose Sharks fans based on the performance of four of their prospects in the OHL this season. There hasn't been a ton to cheer about in San Jose this season as the Sharks sit last in the NHL. Most fans are choosing to concentrate on the emergence of young stars like Macklin Celbrinni, William Eklund and Will Smith. For those looking for more information on the Sharks prospects look no further than the OHL! Of the 18 picks San Jose made at the last two NHL Drafts, four played in the OHL this season. Quentin Musty - Sudbury Wolves - 2023 First-Round Pick Musty finished the 2023-24 OHL season fourth in league scoring and second on the Wolves with 102 points in 53 games. Disappointingly, the team flamed out in the first round of the playoffs resulting in a coaching change. Coming into 2024-25 Musty was adamant that he would not play for Sudbury, demanding a trade. Ultimately, there was no trade, and Musty joined the team in November. In 32 games, Musty has scored a stunning 29 goals and a total of 58 points. His 1.8 points per game would result in 123 points over the course of a full season which would easily land him in the top-10 scorers in the OHL. At 6-foot-2, Musty is an elite offensive player with a laser for a shot and excellent hands. Due to his speed, he is a player who can hurt opposing teams all over the ice with his skill set. While he can be devastating on the powerplay, he also excels at scoring at even strength with more than half of his points coming at even strength during his draft year. At 19, he complements the young core in San Jose, and is a guy who will complement San Jose's young core extremely well and provide them with size and scoring. Kasper Halttunen - London Knights - 2023 Second-Round Pick Halttunen started the season in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda and performed admirably in the six games he played. The right-handed forward scored two goals and added two assists during his time with the Barracuda. The Finnish forward has spent the last two seasons in London playing under Head Coach Dale Hunter. In 91 OHL games, Halttunen has 98 points maintaining an average of 1.08 points per game. He also plays on London's top powerplay unit where he delivers explosive one-timers from the left side of the ice. The big forward also comes with the ability to play a heavy game, bullying his opponents with his size and delivering crunching hits. During last year's playoffs, this style served him well resulting in 17 goals and nine assists in 18 games on the way to an OHL Championship. Even at this early stage in his career, Halttunen has played in a lot of big games. In 2021 he helped Sweden win a bronze medal at the U-18 World Junior Championship, before helping the U-20 team win a silver at the last World Junior Championship. Overall, Halttunen brings a unique combination of skill and physical play that could make him an effective power forward in the NHL. He could be an excellent depth player for the Sharks in the future. Sam Dickinson - London Knights - 2024 First-Round Pick The eleventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft lit the world on fire to start the OHL season. He was not only the top-scoring defenseman in the league going into the break, he was a top-five scorer as well. Since the World Juniors, Dickinson's torrid scoring pace has cooled slightly resulting in a total of 27 goals and 55 assists through 51 games played. He is second in scoring amongst OHL defenders trailing only Zayne Parekh. This total far exceeds the 70 points he scored in 68 games last season. Impressively, only 12 of his goals come on the powerplay meaning that more than half of his goals were scored at even strength. The 6-foot-3 defender could be the whole package. He excels at joining the rush while his hockey IQ and puck moving skills are excellent. He can also play a physical game while shutting down the opposing team's top scorers. Though plus-minus is a flawed stat, Dickinson leads the league with a plus-61 on the season. It's also the highest plus-minus in the CHL. Dickinson has the potential to be a number one defender on an NHL team. While he isn't there yet, he could be ready to make an impact in the NHL in the coming years. Igor Chernyshov - Saginaw Spirit - 2024 Second-Round Pick The Russian forward joined Saginaw in the second half of the year and has taken the league by storm. In just 18 games Chernyshov has 17 goals and 27 assists for a stunning 44 points. He's averaged 2.44 points per game during his extremely short tenure in the OHL. At that pace he would score 64 goals and a total of 166 points in a single season. For context, that kind of a season would place Chernyshov third in the rankings for most points in a single OHL season. Only John Goodwin (1980-1) and Doug Gilmour (1982-3) scored more points in a single season. However, all of this is irrelevant as Chernyshov was unavailable for the beginning of the year due to injury. At 6-foot-3, Chernyshov is another big forward with tons of offensive potential. He plays an uncomplicated game that is augmented by strong hands and a strong shot. Interestingly, he played in the KHL last season and is still adjusting to the smaller ice in North America. It should be noted that playing in the KHL at 18 is a big accomplishment. Ultimately, these are four players Sharks fans should be excited about. They have played huge roles on their OHL teams and shown up big time on scoreboards throughout the season. If they continue to develop, these players could be joining a young Sharks group in the near future. Not only are they all skilled, but they are all big, which will help them adjust to playing against NHL players. It remains to be seen how they will develop, but if they do, they will help usher in a new era in Sharks history.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 10, 2025·Partner

The OHL's Deadliest Duo: Ilya Protas and Liam Greentree

This OHL season we have witnessed individual players hit some incredible milestones in terms of points. Look no further than 2007-born forward Michael Misa who is on pace to finish the season with 135 points which would make him the 12th highest scoring 12-year-old in OHL history. Meanwhile, Nick Lardis' 70 goals places him seventh on the all-time list in terms of goals scored in a single OHL season. If he manages to hit 76 (which he is on pace to do), he will take fifth place away from none other than John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs. While we've devoted ample time to covering these achievements, there are others that deserve a bit more attention. Namely, who is the deadliest forward tandem in the OHL right now? That question has one emphatic answer: Ilya Protas and Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires. With 45 goals apiece, the pair have scored a combined 118 points for their team with Greentree leading the pair by just two assists. A more balanced partnership you couldn't find. "They're very dynamic together," said Spitfires Head Coach Greg Walters. "We're lucky to have both of them." Ilya Protas Protas, a 6-foot-5 Belarussian forward, is in the midst of his first OHL campaign after playing for Des Moines in the USHL last season. During his rookie campaign in Des Moines, Protas finished third in rookie scoring with 51 points in 61 games. The Washington Capitals selected the big forward with a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. "Ilya plays up the middle," said Walters. "He has a very high end hockey sense and an NHL stick away from the puck ... He's very mature defensively and is very patient." Walters uses Protas in all situations, putting him out both on the power play and penalty kill. Due to this kind of usage, Protas averages over 22 minutes a night, which is the second most on the team. Now in just under 60 OHL games, Protas has recorded 108 points which is just under a two point-per-game average. "My goal was kind of around this number," said Protas. "I didn't really expect I would get there, but I am happy I did." In talking about Protas, Greentree was quick to describe their play on ice as dynamic. "We know each other's game and play off each other," said Greentree. "When I'm not having a good night, he definitely brings me up and the same is true the other way." Based on this season, Protas looks to be an absolute steal for Washington in the draft. His size, skill and hockey sense could easily mean he becomes an impact player at the next level. Liam Greentree Greentree, a 6-foot-4 forward, was the LA Kings' first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He's currently in the midst of his third season with Windsor and his second season as team captain. "Liam is a powerful, rugged forward who fights and has a great shot," said Walters. "His 200-foot game has come so far since the start of the year. We're really proud of him." The Oshawa native leads the tandem in points with 110 points in 60 games, which is just under a two-point-per-game average. This total is already 20 points higher than his 90 point finish last season. The young star has 24 points in his last 10 games, meaning he has averaged 2.4 points per game during that time. That is a better points per game than Misa (1.8) in the same time period. "We had chemistry right away," said Protas. "What I saw right away was his offensive potential ... He protects pucks and creates offensive opportunities." Like Protas, Greentree plays big minutes for Windsor in all situations. He averages just under 22 minutes a night. Greentree's rugged style of play is one of the things Kings fans will love about this young player. He has no fear going into corners and doing whatever is necessary to win games for his team. While this does result in him averaging roughly two penalty minutes per game, it also has a heavy impact on opposing teams. Looking Ahead These two big young forwards are wrecking balls that go to work creating offense all over the ice while helping their team to keep pucks out of their net. Together, they have done so much to help Windsor reach their current heights. Their 90 combined goals accounts for 32.6 percent of Windsor's total goals this season. It's remarkable that both players are on pace to finish the season with 50 goals. The only tandem of forwards that comes close to their production is Nick Lardis and Patrick Thomas, who are a handful of points behind the Windsor duo. Whatever team comes up against the Spitfires in the playoffs will undoubtedly need to come up with a plan to deal with Protas and Greentree or risk having them run rampant.

P + G finish as top duo

P + G don't finish as top duo

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 7, 2025·Partner

Cam Allen Receives Hefty Suspension Following Guilty Plea To Impaired Driving Charge

The OHL slapped London Knights defender Cam Allen with a 15-game suspension following his guilty plea to an impaired driving charge. The Washington Capitals prospect could be eligible to return to the ice Sunday, March 16. The London Police charged Allen with impaired driving alongside several other charges as a result of a single-vehicle crash early on the morning of Feb. 8 in the region of Colonel Talbot road near Clayton Walk. Allen pleaded guilty to one impaired driving charge and received a two-year probation, a $4,000 fine with a $1,200 victim surcharge and a two-year driving prohibition from Justice Wendy Harris-Bentley. The 20-year-old will also have to perform 100 hours of community service and attend alcohol counselling. All other charges against Allen were dropped. Following the incident, the OHL suspended Allen pending its own investigation and has remained silent on the matter until now. Earlier today, the OHL announced a 15-game suspension to Allen with 10 of those games already served. He has five games remaining before he could be eligible to return to the ice for a game against Windsor on Sunday, March 16. The league also imposed several conditions that must be met before Allen can return to the ice. Allen can be reinstated only if he enrolls in a counselling program for substance use and an associated treatment plan. Additionally, he must engage in "community service dedicated to giving back to the hockey community, as well as participation in an accountability program." Finally, upon his return to the ice, Allen will be subject to a probationary period. Even at the end of the suspension, he can only return to London's lineup if he proves "he is actively participating in the above noted rehabilitation measures." Neither Allen nor the London Knights have publicly commented on the situation since London's initial statement following the charges. The Knights are at the top of the OHL standings and have clinched a playoff spot. They have done well in Allen's absence, though their lineup will certainly be stronger if he manages to meet the requirements to return to the ice.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 7, 2025·Partner

OHL Announces Hefty Suspensions For Brawl Between Peterborough and Erie

Earlier today, the OHL announced suspensions for members of the Erie Otters and Peterborough Petes following Sunday's brawl. Peterborough Head Coach Rob Wilson and Erie bench boss Kriss Mallette both received five-game suspensions while Erie Assistant Coach Ken Peroff was handed a two-game suspension. The league also handed out fines to both clubs. The Otters will have to pay a $7,500 fine while Peterborough will owe a slightly lower sum of $5,000. With the organizations, the league turned their attention to individual players. Otters' forward Alex Messier received the largest suspension assessed by the league for this event at nine games. The 2005-born forward received a game misconduct, aggressor and a game misconduct for continuing an altercation resulting in a seven-game suspension. He also received an automatic two-game suspension for exceeding the regular season fighting major threshold. Peterborough's Grayden Strohack was assessed a suspension of four games. Two of those games were the result of penalties including a game misconduct continuing an altercation. The 2006-born forward automatically received an additional two games for being the third man into a fight. The incident started midway through the second period off of a faceoff in the Peterborough zone. Messier went after Petes' forward Francis Parish and a scrum erupted around the Peterborough net. Just when it seemed that things were calming down, another altercation started between the two benches, this time involving the two Head Coaches. As the tension mounted, Messier made his way into the space between the benches. He and Strohack got entangled and could clearly be seen taunting one another. Though it seems unlikely Peterborough can make the playoffs, these suspensions don't help the situation. Being without Strohack and Rob Wilson will certainly hurt the team's success. Erie is solidly in a playoff spot currently sitting fifth in the Western Conference. It's been a rocky season for the Otters due to a combination of injuries, the firing of former Head Coach Stan Butler and the death of Jim Waters. The heavy suspensions reflect the league's desire to avoid these sorts of incidents in the future. While fights on the ice are one thing, those that migrate off the ice will always be deemed unacceptable.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 6, 2025·Partner

London Knights Sign Seventh-Round Pick

The London Knights announced the signing of 2024 seventh-round pick Eddie Hickson to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Prior to being drafted by London, Hickson played his minor league hockey for the Sun County Panthers U-16 AAA team. In 30 games, he scored 20 goals and added 28 assists during the 2023-24 season. He got called up to play seven games for the Windsor Jr. Spitfires U-18 AAA squad as well as four games with the Chatham Maroons in the GOJHL. This year, he has spent the year playing for the London Nationals in the GOJHL. In 46 games, he has 17 goals and 23 assists for a total of 40 points. Hickson's performance with the Nationals earned him a spot in the GOJHL Top Prospects game. At 5-foot-9, the Essex, Ont. native is not a very big player. Unless Hickson grows, the physicality in the OHL could be an issue for the young forward if he joins the Knights next season. However, it should be noted that London has a history of drafting undersized forwards who find success. Toronto Maple Leafs' forward Mitch Marner and Easton Cowan were both undersized when they joined London and have found large amounts of success. We will see whether Hickson follows in their footsteps if he joins the Knights in the future. It seems unlikely he will be called for an extended period this season due to the strength of London's roster.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 4, 2025·Partner

Nashville Predators Sign Memorial Cup Winning Forward

Yesterday, the Nashville Predators announced the signing of Kingston Frontenacs' forward Joey Willis to a three-year, entry-level contract. With three seasons under his belt, the 2005-born Willis is a veteran in the league. The Elmhurst, Illinois native spent his first two years with Saginaw before being moved to Kingston for a bevy of picks at this year's trade deadline. The Predators selected Willis with their fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft after the American-born forward finished his rookie OHL campaign with 44 points in 68 games. So far this season has been excellent for Willis, who has scored 21 goals and recorded 23 assists, for a total of 44 points in just 42 games. In November, he set the franchise record in Saginaw for most goals scored in a single game by potting five against Flint. While Saginaw chose to trade Willis and several other 19-year-old players to Kingston at the deadline, they did so with a heavy heart. He played a very important role for the team. Spirit GM Dave Drinkill noted specifically that while the trades were necessary, it was difficult to watch a player like Willis leave the organization. Since arriving in Kingston, Willis has 10 points in 12 games playing for one of the deepest forward groups in the league. The young forward comes with a winning track record at the highest levels. He won gold with this year's World Junior Championship roster and helped Saginaw to win the Memorial Cup at the end of last season. With the gold medal win, he became the sixth American-born player to win the Memorial Cup and World Junior Championship. By signing Willis, the Predators are adding a young forward with plenty of experience winning in Major Juniors. While he is a work in progress, he projects as a player who could play a role in the Predators starting lineup in the future.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 3, 2025·Partner

Easton Cowan's Scores OT Winner And First OHL Hat Trick In Dramatic Win Against Oshawa

Easton Cowan celebrating during the series against Oshawa last season [Kalvin Taylor/Goodall Media]. The game between Oshawa and London on Sunday was the final meeting between the two teams this season unless they run into each other in the finals of the OHL Playoffs. It was a rematch of last year's championship series, a clash between two of the top teams in the league and a game where pride was on the line. It also featured the first hat trick of Easton Cowan's OHL career. In almost all aspects this game was an even contest. Each team got four powerplay opportunities, and ended up scoring three goals at the end of regulation. London outshot Oshawa 41-33 by the end of the game, though at the end of regulation the shots were 35-32 in favour of the Knights. Winnipeg Jets' prospect Colby Barlow, Luca D'Amato and Owen Griffin scored goals for Oshawa while Noah Read picked up a goal and Cowan scored two in regulation. The tension in the building was palpable with the game tied at three heading into overtime. With just over a minute remaining in overtime, Sam O'Reilly sprung Cowan for a breakaway. A quick forehand to backhand move and Cowan shoveled the puck over Jacob Oster's pad winning the game for London. It's stunning to think that the Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect who has scored 202 points in 168 OHL games had never recorded a hat trick until last night. Of course, most people are well aware of Cowan's historic 65-game point streak that straddled the last two seasons. However, he also was named OHL MVP last season and later Playoffs MVP after he led the playoffs in goals (34) and assists (24) during London's championship run. Given all of these achievements it's natural to assume that a player of Cowan's caliber would have registered a hat trick somewhere along the way. When you look at Cowan's last two years, what jumps out is that he is a model of consistency. He consistently picks up one to two points with highs of three points. This goes somewhat against the usual pattern of star OHL forwards having burst games of four or five points interspersed with more games of a couple or no points. Whether you're a fan of Cowan or not, it cannot be denied that he shows up when the Knights need him most. In this instance his hat trick splits the season series with Oshawa and avenges their loss earlier in the season. Only time will tell whether we get a rematch between Oshawa and London. At this point it can only happen if both teams come out on top of their respective Conferences in the playoffs. If that rematch does arrive though, the high stakes game we saw last night has set the stage for an amazing playoff series.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 3, 2025·Partner

Sarnie Beats Guelph On The Back Of Beckham Edwards' Two-Point Effort

Beckham Edwards playing for Sarnia [Natalie Shaver/OHL Images]. The Sarnia Sting grabbed two critical points on Sunday by defeating the Guelph Storm 3-1. Rookie forward Beckham Edwards scored a goal and added an assist in the win. Just under three minutes into the game, Edwards slid away from Guelph defender Quinn Beauchesne and received a pass that he subsequently shoveled home on the backhand to give his team a one goal lead. With that goal, Edwards is tied with Carson Harmer for second in goals amongst OHL rookies with 22 this season. His assist came early in the third when Sarnia was ahead 2-1. He picked off a pass in the neutral zone and forced his way into the Guelph end. He then handed the puck off to Matthew Manza who snapped it past Nick Surzycia. With the pair of points added to his total, Edwards is now fifth in rookie scoring with 37 points. He sits behind only Pierce Mbuyi in terms of 2008-born players. At this point in the season Edwards looks like a budding star that is likely to lead Sarnia into the future. The Sting drafted the London native in the third round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection after his thunderous season with Little Caesars 15U AAA. In 64 games with Little Caesars, Edwards recorded 60 goals and added 37 assists for a total of 97 points. The win was important for Sarnia as they are involved in a tight race at the bottom of the Western Conference. The Sting sit seventh in the West with 52 points. Sault Ste. Marie and Owen Sound are right on their heels with 51 points apiece. Only two of the three teams will make it to the postseason and as such every point counts at this point in the season. For now, Sarnia leads the trio, though they have a pair of games against the Greyhounds in the next three weeks. These four-point games will be critical for the playoff race. On Friday, the Sting will travel to Guelph to play the Storm for the last time this season.

Rowan McCarthy·Mar 1, 2025·Partner

Oilers First-Round Pick Nets First OHL Hat Trick In Dominant London Victory

Last night, Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O'Reilly recorded the first hat trick of his OHL career in a dominant 9-1 London win over the Owen Sound Attack. The Oilers selected O'Reilly with the last pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. So far this year, the Toronto native has 21 goals and 35 assists in 54 games played. While anything can happen in junior hockey, this was a game the Knights were expected to win. It was not as obvious that they would win in such a dominant fashion. The team scored three goals in each period, and ended the night with just three players on their roster who didn't record at least one point. O'Reilly's first goal came nearly six minutes into the second period on a lovely give and go between him and Jesse Nurmi. He followed up with his second goal of the night just seven minutes later. That particular play saw Sam Dickinson create a turnover that bounced onto O'Reilly's stick in front. He made no mistake quickly depositing the puck into the back of the net. His third goal came early in the third period once again with the aid of Jesse Nurmi who finished the night with a pair of assists. Nurmi charged down the wall before firing a pass to O'Reilly which was tipped into the back of the goal sealing the young forward's hat trick. O'Reilly is in the middle of his second full season with London. The Edmonton Prospect scored 56 points in 68 games as a rookie, and is on pace to set a new personal high of 69 points this season. Not only that, but O'Reilly is a solid playoff performer. He scored five goals and added seven assists during the Knights' championship run last season. He was also a point-per-game player at the Memorial Cup. Given all of these factors, it's easy to see why Edmonton selected and subsequently signed O'Reilly to a three-year entry-level contract worth $964,000. He's still young and has lots of room to grow, but Oilers and Knights fans should both be excited about him achieving another milestone in his OHL career.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 28, 2025·Partner

Memorial Cup Winning Goaltender Heading To NCAA Next Season

Saginaw goaltender Andrew Oke announced on Monday that he will play NCAA Division 1 hockey next season with Lake Superior State University. He joins Calem Mangone as the second overage player in Saginaw to commit to Lake Superior State. The Spirit drafted the 2004-born goaltender from Michigan in the fifth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Since then, he has played in 151 OHL games and a total of 78 wins. If Oke can find five more wins this season, he will become the all-time leader in wins for the Spirit. He is currently second in franchise history in wins behind Jake Peterson who recorded 82 wins for Saginaw during his career. In terms of hardware, Oke won a bronze medal at the 2023-24 World Junior Championships playing for the United States. Undoubtedly his biggest accomplishment is being part of the roster that won Saginaw's first Memorial Cup. He went 4-1 during the tournament while maintaining a 2.82 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage. Notably, he got the start in the final matchup against London where he performed admirably. At Lake Superior State, he will play with a familiar face in Calem Mangone who committed to the Division 1 school several months ago. In the tandem, Lake Superior State has secured a proven OHL scorer in Mangone and an experienced, winning goaltender in Oke. However, before they make their first steps in the NCAA, the pair will go on another playoff run together in Saginaw.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 27, 2025·Partner

These Three Defensemen Have Already Scored 20 Goals

As we close in on the end of the regular season, there are three OHL defensemen who have already met the 20-goal threshold. The question remains, how many more will achieve the feat? Scoring 20 goals in a single season is an impressive accomplishment for any OHL defender. Last season, only five blue-liners met the mark while the year before that six defensemen scored 20 or more goals. The latest player to meet the mark is Barrie Colts defender Kashawn Aitcheson, who scored a pair against the Peterborough Petes last Saturday. This is the first time that Aitcheson, who is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, has scored 20 goals in a single season. He has more than doubled the total of nine goals he scored during his first two years in the league. Aitcheson is having his most productive OHL season by far having recorded 45 points in 54 games. The explosion of scoring has undoubtedly played a large role in raising the Barrie defender's draft stock. He was ranked fifteenth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings. San Jose Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson is another of the three defenders to score 20 or more goals this season. This is also the first time Dickinson has met the 20-goal mark having fallen just short of it last season with 18. Dickinson displayed truly explosive production in the first half of the season, which has waned slightly in the second half of the year. In 44 games, the 2006-born defender has 69 points and 22 goals this season. While Dicksinon's production has waned slightly in the second half of the year the opposite is true of the final player on this list. After a relatively slow start to the season, Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh has taken off since the start of January. In that time, the 2006-born defender has 46 points in 22 games. Parekh leads all defenders with 28 goals this season. He stands out on this list and the league in general as the only defenseman to have scored 20 or more goals for the last three seasons. Indeed, he has never failed to meet the mark during his three-year OHL career. While these three have already met the mark, it remains to be seen how many more defenders will do so this year. The league has averaged 5.5 defenders who have met the mark over the last two seasons. Luca Marrelli, who has 17 goals currently, could easily do so. It may be a tougher task for Henry Mews and Lukas Fischer who both have 14 goals. If any of these players hope to reach the mark they will need to get a move on as there is less than a quarter of the season remaining.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 25, 2025·Partner

Capitals' Prospect Becomes Highest Scoring Import Player In Spitfires' History

Ilya Protas is now the highest-scoring import player in Windsor Spitfires' history. The Washington Capitals' prospect picked up a pair of goals in Sunday's contest against Saginaw to claim the title. The 2006-born forward joined the Spitfires' roster this season after playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL last season. While his numbers there were impressive they pale in comparison to what he is doing in Windsor. In 52 games with the Spitfires, Protas has a record-setting 41 goals and 57 assists for a total of 98 points. He's currently in the midst of an eight-game scoring streak during which he has raked up a total of 21 points. He and Los Angeles Kings' prospect Liam Greentree have torn through the rest of the league. The deadly duo have scored a combined 197 making them the highest-scoring linemates in the league. Even Nick Lardis and Patrick Thomas, who have scored a combined 195 points cannot match their offensive output. On top of becoming the highest-scoring import player in Windsor's history, the young forward was also named the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week this past week. In four games played, he scored five goals and added nine assists for shocking 14 points. Given how well Protas has performed this season, the third-round pick that Washington used to select him in the 2025 NHL Draft looks like an absolute steal. His size, speed and offensive instincts make him an incredibly potent offensive player who could have the ability to be a difference maker at the next level. While offensive output isn't everything, Protas is currently outscoring Beckett Sennecke, Jett Luchanko, Cole Beaudoin and Sam O'Reilly who were all drafted in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Protas is on pace to end the season with a whopping 119 points. That includes a 50-goal pace that would without a doubt make him the highest-scoring import player in Windsor for years to come.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 24, 2025·Partner

North Bay Victory Over Sarnia Solidifies Bid For Final Playoff Spot

The North Bay Battalion's strong showing against the Sarnia Sting this afternoon goes a long way towards solidifying their bid for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Going into the contest, the Battalion held a two-point lead over the Ottawa 67's with two games in hand. By the halfway mark in the game, North Bay held a 3-1 lead with goals from the Leblanc twins and Ihnat Pazii. Nick Wellenreiter and trade deadline acquisition Parker Vaughan added tallies to make it 5-1 by the end of the game. The win was a complete team effort featuring five different scorers and a strong performance by 2006-born goaltender Mike McIvor who made 33 saves on 34 shots. While picking up a pair of points is always impactful, these two are all the more important because Ottawa fell at the hands of the Brantford Bulldogs this afternoon. This resulted in North Bay gaining a four-point lead on the other team vying for eighth all while maintaining their two games in hand. The race between Ottawa and North Bay has swung back and forth repeatedly during the season. While Ottawa seemed to have the final playoff spot nailed down before the deadline, they have struggled recently. This is partially due to a string of injuries that heavily impacted the team's offense during the last month and a half. The Battalion has gathered momentum in the last few weeks winning five of their last six games including a critical game against Ottawa on Feb. 17. Both of these teams are in rebuilds, though North Bay's rebuild is in much better shape than Ottawa's having consistently traded players away throughout the year. In return, they've acquired young players like Vaughan whom they are working to develop. A playoff spot would do wonders for the young talent in North Bay. While they are unlikely to win a round, they will gain valuable experience that will be critical for the team as they continue to rebuild. North Bay will face Ottawa twice more this season once in February and once in March. The pair of games could very well determine which team books a ticket to the postseason. By picking up the win this weekend, North Bay has put pressure on Ottawa to find a way to close the growing gap between the two squads.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 22, 2025·Partner

"Tough Days" Continue For Niagara As Losing Streak Hits Nine

The Niagara IceDogs' losing streak hit nine games last night due to a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa 67's. "We've gotta play harder," said Winnipeg Jets' prospect Kevin He. "We've got to stick to the systems and buy in ... it's got to be a whole team effort." Niagara came into the game struggling with injuries between the pipes. Starter Owen Flores and backup Charlie Robertson missed the game resulting in 2008-born Matthew Humphries getting the call-up. In seven OHL games this season, the Newmarket native has yet to record his first OHL victory. In those games, he's maintained a 5.71 goals-against average and a .826 save percentage. Ottawa took advantage of the young goaltender early scoring three goals on just four shots. While Niagara managed to push back at the end of the period they never managed to overcome the early deficit. "I thought we needed more energy," said He. "From guys buying into the system to finishing hits, just those small details that matter. I thought we weren't there today." The loss continues what has been a very difficult start to 2025 for Niagara. Since the end of December, Niagara has a 5-12-2-3 record and just one win in their last 10 games. From sitting second in the Eastern Conference going into the break they've slid down to fifth sitting 13 points behind the fourth-place Kingston Frontenacs. Even worse, they are now tied for fifth with the Brampton Steelheads who have come up with big wins against some of the top teams in the East in the last few weeks. "It's tough days," said He. "We gotta figure it out. We've got Kingston tomorrow - it will be a quick turnaround for us. We've gotta get right back into it." Niagara is a very young team with 41 percent of their roster being 2007 and 2008-born players. While young teams can be dynamic and very offensively gifted, they can also struggle when they hit adversity. "We've got a lot of young guys, but the onus is on us, the older players, to show them how it's done," said He. "Going through these hard times we've got to stick up for each other." One of the issues Niagara is facing is that their offense seems to have stagnated. Before the break, they scored four or more goals in 19 of 32 games. Meanwhile, in the second half, they have scored four or more goals in just 6 of 23 games. Despite its struggles, the team is very likely to make the playoffs. If the IceDogs win six of their remaining 13 games, North Bay would need to win 13 of their 14 remaining games to get ahead in points. Healthy goalies and a couple wins could do a lot to help Niagara right their sinking ship. The team has more than enough talent to go .500 for the end of the season if they can find their groove again. Unfortunately for the IceDogs, a lot of damage has already been done. They have fallen too far behind the top four teams in the Conference and are unlikely to be able to catch them. At this point, the team is battling to stay in fifth and regain some of the mojo it had in the first half of the year.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 21, 2025·Partner

Kitchener Rangers Extend Coaching Trio

Yesterday, the Kitchener Rangers announced contract extensions for Head Coach Jussi Ahokas, Associate Coach Jeff Kyrzakos and Assistant Coach Brad Flynn. The trio are now under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. "It's a well-oiled machine the way that they operate," said Rangers' GM Mike McKenzie. "[They make it] a really good team-building culture and have great relationships with the players. It's a fun place to come to every day for the players but it's also a hardworking and accountable environment for them to get better." The coaching trio is in the midst of their second full season in Kitchener. Their time together can only be described as a success. Their record as a coaching staff is 79-36-8-1 in 124 games behind the bench in Kitchener. Each of the coaches brings their unique background to the table allowing them to create an interesting blend of modern hockey as a unit. Ahokas is a 44-year-old Finnish national with extensive coaching experience in his home country of Finland. He's coached in the Finnish professional league as well as coaching at the junior level. He's won medals coaching Finnish international teams at the Olympics, World Junior Championships, and World Championship levels. In total, he's won two golds, a silver and three bronze medals. While all of Ahokas' coaching experience before Kitchener comes from Europe, the same is not true for the two other members of the coaching staff. Kyrzakos, a 40-year-old Canadian national, started his coaching career in the OJHL before joining the Mississauga Steelheads. He acted as an Assistant GM and Assistant Coach for the Mississauga Steelheads between 2016 and 2023. Between the three, he has by far the most OHL coaching experience. It should be noted that that Kyrzakos also acts as an assistant GM for the team. Brady Flynn is a 39-year-old Canadian hailing from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. He has experience coaching in the QMJHL, OHL and WHL. He also has experience at lower levels of junior hockey. "Once they got the first year out of the way we were pretty confident they'd do an even better job this year," said McKenzie. The coaches have certainly accomplished a lot in their first 100 games, but they have more to do this season. The Rangers are guaranteed to make the playoffs and currently sit third in the Western Conference. Anyone who wants to make it out of the West knows they will have to battle through London. "They've been in first the whole way along ... they're the team to beat right now," said McKenzie. He continued saying London is a tough team to beat because they capitalize on their chances and have plenty of firepower. Regardless of who Kitchener runs into in the playoffs, Ahokas, Flynn and Kyrzakos will be leading the team for the foreseeable future.

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 19, 2025·Partner

Sabres' Prospect Suspended For Checking From Behind

Ethan Miedema received a two-game suspension as a result of a hit thrown over the weekend. Earlier today, Buffalo Sabers' prospect Ethan Miedema received a two-game suspension as a result of a check from behind during the Frontenacs game against Peterborough on Saturday. At the time of the hit, the Frontenacs trailed the Petes by a score of 2-1. After a brief flurry around the Peterborough goal, Francis Parish chased down the puck in the corner. Right behind him was Miedema who delivered a crushing hit directed into the back and head of a Parish. The 2007-born forward immediately slumped to the ice in obvious discomfort while his teammates sought retribution against Miedema. Not only is Miedema considerably taller than Parish (6-foot-4 compared to 5-foot-8), but at the time of the hit, Parish was in a vulnerable position facing toward the boards. The hit caught him high and drove his head into the boards. Parish, who was shaken up as a result of the play, was escorted off the ice by a combination of medical staff and his teammates. The referees gave the Sabres' prospect awarded a five-minute major penalty to Miedema for checking from behind meaning he missed the rest of the game. This play is fairly cut and dry and seems rather uncontroversial. The hit was clearly dangerous and merited the penalty and subsequent suspension. The Frontenacs forward is in the midst of his most productive OHL season. Through 53 games he has recorded 51 points making him nearly a point-per-game player. The suspension couldn't have come at a worse time for the team as they have a difficult schedule this week. He will miss a pair of games against Barrie before returning for the Friday game against

Rowan McCarthy·Feb 17, 2025·Partner

Brantford And Oshawa Become First Eastern Conference Teams To Clinch Playoff Spots

Both teams achieved the feat with wins this afternoon. Oshawa and Brantford became the first Eastern Conference teams to clinch playoff spots. While many expected Oshawa to be one of the top teams this year, Brantford comes as a bit of a surprise. Both teams entered their respective games today with identical conditions under which they could clinch playoff berths. For Oshawa, there were two possible conditions for them to clinch heading into their game against Erie. If they won the game, they would guarantee a playoff spot. Alternatively, an Ottawa loss to North Bay would also guarantee the team a spot. For Brantford, the same two options would result in the team clinching a playoff spot. A win against Sault Ste. Marie, or a 67's loss would guarantee their playoff spot. Oshawa ended up defeating Erie 2-1 with Luca Marrelli sealing the victory in overtime. The game was close from beginning to end with both goaltenders making more than 30 saves. Brantford took down the Greyhounds in a barnburner of a game that ended up 8-6 in favor of the home team. The end of the game was wild featuring a pair of shorthanded goals scored 11 seconds apart by the Greyhounds. Ultimately, the Bulldogs sealed the win on a strange play where Greyhounds' goaltender Noah Tegelaar mishandled a puck behind his own goal. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjpmeUfxFWY[/embed] Though both teams managed to pick up the required wins to clinch their respective playoff spots, they were ultimately unnecessary. Before either of the games could finish, the North Bay Battalion defeated the Ottawa 67s 3-2 in Ottawa meaning that regardless of the outcomes of the other two games, Brantford and Oshawa had clinched playoff spots. Exiting Family Day, the two teams are deadlocked at 73 points apiece at the top of the Eastern Conference. However, Brantford gets the top spot because they have already won the season series against the Generals. The division rivals have met on seven occasions this season, with the Bulldogs winning five of those games. The Bulldogs won the series in spectacular fashion by sweeping Oshawa in a pair of games on back-to-back nights in the middle of January. Coming into the season it seemed like Oshawa would be one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference against this year. Last year's team took the top spot and went all the way to the finals of the OHL playoffs where they were swept by London. Having retained most of their team and added new talent including Winnipeg Jets' prospect Colby Barlow and Nashville Predators' prospect Andrew Gibson the Generals look like contenders. Brantford is a bit more of a surprise. While they certainly had solid pieces like Chicago Blackhawks' prospect Nick Lardis and former OHL Rookie of the Year Jake O'Brien, they were not a guaranteed winner. Adding Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders in the offseason certainly strengthened the team between the pipes, but they started the year a bit flat. Their work since the end of December is what has put them in this position. Oshawa and Brantford will meet one more time before the playoffs this year on Feb. 28. While the game won't determine the winner of the season series, it will be an opportunity to see two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference go head to head.