When the Niagara IceDogs brought on Belarusian goaltender Vladislav Yermolenko in the summer, I’m sure their plan was for him to form a tandem with overage netminder Charlie Robertson. It’s been pretty much a tandem between the two to start the year, but Yermolenko stepped up for his team, notching his first win since Oct. 31.
Niagara won both of its games over the weekend. In their Friday game against Brampton, they trailed for over 40 minutes, but four unanswered goals, all in the second half of the third period, put the IceDogs on top for a massive comeback victory. Yermolenko stood his ground in the crease, giving his team a fighting chance as they trailed. He stopped 33/35, and although he wasn’t named as one of the game’s three stars, he was more than deserving to be.
On Sunday at home, it was another close game for Niagara, gutting out a 2-1 overtime victory over the North Bay Battalion. It was a goaltending duel between Yermolenko and Jack Lisson. Vancouver Canucks prospect Riley Patterson scored the OT winner, and the Belarusian secured his second win in a row, stopping 26 of 27 in the process.
After going 2-0, posting a 1.48 goals-against-average, and stopping 59 of 62 for a save percentage of .952, the OHL named Yermolenko the OHL Goaltender of the Week.
Before this weekend, Yermolenko had lost his six outings. This is after having a five-game winning streak. Consistency has been a slight issue for the rookie netminder, but the same can be said about the entire IceDogs team. However, in his NHL draft year, scouts will want to see more performances like the two he had this past weekend.
Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
Latest OHL News:
2026 NHL Draft Prospect Alex McLean Named OHL's Player Of The Week. - Community Post
NHL Central Scouting gave Guelph Storm forward Alex McLean a “W” grade in their <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/87-ohl-players-named-to-nhl-s-central-scouting-2026-draft-preliminary-watch-list">preliminary rankings list</a> for the 2026 NHL Draft. The second-year forward from Perth, Ontario, wanted to show those scouts that his letter grade should’ve been higher.
From Last Pick To Top Performer: Kitchener Rangers Prospect Ian Robinson Named GOHL Prospect Of The Week - Community Post
With the GOHL now serving as the official development hockey league for the OHL this season, the OHL is committed to showcasing standout prospects from the GOHL each week.
Brantford Bulldogs Back On Top In OHL Weekly Power Rankings - Community Post
Last week, after dropping out of the top spot in the OHL’s weekly power rankings for the first time since Oct. 13, the <a href="https://chl.ca/ohl/article/ohl-power-rankings-dec-8-2025/">Brantford Bulldogs are back on top</a>.