First Friday night of the New Year, and the OHL did not disappoint.
1st Star: Ryerson Leenders, Mississauga Steelheads (29 Saves, SO)
4 (MIS) - 0 (KGN)
Ryerson Leenders was able to extinguish the fire that is the Kingston Frontenacs, by keeping them off of the scoresheet completely. The Frontenacs were on a four-game win streak heading into this one. They had loads of confidence, and their offence was firing on all four cylinders.
Steelheads' goaltender Ryerson Leenders ensured that trend was not continuing, by limiting them to zero goals. The NHL Draft eligible goaltender has been on highlight reels and top performer tapes all season long. He just keeps managing to steal games for Mississauga.
Leenders athleticism is outstanding, and he finds a way to make saves even when it look like he may be out of it. He can get from one post to the other quicker than most, and he constantly bails out his team with his game-saving stops. This is exactly what he did with 29 saves against the Frontenacs.
2nd Star: Dalyn Wakely, North Bay Battalion (2G, 2A)
5 (NB) - 2 (OTT)
Undrafted forward Dalyn Wakely had the most points on this night, as the Battalion beat the 67's by a score of 5-2. In what was a chippy game, Wakely was able to keep his eyes on the prize and put up four points.
Wakely and Anthony Romani have been going all-season-long, and tonight it was Wakely's night. Both should be getting draft talk as overagers, as they have been carrying North Bay's offence this season.
Wakely oozes precision and control when he's got the puck, and he never fails to finish when he gets the chance. Somehow, he quietly put up 30 goals last season, and is on pace for even more this season.
3rd Star: Nick Lardis, Brantford Bulldogs (2G, 1A)
7 (SBY) - 4 (BFD)
Surprisingly, the Bulldogs scratched several big-name forwards in tonight's game. Florian Xhekaj & Patrick Thomas both found themselves in the press box — potentially drawing attention from the trade market ahead of the deadline next week.
Nonetheless, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis never fails to step up to the plate. Most of the offence went through his hands on this night, and he was able to put two goals in the net himself. The Bulldogs lost this game, but Lardis just ensures once again how he can take control of the offence.
Both of his goals came with six minutes left in the first period, after being down 2-0 to the Wolves. He was able to tie up his team heading into the second period.
Lardis has one of the strongest releases in the OHL. He is able to get it off from far out, and his deceptiveness catched goaltenders off guard. Remarkably, Lardis is on pace for 54 goals this season. It is safe to say that Lardis will be a goal scoring threat in the NHL, and is certainly a game-changer currently for the Bulldogs.