OJHL: WEEK IN REVIEW - JAN. 15
By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: Kevin Raposo/OJHL Images
With just six weeks remaining in the 2017-18 OJHL regular season there’s a lot still up for grabs before the final games on February 24th. This week we will look at the races lower in the standings and in particular for the eighth and final playoff position in each Conference. With the trade deadline come and gone, all 22 teams are focused on improving or holding their position during this final stretch of the season.
In the North-East, the battle for the eighth and final playoff position is currently between the Pickering Panthers and the Whitby Fury. The two rivals are separated by just four points and the Fury have been slowly catching Pickering over the past few weeks. In the South-West, the battle for the final playoff spot is currently between three teams as the Orangeville Flyers hold eighth spot today, but the Mississauga Chargers are just one point back and the Burlington Cougars are just four points back with three games in hand.
OJHL Players of the Month - December 2017
North-East Conference: Jake Bricknell, Aurora Tigers
South-West Conference: Dante Spagnuolo, Toronto Patriots
Goaltender: Colby Muise, North York Rangers
SPECIAL TEAMS - PP%
1. 24.18% - Toronto Patriots
2. 23.81% - Georgetown Raiders
3. 22.66% - Aurora Tigers
SPECIAL TEAMS - PK%
1. 92.23% - Aurora Tigers
2. 91.93% - North York Rangers
3. 88.07% - Oakville Blades
Click here for full OJHL Special Teams stats
NORTH-EAST CONFERENCE
The Pickering Panthers currently hold the eighth position in the North East with 35 points and although they are only five points behind seventh place Trenton, the Whitby Fury have been closing in on the Panthers for the past few weeks. In their last 10 games, the Panthers are 2-7-0-1 and have lost four straight, while the Fury have gone 5-5-0-0. Pickering leads the season series between the two teams, 2-1-0-0, with the final head to head match up tomorrow in Whitby in a game that could play a big role in determining who gets the final playoff position in the North-East. Aside from trailing Pickering by four points, Whitby has also played two more games than their rivals, so they have their work cut out for them. The Fury only have 13 games left on their schedule, while the Panthers have 15 left. The 10th place Stouffville Spirit have 18 points on the season and are 17 points behind Pickering with only 16 games left, so although they are not mathematically out, they will need to get really hot and get help to push into contention for a playoff spot. Likewise, the 11th place Lindsay Muskies are 22 points behind Pickering with just 14 games left to play and will likely be playing the role of spoilers the rest of the way.
Top Performances
Goals: 2 - Jackson Arcan (Wellington) vs Orangeville Jan. 13, Lucas Condotta (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14, Jack Jeffers (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14, Liam Robertson (Whitby) vs Patriots Jan. 14, Mitchell Mendonca (Wellington) vs Cobourg Jan. 14
Assists: 3 - Lucas Condotta (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14, Jack Jeffers (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14, Brett Ouderkirk (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14
Points: 5 - Lucas Condotta (2G, 3A) (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14, Jack Jeffers (2G, 3A) (Markham) vs Lindsay Jan. 14
Saves: 47 - Andrew Albano (T) (Stouffville) vs Newmarket Jan. 13
SOUTH-WEST CONFERENCE
The St. Michaels Buzzers are in seventh in the South-West Conference and are six points behind sixth place Buffalo and six points ahead of eighth place Orangeville. With 42 points on the season and 12 games left, the Buzzers still hoping to move up in the standings, but they don’t have a lot of breathing room below them either. Let’s focus on the next three teams as the Orangeville Flyers currently hold eighth with 36 points and 12 games left. The Mississauga Chargers are just a single point behind Orangeville with 35 points, but they only have 10 games left on their schedule. The Burlington Cougars are in the mix as well with 32 points and they have the most games left to play with 15. Those extra games may be important down the stretch. Of the three teams, the Chargers have been the best of the bunch in their past 10 games, going 4-3-2-1, while Burlington is 2-6-0-2 and Orangeville has struggled to the tune of 1-6-1-2. The 11th place Milton Icehawks have just six points on the season and with just 14 games left, they have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Scott Ramaekers (Buffalo) vs Mississauga Jan. 14
Assists: 3 - Noah Robinson (North York) vs Kingston Jan. 11
Points: 4 - Andrew Petrucci (2G, 2A) (Patriots) vs Whitby Jan. 14
Saves: 45 - Luca Durante (OTL) (Mississauga) vs Georgetown Jan. 10
Shutout: 28 SV - Tyler Fassl (Patriots) vs North York Jan. 13
This Week: 29 games, including two afternoon games today (in Burlington and Buffalo) and one tonight in Cobourg.
Other OJHL Notes:
Next week, the OJHL and the Mississauga Chargers are hosting the 2018 CJHL Prospects Game at Port Credit Arena in Mississauga on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:30 PM. 40 of the top NHL Draft eligible prospects from across the CJHL will be showcasing their talents, including 12 players from the OJHL. Last year’s CJHL Prospects Game included Cale Makar who was selected 4th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Tickets are on sale now and are available by calling 905-919-3623 ext. 3 or emailing rcorneau@theojhl.ca.
Team East in the 2018 CJHL Prospects game will be coached by John Dean of the Toronto Patriots and guest coach; former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rick Vaive. Joining them on the Team East bench as an assistant will be Oakville Blades coach Mike Tarantino. Craig Clayton of the Oakville Blades will serve as equipment manager; Amanda Gilroy of the Whitby Fury is Team East’s athletic therapist while Adam Bendall of the Mississauga Chargers will provide equipment support.
As for Team West, Mississauga Chargers head coach Joe Washkurak will work as an assistant to Team West’s head coach Joe Martin of the Merritt Centennials (BCHL) and Toronto Maple Leafs legend and guest coach Wendel Clark. The equipment manager is Mike Aloe of the Burlington Cougars and the athletic therapist is Jessica Frame of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres.
(The OJHL Week in Review is posted on Mondays during the 2017-18 OJHL regular season.)
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