It’s time for our Week 6 breakdown of the Ontario Hockey League, a look back at the week that was with our ITO Three Stars, and an update to the OHL Power Rankings. This week, we’ll look at how teams did last week, and who’s up next.
ITO 3 Stars
1. Shane Prince (Ottawa 67’s) – Shane would only play twice this week, but that didn’t stop him from piling up the points. He would begin the week by registering four assists in a 6-5 overtime victory in Peterborough on Thursday night, and, the next night, would claim another three assists in a 4-3 shootout win against Mississauga. With seven assists in two games, Shane Prince was a clear choice as the First Star of the October 24th-30th.
2. Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts) – Rejoining the Colts after a stay in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Mark wasted no time in making an immediate impact. After picking up a pair of assists in his OHL return Wednesday night, Mark would score a goal and an assist Friday night in a 4-3 loss in Brampton. On his return to the Barrie Molson Centre, he would score again, and add three more helpers, leading the Colts to a 5-1 win over Windsor. With a pair of goals and six assists, Mark’s eight points were more than any other player in the league, and Scheifele earns this week’s ITO Second Star.
3. Brandon Maxwell (Sarnia Sting) – The Sarnia Sting have quickly become one of the top contenders in the OHL, and with Brandon in net, they have steady goaltending every night. Brandon would play three games this week, posting a 2-0-0-1 record, while allowing just 5 goals on 99 shots. If not for a shootout loss to the London Knights, Maxwell’s performance this week was perfect, and worthy of the ITO Third Star selection.
ITO Power Rankings
1. London Knights – (Last Week: 1) The Knights would manage five out of six possible points this week, as all three of their games would reach extra time. London followed an overtime loss to Kitchener with wins in overtime against Owen Sound and against Sarnia in a shootout. Brampton comes to visit Friday before the Knights travel to Erie Saturday night.
2. Sarnia Sting – (Last Week: 2) The Sting would also take five out of six possible points this week, on a three game road trip. Wins in Sault Ste. Marie and Saginaw were tempered by a shootout loss in London to wrap up the week. The Sting play a pair of games on home ice this week starting Friday with Windsor and the next night against Guelph.
3. Ottawa 67’s – (Last Week: 5) Much like London, the 67’s would require overtime in both of their games this past week. Ottawa would defeat Peterborough in overtime on Thursday night, and then the following night, the 67’s would use the shootout to defeat Mississauga. A busy week ahead for Ottawa starts in Belleville Wednesday night, before returning home for games against Owen Sound on Friday, Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday, and hosting a Monday morning contest against Kingston.
4. Mississauga St. Michaels Majors – (Last Week: 3) Down a spot this week after taking three points in two games, the Majors continue to show no signs of slowing down. A tough shootout loss in Ottawa on Friday night was answered appropriately two nights later, when they downed Oshawa. This week they play in Brampton Thursday night, then head home to Mississauga to face Peterborough and Belleville on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
5. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – (Last Week: 4) The Hounds are only able to pick up one win this week, despite playing three times on home ice. A loss to Sarnia would be offset by defeating Plymouth, but a loss to Guelph would end the Hounds week on a sour note. Sault Ste. Marie begins a six game road trip with three games this week, making stops in Peterborough Thursday, Kingston on Friday, and Ottawa on Sunday.
6. Guelph Storm – (Last Week: 11) Only two games this week for the Storm, but they made them both count, picking up hard fought victories in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Guelph plays three times in three nights over the upcoming weekend, hosting Erie and then traveling to Sarnia and Brampton.
7. Brampton Battalion – (Last Week: 6) One win in three games causes Brampton to slip a spot this week in the OHL Power Rankings. The Battalion would counter a loss in Niagara Thursday with a victory over Barrie on Friday, but losing on home ice to Sudbury Sunday afternoon affected their slide. It gets no easier for the Battalion this week, as they play Mississauga and London on Thursday and Friday, before ending the week at home to Guelph on Sunday.
8. Kitchener Rangers – (Last Week: 10) A huge shootout win over London on Tuesday would start a positive week for the Rangers, who would defeat Erie on Friday night, but lose in Erie the next night in overtime, leaving a single point on the table. Three games over the weekend await the Rangers this week, a home and home series with Niagara on Friday and Saturday, before a date in Oshawa Sunday evening.
9. Plymouth Whalers – (Last Week: 13) Taking two of three games this week was good enough to move the Whalers up four spots this week. After a win in Saginaw, Plymouth would drop a decision in Sault Ste. Marie, but return home to defeat Kingston. A busy week ahead as the Whalers host Barrie on Friday, Windsor on Saturday, and then travel to Saginaw Sunday.
10. Sudbury Wolves – (Last Week: 15) The Wolves jump five spots this week after winning two out of three games, both victories on the road. Starting the weekend by losing to Guelph at home, the Wolves bounced back to defeat Niagara in a shootout on Saturday. Sudbury would cruise into Brampton on Sunday and escape with a convincing win. Just two games for the Wolves this week, hosting Oshawa on Friday night, and their East Division rivals from Peterborough a night later.
11. Barrie Colts – (Last Week: 8) Barrie finds themselves out of the top ten for the first time this season in the OHL Power Rankings, after taking just one win in three tries. The Colts couldn’t find success on the road last week, losing games in Belleville and Brampton, before returning home to defeat Windsor. Beginning a five game road trip, the Colts make stops in Windsor, Plymouth, and Saginaw for games Thursday through Saturday.
12. Peterborough Petes – (Last Week: 12) The Petes stay put at number 12 this week, despite taking three points from a pair of games against divisional rivals. After dropping an overtime decision to Ottawa, Peterborough would go into Belleville and pick up a convincing victory. A tough week lay ahead for the Petes, who play three games in three nights starting Thursday at home to Sault Ste. Marie. From there, the Petes play games in Mississauga and Sudbury.
13. Niagara IceDogs – (Last Week: 16) A shootout loss spoiled an otherwise perfect week for the IceDogs, who jump up three more spots this week. Victories in Erie and against Brampton highlighted Niagara’s week, but only gaining a point on home ice against Sudbury kept the Dogs from climbing even higher. The IceDogs begin their week on Thursday at home to Oshawa, before playing a home and home series with Kitchener on Friday and Saturday.
14. Belleville Bulls – (Last Week: 9) A big slide for the Bulls this week, as they fall five places to land at fourteen. After a convincing midweek victory over Barrie, Belleville would fall flat in a pair of games over the weekend, losing in Oshawa and then back on home ice to Peterborough. The Bulls look to get back on track this week, hosting Ottawa on Wednesday and Owen Sound on Saturday. Belleville will end the week in Mississauga Sunday afternoon.
15. Owen Sound Attack – (Last Week: 17) A big weekend for the Attack saw them earn five points in three games. A tough overtime loss in London on Friday didn’t faze Owen Sound, as they returned home to win convincingly in games over Oshawa and Windsor. The Attack now head out for three on the road this upcoming weekend, starting Friday in Ottawa, and making stops in Belleville and Kingston.
16. Oshawa Generals – (Last Week: 14) The Generals, once considered a top team in the Eastern Conference, are in danger of slipping into irrelevance. A big home ice win over Belleville was mired in two poor performances over the weekend, first in Owen Sound, then back at home to Mississauga. Oshawa looks to turn things around this week, with games in Niagara on Thursday and Sudbury on Friday, and a home contest to wrap up the weekend against Kitchener.
17. Windsor Spitfires – (Last Week: 7) After losing six straight games, the Spitfires have plummeted down the OHL Power Rankings, falling ten spots this week. Windsor was beaten by four goals in all three contests this past week, falling on home ice to Kingston, and losing in Barrie and Owen Sound. With three games in three nights this week ahead, things won’t get any easier. The Spitfires host Barrie on Thursday before playing games in Sarnia and Plymouth.
18. Saginaw Spirit – (Last Week: 18) The Spirit find themselves unable to gain ground this week in the OHL Power Rankings, winning only one of three games over the weekend. An overtime victory over Kingston in between a pair of one goal losses to Plymouth and Sarnia kept Saginaw from moving up. Just two games on tap for the Spirit, who host Barrie on Saturday, and Plymouth the next afternoon.
19. Kingston Frontenacs – (Last Week: 19) Kingston remains at nineteen this week in the OHL Power Rankings, but have been playing better hockey as of late. Three points in three games on the road last week helped balance the Frontenacs, who defeated Windsor on Thursday before losing in overtime in Saginaw Friday. A loss in Plymouth Saturday ended Kingston’s week, but the Fronts have three more games in the week ahead. Kingston hosts Sault Ste. Marie Friday and Owen Sound on Sunday, and then travels to Ottawa to partake in a Monday morning contest next week.
20. Erie Otters – (Last Week: 20) Despite picking up their second win of the season, the Otters still find themselves at the bottom of the OHL Power Rankings. Erie lost to Niagara Wednesday night, and lost again in Kitchener on Friday. The Otters would get revenge on Kitchener the next night, wrapping up the week on a high note. Erie will look to build on their new momentum with a pair of games ahead, playing in Guelph on Friday night, then returning home to battle London Saturday.
There’s our weekly look around the league at who’s hot, who’s not, and who can’t decide. Be sure to check back next week to see where your favourite team ranks, but if you can’t wait for your OHL fix, find me on Twitter, @N24Nicholson.
Anthony Nicholson covers Junior Hockey and the Toronto Maple Leafs for Toronto News 24, and can be heard as a regular contributor to "In The O... The Radio Show". Contact Anthony anytime for a conversation by joining him on Twitter, or send mail to anicholson@n24.ca.
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