While this series would traditionally include at least one game from each of the CHL’s constituent leagues, I must unfortunately exclude the WHL in this installment due to time constraints, as well as the fact that the Dub traditionally gets the most coverage on our socials and podcast. This does, however, open up an opportunity to cover the few really good and very interesting narratives that went on in the OHL today, as well as provide some love to the QMJHL. The latter league, which is the most unheralded and, admittedly, the one that we cover the least, featured the CHL Game of the Week in the form of Baie-Comeau vs. Chicoutimi. I was pretty satisfied with it overall, but we will get into detail about that at the end.

OHL:

(H) Brampton Steelheads defeat (A) Guelph Storm, 7-4

Things started early today with an 11:00 AM puck drop as Brampton played host to a School Day Game. The plentiful youth contingent in the audience were treated to a converted touchdown by the home squad, spearheaded by a few of the usual suspects. Guelph had some strong possessions early on with a lot of pressure, but they would be overwhelmed by the first period’s end. LW Adam Zidlicky started things off for Brampton when he blocked a shot up high and punctuated things with a terrific finish on the ensuing counter opportunity. After Guelph C/Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko was denied on a breakaway, 2025 NHL Entry Draft eligible bluechip RW/Steelheads captain Porter Martone grew the lead by tallying his sixth between the legs goal in the last two years. Almost immediately thereafter, 2025 Draft eligible Guelph D Quinn Beauchesne was assessed a five and a game for an illegal check to the head. The Steelheads additionally found themselves on a 5v3 power play when Guelph RW Charlie Paquette was called for delay of game. They did not score during that sequence, but C Chase Lefebvre (recently acquired from Peterborough via trade) would register his first goal in a Steelheads uniform to grow the lead to 3-0 before the five-minute major was up. C/Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa would get on the scoresheet to grow the lead to 4-0 just under two minutes later. Despite some good shifts early on, Guelph did not look like they played to the point of it making sense that they were only out-shot by 1 (15-14) in the first frame, as the home club looked as though they were playing a different sport from them.

This explosion by Brampton was enough to end Guelph G Brayden Gillespie’s night after just one period. In his stead, late 2008 birthday Colin Ellsworth would play the rest of the way. The first period eruption on its own was also almost enough to win Brampton the game. However, amidst a stronger second period from Cory Stillman’s Guelph Storm squad, 2025-e LW Hunter McKenzie was able to get on the board as they out-shot Brampton 18-7 in the middle frame. In the final stanza, however, the cracks showed again. Misa scored again, which accounted for the GWG when all was said and done, and Martone was able to get on the board again with another great shot, as was Zidlicky. Guelph was able to provide some resistance via three goals of their own (the first of which by Cam Allen on the power play accounted for Lev Katzin’s first point in the OHL after the Penn State commit’s recent arrival from the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers – Ironically, this came just seconds after another would-be first assist by Katzin did not stand upon review on the same power play). They additionally out-shot Brampton 15-9 in the final stanza and 47-31 for the game. To that point, Guelph were superior on the draw at 38-31 and had superior power play effectiveness at 2/6 vs. 1/4. However, for everything they did right, they were not able to prevent Brampton from generating chances and were simply outclassed by a superior team.

(H) London Knights defeat (A) Owen Sound Attack, 3-0

While it would be London G Austin Elliott who would post the shutout win and receive third star honors for this game, I really have to commend Owen Sound G Carter George for what he did tonight. The Los Angeles Kings prospect/last year’s top North American goalie prospect lived up to his reputation in this matchup, stopping all twenty of the shots he faced in the first period. Things were a little bit slow to start in the opening minutes, but, while Elliott had some work to do, George had a fair bit on his plate from the beginning and stood tall as he would eventually be faced with a barrage. However, throughout it all, he was able to stop the Canada Life Center faithful from carrying out their Teddy Bear Toss in the opening twenty minutes. Aside from George’s heroics and Elliott’s own solid play, the most memorable moment of the first twenty was probably the spirited tilt between Owen Sound’s Landen Hookey and London’s Jared Woolley.

George would face a slightly smaller deluge of shots in the middle frame, but this was when he would begin to be beaten. Seven minutes into the second period, LW Landon Sim (drafted by St. Louis Blues but went unsigned, most recently a NJ Devils rookie camp invitee) conducted a wrap-around wherein the bounce worked in his favor and the toys ran down onto the ice surface (one notable scene included RW/SJ Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen playing with a Minion as the cleanup was conducted). Edmonton Oilers prospect William Nicholl was credited with the primary assist, while Ottawa Senators prospect Blake Montgomery (a recent transfer from the Lincoln Stars who is committed to play for the University of Wisconsin) received credit for the secondary helper to maintain his PPG pace since becoming a Knight. After the ice was cleared, Oilers prospect Sam “Peanut” O’Reilly would be the beneficiary of a play started by Flyers prospect Denver Barkey, as Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan received a chip pass from the London captain and found O’Reilly in front of the net and “Peanut” was able to go top shelf at speed. This was significant for Cowan, as it meant that he was now “unofficially” tied with Doug Gilmour for the longest ever OHL regular season point streak. It was determined after review that a subsequent would be 3-0 tally was succrssfully cleared from the goal line on time by 2025 Draft eligible Owen Sound D Braedyn Rogers and Elliott would then be faced with some pressure. However, he was able to make the saves he needed to, and Barkey would eventually get that 3-0 goal by sticking with his own rebound and roofing it (with O’Reilly and Cowan being credited for the apples) with just under three minutes remaining in the second. The Knights would subsequently play possession dominant hockey in the final frame and the score would stand. While Barkey and O’Reilly would complement Elliott as the first and second stars, respectively, Cowan would make his mark on the history books, and Sim had the feel good moment, I truly do believe George was the player of the game. For him to register 45 saves against this London Knights roster was no small feat. At the end of it all, though, the perpetual juggernauts grew their win streak to nineteen games.

(A) Soo Greyhounds defeat (H) Saginaw Spirit, 2-0

Both teams were at a disadvantage tonight due to suspensions. For Saginaw’s part, they were absent 2025 Draft eligible talisman C/LW Michael Misa, the team’s leader in goals, assists, and points and the player tied with LW Kristian Epperson in +/- with a +21. This stemmed from an incident wherein, during the Sarnia Sting’s Teddy Bear Toss, he was given a game misconduct for shooting objects off the ice surface in a highly publicized incident. Soo, meanwhile, were absent the services of head coach John Dean, who was suspended and fined for abuse of official as well as making comments detrimental to the welfare of the OHL. The home team were determined to make the most of this game, as Saginaw bench boss Chris Lazary was sitting at 199 career wins. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him and his team.

The first period had to have been frustrating for Saginaw. They had a five-on-three power play early into the game but were not able to make anything out of it. Additionally, the Spirit out-shot the Greyhounds 16-4 but were ultimately unable to solve Soo G Landon Miller. The second period was more competitive, but did not feature any scoring until Soo C Owen Allard (Utah Hockey Club) found the back of the net by beating Saginaw G Andrew Oke through traffic on a terrific shot from up high. Saginaw finished the second period with a narrow edge in shots, 14-13, but had nothing to show for it. Ultimately, the only goal that would be scored the rest of the way was the empty netter by RW Justin Cloutier to ice the match. Lazary’s moment of glory would have to wait a bit longer.

(H) Oshawa Generals defeat (A) Ottawa 67, 8-4

In pursuit of first place in the Eastern Conference, the defending Eastern regular season/playoff champs, having just beaten adversaries the Kingston Frontenacs (who were off tonight) in their most recent matchup, had a tough go in the early phases. The Gens had a strong advantage at the faceoff dot in the first period but were not able to draw up successful plays to capitalize on the possession advantage. In fact, they were narrowly out-shot 11-9 by the 67’s in the opening frame. The 67’s would make the Generals pay for their ineffectiveness with two goals very late in the first in quick succession, initially on the power play, then on even strength.

However, it’d be a different story inside the first ten minutes of the next stanza. RHD Luca D’Amato would kick things off in the second period by scoring just two minutes in, with Winnipeg Jets prospect Colby Barlow following that up a couple of minutes later and Colorado Avalanche prospect Calum Ritchie ending the sequence 9:33 into the middle frame. Goals by Nic Whitehead and Zach Houben would give Ottawa back the lead before the second period ended. The Gens would have a response, though, scoring five unanswered goals in the final frame to capture the win and the number one seed. While Barlow would get the first star for his 2g-1a performance, I thought Anaheim Ducks third overall selection Beckett Sennecke (the game’s second star) was the star of the show as he followed up his heroics of 4g-2a against Kingston with a five point night (along with a +4), with his 1 goal and 3 of his 4 assists coming during that crucial third period. He has certainly been on a tear these last couple of games as he continues his strong D+1 form. Defenseman Zackary Sandhu earned the game’s third star with 2 goals and a +3.

This game also marked the OHL debut of D Haoxi Wang (also known and officially referred to as Simon Wang, which he will be addressed by henceforth) after his transfer from the OJHL’s King Rebellion. Admittedly, this was my first time watching the Boston University commit in a full game, as I do not often get to watch CJHL prospects’ full matches. I have to say, aside from the physical presence that could easily be expected, I was fairly impressed by the 6’6″ blueliner’s activity level in the OZ. On multiple occasions, he came close to registering a point in his debut. If this is indicative of the form Wang will be playing with in the OHL, he may be more productive than many may anticipate.

QMJHL:

(A) Chicoutimi Saguenéens defeat (H) Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 4-1

The Game of the Week began with pretty strong competitive play and frequent hot potato’ing of possession between the two clubs. Curiously enough, the ebbs and flows of the game saw an initial goat become the hero. Chicoutimi RW/captain Kassim Gaudet initially turned the puck over behind his own net inside the game’s first four minutes, turning into a goal for Baie-Comeau C Jabez Seymour. However, just over two and a half minutes later, Gaudet would have his moment of redemption. Chicoutimi winger Korney Korneyev dumped the puck into the Baie-Comeau zone over the head of Baie-Comeau G Lucas Beckman and into the glass. Fellow winger Thomas Hébert would receive it along the wall, move it back to Korneyev behind the net, and Korneyev would find Gaudet streaking down the middle for the equalizer. While Chicoutimi would enter the back half of the opening stanza well ahead in SOGs, it was not all smooth sailing, as they had to resist the Baie-Comeau attack with the host club’s cycle looking especially strong. However, Chicoutimi G Raphaël Précourt would not be beaten again.

What would have been a terrific play between LW/noteworthy 2025 NHL Entry Draft eligible prospect Émile Guité and C Nathan Lecompte (also draft eligible) to put Chicoutimi up 2-1 early into the middle frame was nixed when determined to have been offsides. However, Korneyev was found at netfront by D Peters Bulans to gain the lead not long after. This opened things up for Chicoutimi somewhat, as Gaudet would score on the power play just under five minutes later. Émile Duquet would make it 4-1 Chicoutimi 9:38 into the period. This would stand as the final scoreline, as the game became quite low event, particularly in the final frame wherein there was a combined total of seven shots between the two clubs. For his two goals, Gaudet was named the first star. Despite the ignominious beginning, the captain had a great night to help his team win, putting in perhaps his best performance since his four assist outing against Québec in the season opener (a 6-3 win for Chicoutimi). It truly is not how you start, but how you finish. Précourt was named second star for tallying 20 saves in the victory, while Seymour earned the third star for scoring Baie-Comeau’s lone goal.