Tuesday, September 29, 2009

O'Dell is the Boston Pizza Player of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Eric O’Dell of the Sudbury Wolves is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending September 27. O’Dell led the Wolves to three wins this week scoring three goals and four assists for seven points with a plus-minus rating of plus-2 in three games.

O’Dell began his week with a goal and an assist Friday night against the Barrie Colts. His goal was a power play marker scored 44 seconds into the third period, the first of three unanswered goals for the Wolves who battled back to win 4-3 for their first victory of the season. O’Dell and the Wolves carried that momentum on the road in Belleville with a 7-1 win Saturday night over the Bulls. O’Dell scored the game-winner at 4:23 of the second period and added two assists as first star of the game. His week concluded Sunday with a second star performance on the road with a goal and an assist to beat the Oshawa Generals 4-3 in overtime to extend the Wolves’ winning streak to three games.

O’Dell, a 19-year-old from Ottawa, ON, is playing in his third OHL season with the Wolves. He scored 33 goals and 30 assists for 63 points in 65 games as an Eastern Conference All-Star last season, and is currently tied for third in league scoring with 10 points. O’Dell is a prospect of the Atlanta Thrashers following a second round selection, 39th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Click here to watch video highlights of Eric O'Dell against the Oshawa Generals.

Also considered for the award this week was Justin Shugg of the Windsor Spitfires and Garret Wilson of the Owen Sound Attack who each scored four goals and two assists for six points in three games. Shugg had a five-point night with three goals and two assists Thursday night in an 8-3 win over the Erie Otters, with Wilson providing his best effort Wednesday night as first star with a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Sarnia Sting. In goal, Troy Passingham of the Windsor Spitfires won three games with a goals-against-average of 2.13 and a save percentage of .938.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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