Monday, December 7, 2009

OHL Boston Player of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Alex Hutchings of the Barrie Colts is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 6. Hutchings recorded eight points in three games scoring four shorthanded goals and four assists with a league-best plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Hutchings and the Colts have now won 17 straight games including three wins this week beginning Thursday night at home with a 5-3 win over the Niagara IceDogs. Hutchings scored the game-winner shorthanded at 8:02 of the third period and added another shorthanded tally with a penalty shot goal for the insurance marker at 8:31 of the third period and was named the game’s first star. On Friday night he recorded his first career five-point game with a shorthanded goal and four assists in a 6-3 win over the Erie Otters where he was again named first star of the game. His week wrapped up on Saturday night with a shorthanded goal in a 6-1 win over the Niagara IceDogs.

Hutchings, a 19-year-old from Burlington, ON, is playing in his fourth OHL season with the Colts. Tied for 12th overall in league scoring, he has produced 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points in 30 games this season. Hutchings, who leads the league with five shorthanded goals, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Click here to watch video highlights of Alex Hutchings as the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week with footage courtesy of Rogers TV and TVCogeco.

London Knights’ forward Nazem Kadri and defenceman Steven Tarasuk both receive honourable mention for the award this week. In three wins, Kadri had eight points scoring five goals including two game-winners and a shorthanded marker plus three assists. Tarasuk had three goals including a shorthanded marker plus four assists for seven points. In two starts, Scott Stajcer of the Owen Sound Attack earned a shutout victory and posted a goals-against-average of .500 and save percentage of .987.

(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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