Saturday, March 6, 2010

OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for February

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Performers of the Month for February, 2010.

All Weather Windows OHL Player of the Month – Greg McKegg, Erie Otters

Greg McKegg led the Erie Otters with 21 points in 12 games scoring 11 goals and 10 assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-8 to lead his club to a February record of 8-4-0-0. He recorded points in 10 games with seven multi-point games and was named third star of the game twice, and second star of the game three times. He was also named first star of the game on February 6 with two goals including one shorthanded marker and an assist on the game-winner to beat the Saginaw Spirit 4-3. He also recorded his third four-point game of the season February 24 with four assists in an 8-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack. McKegg had two assists in his first OHL All-Star Classic appearance for the Western Conference All-Stars on February 3 despite a 17-10 loss to the East.

McKegg, a 17-year-old from St. Thomas, ON, is playing in his second OHL season after being selected second overall by the Otters in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. Currently 10th overall in league scoring with 79 points in 63 games, McKegg is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes
Matt Puempel of the Peterborough Petes led all OHL rookies in scoring for the second straight month with seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 11 games. He was the Petes’ leading scorer in February and had four multi-point games. He opened the month with his top performance recording three assists as first star of the game February 4 despite a 5-4 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs. He was named second star of the game twice scoring a goal and an assist on February 6 in a 6-3 win over the Oshawa Generals, and again on February 18 when he scored two goals despite a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa 67’s.

Puempel, a 17-year-old from Essex, ON, was selected sixth overall by the Petes in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. He currently ranks first in OHL rookie scoring with 29 goals and 23 assists for 52 points in 55 games played.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Ryan Ellis led the Windsor Spitfires and all OHL defenceman in February scoring with 19 points in 11 games netting three goals and a league-high 16 assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-5. He opened the month with a nine-game point streak to bring his total to 14 games from January 22 to February 25 which is the fourth longest streak in the league this season. With six multi-point games, Ellis was named first star of the game twice including February 25 with a season-high four points scoring a goal and three assists in a 6-3 win over the Plymouth Whalers. He was also first star on February 6 with a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs. Ellis also competed in his second straight OHL All-Star Classic on February 3 and recorded two assists as Western Conference Captain despite a 17-10 loss.

Ellis, a 19-year-old from Freelton, ON, is playing in his third OHL season for the Spitfires and is currently ranked fourth amongst defencemen in scoring with 58 points in 46 games. Selected 11th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Ellis won this award three times last season.

OHL Goaltender of the Month – Patrick Killeen, Brampton Battalion
Patrick Killeen of the Brampton Battalion was the top goaltender in the OHL in February posting a league best goals-against-average of 1.84 with a save percentage of .928. He backstopped his club to a record of 7-4-0-1 with a league-high three shutout victories. He was awarded first star of the game honours twice beginning with a 21 save performance February 12 in a 3-1 win over the Sudbury Wolves, followed by a career-high 43 save performance February 14 in a 4-0 win over the Peterborough Petes. In addition, he was named second star of one contest and third star of the game two different times. He is also the most recent winner of the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week award.

Killeen, a 19-year-old from Carp, ON, is playing in his fourth OHL season with the Battalion. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, leads the OHL in minutes played with 3476 in 59 games and is tied for a league-high five shutouts and the third best goals-against-average with a mark of 2.40.

(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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