Hall is the OHL Player of the Week

Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 26. Hall led the top ranked Spitfires to three wins this week scoring four goals and adding five assists for nine points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.

Hall had his best game of the week on Thursday night recording a point in each of the five Spitfires’ goals as they defeated the Guelph Storm 5-3. Hall opened the scoring in the contest in the first minute of play and would add an insurance marker late in the third period to secure the win. Those two goals combined with his three assists earned him second star of the game honours. On Saturday night Hall scored the lone goal of the game on the power play in the second period and was the game’s third star as the Spitfires beat the Plymouth Whalers 1-0. In the rematch Sunday, Hall scored one goal and two assists in a 9-4 home win over the Whalers.

Hall, a 16-year-old from Kingston, ON currently leads the OHL in scoring with 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 16 games. Hall is in his second season with the Spitfires and was the recipient of the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year last season.

Also considered for the award this week was Adam Henrique of the Windsor Spitfires who scored four goals and four assists for eight points in three games including a five-point night against the Plymouth Whalers where he scored his first OHL career hat-trick. Bryan Cameron of the Belleville Bulls had four goals and two assists for six points in three games. Goaltender Jason Guy of the London Knights went 2-0 this week with a shutout and a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .952 save percentage.

2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week Oct. 27 – Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 20 – Brandon Foote, Brampton Battalion
Oct. 13 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 6 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 29 – Luke Pither, Guelph Storm
Sept. 22 – Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Jamie Benn of the Kelowna Rockets.

Benn picked up nine points, scoring five goals and four assists to go with a +1 rating, in three games over the past week, helping the Rockets post a 2-1 record in that span.

On Wednesday, October 22nd, the Rockets travelled to Chilliwack to face the Bruins at Prospera Centre. Benn netted two goals and two assists as the Rockets downed the Bruins 5-0. He was also named the games 1st star. Two days later, Friday, October 24th, the two teams met again in the latter half of the home-and-home series at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Benn had another two goal performance and added an assist as the Rockets defeated the Bruins 6-0. He was also named the games 3rd Star.

The next evening, Saturday, October 25th, at Prospera Place in Kelowna, the Rockets hosted the Brandon Wheat Kings. Benn scored one goal and one assist in the tightly contested match-up between the Clubs with the Wheat Kings eventually edging out the Rockets 3-2.

With the two victories this past week the Kelowna Rockets find themselves in second place of the WHL B.C. Division, behind the Vancouver Giants, with a 9-7-0-0 record.

Benn, a 19 year old product of Victoria, British, Columbia, is in second season with the Kelowna Rockets. At the 2007 NHL Entry Draft Benn was selected in the 5th round by the Dallas Stars.

The WHL has also nominated Adam Brown of the Kelowna Rockets for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Brown posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week with two shut-outs, stopping all 29 shots for a 0.000 goals-against average and a 1.000 save percentage.

Brown, a 17-year-old from Yorba Linda, California, is in his rookie season with the Kelowna Rockets. He spent last season playing midget ‘AAA’ hockey for the Dallas Stars posting a 2.53 goals-against average and six shut-outs in 43 games played.

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 18 – Sept. 21: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Sept. 22 – Sept. 28: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 6 – Oct. 12: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19: Jay Fehr, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 20 – Oct. 26: Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets

TELUS Players of the Week

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, October 27, 2008 – P.E.I. Rocket forward Chris Doyle and Moncton Wildcats netminder Nicola Riopel today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from October 20 to 26.

Doyle helped the Rocket win two out of four games on the road by scoring two goals, including a game-winner, and adding six assists. Furthermore, he maintained a +1 rating. The New York Rangers’ fifth round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft was a beast in the face-off circle, winning 67.9% of his draws. Doyle is currently eleventh in the QMJHL scoring standings with 22 points.

Yannick Riendeau (Voltigeurs), Sasha Famin (Wildcats) and Matthew Pistilli (Cataractes) were also considered.

The defensive player of the week is Nicola Riopel. It is already the second time this season that the Moncton goaltender is honoured. In three wins, the backstop allowed only three goals despite 102 shots directed his way. He registered a 1.00 goals-against-average and .971 save percentage while also posting a shutout. The Wildcats have yet to lose a game in regulation so far this season and are currently on a seven-game winning streak.

Brandon Gormley (Wildcats), Charles-Olivier Roussel (Cataractes) and Vincent Bourgeois (Juniors) were also strong candidates.

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