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Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 6. Tavares, who claimed the award last week, scored four goals and five assists for nine points with a plus-minus rating of plus-2 in three home games. The Generals went 2-1 on the week.
Tavares began his week with a four-point night Thursday when the Generals hosted their East Division rivals the Belleville Bulls. The one goal and three assist effort was good for first star of the game honours in the 5-2 Generals win. The four-point night was the first for Tavares since their season opener September 19 in Sudbury. The Generals would fall to the Plymouth Whalers on Friday night 4-2 with Tavares picking up one goal and one assist and was named second star of the game. Tavares finished his week as first star of the game with two goals and one assist on Sunday leading the Generals to a 4-3 victory over the Sudbury Wolves. Tavares opened the scoring midway through the first period and would score his league-leading fifth shorthanded goal early in the third period before setting up Calvin de Haan for the game-winning goal on the power play.
Tavares, an 18-year-old from Oakville, ON is in his fourth OHL season with the Generals. His 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points in 31 games have him second in league scoring. The Generals currently have a record of 15-12-0-4 for 34 points and sit second place in the East Division behind Belleville. Tavares is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and was recently ranked the top OHL skater by NHL Central Scouting in their preliminary draft rankings. Later this week Tavares will be attending the selection camp for Team Canada’s National Junior Team in Ottawa, ON.
Also considered for the award this week was Guelph Storm goaltender Thomas McCollum. McCollum had a 30 save shutout and was first star of the game Friday night in a 3-0 home win over the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. Last week McCollum was named to the roster for Team USA that will compete at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships. Matt Hackett also had a strong week between the pipes for the Plymouth Whalers winning all three of his starts and posting a 1.67 goals-against-average and a .936 save percentage. Mike Lomas of the Owen Sound Attack scored six goals in three games and was the first star when he scored his first OHL career hat-trick in a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts on Wednesday. His two goals on Saturday in a 6-5 loss to the London Knights also earned first star of the game honours.
008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week
Dec. 8 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 1 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Nov. 24 – Eric Tangradi, Belleville Bulls
Nov. 17 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 10 – Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
Nov. 3 – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
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
WHL Press Release
CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Brett Sonne of the Calgary Hitmen.
Sonne picked up eight points, scoring five goals and three assists to go with a +3 rating, in four games over the past week, helping the Hitmen post a 2-1-0-1 road record in that span.
On Wednesday, December 3rd, the Hitmen began their swing through the U.S. Division first stopping at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane to face the Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs. Sonne picked up a goal and assist in a tightly contested affair with the Chiefs winning 4-3 in a shoot-out.
Two nights later, Friday, December 5th, the Winter Hawks hosted the Calgary Hitmen at Rose Garden in Portland. Sonne led the charge offensively netted two goals and adding an assist as the Hitmen went on to defeat the Winter Hawks 5-1. He was also named the games 1st Star. The next evening, Saturday, December 6th, the Hitmen were in Kennewick, Washington to face the U.S. Division leading Tri-City Americans. The Hitmen’s string of success came to an end as the Americans handed Calgary its first regulation loss in 14 games with a 4-1 victory.
On Sunday, December 7th, the Calgary Hitmen rolled into the Key Arena in Seattle to take on the Thunderbirds. Sonne collected two goals, including the game winner, and an assist as the Hitmen got right back to their winning ways downing the T-Birds 4-1. He was also named the games 1st Star.
The Hitmen gathering five of a possible eight points and remain the top team in the entire WHL with a 26-5-1-1 record. With his eight points over the past week Sonne is currently the WHL leading scorer having netted 20 goals, 31 assists for a point total of 51 in 33 games played.
Sonne, a 19-year-old from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, is currently playing his fourth full season in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen. At the 2007 NHL Entry Draft Sonne was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 3rd round – 85th overall. After participating in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge for Team WHL at the end of November, Sonne was named to Team Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp, which begins Thursday in Ottawa.
The WHL has also nominated Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Pickard posted a 3-0-0-0 record this past week with a shut-out, allowing just two goals on 85 shots for a 0.670 goals-against average and outstanding .976 save percentage.
Pickard, a 19 year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is playing in his fourth full season in the WHL and with the Tri-City Americans. The reigning WHL and CHL goaltender of the year was the only goalie selected in the 1st round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft when the Nashville Predators selected him 18th overall.
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
Oct. 27 – Nov. 2: Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Nov. 3 – Nov. 9: C.J. Stretch, Kamloops Blazers
Nov. 10 – Nov. 16: Andy Smith, Chilliwack Bruins
Nov. 17 – Nov. 23: Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 24 – Nov. 30: Taylor Procyshen, Tri-City Americans
Dec. 1 – Dec. 7: Brett Sonne, Calgary Hitmen
QMJHL Press Release
BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, December 8, 2008 – Drummondville Voltigeurs forward Dany Massé and Moncton Wildcats goaltender Nicola Riopel today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from December 1 to 7.
Massé recorded four goals and five assists to help the Voltigeurs win all four of their road games this week. Furthermore, he registered a +4 rating and won 57.1% of his face-offs. Drummondville has now won thirteen consecutive games and trails the Shawinigan Cataractes by only two points in the TELUS Central division standings.
Paul Byron (Olympiques), Maxime Legault (Cataractes) and Jean-Philip Chabot (Olympiques) were also considered.
Nicola Riopel is the winner of the award on defence. In two wins over the Screaming Eagles and the Océanic, he maintained a 1.00 goals-against-average and .966 save percentage. Riopel leads all QMJHL goaltenders in wins with 21. The Wildcats sit in first place in the Atlantic division standings and have registered at least one point in eight of their last ten contests.
Maxime Clermont (Olympiques), Simon Lacroix (Cataractes) and Marc-Antoine Desnoyers (Voltigeurs 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)
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