Players of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Logan Couture of the Ottawa 67’s is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 15. Couture scored five goals and three assists for eight points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-7.

Couture finished the regular season strong being named first star in all three games this week for the 67’s, winners of six straight games heading into a first-round playoff series against the Niagara IceDogs. Couture had one goal and two assists in regulation time Tuesday night before scoring the shootout winner to beat the Kingston Frontenacs 5-4. On Friday night he had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Peterborough Petes. His best game of the week came Sunday afternoon where he scored his first hat-trick of the season including the game-winner in a spirited 5-3 effort at home against the Kingston Frontenacs. The game would also mark the final regular season game behind the bench for 67’s Head Coach and Hall of Fame member Brian Kilrea. His 2,156 games and 1,193 wins are CHL records.

Couture, a 19-year-old from London, ON is in his fourth OHL season with the 67’s. He enjoyed his best career regular season campaign scoring 39 goals and 48 assists for 87 points in 62 games finishing ninth in overall league scoring. The San Jose Sharks prospect was selected in the first round, ninth overall at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Honourable mention this week goes to Ethan Werek of the Kingston Frontenacs who finished a solid rookie season with three goals and five assists for eight points in his final four games. Evgeny Grachev of the Brampton Battalion scored one goal and six assists for seven points including a three-assist game as second star Sunday in a 5-4 shootout win over the Oshawa Generals. Goaltender Mike Murphy of the Belleville Bulls made 109 saves in three wins leading the Bulls to first place in the Easter Conference standings. He had a 4-0 shutout victory as first star Wednesday night against the Peterborough Petes.

2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week
Mar. 16 – Logan Couture, Ottawa 67’s
Mar. 9 – John Tavares, London Knights
Mar. 2 – Mark Katic, Sarnia Sting
Feb. 23 – Matt Caria, Plymouth Whalers
Feb. 16 – Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Feb. 9 – Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers
Feb. 2 – Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
Jan. 26 – Thomas McCollum, Brampton Battalion
Jan. 19 – Brett Parnham, Oshawa Generals
Jan. 12 – Marcus Carroll, Owen Sound Attack
Jan. 5 – Eric O’Dell, Sudbury Wolves
Dec. 15 – Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
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

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Drayson Bowman of the Spokane Chiefs.
Bowman picked up eight points, scoring three goals and five assists to go with a +3 rating in two games over the past week, helping the Chiefs post a 2-0-0-0 record in that span.

On Wednesday, March 11th, the Chiefs welcomed the Everett Silvertips to the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Bowman netted one goal and added three assists as the Chiefs downed the ‘Tips 7-2. He was also named the games 1st Star.

On Friday, March 13th, the Spokane Chiefs were at home facing their long time U.S. Division rivals the Tri-City Americans. Bowman scored twice and added a pair of assists in the Chiefs 5-2 victory over the Americans. For the second straight game Bowman was also named the games 1st Star for his efforts.

Bowman’s eight points in the last two games has moved him into 15th among all WHL scorers with 82 points (46 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games. The Chiefs have won three straight contests and find themselves just three points back of the 3rd place Kelowna Rockets in the WHL Western Conference with their two re-scheduled regular season games remaining tonight and tomorrow.

Bowman, a 19 year-old forward from Littleton, Colorado, is in his fourth season with the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick (2007 3rd round – 72nd overall) has appeared in 263 WHL regular season games accumulating 241 points (129 goals, 112 assists).

The WHL has also nominated Mark Friesen of the Chilliwack Bruins for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Friesen posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week, allowing just four goals on 66 shots for a 1.920 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. Friesen, an 18-year-old from Winkler, Manitoba, is playing in his second season with the Chilliwack Bruins.

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
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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
Dec. 8 – Dec. 14: Ian Duval, Moose Jaw Warriors
Dec. 15 – Dec. 28: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
Dec. 29 – Jan. 4: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 5 – Jan. 11: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Jan. 12 – Jan. 18: Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 19 – Jan. 25: Keith Seabrook, Calgary Hitmen
Jan. 26 – Feb. 1: Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs
Feb. 2 – Feb. 8: Matt Calvert, Brandon Wheat Kings
Feb. 9 – Feb. 15: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
Feb. 16 – Feb. 22: Tyler Ennis, Medicine Hat Tigers
Feb. 23 – Mar. 1: Mitch Fadden, Tri-City Americans
Mar. 2 – Mar. 8: Colin Long, Kelowna Rockets
Mar. 9 – Mar. 15: Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs

Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, March 16, 2009 – P.E.I. Rocket forward Joël Champagne and Moncton Wildcats goatlender Nicola Riopel today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from March 9 to 15.

Champagne collected three goals, including a game-winner, and added five assists to help the Rocket earn five out of a possible six points in the standings. Furthermore, he posted a +6 rating. The P.E.I. forward had his best game of the week on Tuesday, registering five points in a 7-5 victory over the Mooseheads.

Luca Cunti (Océanic), Louis-Marc Aubry (Junior) and David Cliche (Tigres) were also considered.

Backstop Nicola Riopel is the award-winner on defence. The outstanding goaltender helped the Wildcats earn three wins over division rivals Saint John, Acadie-Bathurst and Cape Breton. He posted a 1.33 goals-against-average and .943 save percentage during that span. Finally, he established a league record after recording the lowest goals-against-average in QMJHL history (2.01).

Brandon Gormley (Wildcats), Jean-François Bérubé (Junior) and Marc-Antoine Gélinas (Olympiques) 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)