On Tuesday, the Sioux Falls Stampede announced Matthew Grimes had signed a tender agreement for the 2023-24 season. The move means Sioux Falls will forgo its first-round pick in the 2023 USHL Phase-I Draft in order to acquire Grimes’ player rights. In turn, Grimes will play at least 55 percent of the team’s games next season.
Grimes was a standout defenseman for Mount this season, scoring 13 goals and 56 points in 63 games. Four points came at 15O USA Hockey Nationals, before being eliminated by champion Los Angeles Jr. Kings in the quarterfinals.
He’s a 5-foot-10 left-hand shot from Locust Valley, New York. Grimes is just the third player in Sioux Falls history to sign a tender agreement. He’s also the fourth player from the 2007 birth year to sign a USHL tender agreement this season. Masun Fleece signed with Fargo Force two weeks ago. The Dubuque Fighting Saints signed Liam Kilfoil and Lev Katzin signed with the Green Bay Gamblers.
Tender agreements are used when USHL teams identify prospects they believe can have an immediate impact in their lineup next fall. They can sign as many as two players to a tender, but in the process, will have to surrender draft picks. The final day for USHL teams to sign prospects to a tender agreement is April 29th. The Phase-I Draft will take place on May 2nd, with the Phase-II Draft following on the next day.
Follow World Hockey Hub on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news on top youth hockey prospects!
It was a busy final weekend of youth hockey in the province of Ontario as winners walked away from the U14 OHL Cup and All-Ontario Championships. Both events — three age groups in total — determined provincial champions as the best youth hockey teams in Ontario were crowned on Sunday. The U14 Toronto Jr. Canadiens made it a clean sweep at the OHL Cup after the U16 team won the tournament earlier this month. Then, heavy favorites Markham Majors and Vaughan Kings won in the U13 and U15 tournaments respectively.
The 2009 squad was able to give the program twin OHL Cup titles when they ended a 5-0-0 run with a 3-2 win over the Barrie Jr. Colts in the title game. A fitting end for a team that entered the tournament as the No. 1 ranked team in the world.
The Jr. Canadiens started the showcase with a 5-0 shutout of the OMHA champion Halton Hurricanes on Friday. Later that afternoon, they defeated the North Bay Trappers, 5-1. Having secured a playoff spot, next up was a date with the Sun County Panthers in the quarterfinals. Leading scorer Jax Pereira (6G, 4A) emerged as the hero, tallying the winning goal in a 4-3 double-overtime victory. JRC, who came into the tournament as the third seed out of the GTHL, defeated league champion Don Mills Flyers 5-3 on Sunday morning to advance to the championship game.
Taking on the Barrie Jr. Colts, Noah Laus and Connor Adam each notched a goal in the first period. Kaden Rolling cut into that lead with a power-play to get the Jr. Colts on the board at 13:57 of the second period. A few minutes later, Benjamin Marling knotted the score at 2. Marling finished as the top-scoring defenseman in the showcase with eight points in five games. Lucas Quain put home a feed from Keaton Ardagh on the man advantage to put JRC back on top 3-2 before the period came to a close. That goal would go on to serve as the eventual game-winner, as the score remained the same throughout the final period.
Both Jr. Canadiens netminder Ethan Maniaci and Barrie’s Malcolm Rose received Player of the Game honors for their respective teams. Ardagh would finish tied with Marling for second in overall points with eight (2G, 6A).
“At the beginning of the year we all set goals,” said Jr. Canadiens head coach Matt Viola. “Every kid on the team wrote it down on a piece of paper. I am happy for all these boys to have accomplished something they’ll remember forever.”
In the Markham Majors’ first four matchups, they outscored opponents 29-5. Much of that was fueled by their depth, as seven skaters average a point per game in the tournament.
In their next contest, the Whitby Wildcats had them up against the ropes, trailing 3-2 with under five minutes left to play. But with 3:37 remaining in the third period, Cam Johnson managed to find space and slip the tying goal in the net, salvaging the Majors’ unbeaten record.
Congratulations to the Markham Majors on winning the U13 AAA All-Ontario Championship! 🏆
— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) April 17, 2023
The Majors captured the title with a 5-0 victory over the Nickel City Sons on April 16.@OHFHockey | @MarkhamIslande1 pic.twitter.com/Nq3MewugWc
Markham would continue to nab wins in its next three games, including a 5-0 shutout in the championship game against Nickel City Sons. Justin Boudreau finished first on the team and third overall with eight goals and 14 points. Behind him, Carter Cross (3G, 9A), Jack Samek (6G, 6A), and Maddon Walsh (12A) rounded out the Markham skaters in the Top 10 for points. While the team’s offense was nearly unmatched, it helped that Markham had the two best netminders of the tournament as well. Dylan Sack allowed only six goals, leading to a 1.44 goals-against average and .906 save percentage with one shutout. His counterpart, Massimo Tomassi, recorded a 1.58 goals-against average and .915 save percentage and one shutout in four games.
The Vaughan Kings lived up to lofty expectations as No. 1 team in the World Rankings when they secured a title at the U15 All-Ontario Championships. A 4-0 win over the Soo Jr. Greyhounds cemented themselves as the top team in the birth year. Coming into the tournament as the two best teams in the field, they seemed destined to battle it out for provincial bragging rights.
The two teams managed to meet twice in the final two days of the season. On Saturday, Dalton Hoornstra did something no other team had done to Vaughan in 74 games this season. He shut them out in a 2-0 win that put the Jr. Greyhounds into the playoffs as the top seed. The top team in ‘09 team in the world that averaged 4.49 goals per game was kept off the scoreboard completely.
Alexander Hage (2G) and Ben Bowen (3A) helped the Kings get back on track with a 4-2 win over York Simcoe Express in the semifinals. With Soo defeating the Upper Canada Cyclones 5-1 in their following game, the table was set for a rematch between the two with the championship on the line.
Congratulations to the Vaughan Kings on winning the U15 AAA All-Ontario Championship! 🏆
— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) April 17, 2023
The Kings downed the Soo Jr. Greyhounds 4-0 on April 16 to become OHF Champions.@OHFHockey | @vaughankingsAAA pic.twitter.com/pjgFgIoCMM
It would be a much different affair than the previous meeting. Despite their best efforts, Hoornstra and the Jr. Greyhounds were unable to keep Vaughan’s impressive attack at bay for a second time. Bowen opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, and later increased the lead to 2-0 in the second period. In the third frame, Elijah Chavez and Zach Nyman scored ten seconds apart to put the game out of reach for the eventual 4-0 final. Joseph D’Angelo was huge in net, collecting his second shutout of the tournament. He would finish with a 0.77 goals-against average, allowing only three goals in four appearances. Bowen would finish atop the leaderboard with six goals and 13 points, tied with Soo’s Nikolas Rossetto.
Want more coverage of Canada, its top youth hockey players and teams? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
The Erie Otters are on the clock for the 2023 OHL Priority Selection process set to begin on April 21st. They will have their pick of the litter when choosing amongst the top 2007-born prospects in youth hockey. Their first overall selection will be the first of a 15-round event as OHL member clubs identify players for the future of their respective organizations.
The top draft-eligible prospect in the OHL jurisdiction, William Moore, is already committed to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He played the 2022-23 season with the Toronto Marlboros, and with dual citizenship, is set to represent Team USA next fall. That, in all likelihood, takes him out of consideration for the first overall pick. In the process, leaves Erie’s decision wide open to choose between a variety of players with varying skill sets at virtually every position. How will the first round unfold? We offer up a look at the first 22 picks coming up this Friday:
Schaefer was one of, if not, the best player at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. As captain of Team Ontario, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the national championship back in February. On top of that, he scored 12 goals and 32 points in 25 games for Halton. Despite the Hurricanes being eliminated in pool play of the U16 OHL Cup, Schaefer still finished second among defensemen in scoring at the tournament. He’s a do-it-all defender that would instantly bolster Erie’s blue line.
The right-handed forward scored 56 points in 23 games for Waterloo this season. He tied for the tournament lead with eight goals in six games at the U16 OHL Cup earlier this month. On top of that, he scored 85 points in 34 ALLIANCE Hockey games this season. He’s a physical presence on the ice with a heavy shot. Teams looking for a little sandpaper in their lineup may find just that with Martin
One of the most talked about prospects in the class because of his size, skating ability and puck skills. Roobroeck is listed at 6-foot-2 but looks even bigger on skates. He finished among the top skaters in points at the Canada Winter Games; a tournament that features some of the best prospects in the 2007-birth year. He was pivotal in Team Ontario’s run to a championship, scoring four of the team’s final nine goals in en route to a gold medal. He’s won everywhere he goes, and Roobroeck will likely make an instant impact when selected.
Much smaller in stature than the ones going ahead of him here, but Owen Griffin is extremely creative with the puck on his stick. He has a knack for finding open guys and the ability to create passing lanes with great on-ice vision. He led the ETAHL in goals (51) and assists (43) to help YSE to a 55-15-7 record this season.
He finished second in the SCTA in scoring behind teammate Tanner Lam (more on him in a bit). Hopkins was one-third of the most dominant line in the league for Halton. Going to Niagara here, the IceDogs get a burner who can get to top speed in just a few strides. Not only is he fast with his feet, but Hopkins can make plays at top speed as well. He can skate, he can score and he could prove to be a force in the OHL because of it.
The second defenseman off the board, appropriate for a prospect that may have been the best defender at the Canada Winter Games, second only to Schaefer. He played up an age group with the Nepean Raiders, and produced 35 points in 28 games to finish fourth among HEO defensemen. May be a bit of a challenge to crack the lineup right away, as Oshawa could return as many as five of its seven defensemen from the ‘22-23 season.
The Jr. Canadiens’ most effective offensive player. Romano has a knack for attacking the middle of the ice, plus finishing off the play with a scoring touch. Looks a bit smaller on the ice than what he’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 165 lbs. However, he has the potential to provide Brantford with a boost to the middle of its lineup, as he creates so many quality scoring chances in a variety of ways.
He led PPE in scoring with 81 points from the wing. Cloutier has a good feel for the game, especially without the puck. He’s got his head up to make smart plays coming out of the defensive zone and a nice tendency to find soft areas in the offensive zone. His ability to make positive plays at both ends of the rink would be a nice addition to the Bulldogs’ lineup.
Talk about puck skills with Lam. He’s got a tremendous gift for creating offense on his own with the ability to get past defenders 1-on-1 and also find shooting lanes with little space to operate. That can sometimes get him into trouble trying to do a bit too much at times. However, the good significantly outweighs the bad with Lam, as he led the SCTA in scoring with 71 points in 35 games. Plenty of upside to like here taking Lam near the end of the Top 10.
A slippery defender with the ability to skate his way out of danger, be it walking the blue line in the offensive zone or evading forecheckers below his own goal line. Singh is extremely active in the rush, pushing the back end every chance he gets. That makes him a dangerous threat offensively, as evidenced by his 16 goals and 65 points this season.
The first American off the board, may be a reach at this particular spot but Brzustewicz to Kitchener makes sense for a few reasons. First, Henry’s brother Hunter was a standout defenseman for the Rangers this past season. Second, Kitchener’s D corps is on the older side, and adding Henry would be a perfect fit given the need and pre-existing family connection. Third, with the compensatory pick at 10, the 11th pick is a bit of a luxury. They know what they would be getting with the Brothers Brzustewicz on the back end, and adding Henry would be a good get for the Rangers.
Very smart with the puck on his stick. Stark is not one to put pucks into danger areas or take unnecessary risks. That makes him a very reliable forward that would pair well with Oshawa’s top scorers. He may not be super dynamic or have a crazy high end like picks 1, 2 or 3 here. However, Stark is the type of player you could pair with that high-end player in your lineup to round out a top line.
He could find a role similar to Stark, as a fantastic complimentary player to Peterborough’s current top scorers. Problem is, the Petes may lose much of their scoring from the ‘22-23 season. Can Weir be a source of offense? Maybe. However, his value is more geared towards the smart, little plays that build momentum into bigger plays. Good zone exits and entries, no unforced turnovers and risky plays kept to a minimum. He’s going to be a good role player for a team in the back half of the first round.
Another under-ager that played up in the U18 HEO, Hull was the highest-scoring ‘07-born player in the league. He scored 33 goals and 63 points for the first-place Renfrew Wolves as they went 35-4-0 in league play. He has a very quick release which is a tad surprising, given his 5-foot-10 frame. However, that should put Hull in a good spot at the next level, especially considering Guelph could lose three of its top four scorers.
He was second in the States among ‘07-born defensemen, with 69 points in 75 games. Reid had the ability to take over games for BK this season, flashing his footwork and puck skills in one fell swoop. He’s the definition of a quarterback at the position, constantly communicating with his D partner and teammates on the ice. Firebirds would be getting a leader here who could positively impact the team in more ways than just hockey.
Another member of Team Ontario from the Canada Winter Games, Cameron was part of a loaded blue line in that February tournament. His skating ability sets him apart from most on the back end. Great use of his edges, very mobile and can transition from defense to offense with ease. Cameron scored 12 goals and 34 points in 30 ETAHL games; fourth among league defensemen.
His size makes him a problem for defenders in-zone. Moses is 6-foot-3 and 210 lbs, and he knows how to use his frame to his advantage. A true puck protector that doesn’t lose many board battles. On top of that, he’s able to move pucks to teammates in space that usually leads to positive offensive plays. Moses would fit right in with a Sting team that was the third tallest in the league; 10 players listed at 6-foot-2 or taller.
May not be the fastest prospect in the 2007 birth year, but he does get the most out of it. Snelgrove is relentless on a forecheck, just out-working opposing skaters to get to loose pucks. His motor is what propelled the Jr. Knights’ offense and opened up space for players like Roobroeck to have the season he did. Snelgrove will be a great depth forward who can bring energy and kill penalties right out of the gate.
Hit the 100-point mark for the Petes in 44 ETAHL games. He added nine more points in the OHL Cup before they were eliminated in the semifinals. McFadden has a good feel for the play as it develops and regularly knows where he wants to go with the puck before it gets to him. A prospect that can be a key piece to a team’s offense without being the main focal point of it. His value comes in many forms, including a playmaker on a PP unit or stout defender on a depth line.
Not a lot of lightning in his game but plenty of thunder. He won’t wow you with fancy plays, but Young will very casually make routine ones that lead to big things. Zone exits up the wall to space getting out of the zone. Driving wide, leaving a drop pass to space for teammates. He does a lot of the little things that flashier players don’t want to do. Young will pair well with forwards in any other lineup here, but Windsor would get a nice contributor with the 20th pick here.
Part of the Vaughan Kings’ unlikely run to an OHL Cup final, Galiyanov scored 54 points in 64 games this season. He’s smart with the puck, not just in the attacking zone but also defensively. Galiyanov limits turnovers and dangerous plays by keeping his head up and making smart decisions. His sound positioning and effort in the D-zone makes him a low-risk, high-reward player at the end of the first round for North Bay.
An historic performance at the OHL Cup propelled O’Brien up the draft boards. He earned tournament MVP honors after producing 17 points in seven games; eighth-most in a single OHL Cup. He’s most dangerous without the puck, able to slash his way into open space in the offensive zone. When teammates found him open, he found ways to put the puck in the net. That certainly carries weight, and could make him a nice pickup here at the end of the first round.
Want more coverage of the OHL Priority Selection and other major junior drafts? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
After collecting just two points during Nacka HK’s group play schedule at the 2023 U15 Uplandia Trophy, Mikael Kim turned it on in the playoffs. With one of the hottest sticks among all skaters, Kim finished first in multiple offensive categories, including total points (8), goals (4) and assists (4). A run that led Nacka to the final game against AIK Hockey, where Kim played the hero by scoring an overtime goal to secure the championship.
Despite Kim’s slow start to the tournament, Arvid Ermeskog (4G, 2A) and Love Lorentzon (2G, 3A) did a majority of the heavy lifting in the points department during the group stage. Lorenzton had his best game during the second day of action, where he scored four points (2G, 2A) in an 8-0 win against Rauman Lukko. Ermeskog also recorded two multi-point performances in two of the team’s five group games.
With both players contributing to an impressive attack, Nacka finished its group schedule with a plus-14 goal differential, the best among all participating clubs. Strong offense and dependable defense would continue into the playoff rounds, where the team followed it up with a plus-six goal differential in three contests. While the points from Ermeskog and Lorentzon were not as prevalent, the stage was set for Kim to raise his profile at the tournament.
Kim helped Nacka open their playoff slate with a 6-4 victory against MoDo Hockey. It would be his best game statistically, tallying two goals and four points. He followed that up with a three-point performance in a 3-0 shutout of SDE Hockey. Following those victories, the lone club standing between Nacka and the championship was AIK.
Alexander Hedberg Bouveron opened the scoring in the first period when he finished off a pass from Liam Thunberg. Just 23 seconds after, Viggo Låhdö knotted the score at 1-1. Late in the period, Nacka would go back up 2-1 off a goal from Sam Tillström.
Max Balk managed to slip a shot by Gustav Stengård to even things up again in the second period. Chances continued back-and-forth in the third period, but neither side was able to convert.
Heading to overtime, Kim made quick work of the extra frame. He settled down a pass from Leo Schlegel and sent it into the net just 23 seconds in. The goal was his fifth of the tournament and 10th point overall. Nacka closes out 2022-23 with an Uplandia Trophy seven months after it began the season with a Sweden Hockey Trophy championship.
Want more coverage of Sweden and its top youth hockey players and teams? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
Hockey Quebec concluded its 2022-23 youth hockey season this weekend with the Chevrolet Cup. The tournament crowned a provincial champion as the best team in the Canadian province at the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 age groups.
The Laval Patriotes claimed two of those championships, winning the ‘10 and ‘11 tournaments. Additionally, As de Quebec won the 2009 title, while Estacades Mauricie won the 2008 playoffs and Laval/Montreal won the oldest age group as 2007 champions.
After dropping the first game of the tournament, the Patriotes rattled off four consecutive wins in three days en route to the 2011 championship. Shawn-Anthony Senat led the team in scoring with seven points in five games. Three of those came in the final two games, as Laval clinched the U12 Chevrolet Cup with a 7-1 win in the semifinal and 4-0 win in the championship.
In the U13 tournament, Mathis Khoury and Justin Cardillo proved to be a dangerous tandem. They combined to score 18 of Laval’s 44 goals over the weekend. Khoury’s eighth goal helped propel the Patriotes past Intrepide de Gatineau in the semifinals. Then in the championship, he would score two more goals in Laval’s 4-2 finish over Dynamiques CCL.
With a pair of championships, the Laval Patriotes can claim superiority over youth hockey at the youngest age levels in Quebec. The U13 squad went 21-4-5 in LHEQ play and finished the regular season third in the Rousseau Sports Division. The U12 team finished second in its division with a 20-6-4 record. Both proved to be difficult opponents come playoff time, evident by their championship runs.
Entering the postseason on a 7-0-1 run, As de Quebec continued its winning ways through Entrepôts du Hockey series play. That ultimately led to a four-win run that earned Quebec a No. 1 seed entering the Chevrolet Cup. And from there, the success never stopped.
Félix Vachon’s first goal of the weekend broke a 1-1 tie against Seigneurs des Milles-Iles on Thursday. That kept Quebec’s win streak in tact as they avoided near defeat. The next two days consisted of a dominant 4-1 win over Lions Lac St-Louis and a 5-1 win over Albatros est-du-Quebec. That pushed them into a semifinal matchup with Harfangs de Sherbrooke on Sunday morning.
Forwards Zack Arsenault and Louis-Émile Dumais had done much of the heavy lifting for As de Quebec. They combined for 40 points in nine playoff games. However, when they entered the third period of the semifinal game tied 2-2, it would be a new name breaking through. Just 2:24 into the final frame, Léo-Gabriel Gosselin scored the go-ahead goal. It was his fourth goal of the playoffs and fifth point total, pushing Quebec on to the championship.
Just seven hours later, in the championship, Gosselin would do it again.
Trailing the Lanaudière Pionniers, Dumais would tie the game at 1-1 early in the third period. Then, Arsenault would score his 15th goal of the playoffs that tied it again at 2-2. As the game went to overtime, it would be Gosselin who again broke the tie, winning the U14 championship for As de Quebec just 1:17 into the extra frame.
Winning the championship in dramatic fashion, Gosselin’s goal ends As de Quebec’s 2022-23 season with a 17-game unbeaten streak.
The top four teams from each of the three divisions in the Ligue de Hockey d’Excellence du Quebec (LHEQ) earned automatic bids into the tournament.
The 2008-born Estacades Mauricie faced little resistance on their path to a 2023 Chevrolet Cup championship. In four Entrepôts Series games, they out-scored opponents 23-6 to earn the top seed heading into this weekend. Domination continued at the provincial championship as well. First, a 5-1 win over Arsenal Lac St-Louis on Thursday. That was followed up by 7-3 and 5-3 wins over Patriotes Laval and Vert et Noir RIC.
In the semis and finals, goaltenders Malik LeBlanc and Jacob St-Cyr would trade shut-out performances, as Estacades won 5-0 and 3-0 games just five hours apart.
The championship run was indicative of their 2022-23 season. In 30 LHEQ games, Mauricie went 21-2-7 to finish as the top team in L’entrepôt du Hockey Division. Enzo Lottin and Chad Lygitsakos were among the leading scorers in the league, leading the Estacades to a 2008 championship.
A team that suffered defeat just four times in LHEQ play this season, Laval/Montreal finished a run to the 2023 Chevrolet Cup with a dominant playoff push. They went 25-4-3 in the Rousseau Sports Division of the LHEQ.
With a balanced attack, Nicola Ragusa and Kamyl Chemrouk led an offense that featured nine skaters with nine-or-more points in the playoffs. That depth came in handy when Laval/Montreal needed offense to advance. In the final four games of the tournament, they reached or surpassed the five-goal mark, including a 6-5 win in the semifinals. At one point, they trailed Citadelles R-N Abi 5-1 just 22 minutes into the game. A pair of goals from Ragusa, and a third goal from Chemrouk would dig Laval/Montreal out of a hole in the second period. Luc Béliveau would score a power-play goal 6:26 into the third period to tie the game up. Then in the final moments of regulation, Mickaël Pagé would complete the comeback to make it 6-5 with his fifth goal of the playoffs.
Pulling off the unlikely comeback opened up the doors for a championship matchup with Corsaires Pointe-Lévy. An opponent that finished the regular season with a 16-12-4 record, and entered the Chevrolet Cup as the No. 4 seed out of the Entrepôts du Hockey series. Three consecutive one-goal victories helped lift Corsaires just to get to the championship game. However, Laval/Montreal would see to it that Corsaires’ run came to an end.
Ragusa, Chemrouk, Anthony Miscione and James Roberts would score four consecutive goals to start the game. That mounted a lead large enough that Pointe-Lévy could not come back from. Laval/Montreal would finish the game 5-1 to claim the 2007 championship.
Want more from the world of youth hockey? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
From April 13-16th, 18 of the top 2008-born Swedish youth hockey teams will participate in the annual Uplandia Trophy. Five of those clubs are among the Top-10 programs in the WHH rankings. No. 1 Nacka HK, No. 5 Boo HC, No. 8 Linden HC, No. 9 AIK Hockey, and No. 10 Flemingsbergs IK. Adding a little wrinkle to the proceedings will be the addition of No. 6 Finland-ranked Tappara Sininen.
Each team will be tasked with five group-play games with a format of two 20-minute periods. With all of that in mind, let’s look at three teams who could contend for the championship at this year’s tournament.
Nacka comes in as one of the best teams of its birth year. With a 31-5-7 record to date, they have handled business quite well during regional group play. They finished first at the Sweden Hockey Trophy and third at the Folke Filbyter Cup this season. One thing that will certainly aid their search for a championship will be Oliver Sundberg. One of the most consistent skaters this season, Sundberg has compiled 15 goals and 22 points. That’s the second-most in the recent stretch of group play. In net, Gustav Stengård has been as reliable as any goaltender between the pipes. He’s compiled a respectable 1.58 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in group play. None of their initial five matchups come against ranked opponents, so Nacka should be able to hit the ground running right out of the gate.
Boo, much like Nacka, is a tested bunch when it comes to tournament play this year. After kicking off their season at the Sweden Hockey Trophy, they have since taken part in the Folke Lindström Cup and the Swedbank Trophy. At the Lindström Cup, dynamic duo of forward Viggo Fors and defenseman Olle Andersson made a splash on the scene. Additionally, Lukas Svensson is the current team leader in group play points with 25 (15G, 10A). Getting a majority of starts in net, Leon Andersson has garnered an impressive 1.21 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. If these players continue to produce similar resulets at Uplandia Trophy, they should contend for the top spot. With a first matchup scheduled against Flemingsbergs, it will take all hands on deck to open with a victory.
The team has participated in the Sweden Hockey Trophy, Folke Lindström Cup and secured bronze at the Nordic Youth Trophy. On top of tournament experience, Flemingsbergs sits first in its respective group division with a record of 17-3-1. I expect Salim Ismailov (20G, 17A) and Oliver Wall (14G, 20A) to do big things for their team. They finished as the first and third-most point getters in group play this season, respectively. Rounding out the potent power trio of forwards is Noel Dourrouj, who has collected 14 goals and 27 points.
For as dynamic as the offense is for Flemingsbergs, the Lindbom brothers provide a goaltending tandem that any team would be envious of. In group play, Benjamin Lindbom has recorded a 1.22 goals-against average and .935 save percentage with one shutout. Kevin Lindbom has collected a 1.27 goals-against average and .925 goals-against, with four shutouts. No matter who is in net, they give Flemingsbergs an ample boost. Flemingsbergs will open up Uplandia Trophy games against Boo, finishing up its remaining four games against unranked opponents.
Want more coverage of Sweden and its top youth hockey players and teams? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
The OHL Cup is a season-ending tournament that features some of the top youth hockey teams in Ontario. Established in 1968, the event regularly showcases the best players in the province at the U16 age group. Last season, the OHL decided to expand its impact on the local youth hockey space by expanding the tournament to the U14 age group as well.
Following a similar format to the U16 tournament, twelve 2009-born teams qualified for this year’s U14 OHL Cup. Those teams include members of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), ALLIANCE Hockey, Hockey Eastern Ontario (HE) and Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA). Below is the list of 12 teams, plus how they qualified for the tournament:
Halton Hurricanes (OMHA Champion)
Barrie Jr. Colts (OMHA Finalist)
York-Simcoe Express (OMHA 3rd Place)
Don Mills Flyers (GTHL Champion)
Toronto Titans (GTHL Finalist)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL 3rd Place)
Sun County Panthers (ALLIANCE Champion)
Huron-Perth Lakers (ALLIANCE Finalist)
Ottawa Myers Automotive (HEO Champion)
Ottawa Valley Titans (HEO Finalist)
Soo Jr. Greyhounds (NOHA Champion)
North Bay Trappers (NOHA Finalist)
Of the 12 participating teams, six are currently ranked in the Top 10 in the country. According to the OHL, the event is meant to provide players and parents with an introduction to the junior league. Additionally, it serves as an exciting experience to end their seasons with a provincial championship.
The field is split up into four divisions of three teams. We examine each of the four divisions to give you one team from each that has a viable chance of winning the entire tournament.
This division could prove to be very close, actually. While Ottawa Myers Automotive is the only ranked one in the bunch, there isn’t a huge drop-off between the Barrie Jr. Colts and Soo Jr. Greyhounds either. As close as all three seem to stack up, I’ll go with Ottawa as the best odds to make a championship run. They may not even come out of pool play as the top seed, but they have shown an ability this season to play with top teams. In five games against Top-10 teams, Ottawa has a 1-2-2 record. It’s not great, but it is better than their counterparts and proves they can compete come playoff time in the tournament.
They’re the No. 1 ranked team in the country, despite finishing third in the GTHL Playoffs. Aside from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens’ impressive 49-14-1 record, they allow just 1.38 goals against per game. Additionally, JRC has already played fellow division member Halton earlier in the season. That game back in November was a 7-0 final in favor of the Jr. Canadiens. I don’t see North Bay providing much more resistance either, so JRC is the obvious favorite here.
Sun County Panthers and Toronto Titans are back-to-back in our Top 10. That’s been the case since Dec. 7th, as the margin between these two is razor thin. In games against shared opponents, the results are almost identical. They did go head-to-head once back in November, and Toronto had the edge 3-0. However, Sun County has been a much different team since then. After all, they did upset the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the semifinals of the GTHL Playoffs. So I’m going with the Panthers as the best odds to win the championship out of this group.
I’d argue nobody in Ontario is playing better hockey right now than the Don Mills Flyers. They come into the tournament as champions of the GTHL; a huge notch on their belt. Plus, they’ve only lost once in regulation since January 15th. DMF maintains a plus-170 goal differential, and hasn’t allowed more than three goals against in 52 consecutive games. Offense is tough to come by against this squad. In a tournament environment like this, I think low-scoring games bode well for Don Mills.
Showcases like the OHL Cup are always full of surprises. A team that no one expects that goes on an unthinkable run. Look no further than the unranked Vaughan Kings’ run at the U16 tournament where they made a push to the championship game. Here’s one unsuspecting team from each division with a chance to make some noise.
They might actually come out of the division as the top seed come Saturday. I like the Barrie Jr. Colts to make a splash because their offense is so dynamic; 316 goals this season is more than any other team in the tournament. They’ve also already played seven of the 11 other participants this season. Nobody else has played more than five, so Barrie has more familiarity with its opponents than anyone else. A dynamic offense that’s battle tested and plays up to their competition? Scary combination.
They’ve had a tendency to be nuclear at times. They lost to fellow OHL Cup participants Ottawa Myers Automotive 5-0 and Toronto Jr. Canadiens 7-0 this season. When things go bad, there’s potential for it to go awful. However, this is a Halton Hurricanes squad that went unbeaten for 23 games at one point this season. They can be just as white hot as they can be ice cold. It’s possible they could harness that into a playoff run this weekend.
Referring to them as an underdog is a bit of a stretch. After all, the Toronto Titans are the No. 4 ranked team in the country. But I don’t have them winning the division outright, which means they’ll come into the playoffs as a lower seed. That puts Toronto in a position to spoil someone’s weekend. They already have wins over Sun County, Barrie, YSE, DMF and the Jr. Canadiens. It’s just a matter of stringing them all together this week.
They may end up being third out of three teams in their division when pool play is over. However, the Ottawa Valley Titans have wins over four of the 11 teams in the field this season. Plus, they’ve seen both Don Mills and JRC earlier in the year. Those games didn’t go their way, but the Titans have invaluable experience knowing they can skate with the top teams in the tournament. They’re the ultimate wild card in this field of teams, capable of being the No. 1 seed out of the Perfetti Division, but also a sneaky dark horse as a lower seed come playoff time as well.
Want more coverage of the U14 OHL Cup? Follow WWH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
During the course of Finland’s U16 SM-Series Playoffs, numerous individuals displayed their talents in a tournament of the top teams in the country. Two of those players, Eetu Orpana and Joonas Rajala, were main reasons why Tappara was able to win its first national championship since 1998.
| Joonas Rajala Tappara | Olli Wahlroos TPS | Eetu Orpana Tappara |
For a majority of this season, Joonas Rajala and Eetu Orpana have filled scoresheets with their names. Providing a one-two punch up front for Tappara, much of the club’s success can be attributed to the way these two forwards play the game. Their dynamic play carried over into the national playoffs, where they each tallied 12 points in seven games. Rajala put up eight goals, while Orpana was more of a distributor of the puck, collecting eight assists.
Olli Wahlroos was one of the most consistent forwards for TPS en route to their run to the championship game. Wahlroos put up five goals and 11 points in 10 playoff games. He shined as a fantastic two-way player whose patience with the puck allowed teammates to find scoring opportunities. Wahlroos is a leader that makes those around him better.
| Ossi Tukio Ilves | Aaron Paju TPS |
Ossi Tukio led all defensemen in scoring with two goals and eight points, which was also good enough for third overall among all Ilves skaters. With a decent frame, his long reach prevented attacking players from being able to establish much zone time. With only two penalty minutes to his name, Tukio is rarely seen out of position.
Aaron Paju added complimentary scoring from the blue line for TPS, racking up one goal and seven points in 10 games. A mainstay on the power play because of his excellent puck movement, his lone goal came on the man advantage in the second game against Tappara.
| Eero Rönö Tappara |
Statistically, there was no better goaltender in the U16 SM-Series Playoffs than Eero Rönö. Compiling a .955 save percentage and 1.25 goals-against average, only five goals made their way past him in four starts. Constantly exhibiting calm demeanor in the crease, you would be hard pressed to find another 2007-born Finnish goalie who is as technically sound as he is. If not for a late power-play goal, Rönö would have secured a 30-save shutout in the Game 2 of the Finals against TPS. He made 23 saves in Game 1 as well.
Want more coverage of Finland and its top youth hockey players and teams? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!
Propelled by key victories at 16U USA Hockey Nationals, the Long Island Gulls found a new home in the No. 1 spot among 2006-born clubs. They defeated No. 3 New Jersey Rockets, No. 4 Compuware, No. 6 Little Caesars and No. 9 Mount St. Charles, all Top-10 U.S. teams. The Gulls also managed to pull out a strong victory over previous top spot holder Shattuck-St. Mary’s, who slid down to No. 2.
In Sweden, Täby HC maneuvered its way to the top, thanks to a deep run to the championship game versus Brynäs IF for 2007-born teams. Even more impressive was the final result of the matchup, with Brynäs managing to put up seven goals en route to winning the club’s first-ever Sweden National Championship. A win that helped boost Brynäs, who was previously unranked, into the Top 10.
Sticking with the ‘07s, Tappara went 6-1-0 in the Finnish SM-Series playoffs to secure the top spot from Kiekko-Espoo. TPS and KalPa also experienced jumps to No. 3 and No. 4 in the Top 10, respectively, resulting from key victories during their playoff runs as well. In the ‘08s, Jokerit’s 3-0-0 stretch allowed them to take the No. 1 spot, with second-place Kärpät Musta in the No. 2 spot and third-place Kärpät Valkoinen settling in to No. 3.
Fresh off winning gold at the 2023 U14 Uplandia Trophy with an undefeated run, Brinkens IF is enjoying a new view from the No. 1 spot.
The 2011-born Vaughan Kings put up a stellar showing against the No. 2 Toronto Jr. Canadiens, defeating them 8-1 to leapfrog them to the No. 1 spot. Vaughan also managed to split two games against No. 10 Toronto Nationals. In Russia, the ‘11s saw a new club take the No. 1 spot as well with CSKA Moscow taking over for No. 2 Dynamo St. Petersburg. CSKA put three crucial victories against Top-10 teams under its belt to slip past Dynamo.
No. 5 ‘06 SKA Strelna suited up for two games against No. 6 SKA Silver Lions, resulting in two wins for Strelna to move them up a spot. Traktor Chelyabinsk put together a decent string of wins to slide into the No. 10 spot for the first time this season. 2009-born Dynamo St. Petersburg took two out of three games against No. 9 SKA Strelna to push them out of the No. 8 spot.
There were some big showdowns at the ‘07 USA Hockey Nationals tournament, and the Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ championship run vaulted them from No. 7 to No. 3. It started with wins against teams like No. 4 Mount St. Charles and No. 8 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. Then, it culminated with a championship win in overtime against No. 5 Shattuck-St. Mary’s. In Canada, the Halton Hurricanes took advantage of two games with No. 5 York Simcoe Express, taking the No. 4 spot among other ‘07 teams with two wins.
Continuing to impress with the 2008-born clubs was No. 2 Linköpings HC, who bested No. 3 Djurgårdens IF twice at the 2023 Swedbank Trophy. Linköpings went on to win the gold medal, which ended a perfect 5-0-0 run.
Be sure to check out the complete world rankings, including Top 10s by country and World Top 25s for each of the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 birth years.
The U15 All Ontario Championship gets underway on Wednesday. The teams competing are the six league champions, plus the host team. Participants will compete in a six-game round robin that runs through Saturday. Then, on Sunday, the top four teams advance to the playoffs.
The tournament — despite only having seven teams — features three of the top four 2008-born teams in Canada. No. 1 Vaughan Kings, No. 3 Elgin-Middlesex Canucks and No. 4 York-Simcoe Express headline this tournament of champions. Plus, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds and Upper Canada Cyclones have made appearances in the Top 10 this season as well.
Take an in-depth look at each of the seven participating teams in our Power Rankings below:
They enter the tournament as an honorary participant. The Soo Jr. Greyhounds were already set to compete as the host team. However, the Jr. Greyhounds doubled down by winning the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) championship. Because of that, a seventh team was necessary for competitive balance, so Sudbury Nickel Capitals entered the chat. They come in with a 9-26-2 record on the season and just two victories since Christmas. They average 3.95 goals against this season and could face quite the uphill battle in the All-Ontario Championship this week.
Another team that comes into the All-Ontario Championship with a sub-.500 record. The Thunder Bay Kings have already played Vaughan and Soo earlier this season. However, they’re 0-6-0, having played both opponents three times each. While the team has struggled this season in the win column, it’s come while playing one of the toughest schedules in the province. Only Vaughan and the Toronto Marlboros have played a more difficult slate of games in ‘22-23, according to MyHockeyRankings. Are they battle tested enough to compete in this tournament of champions?
The Upper Canada Cyclones debuted in the Top 10 in September, but dropped out shortly after and never returned. They enter the tournament as a relative unknown to fellow participants. Cyclones have only played three games against All-Ontario Championship teams; splitting wins with Elgin-Middlesex and defeating Sudbury 6-2 in November. Admittedly, they may be a tad low at No. 5 here. That split with EMC is telling, as even in defeat, UCC took the higher-ranked Canucks to overtime. The Cyclones can compete at a high level, but they’ll have to do it against the best of the best this week.
A little home cooking never hurts. Being able to play in their home rink, use their home locker room and sleep in their own beds. It’s certainly a nice perk for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds that the other six teams might not get to enjoy. They tied York-Simcoe 1-1 in January, and were shut out 4-0 by Vaughan. So for the Soo to take the next step and compete with teams ranked ahead of them in the Power Rankings may prove to be a challenge. Nonetheless, the Jr. Greyhounds enter the tournament on a 10-1-1 run in their last 12 games.
Elgin-Middlesex Canucks are a little concerning because they’ve played the weakest schedule among Top-10 teams; at least according to MyHockeyRankings. That’s slightly supported by their 7-1 loss to Vaughan and 4-4 tie to the Oakville Rangers in the only two games EMC played against ranked opponents. Regardless, they do have a potent offense that averages 4.64 goals per game and enter the tournament with a 13-1-0 record since Feb. 1st.
They opened up the season on a 19-game unbeaten streak, and now enter the All-Ontario Championship on a 19-game unbeaten streak. York-Simcoe Express looks to be arguably the hottest team in the tournament right now. With a plus-209, YSE has the second-best goal differential this season among participating teams. Also reflected by their 60-6-9 record. Only three teams in Ontario reached the 60-win plateau; one of them is the top rated team, and the other is the Oakville Rangers. York-Simcoe has reached rare heights this season and could continue to climb before Sunday.
The Vaughan Kings have arguably been the top 2008-born team in Canada for more than two seasons. They won last year’s season-ending U14 OHL Cup championship as the best team in Ontario. This season, they won the International Silver Stick tournament. They also won the regular season and playoff championships in the GTHL. With a 69-5-2 record, all the Kings have done this season is win. They already have victories over York-Simcoe, Elgin-Middlesex, the Soo and Thunder Bay by an average margin of 4.3 goals. It won’t be a cakewalk, but there’s no reason to think Vaughan can be stopped in Sault Ste. Marie this week.
Top teams from the 2010 birth year will compete in the U13 All-Ontario Championship this week as well. The tournament will run concurrently to the U15 tournament, just an hour west up the coast of Lake Superior.
Participating teams include:
Host Thunder Bay Kings
ALLIANCE Hockey champion No. 2 Sun County Panthers
GTHL champion No. 4 Markham Majors
HEO champion Ottawa Valley Titans
NOHA champion Nickel City Sons
OMHA champion Whitby Wildcats
HNO representative Kenora Thistles
Want more coverage of the All-Ontario Championships? Follow WWH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, updates and more!