Hey OHL fans! It's time for another round of stats, interesting notes and happenings.
I'm coming out swinging with some Sudbury Wolves stuff as
usual.
It's hard not to be impressed with the play of rugged
forward Devin DiDiomete. This guy is a hockey player. He can do
a bit of everything and has a truckload of toughness to back up
his antics and teammates.
DiDiomete was at his best again this past weekend. On
Friday, he led the charge, scoring twice, including the
game-winning goal, as Sudbury came from behind to beat Sarnia
5-4. (Sudbury was down 4-1 in the third period, but showed true
grit in coming back to win.)
On Sunday, DiDiomete and the Wolves ran into the hottest
goalie in the OHL, Kitchener's John Murray (more on him later),
and were shut out 2-0 in a very spirited and hard-hitting
affair.
Still, despite being held off the scoreboard, DiDiomete
didn't let the Rangers leave without a message. He fought it
out with Mike Duco at the end of the game just to let Kitchener
know they weren't taking two points without a little
punishment.
Overall, DiDiomete has been solid this year. He has
three-game winning goals and is destined to shatter last
season's personal best stats. He has 14 goals and 22 points
through 30 games. In 2005-06, DiDiomete had 15 goals and 36
points in 60 games. The native of Stratford is also second in
the OHL in penalty minutes with 106. He's six behind leader
Bobby Davey, who plays defence for Sarnia and only has three
points.
Speaking of Murray, the 19-year-old rookie goalie showed
Sudbury fans why he's the hottest puck stopper in the league
right now and probably the best.
Murray threw up a wall against the Wolves, thwarting all 29 shots fired his way. It was Murray's second straight shut out and fourth overall. He stopped 23 saves versus Sault Ste. Marie the game before. Overall, Murray is 17-3-0-1.
He has won his last nine games in a row and is 12-1 in his
last 13 games. Murray also owns the league's best
goals-against-average (GAA) at 2.34 and the second best save
percentage with .921.
Kitchener is 8-2 in their last 10 games.
Murray is putting up MVP calibre numbers and is one of the
main reasons Kitchener is fourth overall in the OHL standings.
Murray isn't the only bright light burning in the nets across
the OHL. Aside from Guelph's super rookie Thomas McCollum, whom
I've written about before, there are others making a strong
case for goalie of the year honours.
Plymouth's Jeremy Smith, also a rookie, has helped the
Whalers return to form thanks to his 8-5-0-0 record and 2.73
GAA and .917 save percentage, which are third and fourth
overall respectively.
Smith's play has helped Plymouth fashion an 8-1-1-0 record
in their last 10 games, and they now occupy third spot in the
tough West Division.
How about Barrie's Andrew Perugini? He's been nothing short
of amazing with a 20-4-0-1 record and a 2.90 GAA and a .913
save percentage. Perugini is the first goalie in the OHL to hit
the 20-win mark this season. He has also helped push Barrie to
the top of the OHL standings. The Colts have a record of
21-6-0-1, good for second overall in the OHL.
Then there's London's Steve Mason who has the best save percentage in the OHL at .924 and a sizzling 2.90 GAA.
His play has made the Knights the team to beat again this
season. London is first overall with a record of 21-4-1-2 and
they're 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games.
Even in this new age of wide-open hockey, these players are
proving goaltending is still the key spot on any club.
Goalies aren't the only hot commodities in the OHL right now.
Numerous scorers are also making plenty of noise.
London is getting stellar goaltending, but also incredible scoring from two rookies - Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner.
Everyone knew these guys were going to be good, but this
good already? It's almost insane to think about what they're
doing to the league right now.
They are tied for first in OHL scoring with 60 points each.
Kane has more goals, 21 to 16. These two players have racked up
12 goals and 34 points combined in their last eight games. It's
mindboggling.
Oshawa's John Tavares is climbing up the scoring charts. In his last 10 games, Tavares has 14 goals and 27 points.
Overall, he's fourth in scoring with 29 goals and 52 points
in 27 games. He leads the OHL in goals.
Peterborough has two players also charging up the scoring
ladder - Daniel Ryder and Steve Downie. Downie has a 15-game
points streak going with 15 goals and 34 points in that span.
Ryder has been electrifying with 12 goals and 25 points in his
last 14 games.
They sit fourth and fifth in league scoring.
It's hard not to notice two rookie defenceman who are
tearing up the league right now as well - Mississauga's Alex
Pietrangelo and Oshawa's Michael Del Zotto. Now here's two
sure-fire future NHL players.
Both only 16, Pietrangelo leads the OHL in +/- ratings with
a +22. He also has 22 points in 27 games.
Del Zotto is turning into an offensive force. In his last
eight games, Del Zotto has 15 points and now sits second
overall in OHL defenceman scoring with five goals and 33 points
in 27 games.
There's so much pure talent in the OHL right now, it's downright scary. Get out there and see it.
