Hello OHL fans, here's another serving of
notes and news to dig into to. (All stats quoted are as of
Northern Life's press deadline of noon, Thursday, Jan. 13.)
Mike Richards of the Kitchener Rangers has come back from his
stint as captain of Canada's gold-medal winning World Junior
Championship (WJC) squad with a fire in his belly. Richards
scored three goals and nine points in his first three games
back from the prestigious tournament. Richards was named OHL
Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 9 for his
efforts.
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SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW |
Two Sudbury Wolves will get the chance of a
lifetime when they play in the 2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top
Prospects Game in Vancouver on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
Defenceman Marc Staal will play for Team
White, coached by former NHL goalie John Davidson, and forward
Ben Pouliot will play for Team Black,
coached by hockey legend Don Cherry. Staal
will get the opportunity to play with teenage phenomena Sidney
Crosby, who is rated the best prospect to come along since Eric
Lindros, and plays for the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League. Pouliot will play with another high
caliber
2005 pick in Gilbert Brule, who plays for the
Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.
Don't look now, but the race in the Central
Division is hot enough to burn the chrome off a trailer
hitch.
Brampton holds a slim lead with 48 points,
followed closely by Sudbury and Mississauga with 46 points, and
Barrie with 45 points. Toronto is the
exception of the group, bringing up the rear
with 32 points.
It should prove to be a furious pace as teams
jostle for playoff positioning down the road.
Sudbury and Mississauga clash tonight at the
Sudbury Arena. Game time is 7:30 pm.
Owen Sound Attack winger and top prospect for
the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Bobby Ryan has been on fire
lately.
Ryan has been soaring up the leading point
scorer's chart. In his last five games, Ryan has five goals and
13 points. This remarkable outburst has pushed him to third in
league scoring with 23 goals and 59 points. Last year, Ryan
scored 22 goals and 39 points in 65 games.
