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Innisfil native rides point streak to OHL player of the week

The 21-year-old currently sits eighth in OHL points with 57 through 41 games this season
2022-01-20 James Hardie TW 1
Innisfil-native James Hardie as a member of the Mississauga Steelheads.

NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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James Hardie of the Mississauga Steelheads is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording two goals, eight assists and 10 points in four games, along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4.

Helping guide the Steelheads to a 3-1 showing last week, Hardie got things started with Mississauga's lone goal in a 2-1 road loss to the Erie Otters on Monday. The Steelheads bounced back on Thursday with a 6-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs as Hardie put together the first of two consecutive four-assist outings. He registered another four assists on Friday, helping linemate Zander Veccia score his first OHL hat trick as the Steelheads defeated the Central Division-leading North Bay Battalion 5-4. Hardie contributed another goal on Sunday as the Steelheads closed out the weekend with a 5-4 win over the IceDogs on home ice. Currently riding a 10-game point streak, seven of Hardie's eight assists last week were primary helpers.

A 21-year-old native of Innisfil, Ont., Hardie currently sits eighth in OHL points with 57 (28-29--57) through 41 games this season. His 181 shots on goal are the fourth-highest total in the League. Mississauga's fist round (8th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection is the club's all-time leading goal-scorer (118) and point producer (219) in his 230 career regular season contests. Hardie attended rookie camp with the Boston Bruins last September.

Also given consideration for the award this week was Steelheads teammate Zander Veccia who recorded five goals, four assists and nine points in four games. Edmonton Oilers prospect Matvey Petrov of the North Bay Battalion was also a standout, recording five goals and two assists over three outings.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:

  • Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: James Hardie (Mississauga Steelheads)
  • Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack)
  • Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
  • Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Connor Lockhart (Peterborough Petes)
  • Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts)
  • Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Ryan Gagnier (Oshawa Generals)
  • Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)
  • Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)
  • Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)
  • Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)
  • Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
  • Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
  • Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
  • Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
  • Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
  • Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)

Frontenacs' Mason Vaccari Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Mason Vaccari of the Kingston Frontenacs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a 1.64 goals-against average and .951 save percentage.

Vaccari backstopped the Frontenacs to back-to-back road wins, starting with a 45-save effort on Monday in Peterborough to earn third-star recognition as the Frontenacs defeated the Petes 2-1. The rookie netminder was excellent again on Saturday, making 25 saves in a 6-2 victory over the Niagara IceDogs. Vaccari saw relief duty on Sunday afternoon in Guelph, stopping eight of nine shots as the Frontenacs fell 6-2 to the Storm.

An 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., Vaccari owns a 9-6-0-0 record with a 3.22 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in his first 16 games with the Frontenacs this season. The 5-foot-9, 178Ib. netminder spent last season with the OJHL's Cobourg Cougars, going 9-7-0 with a 3.85 goals-against average and .878 save percentage in 16 games. Vaccari was Kingston's fourth-round (61st overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings U16 program.

Kitchener Rangers netminder Marco Costantini was also given consideration for the award, recording two wins, a 2.00 goals-against average, and .944 save percentage in victories over Ottawa and London last week.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:

  • Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)
  • Jan 9. – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs)
  • Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s)
  • Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
  • Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)
  • Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs)
  • Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
  • Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
  • Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
  • Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
  • Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
  • Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
  • Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
  • Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
  • Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
  • Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)

About the Ontario Hockey League

The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

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