Fall officially arrived Monday, and that means junior hockey is in full effect across Niagara.
No fewer than nine junior clubs call the region home.
We’ll start in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where the Niagara IceDogs won their home opener Sunday 5-1 over the Sudbury Wolves as rookie, and 2025 first round draft pick, Ryerson Edgar notched the hat-trick – including scoring the fastest goal in franchise history, six seconds into the third period – and four points as the IceDogs improved to (1-1) on the season.
Niagara, who entered the season ranked tenth in the entire Canadian Hockey League (CHL), now hits the road for four straight games before returning home Sunday October 5 against the Barrie Colts.
Three IceDogs forwards are still at NHL camps – Kevin He with the Winnipeg Jets, Ethan Czata with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Riley Patterson with the Vancouver Canucks. Patterson, in fact, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canucks on Monday.
For more information on the Niagara IceDogs visit niagaraicedogs.net
To the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and the Niagara Falls Canucks. Head Coach, and former NHL Stanley Cup Champion, Frank Pietrangelo had a large roster turnover as his team sits at (1-6) to start the campaign and welcome the Buffalo Jr. Sabres Friday night.
Twin brothers Brendan and Jesse Gauthier lead the Canucks with seven points apiece.
Visit niagarafallscanucks.com for more information on the Niagara Falls Canucks.
Five Niagara based teams play in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).
Four games into the regular season, the St. Catharines Falcons lead the way with seven points, the Fort Erie Meteors six, the Pelham Panthers and Port Colborne Sailors four apiece and the Welland Jr. Canadians two points.
This week Port Colborne and St. Catharines are home Friday night, Fort Erie Saturday evening, Pelham and Welland Sunday.
The Meteors Sam Tonelli is tied for league lead in points with 12 on the season.
You can find more on the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League at gojhl.ca
Two teams from Niagara play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The perennial powerhouse Grimsby Peach Kings are (3-1) to start the season, while the Niagara River Hawks are (0-3).
The River Hawks are home Thursday this week, Grimsby Friday.
Beamsville native Joey Marrese leads the Peach Kings, and is third in league scoring, with eight points on the campaign.
Check out thepjhl.ca for more information on the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
