Feb 8th vs Sudbury Game Day Playbook

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A MESSAGE TO YOU

VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER

I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to the 2025-26 Oshawa Generals OHL season. As always not only a welcome to the legions of returning fans, but for all of the new fans as well. Welcome to Gens Nation!!!

The large number of players that you will be seeing on the ice this season will be coming off back to back OHL championship finals appearances. A great accomplishment but we all know we fell short of our ultimate goal of winning the Robertson trophy and going to the Memorial Cup. The real success of this years team is to return to that level. Three years ago we finished in eighth place followed by a first place and fourth place regular season finishes respectively. The first-place finish and back-to-back finals appearances were the result of the building blocks being put in place seasons before and the team growing up together. Winning doesn’t happen by accident, and it must be done by doing things the right way.

The men in charge of that will be led by Mario Pouliot and his winning pedigree in junior hockey. Mario will push these players to places they may not have been before but trusting a coach that has won two Memorial Cups the reboot should move quickly. Mike Farrugia will be in his third season behind the bench, and they will be joined by newcomer Derrick Walser who most recently coached in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels. Derrick was part of the Peterborough Pete’s coaching staff that won the OHL championship and competed in the Memorial Cup in 2023.

The hockey landscape as we know it, is changing and the people to benefit the most will be you the fans and the players. Fans will get to see young players live that they may never have been able to see before. Players with NCAA commits that may have played in other leagues to preserve their eligibility are free to explore the OHL now before going to school. Players will have the opportunity to extend their playing careers and get the best of both worlds. I suspect by the end of this upcoming season we may have half of our players with NCAA commits. However, make no mistake the OHL/CHL will remain the industry leader in producing NHL draft picks. Look no further then our own Simon Wang and Owen Griffin who had their names called for the San Jose Sharks and the Columbus Blue Jackets respectively this past June in LA.

Now you must play your part and fill this building every night. Give these guys true home ice advantage and push them to be there best night in and night out. Go Gens Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As we prepare to embark on our 88th year, we’re energized by what the future holds. While much has changed over the years, our expectations remain the same: to ice a competitive team with our sights set on returning to the finals. This year’s roster will feature an exciting blend of new talent and veteran leadership—a dynamic mix of size, skill, and relentless compete.

We can’t wait to welcome our loyal fans back to the rink and feel your support in the stands.

Starting in the new year, fans will begin to see major renovations take shape at the arena—a place the Generals have proudly called home for decades, and will continue to for years to come. These enhancements will honor our deep-rooted history while ushering in a new era of excellence, elevating the game-day experience for players and fans alike. From improved facilities to refreshed fan spaces, the upgrades will reflect the pride and spirit of the Oshawa community. This investment not only reinforces our commitment to the organization but celebrates the city we represent—with full completion slated for late 2027.

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AROUND THE OHL

AS OF FEBRUARY 5TH

EAST DIVISION

BRANTFORD BULLDOGS

After a .500 stretch for the last couple of months, the Bulldogs have gotten hot again with points in twelve straight to climb back to the top of the East.

Their talents continue to be as lethal as ever with Marek Vanacker up to 35 goals to lead the OHL, and both Caleb Malhotra and Jake O’Brien being top-five in league scoring with 27 points combined in their each of their last ten.

Add a deadly blue line – with former Generals Ben Danford and Zach Sandhu – built for both offense and defense as well as Ryerson Leenders and David Egorov continuing to put up solid numbers between the pipes, and you have a pretty well-rounded group.

Despite Brantford’s streak putting them back in the number one seed, they only have a three-point lead with the Ottawa 67’s still hot on their tail. The two have a big matchup ahead this weekend in what will be their final meeting head-to-head this season.

CENTRAL DIVISION

BARRIE COLTS

On the heels of nine wins in ten games and victories in 23 of 28 since mid-November, the Colts have entered conversations for the Eastern Conference-lead.

Everything continues to click for Barrie on both sides of the puck. Cole Beaudoin and Emil Hemming keep putting up the points and have gained solid chemistry with Ben Wilmott, who has 14 points in eleven games since coming over from London.

Kashawn Aitcheson is still the driving force of the Colts’ blue line, leading all OHL defensemen in goals with 22 – 12 of them on the power play, which is also tied for second-most in the league.

Ben Hrebik being second in save percentage league-wide has also helped Barrie keep the puck out of the net in their stretch, but their offense gaining even more of a boost has been the key element to getting them into the race for the top seed.

MIDWEST DIVISION

OWEN SOUND ATTACK

It has been a rough sled for Owen Sound since the second half of the season began – winning only three of twelve and going on a seven-game losing streak since the end of December.

While the Attack remain a solid offensive bunch with Pierce Mbuyi and solid depth leading them to the seventh-most goals in the league, their weakness continues to be keeping the puck out of the net – an issue they have had for what seems like all season.

Their inconsistency forced them to ship off captain David Bedkowski to the Ottawa 67’s and star goaltender Carter George to the SOO Greyhounds at the trade deadline. With a gap in the net, Trenten Bennett will man the cage for the rest of the year.

Owen Sound does still hold a ten-point gap for a playoff spot and have a two-point edge for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They will attempt to finish the season strong for a 14th straight postseason appearance.

WINDSOR SPITFIRES

In the ever-tight Western Conference, the Spitfires sit in the third seed but are far from being out of the race thanks in part to their high-end talent.

Top NHL Draft-eligible prospect Ethan Belchetz has eight points in his last ten and is fourth in league goal-scoring with 29. Liam Greentree – whose rights were recently traded to the New York Rangers – and Cole Davis are also some of the league’s best short-handed specialists.

Defensively, Carson Woodall and Anthony Cristoforo continue to be a great one-two punch on the blue line as both are top-five in scoring amongst defenders. Joey Costanzo is also top-five in just about every goaltending category, from wins to shutouts.

Windsor has had a subpar stretch with five wins in their last ten, but their talents continue to be some of the best in the OHL. They enter this weekend just a single point back of both Kitchener and Flint for that top position in the West.

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OSHAWA GENERALS vs SUDBURY WOLVES

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 | 2:05PM

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GAME DAY PREVIEW

The Oshawa Generals wrap up their three-game homestand as they welcome in the Sudbury Wolves on Super Bowl Sunday.

After a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Sarnia Sting Friday night, the Generals hope to regroup and end their home stretch on a positive note. Oshawa attempted a late comeback with three third period goals – two of them from Owen Griffin – but it was not enough.

Meanwhile, Sudbury is closing out a triple-header this weekend after dropping their first two against the Windsor Spitfires at home on Friday and last night in Peterborough. They control the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by two points entering today’s contest.

This is the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Gens took the first matchup in Sudbury back in December on the heels of six unanswered to complete a three-goal come-from-behind win.

Onni Kalto got the comeback started 1:04 after the Wolves went up 3-0 and Owen Griffin followed soon after to make it a one-goal game. The third period saw Oshawa net four, including two late power play markers from Harrison Franssen to seal the deal.

That victory brought Oshawa to eleven wins in their last 17 against Sudbury in the last five years. They have also taken six of eight from the Wolves on home ice, including all two games played at the TCC last year between the two.

Keep an eye on Leo Laschon tonight, who comes into this game with three points in his last five. A tenth-round selection of the club last season, Laschon has impressed ever since training camp with his steady two-way presence on the Generals’ blue line.

For Sudbury, be on the lookout for another defender in Artem Gonchar, the nephew of former NHL defender Sergei Gonchar. Last year’s first-round Import selection currently leads the Wolves in points and is a terrific puck-moving defenseman.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LEO LASCHON

OSHAWA GENERALS

GAMES PLAYED: 32 GOALS: 2 ASSISTS: 3

POINTS: 5 PIMS: 9

ARTEM GONCHAR

SUDBURY WOLVES

GAMES PLAYED: 48 GOALS: 10 ASSISTS: 27

POINTS: 37 PIMS: 24

LAST GAME RECAP

FEBRUARY 6TH, 2026

After taking two of three games last weekend the Oshawa Generals hoped to keep the good times rolling at home, but the Sarnia Sting had other plans, handing them a 5-3 defeat.

There was more mixing and matching in the Generals’ lineup tonight that included the return of Matthew Wang, playing his third game with Oshawa since being acquired at the trade deadline.

Prior to puck drop, the Generals and Sting held a moment of silence to honor J.J. Wright, Cameron Casorso and Caden Fine, three junior players of the Southern Alberta Mustangs who sadly passed away earlier this week in a car crash.

Early on it was Sarnia off to a hot start with a 15-7 shot advantage midway through the first, but the Generals came back later with their own great looks. Both Matthew Humphries and Kale Osipenko came up with some big saves in the opening frame to keep it scoreless.

Sarnia would start the second with the icebreaker just 1:23 in after Courtice, ON’s Ben Pickell wrapped the puck around the Oshawa cage and banked it off Humphries and in.

The early goal propelled Sarnia to the first 13 shots of the second period and 17 total in the middle frame. Jordan Bax would add to the lead after swooping in near side, wrapping it around and squeezing it between Humphries’ right pad and the post.

Oshawa would need a third period comeback for the third straight time at home. Their mountain would get taller to climb after Bax netted his second of the night off another solo rush to the net, tucking it through the pads of Humphries.

Another Sarnia goal just 31 seconds later from Easton Walos and another from Pickell would give the visitors control. Porter Byrd-Leitner would sneak one through and Owen Griffin netted two past Osipenko to break his shutout bid late.

Despite the Generals’ late comeback attempt with three goals in a little over five minutes and 18 total shots in the third, it would not be enough as Sarnia was able to lock it down.

Other than Owen Griffin picking up team-leading 20th and 21st goals of the season and reaching 100 points in the Ontario Hockey League, there was not a lot to celebrate in Oshawa tonight.

Kale Osipenko, who made some terrific saves at various points in the game for Sarnia, picked up his third OHL win in just his sixth start, stopping 42 of 45 Oshawa shots.

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MATT BEACHIN

Call 905-433-0900 Ext. 2233 or Email mbeachin@oshawagenerals.com

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