The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 30. Tavares scored four goals and added one assist for five points with a plus-minus rating of plus-five in three games.
Tavares and the Generals began the week Thursday night with a 5-1 win over the Peterborough Petes in a night where the Generals would honour the legendary career of Bobby Orr by retiring his number 2 jersey. Tavares set up Kory Nagy for the eventual game-winning goal early in the second period. On Friday night Tavares scored two goals in the first period including a shorthanded marker as the Generals beat the Ottawa 67's 5-4. Tavares was named first star in that game. On Sunday Tavares put together another first star of the game performance scoring two third period goals but the Generals would fall in a shootout to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 3-2. His second goal of the game marked 178 career OHL goals setting a new Generals all-time record. The previous record was held by Tony Tanti for 26 seasons. In addition to his play with the Generals, Tavares made his mark last week with Team OHL at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge. As team captain, Tavares scored a goal and was named game MVP Monday night in St. Catharines as Team OHL defeated the Russian Selects 3-2, sweeping the Ontario leg of the series 2-0.
Tavares, an 18-year-old from Oakville, ON is in his fourth OHL season with the Generals. After 28 games this season the Gens captain ranks third in OHL scoring with 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points. Tavares is eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and was recently ranked the top OHL skater by NHL Central Scouting in their preliminary draft rankings.
Honourable mention this week goes to Team OHL forwards Logan Couture of the Ottawa 67's, Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Battalion, and Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires who competed together in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge. Couture and Hodgson each scored two goals and four assists for six points on the week, while Hall would tally three goals and three assists for six points in three games. In goal, Mike Murphy of the Belleville Bulls went 2-0-0-0 with a 1.92 goals-against-average and a .947 save percentage. Murphy also made 16 saves allowing just one goal in a 3-2 win for Team OHL Monday night at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge in St. Catharines.
2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week
Dec. 1 - John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Nov. 24 - Eric Tangradi, Belleville Bulls
Nov. 17 - Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 10 - Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
Nov. 3 - Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 27 - Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 20 - Brandon Foote, Brampton Battalion
Oct. 13 - Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 6 - Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 29 - Luke Pither, Guelph Storm
Sept. 22 - Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
