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Playoff Berths to Become a Race to the Finish for Contending Clubs in 2018

For the Ontario Hockey League clubs the second half of the season has always been a time to build on and a time to build forward.

In the western conference the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds have set themselves apart among the top contenders for a chance to raise banners in the northern city, while the Hounds have locked up top spot the Sarnia Sting have wasted no time to contend in the conference as challengers for the second half towards the postseason.

As the western conference shakes down the tight race for post-season spots has become long distance sprint and the postitions remain in hand as the Kitchener Rangers have made a name for themselves in 2018 while the London Knights and Saginaw Spirit are neck in neck for the remaining home ice spots in what has proved to be anything else then a scriped season.

As the tight race in the western conference continues the eastern conference has shown much promise in 2017/18 as Hamilton Bulldogs additions at the trade deadline have helped propell them forward to top spot and home ice contention early on in the second half of the 2017/18 season.

While the Bulldogs make breathing room in top spot the Barrie Colts look to hold ground as the central division of the eastern conference as the Niagara Ice Dogs look to catch the Colts the North Bay Battalion look to fly under the radar a long with the what's own Oshawa Generals in middle of the pack seed for 2018.

While the east will see mid-pack challengers the western conference will see Midwest division foes play a neck in neck till the end of 2018 as the Guelph Storm and Owen Sound Attack look to catch western conference for Saginaw Spirit in mid-seed post-season postions come March.

For more updates follow @rinker_ohl on Twitter or searching jrrink.tumblr.com for updates coming soon on up and coming OHL and CHL hockey

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Second Half Race Proves to be Close in Position

As the Ontario Hockey League season reaches the final push towards the postseason the Ontario Hockey League clubs prepares for positioning themselves in post-season postions.

In the western conference the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds have set themselves top contenders with adding experience in Taylor Raddysh at the deadline have made the Hounds forward group deep headed into the final half of the 2017/18 season. As the Hounds look to lockup home ice in the West the Sarnia Sting and Kitchener Rangers look to make noise in holding the top 2-3 spots while the London Knights and Saginaw Spirit along with the Windsor Spitfires prepare to catch top seeds moving towards the postseason.

While the western conference looks to to begin the setting postseason birth early in 2018 the eastern conference's Hamilton Bulldogs have beefed up for deep run in 2018 as top contender in the Ontario Hockey League's eastern side. As the Bulldogs hold to spot the Central divisions Barrie Colts and Niagara Ice Dogs have started a horse race to the finish as the eastern conference's top contenders.

As the top contenders look to race for top spots the Flint Firebirds and Sudbury Wolves look to build confidence into the 2018 season last place clubs looking to improve the fortunes at the draft table while the Firebirds and Wolves look ahead in the OHL clubs like the Owen Sound Attack and North Bay Battalion look to climb the standings in recent weeks in the OHL as challengers for the 2018 playoffs. The Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit look to space themselves in the OHL's western conference as mid-pack contenders with something to prove in 2018.

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Deadline Deals 2018 Come with Big Price Tag Part One

As the New Year rang in early and so did the deals, as the defending Memorial Cup champions would send top players Sean Day and Gabriel Vilardi east to the challenging Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for multiple picks. (2nd's in 2020,2022,2024,2025, along with 3rd's in 2020 and 2023 respectfully along with Cody Morgan to kick off the start of early dead-lining deals in 2018.

 From there the OHL would not have to wait long for news from the east would see the Ottawa 67's move Matt Foget and draft choices in the year 2018, and 2019 for a full line of forwards that would see Merrick Rippon, Jacob Cascagnette and Shaw Boomhower east from the Mississauaga Steelheads. As the deals continued to unfold, the Spitfires would not wait long to jump back into the deal ring as they would send a 7th round selection in 2019 to the Niagara Ice Dogs in exchange for senior forward Zack Shankar. The deals would continue in full swing, as the Owen Sound Attack would send Matthew Struthers and draft choices in 2018 and 2020 to the North Bay Battalion for senior forward Brett McKenzie.

 The London Knights may not make many deals near deadline time but the return is plenty as the Knights would send veteran Cliff Pu to the Kingston Frontenacs for youth in up and comer Nathan Dunkley and draft selections in 2019 and 2020. As the deals moved forward the Owen Sound Attack not sit back as they would send second year defender Luke Beamish to divisional foe Erie Otters for forward depth in the return of Cade Robinson.

 The Sarnia Sting looks to make a difference in the Western Conference, as they would send Braden Henderson cross-conference along with a pair of 2nd and 4th round draft choice with the North Bay Battalion as the Sting look to make a big splash for veteran forward Cam Dineen before the deadline day. For the Soo Greyhounds in 2018 success continued to be built as the  and the price has been paid forward in a big way, and 2017/18 campaign would see the Hounds pick up key pieces in a huge blockbuster deal for a pair of veteran experience to assist on the Hounds offensive. Taylor Raddysh and Jordan Sambrook in return the Hounds would send Hayden Fowler and multiple of selections in multiple years (2nds in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Along with the 2nd round, selections the Hounds would send a pair of 3rd round selections in 2018 and 2023 along with a pair of 6th round selections in 2018 and 2021 all belonging originally the Greyhounds.

Part 2 Deadline Deals 2018, will be released on January 9th, 2018 For part 2 follow The Rinker on Twitter https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl

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Trade Deadline Preview 2018 Edition

As the 2017-18 seasons will arrive at a critical point, the Ontario Hockey League managements will be busy as trade deadline day fast approaches in less than two weeks.

 Thus far, the Ontario Hockey League has not disappointed in the trade front, as the North Bay Battalion would open the trade doors early in the summer when trading Max Kislinger to the Flint Firebirds. In return, the Battalion would receive the Firebirds 15th round selection in the year 2020. The OHL would not have to wait long after for the phones to light up again as the Guelph Storm would make two transactions in a matter of hours with two eastern conference clubs.

 The first deal would see the Storm move Kyle Rhodes to the Sudbury Wolves in exchange for a conditional 4th round selection in the year 2019 before swapping forwards Luke Burghardt and Luke Moncada to the North Bay Battalion in exchange for Zach Poirier and Mark Shoemaker.

As the 2017 trade doors opened wide, the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires would meet on the trade twice in hours, as the Colts would first send Matthew MacDougall to the Spitfires in exchange for a 14th round and 4th round in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Before the Colts would Vincent DeSanctis and a 15th round selection in 2021 for an 11th round and 15th round selection in the 2019 and 2021 drafts before the trade freeze would take place.

 The trade freeze would not be cold for long as the Kitchener Rangers would be busy off the hop with three separate deals in a span of a week, starting with the Mississauaga Steelheads. The Rangers would not waste time moving Mississauaga, Ontario native Merrick Rippon to his hometown in exchange for multiple of picks across years (2020, 2023, and 2024). The Rangers would finish off movement with the Niagara Ice Dogs when they moved defensemen Elijah Roberts for picks from 2018 through to 2020. The Spitfires would not sit back as defending Memorial Cup Champions not sit back as they would move picks for Hunter Carrick moving picks the other way in 2020 and 2023 from the Spitfires.

 For a full recap of all 2017/18 Ontario Hockey League deal, look for the full Trade Deadline Day 2017/18 edition coming soon to The Rinker follow the Rinker on Twitter https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl or search for the Rinker in Your URL browser at http://jrrink.tumblr.com/

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OHL Welcomed to Canada's Junior National team

As the festive season arrives so dose the Canadian national team.

As the 2017-18 world junior tournament is set for it's annual Boxing day game against the Finnish nationals.

Team Canada will see a strong footprint from the Ontario Hockey League as 9 OHLers will suit up for the Maple leaf in Buffalo, New York. As the Canadian Hockey League will be headlined by (Soo Greyhound) Conor Timmins and (London Knight) Victor Mete on the blueline.

While team Canada's forwards will see OHLers Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack) and Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters) will headline along with Boris Katchouk (Soo Greyhounds). Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads) will join the front half of team with Alex Formenton and Robert Thomas (London Knights) with Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting) among the 22 man Canadian roster spots.

Team Canada will start the world juniors December 26th against the Finnish national team before (Canada's full World Junior tournament below) closing out the round robin portion December 29th.

Team Canada's World Junior schedule 2017/18

Canada vs. Finland Dec. 26th 4pm Est.

Canada vs. Slovakia Dec. 27th 7pm Est.

Canada vs. United States Dec. 29th 3pm Est.

Canada vs. Denmark Dec. 30th 8pm Est.

For more on the World Juniors and Canadain Hockey League follow the Rinker on Twitter @rinker_ohl or by searching the Rinker https://jrrink.tumblr.com/

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Ontario Hockey League 2017/18 halfway mark Report

As the Ontario Hockey League holiday break arrives the western conference is well in front in the standings as the Soo Greyhounds have the standings well in hand holding up the front of the pack in 2017/18 with 60 points.

As the Hounds lead the pack the West the Hamilton Bulldogs look to make noise in the east at the halfway mark with 48 points well in the 2017/18 season approaches the holiday break.

As the Dogs and Hounds look to prepare for the post-season as leaders of there conferences in the Ontario Hockey League clubs like the Kitchener Rangers and Barrie Colts look to hold divisional spots in the league standings headed into the second half of the season for 2017/18.

While top spots seem to be well in hand in the league the race for post-season home ice in each conference will be well followed as the Sarnia Sting, and Windsor Spitfires look to the new year to add key pieces by trade deadline day for a long post-season run in 2018 in the west. The Kingston Frontenacs and Niagara Ice Dogs look to be in the hunt for banners in the second half of the season as home ice competitors in the OHL east.

While the West and East top spots seem to be well out in front the league mid-pack clubs are jockying for position in the league as challengers for 2018's playoff spots as the London Knights, Saginaw Spirit and Guelph Storm hold mid conference spots in the West the Ottawa 67's, Oshawa Generals and Peterborough Pete's have slotted into mid-seed spots as the holiday-freeze arrived in east.

As the mid-pack teams hold ground the bottom seeds look to improve into 2018 as the Owen Sound Attack and North Bay Battalion hold final playoff contention spots into the holiday break thus far in the 2017/18 campaign.

While the bottom half sees clubs like the Erie Otters and Flint Firebirds in the West and Mississauga Steelheads and Sudbury Wolves in the east look towards 2018/19 as last place clubs in 2017/18.

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Jingle phones jungle jingle to the Phones Who's coming are Way

As the Ontario Hockey League prepares for it's annual holiday break in December the business of managers have yet to head to a festive atmosphere as the Ontario Hockey League prepares for the trade deadline on Wednesday January 10th.

So far the OHL's has seen what few would call knock your socks off movement thus far in the 2017/18 season. As few major deals have came forward in 2017. (Listed below)

Logan Stanley to Kitchener for 5 draft picks

Owen Lalonde to Guelph for Nolan Makkonen and 4 draft picks

Nichols Mattinen to Flint for 4 draft picks

Tyler Johnson for Joseph Raaymakers swap

Connor Roberts to Flint for Nick Caamano and Ryan Moore

Kirill Nizhnikov to Sudbury for draft picks

Before the 2018 trade deadline day set for Wednesday January 10th across the OHL.

For updates on the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline day and a full recap on all 2017 trades following the trade deadline on January 10th follow the Rinker on Twitter @rinker_ohl or by searching http://jrrink.tumblr.com/ for a full rundown of the transactions from across the OHL.

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Ontario Hockey League's Quarter Mark Proves to be close in 2017/18 Campaign

As the 2017/18 winds to the quarter mark the OHL's competition has heated up as once again the league's western conference has made it mark early into the campaign.

As the league has seen tight knit action early on the western conference seems to be well out in front as the West Division's Sarnia Sting lead the league in not just skill but points as well as the hold 39 points in the West's top spot.

While the Sting look to make history in the West since 2007 the dog fight for positioning among the conference rivals in one of the Canadian Hockey League's toughest conferences the Kitchener Rangers look to break an 8 year cycle in top spot of the Midwest division.

As the Rangers try to jockey for top spot in the Midwest in the OHL since 2008.

The western conference still remains tight as teams like the Owen Sound Attack, Windsor Spitfires, and Guelph Storm are in the hunt for much needed points to place themselves in the hunt for top spots in the conference come the annual holiday break in December.

While the western conference teams fight for top spots the Eastern conference teams look to find top contender as the Barrie Colts, Hamilton Bulldogs and Kingston Frontenacs along with the Ottawa 67's look to fight for positioning among the conference top portion of the Eastern clubs teams like the Peterborough Petes, Mississauga Steelheads and Niagara Ice Dogs look to catch the top contenders for the Eastern conference.

As the east and west conference's contenders are making headway in the OHL the Flint Firebirds, North Bay Battalion, Sudbury Wolves and Erie Otters look to the future as the bottom half of the league hopes to improve into a post-season births by spring time.

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Canadian Hockey League in the Spotlight for 2017/18

As the Canadian Hockey League gets welcomed back to the spotlight for 2017/18 Canada's largest Sports media platform Sportsnet gets set the Century mark is set to land in Regina, Saskatchewan for the 100th Memorial Cup.

 As the CHL kicks off on the national spotlight kicks off with the Canada versus Russian Selects super series November the 6th and closes out the 16th of November. November will see the Canadian Hockey League kick off its annual CHL showcases in Barrie, Ontario where the local OHL club Colts take on the Kitchener Rangers before headed west where the Western Hockey League gets an Albertan feel as the Calgary Hitmen take on the Red Deer Rebels.

The CHL will continue its national showcase games into December as the Ottawa 67's will host the Barrie Colts before the Oshawa Generals head to Barrie to take on the Colts in a Saturday matinee game.

 December will close out with games in Moncton, New Brunswick where the Wildcats will see the Titan from Acadie-Bathurst before the CHL shifts west where the Wheat Kings from Brandon, Manitoba meet the Moose Jaw Warriors.

 The fans of the CHL will not have to wait long after the holiday season when the CHL will reappear back in Ontario, as the Owen Sound Attack will meet the Kitchener Rangers in the scenic city. January will continue to see the best of the CHL when the Kingston Frontenacs will host the divisional foe Oshawa Generals before the CHL/NHL top prospects showcase before the Memorial Cup hosts will head to Swift Current to take on the Broncos.

 As the CHL season winds down the excitement heats up in February, as all three Canadian Hockey League member leagues seen in 2018. The high flying Sarnia Sting meet conference foe London Knights before a western feel rides in to finish February when the Edmonton Oil Kings will see the Red Deer Rebels before the Memorial Cup hosts Regina Pats  before the Halifax Mooseheads will close out February against the Gatineau Olympiques.

 2017/18 regular season will close out when the Owen Sound Attack will take divisional foe Guelph Storm before the QMJHL will see the Acadie-Bathurst Titan will see the Halifax Mooseheads before the Niagara Ice Dogs will meet the defending eastern conference champs Mississauaga Steelheads.

 The Canadian Hockey League will then shift its eyes back to Regina in the spring when the Pats of Regina will get set to host the Memorial Cup for 2018 and kick of the 100th edition of the tournament.

 For more CHL and OHL news in the 2017/18 season follow the Rinker on twitter and like us on Facebook!!!

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Canada Russia Super Series 2017-18 Edition

As the 2017 /18 Canadian Hockey League continues to get rolling, national events open the door for the 2017/18 campaign, the Canada Russia Super Series event kicks off Monday, November 6th, 2017 as the Western Hockey League opens up stage one of three in this mini-series event.

 Game one opens up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan as the Western Hockey League selections kick off the series with the Russian Selects. The series continues November 7th when the Western Hockey League selects will close out their portion of the event before moving to Ontario.

As the series moves forward into the Ontario Hockey League portion, the Russian Selects will see the Cities of  Owen Sound and Sudbury, Ontario for the Ontario Hockey League portion of the Canadian Hockey League Canada Russia Super Series of the series.

 The Canada Russia Series will conclude for 2018 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when the Islanders of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island will start the QMJHL portion of the Canada Russia Super Series before if concludes in Moncton, New Brunswick, where the Wildcats will host the QMJHL selects portion of the event.

 From there Hockey Canada's selection process will look to review for the up and coming World Juniors in Buffalo, New York and Orchard Park, New York for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournament under-20 event set for Boxing Day 2017.

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Weekly Warmups Week 6 ( October 26th-29th, 2017)

As the Ontario Hockey League week 6 starts off the standings have started the race to the post-season early in 2017/18, and the western conference once again has lived up to its expectations as one of the Canadian Hockey League's toughest conferences.

The Sarnia Sting would not waste any time buzzing out of the starting gate in 2017/18 as they would swam out with a record of (12-1-0-0) good for 1st place in the Ontario Hockey League with 24 out of 26 points on the year.

 As the Sting hold top spot in the western conference, the fast flying Kitchener Rangers are holding tops in the Midwest's high-powered offense with 15 points in 13 matches early on in the 2017/18 season.

 While the Sting will host divisional foes in Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds in week 6. The OHL will see critical matches' standings wise, as the Owen Sound Attack will meet divisional opponent Kitchener Rangers for top spot in the division in week 6 the Erie Otters will take on the Guelph Storm as the 7th place Otters will faceoff for 7th place, in the OHL's western conference.

 Week 6 will continue into full swing Friday night as the Kingston Frontenacs will host the Mississauga Steelheads in a eastern conference showdown, the Oshawa Generals will meet the Peterborough Petes while the Flint Firebirds will head east to take on the London Knights.

 The 6th week will close out when the defending Memorial Cup champions Windsor Spitfires will meet conference opponent Owen Sound Attack  in a Sunday Matinee tilt, while the Mississauga Steelheads will host divisional opponent Niagara Ice Dogs in a Central division  showdown. While the central division foes re-meet in week 6 the Peterborough Petes will see their own friends in the east division when they take on the Hamilton Bulldogs.

 For more weekly Warmups previews and Final Buzzer Recaps follow the Rinker on Twitter https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl or by searching http://jrrink.tumblr.com/ for the latest weekly previews and recaps from across the OHL!!

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Weekly Warmups Week 5 (Oct the 18-th-22nd, 2017)

As week 5 kicks off with a northern feel as the Soo Greyhounds will meet their Northern rival Sudbury Wolves.

The 5th week will see some crossover tilts between the Sarnia Sting and North Bay Battalion while the Kingston Frontenacs will head north to take on the Soo Greyhounds in Friday action. Week 5 will see doubleheader action when the Owen Sound Attack will meet divisional opponent Erie Otters in their annual doubleheader weekend from Pennsylvania. While the Sudbury Wolves will have a bit of a home feel to Week 5 as the Wolves will meet the Greyhounds before meeting the Sting and Frontenacs in Week 5 action.

Week 5 will conclude with 8 total matches in Ontario Hockey League play as the Hamilton Bulldogs will host divisional opponent Ottawa 67's, the struggling North Bay Battalion will meet the Kingston Frontenacs in Sunday afternoon play.

Other notable matches will see the last place London Knights take on the Mississauga Steelheads as the Peterborough Petes are headed west as they'll meet the Saginaw Spirit.

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Weekly Warmup Week 4 October 9th-15th, 2017

The Ontario Hockey League season is in full swing as the 2017/18 campaign moves forward.

Week 4 will see the Owen Sound Attack start, as they will see the Kitchener Rangers before taking on the defending M western conference champions Eire Otters.

 The week will also see the Peterborough Petes take on the conference foe North Bay Battalion as the Sarnia Sting will host the Hamilton Bulldogs. Week 4 will see fair number of crossover games as the Sarnia Sting will host the Mississauga Steelheads and the Guelph Storm taking on the Niagara Ice Dogs.

Week 4 will wrap up Sunday October 15th, when the London Knights will meet divisional rival Owen Sound as the Soo Greyhounds take on the Ottawa 67's, as the Kitchener Rangers will see the Flint Firebirds.

 Sunday will also see the Mississauga Steelheads meet the Saginaw Spirit before the Oshawa Generals will host the Sudbury Wolves.

 For a full recap of week follow the Rinker on Twitter https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl or by searching https://t.co/OB3nqRcVMG

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Weekly Warmups Week 3 (October 4th-8th, 2017)

Week 3 will see fast and flying clubs as the speedy Sarnia Sting will take on the Owen Sound Attack while the Peterborough Petes will take on the Flint Firebirds. Week 3 will also see the Barrie Colts take on the divisional foe North Bay Battalion before meeting the Sarnia Sting on Friday October 6th.As the third week will continue, as the Niagara Ice Dogs will see the Sudbury Wolves while the Windsor Spitfires will meet the Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds. Other notable matches will have the Owen Sound Attack meet the defending Memorial Cup Champions Windsor Spitfires on Saturday October 7th.

 Windsor will also meet Midwest division opponent Guelph Storm in a week 3 tilt, while the Kitchener Rangers will take on the defending OHL Champions Erie Otters while the London Knights will try to rebound against the Soo Greyhounds.

 Other notable matches for week 3 will have the Sudbury Wolves take on the Mississauga Steelheads while the Saginaw Spirit will invite the Barrie Colts to Michigan.

 Week 3 will conclude when the Ottawa 67's will host the Flint Firebirds on Sunday October 8th.

 For Final Buzzer Recaps follow the Rinker on twitter https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl or by searching http://jrrink.tumblr.com/ for Final Buzzer Recaps and more Weekly Warmups Previews

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Final Buzzer Week 2 (September 27th-October 1st)

As week two ended in the Ontario Hockey League, action the results would not have to wait to see the results tally up in the league. The week would see the red-hot North Bay Battalion edge divisional opponent Sudbury Wolves by a result of (6-5) in extra time.

While the Peterborough Petes would pick-up where they finished 2017, with a (5-2) victory over divisional opponent Oshawa Generals. As Jonathan Ang and Logan DeNoble would forward the Petes to the victory over the Oshawa Generals.

The Petes would than fall to conference opponent Niagara Ice Dogs by a score of (5-1).

The Kitchener Rangers would have a rocky start to week two, after starting with a victory over the Windsor Spitfires by a score of (4-2). The Rangers would than fall to the Owen Sound Attack by a final of (4-3) in overtime result before closing out the weekend with a victory over the defending league champions Erie Otters by a final of (3-2).

The weekend would close out with victories by Owen Sound over the Mississauga Steelheads by a score of (6-4).While the Sarnia would Sting the Ottawa 67's by a tally (7-2) on Sunday, afternoon, the Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds would get tallies from Keeghan Howdshell for the Greyhounds would open the scoring the Sudbury Wolves would bite back with one of their own by Dmitry Sokolov would make the day even longer as the Hounds and Wolves would need extra time.

The Peterborough Petes would close out week two by doubling up on conference foe Niagara Ice Dogs (8-4). As goals from Pavel Gogolev and Tyler Rollo would advance the Petes markers before Bobby Dow's first of the year would close out the game (Edmonton Oilers prospect) Dylan Wells would backstop the Petes with 41 saves on 45 chances by the Ice Dogs.

 The weekend would cap off with the London Knights and Oshawa Generals teeing-off in a Sunday matinee as the Knights would open up the evening's festivities as Cole Tymkin would open the tallies for the Knights before the Generals would go to work as tallies from Nick Wong and Alex DiCarlo would help the Generals take command of the game early on before Stephen Noel would put the Generals ahead before (St. Louis Blues prospect) Robert Thomas and (Anaheim Ducks prospect) Max Jones would bring the game to even.

The Generals would get the last laugh though when Renars Krastenbergs would add insurance to the Generals game before Nick Wong would put the Generals in the driver's seat late in the second frame.

The Generals would take this one by a final of (5-4), to close out the weekend.

 The Rinker will return when the Weekly Warmups Preview for Week 3 will be coming soon!

https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl

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Weekly Warmups September 27th-October 1st, 2017 Edition

After a spirited opening week in the Ontario Hockey League, week two will look to see some of the OHL's red hot clubs do battle into week two.

Week two will open with the red-hot North Bay Battalion take on divisional foes Sudbury Wolves to open the week on Wednesday September 27th.

As the OHL weeks roll forward so will the action as Thursday September will see the third place Oshawa Generals take on ninth place Peterborough Petes in eastern conference action  the Kitchener Rangers will head west to take on defending memorial cup champions Windsor Spitfires in western conference action.

While the Rangers and Spitfires tangle to start week two, the Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds will swing a crossover game with the Barrie Colts before returning to Soo for a Sunday tilt against the northern foes Sudbury Wolves.

Week to will continue as the defending eastern conference champions (Mississauga Steelheads) look for points in 2017/18 as the fish will host the Hamilton Bulldogs before headed north to take on the Owen Sound Attack in cross-conference play.

As the Ice Dogs make for some interesting action with a crossover match, the defending western conference champions look to do the same as the Erie Otters.

While week two will see twelve crossovers matches all weekend long, as the Soo Greyhounds will see their northern rivals North Bay Battalion, the Ottawa 67's will have bit of a Michigan feel when they visit the Spirit in Saginaw. Other crossover games will see the Oshawa Generals take on the Guelph Storm while the Kingston Frontenacs take on the Sarnia Sting.

 Week two will conclude when the London Knights take on the Oshawa Generals.

 For full recaps follow the Rinker on Twitter https://twitter.com/rinker_ohl

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Final Buzzer Week One Recap Sept 21st-24th, 2017-18

Opening week would start with loads of fireworks early on in 2017/18, as Thursday, September 21st would see 24 tallies spread across 3 separate season opening matches.

Kicking off 2017-18 would be none other than defending Ontario Hockey League champions Erie Otters, the Otters would waste no time defending their league crown early into 2017-18 season, as a pair of tallies from Christian Girhiny would allow the Otters to continue their stream of success with a (5-2) win over the Peterborough Petes.

Zach Gallant would get game one's opening tally to put the Petes on top early on before the Otters offensive on-slot would take over.

The Otters would then show why the Ontario Hockey League defending champions would be such, as tallies from Ivan Lodnia, Taylor Raddysh and a pair by Christian Girhiny would prove to be too much for the Petes. Troy Timpano would assist by shutting the door on the Petes early on before Peterborough would make a stand when Logan DeNoble would add the Petes final tally.

 While the Otters and Petes were reacquainted early, the defending Memorial Cup champions would make quick work early on into 2017-18, as the Spitfires would take opening night with a (3-1) win over divisional rivals Saginaw Spirit.

The Spirit would soar early on when Marcus Crawford would tally the Spirit's only marker before the Spitfires would shoot down the Spirit with goals by Luke Boka, and Luke Kutkevicius would power the Spitfires early on before Jake Smith would shutdown the Spirit. Micheal DiPietro would stand tall in the victory for Spitfires.

 2017 may not have finished picture perfect for the Barrie Colts, but 2018 would be a blank page for the future of this central division club. The Colts would not have to wait to see their club's big piece to the future play a part as the younger brother of former first rounder Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound), Ryan would live up to expectations early on in the second frame.

While Suzuki would live up to opening night expectations veteran forwards Lucas Chiodo and Andrei Svechnikov would saddle up the Colts to sprinting to the finish and power the Colts to a (11-2) final.

 Opening week would not have to wait long for extra points to be added to the standings.

As the Kingston Frontenacs would use extra time over the 2017 Ontario Hockey League champions (Erie Otters). As a pair of goals by Owen Hendricks would force the Frontenacs and Otters in fighting for the extra point.

As pair of goals by (Dallas Stars prospect) Jason Robertson would be enough to see the hometown "K" take opening night (3-2 overtime final).

The North Bay Battalion may not have had a great 2017 campaign but 2018 would start differently for the northern regiment, as the former (Guelph Storm) Luke Burghardt would prove useful for the Battalion early on into 2017/18. As Burghardt would tally a pair for the Troops, Julian Sime prove that the last line of defense can shut the door, as the sophomore tender would turn away a total of 22 chances on opening night.

Giving the North Bay Battalion their first win of 2017/18 with a (5-2 Battalion win).

 The Ottawa 67's wouldn't waste any time getting back on the horse after getting dismantled by conference foes (Barrie Colts) the night before, the 67's would jump right back on the ice for a spirited tilt against another Central division club Mississauaga Steelheads.

The 67's would start their second match behind the ball early on as Ryan MacLeod and former Guelph Storm Albert Michnac would step up for the Steelheads early in their first match of 2017/18.

The 67's would waste no time, as Sasha Chemelevski would go to work with a goal and a helper would help power the 67's over the Steelheads, with a (4-2 final).

 Other finalized results from Friday would see the Sudbury Wolves edge the Oshawa Generals with a final tally of (8-2) in favour of the Wolves, while the Sarnia Sting would hang on in extra time to get the second point over the Guelph Storm in a (4-3 shootout final).

Closing out Friday's tilts would see the Flint Firebirds take game one opening weekend with a (5-2) final over the Kitchener Rangers, while the defending Memorial Cup champions edged conference opponents London Knights.

 Saturday September 23rd would prove to be an interesting one, as the goals would be rung-up quickly in the early on into the 2017/18 season.

 Saturday evening would start off quickly as the Niagara Ice Dogs would  make quick work of their familiar foe Hamilton Bulldogs as tallies from Oliver Castleman and Johnny Corneil would set the stage for a Ice Dogs (4-1) victory on the road against the host Bulldogs.

While the two canine foes reunited in Steel City (Hamilton, Ontario), the Frontenacs from Kingston, Ontario would make quick work of the Steelheads (Mississauga) in the limestone city  with a (5-2) final.

Saturday night would conclude when the London Knights fresh off a season opening loss would spring-board to an even (1-1) record with a win on the south side of the border as they would make a quick work of the host Spirit (Saginaw, Michigan) with a (3-2) final at the Dow Event Center.

The Kitchener Rangers would not waste any time Saturday night after being edged by the visiting Flint Firebirds on Friday evening in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The  Rangers would travel west to Sarnia where Riley Damiani, Cole Cater and Doug Blaisdell would pole-vault the Rangers over the host Sting (3-1).

From there the 2017/18 opening week would shift north as the Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds would take on the Oshawa Generals, where a hat trick from Serron Noel  would prove to be too much for the hometown Hounds to handle, in a (7-4) win for the Generals. While veteran forward Boris Katchouk would tally half the hound markers on the evening.

 The Owen Sound Attack would have big expectations coming into 2017/18 and opening night would test those, as they would open their season against the Flint Firebirds.

The Firebirds would strike early on as markers from Ethan Keppen and (former London Knight) Nicholas Mattinen would jump on early chances in what would be the Firebirds second tilt into 2017/18 and Owen Sound's first under new bench boss Todd Gill.

While the Firebirds made early chances count the highly touted Owen Sound Attack would utilize chances of their own, as tallies from Jonah Gadjovich and Nick Suzuki would make a game of it in the later stages of the middle frame that would take the two western conference foes to a deadlock into a shootout, before the Firebirds would get timely goals Nicholas Caamano and Maurizio Colella that would prove to be too much for the Attack to handle on opening night. As the Firebirds would take the final (4-3).

Sunday would bring week one to a close as the North Bay Battalion would hang on in the opening week, against the Sudbury Wolves.

Luke Burghardt would bring experience to the Troops and produce a hat trick against the rival Sudbury Wolves on opening week. While Micheal Pezzetta would keep the Wolves and Battalion in a tight-knit battle, the Battalion continue their opening week success with insurance tallies by Brady Lyle and Daniil Vertiy would secure the Battalion lead Luke Burghardt would wrap-up Sunday's divisional match between the Battalion and Wolves.

The final tally would see Battalion take Sunday's match (6-5).

Sunday would also see the defending Memorial Cup champions Windsor Spitfires take on conference opponent Guelph Storm. Experience would prove to prevail as tallies from Aaron Luchuk, Mathew MacDougall, and recent add Luke Kutkevicius would push the Spitfires with a (3-0) lead before Igor Larionov would eliminate any chances of a Storm comeback sealing the game with a (4-0) win Michael DiPietro would stone wall the Storm with a 30 save performance.

 The London Knights would not have an easy opening week, as London would start the opening week with a victory against the western conference opponent Saginaw Spirit (3-2) in overtime. The Knights confidence would be short lived, as they would be dismantled by conference opponent Soo Greyhounds, Sault Ste. Marie would take as veteran forwards Tim Gettinger, Morgan Frost and Barrett Hayton would capitalize early to get the Hounds running ahead early.

Before Hayden Verbeek would put the game out of reach, while the Knights would capitalize with a single tally by Adrian Carbonara to break Matthew Villalta's shutout. The Hounds would close out the weekend with a (5-1) victory over the Knights.

 The Ottawa 67's would not have to wait to rebound after stumbling out of the gate against the Barrie Colts on opening night. The 67's would rebound quickly as Austen Keating would push the 67's over the defending league champions Erie Otters.

As the Otters would capitalize early with a tally from Carson Edwardson, before the Otters would fall short against the 67's with a (6-4) loss when tallies from Sasha Chemelevski, Tye Felhaber, and Graeme Clarke would push the 67's over the Otters. While singles by Kyle Maksimovich, Gera Poddubnyi, and Jordan Sambrook would not have enough to put the Otters over the top in opening week.

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