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OHL reporter Ryan Pyette is taking questions about what’s happening on the ice, in the general managers’ suites and in the league office throughout the season. Have a question? Put it in the comment section below or email us at lfpnewsletters@postmedia.com
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Q: Michael Misa got a one-game suspension for lofting a stuffed animal back into the stands during Sarnia’s Teddy Bear Toss game, then the 67’s and Colts brawled during the Teddy Bear Toss in Ottawa. These incidents drew international headlines – and I’m assuming you’d agree the league hates this, right?
A: It’s embarrassing. That brawl during the Teddy Bear Toss will live in infamy forever. It was crazy. I’d never seen anything like – you can watch hockey for 50 years and still see something you’ve never seen before. The Misa thing has again sparked criticism that the league has become soft, but I get what the OHL is doing. You can’t shoot anything into the stands.
Q: I don’t know what to say about Beckett Sennecke’s goal against London (video below), but I heard a sports radio announcer call it one of the nicest goals he’s ever seen. What did you think of it?
A: The degree of difficulty was right up there. But also the importance of the goal – it sealed a win against a team that hadn’t lost in about two months. And he did it against Sam Dickinson, who is going to be a longtime NHLer. It was so impressive.
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Q: Porter Martone had three points and Matthew Schaefer had two when Brampton played Erie on Sunday. They’ll both be first-round picks in June’s NHL draft – but which one do you predict will go first?
A: If I was an NHL GM I’d pick Porter Martone. But what I’ve been told is a defenceman like Matthew Schaefer is hard to come by. There are not that many franchise defencemen kicking around. That’s what scouts have explained to me, so he’ll likely go first.
Q: Reader Mike Fuhr clearly has a keen eye for detail and is wondering whether goalie Austin Elliott will switch his helmet and pads to something that’s in line with the London Knights colours, not those of his old team, Saskatoon. Any thoughts on that?
A: I actually talked to Austin about it a couple of weeks ago. He said he’s ordered the gear but it just hasn’t come in yet. He does want London Knights gear and obviously he’s had one of the best starts ever for a guy joining a new league – he’s 11-0 since coming over from Saskatoon in the Western league. It’s been unbelievable.
rpyette@postmedia.com
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