Oct. 18th vs Peterborough Petes: Game Day Playbook
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ETIQUETTE HOCKEY
While we score goals on the ice, our goal off the ice is to make sure all of #GensNation has the best game experience possible! We’ve made a list of some important reminders for all fans to keep in mind so that everyone’s night out is a special one.
1. WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE TO ENTER AND EXIT SEATING AREA
A lot can happen in a split second of hockey action – and we don’t want anyone to miss anything. Fans who move from their seat during play can block the view of an entire section of fans. Please wait until a whistle blows to make any move to and from your seats.
QUICK TIP - There will always be extended stoppages following the first whistle after the 14:00 & 6:00 minute marks of a period (unless there is an icing, goal, or the start of a power play – just listen for the buzzer!)
2. BE MINDFUL OF THOSE AROUND YOU
Trust us, we know the games will have you at the edge of your seat, but if you lean too far forward, you’ll block the view of those around you. There isn’t a bad seat in the building, so sit back and enjoy the game!
3. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PUCK
Things move quickly at our games, including flying sticks and pucks. Keep your eye on the puck at all times to avoid any potential injuries!
4. NON-SMOKING FACILITY
The Tribute Communities Centre is a non-smoking, no re-entry facility. Smoking of any kind, including e-cigarettes, on TCC property, is prohibited.
5. HOCKEY IS FOR EVERYONE
We don’t expect everyone to be best friends with the Petes’ fans – some things just don’t mix. But, we do think it’s pretty cool they’re coming to our building to enjoy the same great game we love. Please be aware of those sitting around you, including children and let the play on the ice do the talking. Abusive and inappropriate language will NOT be tolerated.
6. HAVE FUN
Get loud, cheer, and let your favourite team on the ice know you’re behind them – Afterall, hockey is the best sport out there.
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Tom Morgan Courtice
Nina Romano Oshawa
Gayle Andrews Whitby
Penny Masters Oshawa
Jon Humphrey Whitby
Tammy Lee Hanlon Oshawa & Peterborough
Stephanie Gordon Whitby
Greg Lewis Newcastle & Courtice
Dean Yorke Oshawa
Mike Trevett Bowmanville
Karen Low Oshawa
Laura Carey Whitby
Tammy Segriff Oshawa
Carolyn Maugeri Ajax
Lisa Pearson Oshawa
AROUND THE OHL PRESEASON
WRITTEN BY: MATTHEW MOUNTJOY
BARRIE COLTS
OTTAWA
Sitting third in the East Division, the Ottawa 67’s started the year off at 3-1-0 before dropping their next two games to Brantford and Sudbury to sit at a .500 win percentage. Currently, Luca Pinelli leads the team with eight points, tallying five goals and three assists. Pinelli is tied with Cooper Foster for goals, with five apiece. Rookie goaltender Jaeden Nelson, a native to the Ottawa area, has made his presence known in the crease with highlight-reel saves. Currently, he has a 3.51 goals against average and a .880 save percentage, the better of the stats between him and over-ager Collin MacKenzie.
CENTRAL DIVISION
Despite starting the season at 1-2, the Barrie Colts have been great since October 5th, winning three of their past four games, losing by one to the London Knights. One move that helped push their momentum was trading Shamar Moses and two draft picks to North Bay in exchange for Dalyn Wakely. In only two games for Barrie this year, Wakely has three goals and two assists for five points, just one behind two players who are tied for the lead: Cole Beaudoin and Brad Gardiner. Barrie’s goaltenders have also had a strong start to the year. Sam Hillebrandt is the ninth best goalie in the OHL, with a 2.86 GAA, and a .904 save percentage.
Photo Credit: Tim Austen
Photo Credit: Barrie Colts
AROUND THE OHL PRESEASON
WRITTEN BY: MATTHEW MOUNTJOY
MIDWEST DIVISION
Like most contending teams in the OHL, the London Knights had a slow start due to players being away from the team at NHL training camps. However, they have rebounded well now that a lot of them have returned. Sam Dickinson, who was away at camp with the San Jose Sharks, is currently third on the team in points with seven, while Evan Van Gorp and William Nicholl are tied for first with eight points. The Knights also addressed their biggest need recently by adding overage goaltender Austin Elliott from Barrie. The Knights also announced their leadership group for the 2024/2025 season, with Denver Barkey getting the C, while Landon Sim, Jacob Julien, Oliver Bonk, and Easton Cowan join as assistants.
FLINT FIREBIRDS
Sitting in fourth in the West division, Flint has slowed down a bit since starting the season at 3-1. So far in the month of October, they have beaten Kitchener, Sarnia, and Oshawa, their only regulation win this month coming against the Generals. Jimmy Lombardi and Christopher Thibodeau lead the team so far in points so far with eight, with Evan Konyen and overage defenseman Nolan Collins not far behind them with 7 each. Acquiring Collins from Sudbury in the offseason, he is on pace for his best season in the OHL, currently sitting at a point per game. Nathan Day as also held it down in the crease for the Firebirds so far this year, with a 2.49 goals against average, and a .902 save percentage, good for sixth-best in the OHL. The Firebirds face off against Sault Ste Marie, Erie, Sarnia, Guelph, and Owen Sound to end off the month.
Photo Credit: Natalie Shaver
Photo Credit: Adam Zawacki
BECKETT SENNECKE
1ST ROUND | PICK #3 | ANAHEIM DUCKS
Drafted third overall by the Anaheim Ducks, Beckett Sennecke made a mark across his two OHL seasons, recording 68 points in 63 games last year. During the Generals’ 2024 playoff run, Sennecke managed to put up 22 points in 16 playoff games, the third most by anyone on the team. Sennecke also played in last year’s CHL Top Prospects game, where he was praised for his size, skill, and effort. With two years of OHL experience and one NHL training camp under his belt, Sennecke looks to be one of the main leaders for the team as they look to get their hands on the J Ross Robertson Cup for the 14th time.
BEN DANFORD
1ST ROUND | PICK #31 | TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Picked up 31st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ben Danford was the second of two Gens to be drafted in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, which made headlines across the hockey media landscape. Danford put up 33 points this past season, all but one of those being assists. Danford added more scoring to the team once the playoffs rolled around, netting four goals and six assists across 21 games, tied for the most games played in the playoffs. Danford also went to the CHL Top Prospects game, being hailed as a steady and mobile defenceman. He also played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, capturing a highlight reel goal along with gold.
LUCA MARRELLI
3RD ROUND | PICK #86 | COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
The third General to be taken in the 2024 NHL Draft, Luca Marrelli was selected 86th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marrelli made an immense mark with the team in the 2023-2024 season by leading all defencemen in scoring with 57 points in 67 games. Marrelli continued this scoring push in the playoffs, with 13 points in 21 games. Marrelli was the third General to attend the CHL Top Prospects game and this upcoming season will be his fourth with the Generals where his point totals seem to rapidly increase across each season.
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PREVIEW GAME DAY
WRITTEN BY: TOMAS MORGAN
The Oshawa Generals look to repeat after they took down their rivals the Peterborough Petes 2-1 in overtime in game one of a home-and-home.
Oshawa has not gotten off to the start they had hoped but continue to battle and pick up wins as they hold pace in the East Division. The Gens are 3-5-1-0 in the early days of the season but will need to get things going sooner rather than later.
Peterborough has yet to win a game this season, picking up their first point of the season last night against the Gens. The Petes have started the season 0-7-1-0 and are trying to see what sticks.
The Gens picked up the win in the first meeting of the season, grabbing the win on the road in Peterborough 2-1.
It was a slow game as the Petes jumped out in front early in early in the first period and it would be the only action until the Gens leading goal scorer Luca Marrelli fired a shot through traffic tying the game at one.
After regulation setteld nothing the game headed to overtime and it was Lauri Sinivouri playing hero as the Finnish import came up big putting the puck in the back of the net.
RECAP LAST GAME
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17TH
WRITTEN BY:TOMAS MORGAN
The Generals played their first game of a home-and-home series against their rival Peterborough Petes. The Petes have struggled mightily to start the season, as they have yet to win a game heading into the matchup against Oshawa.
The Generals helped them continue that streak with a 2-1 overtime win.
The Petes got off to a quick start, scoring 1:47 into the first period. Matthew Jenkin fed Cayden Taylor, who beat Jacob Oster under the arm on the two-on-one rush. The first period had plenty of action at both ends of the ice, with each team registering 13 shots on goal.
In the dying moments of the period, a Petes defender flipped the puck over the glass in his defensive zone, handing the Generals their first chance on the powerplay. They were unable to score before the end of the period, but they remained on the powerplay for 1:12 to start the second period.
Sennecke hit the post in the opening minute of the second period, but the Petes managed to kill the remainder of the penalty.
Midway through the period, an Ethan Toms goal was called back due to offside at the Generals bench. Oshawa continued to pressure and outshot the Petes 13-6 in the second period but remained down 1-0.
In the third period, Oshawa continued to dominate, which led to the tying goal. Luca Marrelli’s wrist shot from the point went bar down and tied the game at one just over five minutes into the third period.
The game would be decided in overtime. Just 25 seconds into the extra frame, Marrelli slid the puck over to Sinivuori, and he did the rest, beating the Petes goaltender over the glove.
WARM-UP INITIATIVE
INDIGENOUS JERSEY
This season, the Oshawa Generals are excited to introduce our monthly warm-up jersey initiative! From September to March, our team will wear custom-designed jerseys during home warm-ups, each reflecting the spirit of the season and supporting a new charitable cause.
Kicking off on our Home Opener, September 29th, our first warm-up jersey will celebrate the Indigenous community and will be worn through the end of October. This special design is created by Leo Atlookan, a talented Indigenous artist currently residing in Scarborough, Ontario. Join us in honouring this important representation!
“The design means a lot to me. I’ve worked with hockey all of my life and when this opportunity came I was so delighted to be a part of the Oshawa Generals hockey team,” says Leo.
Atlookan, whose given First Nation name is Stands Alone Strong, is from Eabametoong First Nation and is originally from Fort Hope. Leo worked at John C Yesno Education Centre as a student counsellor and is also is a traditional dancer at Powwows, getting into it initially when he was 35.
Atlookan discovered his talent for art at eight years old while sitting on the floor of his cabin drawing himself and his grandfather paddling. After discovering the talent, his grandfather told him, “That is going to be your gift to people. If you can draw like that and give to people like you did to me, you’re going to warm their hearts, just like mine is right now.”
He also claims he never sells his art, instead preferring it as a gift to others.
Leo volunteers for True North Aid, an organization founded in 2009 by Rachael McIntyre to support northern and remote Indigenous communities with humanitarian support. True North Aid became a registered charity in 2012.
Leo notes his love for the game and the inspiration of pairing the sport with broader initiatives.
“Hockey is a game for everyone, as a team, fan, or community. Hockey needs to be celebrated to have meaning to what it is to be part of something that has so much direction and can go in so many more ways,” he shares. “Starting at a young age like the OHL level can only assure more good people will be a part of change in our world.”
The Jersey is black, orange and white, the colours used for events such as National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. The large ‘G’ logo in the middle of the jersey represents General Motors, a company that both the Generals and the City of Oshawa have historical ties to.
The ‘Oshawa Generals’ at the top and bottom of the G represents the team’s name.
The spoked ‘G’ represents not only the classic logo of the Generals, but it is split into four to represent the directions they travel: north, south, east, and west, to play in the OHL. On top of the logo, two teepees represent the homes they leave and try to make while travelling for hockey.
These same teepees are seen on the stripes of the sleeves and bottom of the jersey.
The feather that makes up the rest of the ‘G’ represents the Tribute Communities Centre, and the 12 marks represent the 12 players on the ice that start the game. The four marks on the tip of the feather represent the two referees and two linesmen. It also embodies that every warrior must carry a feather.
The same feathers can be seen on the shoulders but grouped into three.
“I love this game, it has taught me about how hard it is to be a part of a team. My dad said you will always be a part of a team at home, work and in life. It will show you how to build a future,” he says.
This warm-up jersey, along with each month’s jerseys, will be auctioned off towards the end of each month with donations sent to respected charities.
Donations for this month’s Indigenous jersey will support True North Aid, a registered charity providing humanitarian aid to northern and remote Indigenous communities. Last year, over 100 communities requested equipment and supplies to meet critical health, food, housing, and education needs for 12,000 people. Food, baby supplies, wheelchairs, and winter clothing are just some of the items sent north, some to fly-in communities.
To learn more, please go to truenorthaid.ca
If you can help, please go to Donate to support True North Aid’s vital humanitarian work in Canada.
TRIVIA
1. HOW MANY NUMBERS HAVE BEEN RETIRED? 2. WHO HAS THE ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED RECORD FOR OSHAWA? 3. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME OSHAWA HOSTED THE MEMORIAL CUP?
WHO SCORED BOTH GOALS FOR OSHAWA IN THE 2015 MEMORIAL CUP FINAL? 5. WHERE DID THE OSHAWA GENERALS PLAY PRIOR TO THE TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE? 6. WHO HAD THE MOST POINTS FOR THE GENERALS IN THE 2024 PLAYOFF RUN?
7. HOW MANY GENERALS WERE DRAFTED IN THE 2024 NHL DRAFT? 8. WHAT TEAM DO THE OSHAWA GENERALS PLAY BACK-TO-BACK IN OCTOBER? 9. WHO ARE THE TWO OSHAWA GENERALS TO WIN OHL AWARDS FOR THE 2023/24 SEASON?
PUCKS IN-GAME
Every single Oshawa Generals home game is YOUR chance to bring home a piece of history. All 34 home games will feature unique warmup pucks specific to that night’s home game! While everyone rushes to the glass hoping their favourite player tosses one over, you can head to the back of section 112, or the Generals store inside Gate 1, after the warmup and grab your own puck fresh off the ice for just $10 dollars!
That not enough? Well, we’ve got more!
Authentic goal pucks are back again for the 2023-2024 season! After every single Oshawa Generals home goal, save for special player milestones, those pucks will be taken out of play and into the Generals team store available for purchase at the next home game. Each puck comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, inside a protective case. Want someone specific? Then don’t wait, cause these pucks don’t last long and are only available on a first come, first served basis.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
WRITTEN BY: CARTER SMITH
The Oshawa Generals have had players from near and far come and play for them over the team’s 87-year existence.
This year is no different. The 2024/25 Generals have players from overseas while others grew up just around the corner.
With this wide range let’s take a deeper look at who has travelled the farthest to be on the team this year.
BIRTHDAYS
Are you or someone special celebrating your birthday with the Oshawa Generals? We’ve got the perfect way to celebrate! Request a birthday shoutout on our centre-ice videoboard. For a request to be guaranteed, it must be submitted 48-hours BEFORE scheduled puck drop. This means if a game is scheduled for a Friday night at 7:05 p.m., your birthday request needs to be submitted by Wednesday at 7:05 for it to be guaranteed.
CROSSWORD GENS
J. ROSS ROBERTSON CUP GENERALS APPROACHING 2024/25 SEASON AFTER A TASTE OF THE
The Oshawa Generals had a very successful 2023/24 season- going to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals before losing to the London Knights in a four-game sweep. However, this will not be the last that is heard of this Generals squad.
The Gens are approaching this season with a ‘revenge’ mindset, and are looking to do some damage in the OHL throughout the regular season, especially with most of the core from last year’s team returning.
One of the returning players looking to make a major splash is Owen Griffin. After a low-scoring 2023/24 season, Griffin is looking to make a huge impact, and so far, he has. Griffin is leading the generals so far during the preseason in both goals and total points with three points and five points respectively. He is also tied for the most assists with two.
The Gens also had multiple players selected in the NHL Draft; Calum Ritchie, Beckett Sennecke, Luca Marrelli, Ben Danford, and Dylan Roobroeck.
Two out of the five NHL draftees are first-round picks, which includes Sennecke’s third overall selection by the Anaheim Ducks.
Although some may not have been drafted, the Generals sent eight players to NHL camps, with each of the 20 OHL teams sending an average of two.
This NHL training camp experience will prove valuable, especially in the net, which was one of the strongest aspects of last year’s squad.
Jacob Oster, the reigning 2024 OHL Goaltender of the Year, got valuable experience at his second NHL training camp stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This experience, alongside the additional NHL camp invites for both forwards and defenceman, will help improve the roster now that they have experience at the major league level, this goes alongside recent player development coach hire Brad Malone, a former NHLer.
With the Generals adding more and more experienced staff members to the organization, most of the core group of talented players remaining on the roster, and a committed mindset, the Gens could add another set of banners to the rafters of the Tribute Communities Centre come 2025.
GET SOCIAL WITH
THE GENS
Get real-time updates and behind-the-scene peaks on Oshawa Generals’ game-changing plays, standout goals, and thrilling wins by following them on social media. Stay connected to the hockey action on and off the ice like never before!
THE NEW GUYS
COACHING STAFF CHANGES FOR 2024 - 2025
STEVE O’ROURKE
HEAD COACH
Drafted 159th overall in the seventh round of the 1992 NHL draft, O’Rourke not only brings a wealth of hockey experience to the club but familiarity as well. He split his playing career between the ECHL, British Ice Hockey Superleague, and the UHL. O’Rourke began his coaching journey in 2009 with the Abbotsford Heat, before moving to the BCHL after two seasons. He then spent six seasons coaching in the WHL, splitting his time between the Red Deer Rebels, and the Prince George Cougars. O’Rourke was an assistant coach last year, leading the team to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals, the farthest the team has gone since 2015. O’Rourke takes over for Derek Laxdal, last season’s OHL Coach of the Year, after signing with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
BRAD MALONE
PATRICK SEXTON
ASSISTANT COACH
A native of Ottawa, Sexton has spent the past six seasons in the BCHL, serving as an assistant coach with the Penticton Vees, and as the head coach of the Coquitlam Express, where they qualified for the playoffs in both seasons he was behind the bench. Sexton brings a lot of experience both on and off the ice: he competed in the CCHL with the Smiths Falls Bears from 2013-2015, and joined the Penticton Vees as a player for two seasons, where he helped them win the Fred Page Cup.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COACH
A recently retired NHL and AHL veteran, Brad Malone played in 217 NHL games, and 552 AHL games. He spent his career at the NHL level with the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Edmonton Oilers. At the AHL Level, Malone spent his time with the Lake Erie Monsters, Hershey Bears, Chicago Wolves, and the Bakersfield Condors. Malone says he is “thrilled to join the Oshawa Generals and become part of such a storied franchise.” Malone began his hockey career at Cushing Academy in Massachusetts, and was drafted 105th overall in 2007.
CALUM RITCHIE MAKES NHL DEBUT AND SECURES HIS FIRST GOAL
On October 9th, the Colorado Avalanche took to the ice with Oshawa Generals forward Calum Ritchie on their roster. Ritchie is one of 10 teenagers to make an NHL opening-day roster for the 2024-2025 season.
Drafted 27th overall by the Avalanche in 2023, Ritchie paired up on the second line next to Nikolai Kovalenko and Casey Middelstadt for his NHL Debut. In the 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Ritchie did not record a point.
Ritchie has spent his entire OHL career with the Generals, recording 71 goals, 113 assists for 184 points across 174 games. Ritchie led the team in playoff points last year, with 30 total points.
Ritchie recently made NHL headlines with a highlight reel goal in the NHL preseason against Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka, where he fakes a wrist shot before going to his backhand.
For the Avalanche’s home opener, Calum Ritchie scored his first NHL goal against the New York Islanders in a 6-2 loss. Ritchie opened up the scoring one minute into the game on a cross-ice pass from Josh Manson.
Ritchie has earned the trust of the Colorado coaching staff, playing on the second line for the first three games of the regular season.
He has six more games left before his nine-game NHL trial ends. Once he hits the nine-game mark, the Avalanche must decide whether he will stay with the club, which would activate the first year of his entry-level contract, or send him back to the Generals. If sent back to the Generals, Ritchie would have to play out the entire season before he is eligible to return to Colorado.
Assuming Ritchie plays the season’s first nine games, Colorado must make that decision as early as Monday, October 28th.
Canadian Tire, Rodman’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Desjardins Insurance, Planet Fitness, Dodd and Soutor, Pizza Pizza, Bluebird Self Storage, Staffing Connections, Professional Dry Cleaners, Gen7 Fuel and Color Compass Corporation have teamed up for the Adopt-A-School program!
This program gives local businesses the chance to give back to the community by purchasing Generals season tickets and donating them to elementary schools throughout Durham Region. The tickets are intended to reward students that excel in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
MATT BEACHIN
Call 905-433-0900 Ext. 2233 or Email mbeachin@oshawagenerals.com
