FACTS + FIGURES

Playoff surprises, a power play sniper and a new crop of prospects highlight our weekly by the numbers look at the Ontario Hockey League.

14

The number of goals the Owen Sound Attack scored on Sault Ste. Marie going into Game 4 of their conference semifinal Wednesday — six more than the Soo. It was the other way around in the regularseason, with the Hounds — the top-scoring team in the OHL and the top-ranking squad in Canada — outpacing the Attack 10-7 in a win and a shootout loss. Owen Sound was also out front in the best-ofseven series after three games.

1

The number of Attack players among the OHL’s playoff scoring leaders. Brett McKenzie, who had five goals and seven assists going into Game 4, was the lone Owen Sound skater. Kingston, Barrie and Hamilton each had four players among the top-18 point scorers, while Kitchener had three and the Sarnia and Niagara each had one.

6

The number of power play goals Bulldogs forward Brandon Saigeon had notched heading into Game 4 of his team’s second round matchup with the IceDogs Wednesday — the most in the OHL. The Grimsby native, who tied for second in PP scoring in the regular-season, also had eight goals in total, which made him the lone Hamilton player tallying at a goal-per-game pace. 300

The number of names called at Saturday’s OHL draft, including 33 goaltenders, 92 defencemen and 175 forwards — the most at that position in a decade. Of those, 51 were born in January, 32 have February birthdays, 32 celebrate in March and 27 blow out the candles in October, November or December. So, more than 38 per cent of the 2018 draft class was born in the first quarter of the year compared to nine per cent the last quarter.

6

The number of twins drafted in 2018 — half of them by the Ottawa 67’s. The club took Cameron Tolnai sixth overall and his brother Davis Tolnai in Round 15. In the sixth round, they also took Anthony Costantini, whose brother Marco Costantini went to the Bulldogs in Round 5. Simon and Vincent Labelle likewise went separate ways — to the Sudbury Wolves in the 10th round and the London Knights in the 15th round, respectively.

4

The number of Americans picked by the Bulldogs Saturday, a record. Hamilton took U.S. born players in Rounds 5, 6, 7 and 13 to top its previous high of three in 2017. It also drafted two each in 2015 and 2016. Of the 11 Americans the Dogs have chosen since joining the OHL only two have played for the team — forward Arthur Kaliyev and goaltender Nick Donofrio, who are both on the current roster.

6

The number of Bulldogs prospects

who played in the GTHL last season, including Michael Renwick and Davis Young. The two were taken three picks apart in Round 2, and told the Spectator they have been teammates for the past nine years. Of the 300 selected in the 2018 draft, 76 came from the GTHL and a whopping 13 played for the Mississauga Reps, including Renwick, a defenceman, and Young, a centre.

3

The number of players selected in the first round of last year’s inaugural under-18 draft that played even a single game in the OHL this season. Victor Hadfield suited up in 27 tilts for the Colts, while Emmett Serensits and Cameron Gaylor skated in 61 for the Sudbury Wolves and 42 for the Mississauga Steelheads, respectively. This year’s selection, which took place online Wednesday, was reduced from four rounds to two (or three, for teams that choose a goalie). According to league vice-president Ted Baker, the inaugural draft included four rounds “to provide a balanced opportunity for the double cohort of 1999 and 2000-born players.” While he hasn’t read anything from those critics of his selection offering a mea culpa of any kind, he says he gets that sense during interviews. Things have changed. Flames media and fans are OK with the pick today.

He’s not going to lie. That feels good. Proving some folks wrong is satisfying. Though he’s quick to point out he’s also happy he could prove some people right. Like Feaster.

Less than two years after making that selection, the GM was axed by the Flames. He’s now executive director of community hockey development with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Feaster says Jankowski was always a long play. Now that some time has gone by, the young man has worked out pretty much as he thought he would.

The one frustration for the man who had such faith in the longest of long shots is not being able to reap the benefit of that prescience, he says.

“It really reinforced the notion that in this business, you never buy unripened bananas.”