OHL graduates play on in our weekly by-the-numbers roundup.

4

The number of OHL players who earned medals at the world under-18 hockey championships in Slovakia. Forward Linus Nyman and defenceman Eemeli Rasanen, who both play for the Kingston Frontenacs, won silver for Finland, while Guelph Storm defenceman Dmitri Samorukov and Niagara IceDogs forward Kirill Maksimov won bronze for Russia. Altogether, 15 OHLers took part in the tournament including Hamilton Bulldogs forward Mackenzie Entwistle, who was named one of Canada’s top three players.

3

Seasons Jeff Brown served at the helm of the Ottawa 67’s before stepping down Tuesday. The former NHLer, who was hired as head coach at the start of the 2014-15 campaign and general manager at the end of it, said cited personal reasons for the decision. “The move back to Ottawa has been difficult at times for my family and it’s time I put them first and became a full-time father as we transition back to our hometown of St. Louis,” the Ottawa native said in a team statement. “I will be cheering the 67’s on from afar.” Brown, 50, led the club to the OHL playoffs in each of his three seasons behind the bench.

4

Straight seasons in which the Erie Otters have appeared in a conference final — a feat matched by just two other teams (the London Knights and the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors) since the league’s two-conference alignment in 1998-99. The Otters, who are now facing the Owen Sound Attack for supremacy in the West, are also the first and only CHL club ever to record four consecutive 50-win campaigns.

2

The number of conference titles the Otters have won since moving to Erie in 1996. The first time they won the West was in 2001-02 — a season in which they also earned the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions — and the second was in 2014-15. The Otters were downed by the Guelph Storm and the London Knights in the conference finals in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

9

The number of OHL clubs that hosted rookie camps last weekend, including the Barrie Colts, Flint Firebirds, Guelph Storm, Kitchener Rangers, Oshawa Generals, Sarnia Sting, Sudbury Wolves, Windsor Spitfires and Hamilton Bulldogs, which held their orientation in Ancaster. Arthur Kaliyev, who the Bulldogs selected in the second round of this year’s OHL draft, led the way with three goals and two assists at Hamilton’s three-day workout.

8

The number of OHL playoff games decided in overtime as of Tuesday, or roughly 11 per cent. Of those eight, only one has gone to double-OT — Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final between the Peterborough Petes and Mississauga Steelheads. Ryan McLeod set up his brother Michael McLeod to give the Fish a 2-1 win and a 3-0 lead in the series in that one.

55

Points tallied by Ryan Merkley in his inaugural campaign with the Guelph Storm. The 16-year-old from Mississauga was awarded the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s top rookie last week after leading all first-year players in scoring. He also became the only rookie in franchise history to lead the Storm in scoring and the first OHL defenceman since London’s Rick Corriveau in 1987-88 to win the league’s rookie scoring race.

108

OHL graduates suiting up in this year’s Calder Cup playoffs. Of them, 16 competed in the league this season including former Hamilton Bulldogs forwards Matt Luff and Niki Petti. Luff, an Oakville native, is playing for the L.A. Kings affiliate Ontario Reign, while Welland’s Petti is playing for the Montreal Canadiens affiliate St. John’s IceCaps. All 16 clubs in the AHL playoffs feature at least one OHL grad, with the Albany Devils, Syracuse Crunch and Reign leading the way with 11 former OHLers apiece.

4

OHLers who inked three-year entry-level contracts this week. Peterborough Petes centre Steven Lorentz signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, while Kitchener Rangers centre Connor Bunnaman signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. Jack Kopacka and Boris Katchouk, both wingers for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, signed with the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively.