Twin brothers Jacob and Zach Dietz pose before their teams met in an Ontario Junior Hockey League game in Wellington Sunday. Zach made 22 saves as his Burlington Cougars defeated Jacob and his Wellington Dukes 5-4. Jacob picked up an assist. (Photo by Ed McPherson / OJHL Images)

BY RON VALENTINE 

HOT TEAMS

The COLLINGWOOD BLUES made it nine wins in a row to kick off their Ontario Junior Hockey League campaign with consecutive-day home victories over defending OJHL champion Pickering. CARTER DICEMAN, a 40-point scorer for the Toronto Patriots last season, got the goal that kept the streak going on Saturday afternoon at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena. Here's how it went according to No. 24:  "The play started with a forced turnover by Spencer Young, which gave Matthew Roy a chance to find me coming in from the left side. I was able to beat the defenceman wide and put it short side on the goalie. It was really a back-and-forth game but the team dug deep to get the win."  

The HALIBURTON COUNTY HUSKIES were on the winning side in all three of their games, outscoring the opposition 16-3. Team captain CHRISTIAN STEVENS, who had five points for the week, commented: "It was great to be back in the win column. We were definitely sour after losing two in a row last week but with good practices we're now back on track."

Three-for-three as well for the AURORA TIGERS who moved into a third-place tie with Markham in the South/East. Assistant captain LUCAS STANOJEVIC, 13 points on the season, is very pleased with his club's start: "This is my second season playing junior and I have gained so many invaluable learning experiences. The development, coaching, and mentoring I have received from all members of the Tigers organization have allowed me to develop into the player I am today. Our special teams, both on the power play and penalty kill, have been effective as well. Like any good hockey team, we are always looking for ways to improve as a team. We endeavour to play with the mindset that our coaches have instilled which is that a good defence leads to a good offence. If we continue to develop our defensive game, we will strengthen our overall level of play."

The MILTON MENACE took both games to stay just one point behind the Blues in the North/West Conference. Their only loss of the season was in overtime to Collingwood but they have done well in their other extra time contests winning all three. Head Coach Dan Del Monte: "We have a lot of new faces who are playing very well. My young forwards have been very impactful, including Dylan McFadden, Tristan Tremble and Ivan Fabjan."

Also going 2 and 0 this week were the TORONTO JUNIOR CANADIENS who moved their South/East Conference record to 9-1. After losing their second game for the season, they have reeled off 10 wins in a row and in doing so have allowed just 16 goals against. 

The COBOURG COUGARS also won both of their contests this week to improve their record to 6-2 and third spot in the S/E standings. TREVOR HOSKIN, who scored the game winner Monday, looks at the way things have started out for the eastern Cougars: "It has been a pretty steady start to the season for us so far at 6-2, we look strong, fast, confident, and ready to bring a championship back to Cobourg. Our team is extremely deep, we have four lines that can compete with any team's first line. We are looking very strong on the back end, as well as two unbelievable goalies behind us. I am really confident with this team so far and I can’t wait to see what the future holds here. Everyone knows their role and knows what they need to do. Every guy here has bought in since mid-August training camp and it is nice to see it paying off so far. Now we just have to keep it rolling. In terms of myself I am happy with how I have begun the season so far. I feel I have improved in many areas of my game from last season and I feel I have gained much confidence as well. Just trying to focus on the team and trying to get two points each and every night we are out there." 

The St. MICHAEL'S BUZZERS and MARKHAM ROYALS took four of a possible six points.

HOT PLAYERS

DAWSON HETTIARACHCHI scored four times in Caledon's wild 8-7 OT loss to St. Michael's. He was the third OJHL player this season to register a four-goal game following the Blues' MARCUS LOUGHEED and Cobourg captain GEORGE KROTIRIS. In the same game, the Buzzers' NICOLAS PRIMOMO had the deciding goal, his hat trick and five points.  Joining the 'four goal club' on Sunday night was Trenton's MATTHEW CATO.

WILLIAM NGUYEN made 55 saves Tuesday as Markham beat Burlington 3-1. Royals' Head Coach Mike Galati: 'William has had a couple of big games for us and the boys have responded in front of him. With (Nicholas) Von Kaufmann re-signing we have a strong 1-2 punch in net."

MATTHEW SBROCCA recorded his first OJHL shutout this week in Cobourg. Matthew started his OJHL career in Mississauga and has also suited up for the GOJHL' s La Salle Vipers and the OHL' s Barrie Colts.

On the scoresheet for all 10 games, JRC captain TYLER FUKAKUSA leads the OJHL with 23 points, one point more than Lindsay's Boyd Stahlbaum. Fukakusa has had two four-point and two three-point games. He had a four-point week. Teammate MATTHEW WILDE had a goal in both games to move him up to 10 on the season. 

TY COLLINS had the hat trick for Haliburton on Wednesday and followed that up with another, the game winner, Saturday against the Dukes and two more for good measure on Sunday. An eight-point week for the former Guelph Storm and Mississauga Steelhead OHL forward. In the Huskies' big week. PATRICK SAINI also recorded eight points to move to 20 for the season.

Buzzers' forward BRYCE SUTHERLAND had the hat trick Sunday against the Chargers. He scored 41 goals last season and moved his total up to seven for the current campaign.

RANDOM JOTTINGS

The first ties of the season were recorded on Friday both 3-3: Burlington and Georgetown along with North York and Lindsay. The Cougars' JACOB BRAMWELL forced the OT by scoring with 11.9 seconds remaining in the third.  

Burlington blueliner CROSSLEY STEWART and the J.C's Wilde announced their commitments to the NCAA Div. 1 RIT Tigers in Rochester, NY starting next season. Mattthew on his time as a Canadien: "They've helped me develop so much as a player and a person. This season we are happy with how we have started. Our goal here is to win a championship so we all come to the rink every day to work hard for that."

Three points out of four this week for the Admirals including the above-mentioned thriller against the Buzzers. Head Coach Steve Hodson: "It's taking longer for the group to come together than I expected but I remain confident. Not exactly an easy schedule for us in our first six games."

A marked improvement this season for the Royals with five wins under their belts already versus a total of eight in 2021-22. Stouffville has already recorded 11 points compared to 33 in their previous campaign. The Spirit have a super-strong 94.29-per-cent success rate, easily tops in the league, having killed off 33 of 35 shorthanded situations. The two teams meet in Stouffville Saturday night.

The Blues' forward ADAM O'MARRA had 14 goals last season but although he had recorded 13 assists his first goal eluded him until he potted one in his eight game. "That felt great,” the Mississauga native noted. "But it's even better to see the team succeeding."

Thanks to $2.8 million in renovations at the Herbert H. Carnegie Centennial Centre, the North York Rangers will not have their home opener until Sunday, Oct. 16 when the Toronto Patriots visit.  

Twin brothers ZACH DIETZ, goalie for the Burlington Cougars and the Dukes' defenceman JACOB faced off against each other for the first time with Zach's team coming out ahead 5-4. In the same game Cougars' defenceman CONNER THOMSON-DICK had his first two OJHL goals. Last season he suited up for the GOJHL's Welland Junior Canadians.

Both the Muskies and the Tigers scored four goals this week on the power play and the two teams lead the OJHL in that category with Lindsay at 33.33 percent and Aurora, in second place, with a success rate of 32.56.

WHAT'S UP THIS WEEK: 

The Blues look to make it 10 wins in a row Friday night as they visit Burlington. The Junior Canadiens have consecutive home games Monday and Tuesday against Oakville and Caledon respectively. The Menace are in Georgetown Wednesday and host the Brantford 99ers Sunday. 

Follow Ron Valentine on Twitter @ronandlynda