Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Josh Shalla of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 15 after leading the league with eight points in three games scoring two goals with six assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-1.
Shalla led the Spirit to a 4-2 win over the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors on Sunday night scoring a goal and two assists as first star of the contest. Last night Shalla also reached a personal milestone against the Majors as his first period goal, his 21st of the season, was also goal number 100 as a member of the Spirit becoming just the second player to reach the mark since the franchise moved to Saginaw in 2002. His week also included a three-point night on Saturday with a goal and two assists despite a 5-4 shootout loss to the London Knights, and a two-assist game on Friday in a 5-4 loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Shalla, a 20-year-old from Whitby, ON, is playing in his fifth OHL season and third with the Spirit. Selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators, Shalla has 40 points in 28 games this season and his 100 goals as a Spirit trails only Ryan McDonough who scored 118 between 2005-08.
Also considered for the award this week was Shane Prince of the Ottawa 67’s who scored three goals and three assists for six points in two games. Defenceman Ryan Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers had five points in three games including a goal and four assists. In goal, Mark Visentin of the Niagara IceDogs went 2-0-0-0 with a goals-against-average 1.00 and save percentage of .958.
2011-12 OHL Players of the Week:
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Josh Shalla, Saginaw Spirit
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Beau Schmitz, Plymouth Whalers
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Andrew Agozzino, Niagara IceDogs
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Philip Lane, Brampton Battalion
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Ryan Spooner, Kingston Frontenacs
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Shane Prince, Ottawa 67’s
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Nail Yakupov, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Greg McKegg, Erie Otters
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Seth Griffith, London Knights
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts