Soo boys make their points
First pucks have dropped on the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League regular season. And several skaters with a link to Sault Ste. Marie picked up points in their respective team’s season opening games.
• Tyson Doucette scored two goals and added an assist as the Sarnia Sting buzzed past the Windsor Spitfires 8-2. A 2004 birth year forward, Doucette is in his second OHL season in Sarnia after signing with the Sting as a free agent prior to the 2022-2023 campaign. He formerly played in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds and in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with the Soo Thunderbirds.
• Mason Chitaroni made his debut with the Sudbury Wolves by assisting on two goals and having a plus-minus rating of +4 in a 6-2 win over the Brantford Bulldogs. A 2004 birth year defenseman, Chitaroni recently signed with Sudbury as a free agent after spending the ’22-23 season with the Acadie-Bathhurst Titan of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League. He was originally picked by the London Knights in the fifth round of the 2020 OHL priority selections draft. Chitaroni is another product of the U18 Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North and played in the NOJHL for both the Blind River Beavers and Soo Thunderbirds. Originally from Marathon, Ontario, Chitaroni played much of his minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie.
• Connor Toms directed two assists as part of an 11-3 victory by the Soo Greyhounds over the Flint Firebirds. A 2004 birth year defenseman, Toms is in his third season with his hometown Hounds after being a third round pick at the 2020 OHL priority selections draft. His priors also include playing with the U18 Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North and the Thunderbirds of the NOJHL.
• Calem Mangone had an assist as the Saginaw Spirit began with a 4-3 loss to the Kitchener Rangers. A 2004 birth year forward, Mangone is in his third season in Saginaw after the Spirit took him in the first round of the 2021 OHL supplemental draft from the U18 Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North.
• Cooper Foster contributed an assist as the Ottawa 67’s lost 5-2 to the Peterborough Petes. A 2005 birth year forward, Foster is in his second full season with Ottawa after the 67’s took him the second round of the 2021 OHL priority selections draft. He was then selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round of the 2023 National Hockey League draft.