Update (Nov. 1): Carson Rehkopf has also been named to the Canadian Hockey League's team of the month, which includes the top players from the Ontario, Western and Quebec junior leagues. Joining him are forwards Zac Funk from the Prince George Cougars and Justin Gill from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, defencemen Graham Sward from the Wenatchee Wild and Kitchener teammate Hunter Brzustewicz, as well as Halifax Mooseheads goalie Mathis Rousseau.
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Barrie-area native Carson Rehkopf lit the lamp on his way to being named Ontario Hockey League player of the month for October.
The Kitchener Rangers forward, who grew up in nearby Utopia, led the league with 14 goals over 13 games to go with nine assists for 23 points.
The Seattle Kraken prospect, who was taken in the second round of last summer's NHL Draft with the 50th overall pick, also led the OHL with 62 shots on goal and three game-winning goals.
The six-foot-one, 195-pound forward produced points in 11 of his 13 outings, including consecutive four-point showings on Oct. 13 and 15.
The 18-year-old also lit the lamp for a third-period natural hat trick in Kitchener's 8-0 win over the Barrie Colts.
Rehkopf is coming off a 30-goal season in 2022-23 and has collected 62 goals, 53 assists and 115 points in 146 career regular-season games with the Rangers since being Kitchener's first-round pick (17th overall) in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
The Kitchener Rangers also nabbed the league's top defenceman honour for October. Vancouver Canucks prospect Hunter Brzustewicz led the OHL with 25 points, including five goals and 20 assists over 13 games as he rides a 12-game point streak into November.
The Michigan native was acquired from the Barrie Colts on Jan. 9, 2022. He was originally Barrie's fourth-round pick (69th overall) in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. His rights were sent to Kitchener in the deal that brought Declan McDonnell to the Colts.
The Guelph Storm's Brayden Gillespie has been tapped as OHL goaltender of the month for October. He had a 7-3 record and a league-leading 2.02 goals-against average and .932 save percentage to go along with one shutout.
Owen Sound Attack netminder Carter George, who's eligible for this summer's NHL Draft, has been named OHL rookie of the month after posting a 5-2-1-0 record with a 2.18 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout.
The 17-year-old from Thunder Bay maintains designated rookie status in the OHL this season as a result of playing in just 10 games last year when he went 7-3 with a 2.41 goals-against average with a .924 save percentage.
