Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Month for February.
Player of the Month – Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis of the Brantford Bulldogs has been named OHL Player of the Month for February. The dynamic forward made Bulldogs history by setting a single-season scoring record during the month, lighting the lamp 21 times in 11 games and adding 10 assists for a total of 31 points. Lardis recorded points in 10 of his 11 February matchups, highlighted by two five-point performances on February 2, where he registered four goals and an assist, and on February 17, where he tallied a goal and four assists. This marks the first Player of the Month award of Lardis’ career.
In his fourth OHL season, the 19-year-old from Oakville, Ont., has emerged as one of the league’s top scorers, ranking first in goals and second in points with 66 goals, 42 assists, and 108 points in 58 games played. Lardis became the first CHL player since 2020 to reach the 50-goal mark in under 50 games. Originally selected by the Peterborough Petes sixth overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Lardis has continued to develop offensively, totaling 260 points (150-110-260) in 227 regular-season contests played between the Petes and Bulldogs. Lardis was traded to the Bulldogs during the 2022-23 season in exchange for two-time OHL champions Gavin White and Avery Hayes.
Defenceman of the Month – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
Calgary Flames first-round pick Zayne Parekh has been named the OHL Defenceman of the Month for a second consecutive month. Maintaining his offensive dominance, the Saginaw Spirit blueliner finished the month with 31 points across 14 games, including seven goals and 24 assists. Parekh posted multi-point performances in ten of those games and registered points in 13 of his 14 February matchups, including four-point nights on both the first and last days of the month. This marks the fourth time in Parekh’s career that he’s received OHL Defenceman of the Month honours, following previous recognition in January 2024, March 2024, and November 2023.
A recently turned 19-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., Parekh leads all OHL defencemen in points, goals, and assists with 30 goals, 66 assists, and 96 points in 55 games played during his third OHL season. The ninth overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft by Calgary, Parekh became the Spirit’s all-time leading scorer among defencemen in January. Last year’s OHL Defenceman of the Year and Memorial Cup champion, Parekh was selected by Saginaw with the 19th overall pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. In 171 regular season contests with the Spirit, Parekh has totaled 84 goals, 145 assists, and 229 points.
Goaltender of the Month – Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders of the Brantford Bulldogs has been named the OHL Goaltender of the Month for February, posting an impressive .921 save percentage. Leenders went 9-1-1-0 during the month, making 352 saves and recording four performances with 35+ saves. His standout moment came on February 14, when he made 43 saves in a 10-1 victory over the Niagara IceDogs. Leenders’ strong play was pivotal in keeping the Bulldogs at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, securing their spot in the 2025 OHL Playoffs.
Playing his third OHL season, the 18-year-old from Nanticoke, Ont., has compiled a record of 26-12-3-0 with a 3.16 goals-against average and .907 save percentage through 41 games. Originally selected by the Mississauga Steelheads in the second round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, Leenders was traded to Brantford ahead of the 2024-25 season. In 122 career regular-season games with both teams, he holds a 62-44-10-0 record with three shutouts, a 3.23 GAA, and a .901 save percentage. Leenders was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft (202nd overall).
Rookie of the Month – Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Pierce Mbuyi of the Owen Sound Attack had a standout February, earning Rookie of the Month honors after posting nine goals and eight assists for 17 points over 13 games. His month featured several multi-point performances, including points in 9 of his 13 efforts, with a pair of hat-tricks on February 7 and 14. On February 14, he also recorded two assists to complement his hat trick, achieving a career-high five-point outing.
A 16-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., Mbuyi has tallied 43 points (25-18-43) in his first 55 OHL games played with Owen Sound. The 5-foot-10, 153-pound left-winger ranks third among all OHL rookie point-getters. Mbuyi was selected seventh overall by the Attack in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA program.
2024-25 OHL Performers of the Month:
Player of the Month:February – Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)
January – Tuomas Uronen (Kingston Frontenacs)
December – Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa Generals)November – Sam Dickinson (London Knights)October – Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)
Defenceman of the Month:February – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
January – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
December – Henry Mews (Ottawa 67’s)November – Sam Dickinson (London Knights)October – Luca Marrelli (Oshawa Generals)
Goaltender of the Month:February – Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
January – Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
December – Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)November – Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)October – Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Rookie of the Month:February – Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
January – Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds)
December – Lev Katzin (Guelph Storm)November – Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)October – Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)
