OHL Prospects Honored w/ Coaches Poll + Pinelli Tradin’ Jabs & Postseason Preview

Good Morning, Insiders!

Four Kings prospects have started, or will start today, their playoff runs at the OHL and ECHL levels, with the quest for a championship beginning.

Three OHL prospects – Martin Chromiak, Francesco Pinelli and Brandt Clarke – have all qualified for postseason play, while Kings draft pick Lukas Parik is also set to begin his own postseason at the ECHL level. A look at all four players as they get under way, with notes on the OHL trio, who were each honored on a leaguewide level with the annual coaches poll, which was released yesterday.

The annual poll recognizes players around the OHL in 20+ categories, with the three Kings prospects playing in the league this season all garnering recognition. Arthur Kaliyev, Jacob Moverare, Gabe Vilardi, Sean Durzi, Aidan Dudas, Akil Thomas and more have been honored in past years, with this season’s trio adding to the list.

Martin Chromiak – Kingston Frontenacs
Chromiak was recognized in the coaches poll as the third ranked “Hardest Shot” in the Eastern Conference. Chromiak led the high-octane Frontenacs in goals with 44 and ranked fourth on the team in points (44-42-86) in 60 games played. Chromiak, the right-handed goalscorer, signed his entry-level contract with the Kings on September 30th, 2021.

Chromiak and the #3 seeded Frontenacs are set to begin their first-round playoff series against the #6 seeded Oshawa Generals on Friday, April 22nd at 4:00 PM. Chromiak has recorded 18 points (12-6-18) in 11 games versus Oshawa this season.

Francesco Pinelli – Kitchener Rangers
Pinelli became the latest prospect to sign his entry-level contract with the LA Kings when the Kitchener captain put pen to paper last week. Pinelli, the Kings 2021 second-round draft pick finished the season with 60 points (22-38-60) in 55 games and earned recognition in the coaches poll, ranked third in “Best on Faceoffs” in the Western Conference.

Pinelli began his first round playoff series on Thursday, April 21st, leading the #7 seeded Rangers over the #2 seeded London Knights 3-2 in Game 1 with three points (2-1-3).

Brandt Clarke – Barrie Colts
Beginning with the Kings 1st round draft pick in 2021, Clarke found his name in the coaches pool the most among the three Kings prospects. The right-handed offensively skilled defenseman finished first in two categories and third in one category. Clarke was voted as the “Smartest Player” and “Best Offensive Defenseman” and was recognized third for “Best Stickhander” among Eastern Conference players.

Among OHL defenseman, Clarke ranked second in points per game, averaging 1.07 points/game, fourth in assists and fifth in points. In total, Clarke totaled 59 points (11-48-59) in 55 games this season.

Clarke’s #5 seeded Barrie Colts will begin their first round of the playoffs versus the #4 seeded Mississauga Steelheads Friday, April 22nd at 4:00 PM, though Clarke is not expected to be available to start the postseason with an injury.

The full schedule for the OHL’s postseason is available HERE. The league’s postseason format is similar to the NHL, with 16 teams qualified, playing in a best-of-seven series format through to the OHL Championship.

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Lukas Parik – Rapid City Rush
Also in the playoffs is Kings prospect Lukas Parik. The starting goalie for the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush enters the playoffs with a regular-season record of 14-8-8 with a .915 SV% and a 2.69 GAA. Parik was tied for eighth in the league in save percentage and was tied for ninth in goals-against average. He and the #2 seeded Rapid City Rush will begin their first round with the #3 seeded Allen Americans on Friday, April 22nd at 6:05 PM in the Mountain Division playoffs.

Earlier this season, Parik made his AHL debut for the Ontario Reign, picking up his first career AHL win and went 3-0-1 in five games for the Reign. In those five games, Parik recorded a .881 SV% and a 3.77 GAA.

Rapid City’s first-round schedule cane be found HERE. Similar to the OHL and NHL, the ECHL has a 16-team postseason, consisting of four best-of-seven series. Like the NHL, the first two rounds are played within the division, before the conference finals and Kelly Cup Finals.