DiVincentiis’s role honoured

NORTH BAY, Ont. — Dom DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion has been named the Ontario Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Month for January, it was announced Wednesday.

DiVincentiis posted a won-lost-extended record of 7-0-1 in the month with a goals-against average of 2.23 and a save percentage of .923, which included stopping 47 of 50 shots in a 7-3 home-ice victory Jan. 15 over the Flint Firebirds.

“Dom is very deserving of this honour and has played at this level for our team all season,” said general manager Adam Dennis. “He has come in this season in great shape, with an increased understanding of the league and what it takes to win.”

In 32 games this season before a Wednesday night date with the host Sudbury Wolves, DiVincentiis produced a GAA of 2.51, a save percentage of .911, one shutout and a record of 25-6-1. He led the league in wins and ranked second in both GAA and save percentage.

Last season, the Toronto native went 14-8-1 with a 2.59 GAA and a .907 save percentage before the Winnipeg Jets selected him in the seventh round of the National Hockey League Draft in July.

DiVincentiis, who was recognized as OHL Goaltender of the Week for the period ended Dec. 4, is the second Battalion goalie in the North Bay era to earn the monthly honour, after former partner Joe Vrbetic, who was recognized for November, 2021. The previous member of the Troops so feted was Patrick Killeen of Brampton for February, 2010.

The Battalion took DiVincentiis, who turns 19 on March 4, in the sixth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings minor midgets.

In addition, Battalion defenceman Ty Nelson was named to the Canadian Hockey League Team of the Month for January. After registering a trio of three-point games in the month, he ranked second in scoring among CHL and OHL rearguards with 56 points from 16 goals and 40 assists in 46 games through Tuesday night.