Pinelli, Chromiak Shine During OHL’s Opening Weekend

The OHL is back at last and for the LA Kings, it’s especially exciting with their representation in the league.

With the sports world getting back to a collective level of normality, teams and fans are eager for a brand new chapter. The Ontario Hockey League is no exception to this, especially after having to cancel their entire 2020-21 season due to COVID-19. But, after over a year-and-a-half, the league was back in action this past weekend with a pair of LA Kings prospects off to auspicious starts.

Martin Chromiak

After a very impressive showing at Kings training camp last month, Martin Chromiak has further proven to the silver-and-black what to expect of him in the near future. While not making the team may have been disappointing for him, the Slovakian returned to his junior team, Kingston Frontenacs, with some unfinished business.

From hoping to turn the previously struggling Frontenacs fortunes around to playing on a line with next year’s first-overall favorite in Shane Wright, there is plenty of incentive for Chromiak to excel in the Limestone City in 2021-22. In fact, the Kings prospect scored the first Frontenac goal of the campaign on Friday en route to a convincing 8-1 win over the Ottawa 67’s.

Chromiak, who the Kings drafted in the fifth round (128th overall) in 2020, had just the one goal on Friday, but he was a force nonetheless.

Constantly creating chances for himself and his linemates, it isn’t far-fetched to suggest that Kingston could have won by an even bigger margin on Friday. Chromiak finished the evening with a plus-2 rating and three shots on goal.

Unfortunately, the Frontenacs were soundly beaten the following evening — a 7-2 count courtesy of the Mississauga Steelheads. Chromiak was held pointless but did register six shots on goal and a modest minus-1 rating. Kingston then lost again on Sunday as the 67’s avenged their beating on Friday by a 3-2 count.

Despite the latter defeat, though, Chromiak collected two assists and a plus-one rating with four shots on goal.

Regardless of the losses in the latter matchups, though, do look for Chromiak and the Frontenacs to make a lot of noise this season.