Nick Lardis, the prolific forward for the Brantford Bulldogs, achieved a historic milestone on March 9, 2025, by scoring his 70th goal of the season during the team's decisive 11-3 victory over the Saginaw Spirit. This feat makes him only the eighth player in the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) history to reach the 70-goal mark since 2000, underscoring his exceptional skill and performance on the ice.
Lardis's scoring prowess this year has put him at the forefront of the league, accumulating 70 goals across just 61 games, positioning him as the top scorer. It's worth noting he becomes the first player to hit the 70-goal mark since Connor Bedard achieved the same remarkable milestone during the 2022-2023 season. From the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) perspective, he is the first player to reach this significant benchmark since John Tavares did so back during the 2006-2007 season.
With five games left in the regular season, Lardis seems poised to surpass even greater heights, potentially finishing with 76 goals by the end of the season—a tally not reached by any player in the OHL since 1986. "I'm just taking it one game at a time," he remarked after the game. "My teammates have been great, and I just want to keep contributing to our success."
His spectacular season features various impressive statistics, including 20 multi-goal games, indicating he scores two or more goals approximately 32.7% of the time. Out of these, he has recorded seven hat tricks this season alone, totaling to eight throughout his career. Lardis even set his personal best with four goals against the Sudbury Wolves earlier this season.
His total points currently stand at 113, breaking previous franchise records for the Brantford Bulldogs. Lardis's phenomenal goal streak has also extended to 17 games, just two short of tying the OHL record. If he maintains his outstanding form, there's every possibility he will finish with 75 goals, marking him as the league's leading scorer since 1996.
Besides Lardis's impressive efforts, the recent game against Saginaw saw other standout performances. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jake O’Brien celebrated his second hat trick of the season, pushing his goal total over 30 for the first time as well. Meanwhile, Patrick Thomas, the Bulldogs' captain and Washington Capitals prospect, made history by surpassing 100 points for the season and becoming the all-time points leader for the franchise with three assists during the match, including one on Lardis's goal.
Remarkably, the Bulldogs had multiple players contributing to the scoreboard, with New Jersey Devils prospect Cole Brown also finding the back of the net twice. Lardis’s teammate Marek Vanacker enjoyed his finest outing yet, racking up five points during this match, achieving the 20-goal mark for the second consecutive season and adding four assists to his impressive night.
On the other hand, the Saginaw Spirit couldn’t find their rhythm throughout the game, with only Jacob Cloutier, Dimian Zhilkin, and Liam Storch scoring for the team amid the Bulldogs' offensive surge. The Bulldogs capitalized on this momentum, particularly during the explosive second period where they scored seven goals.
Overall, Nick Lardis’s performance not only marks him as one of the league's premier prospects but has also set the stage for the Bulldogs as they near the end of the regular season, aiming for success as they advance. His milestones this season are sure to attract attention from professional hockey scouts, especially from the Chicago Blackhawks, who undoubtedly appreciate their 2023 third-round pick's progress on the path to NHL stardom.
With the playoffs looming, every game counts, and fans of the Bulldogs will be watching closely to see how Lardis and his teammates finish out the season. Will Lardis continue his scoring spree and make history? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: he is undoubtedly setting himself up for success at the next level.