(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
HC Drew Bannister
GM Kyle Raftis
Leading Returning Scorer: Boris Katchouk 35-29-64
2017 1st round draft pick: Hayden Fowler
Key Additions
Keeghan Howdeshell - From the same draft class that brought the Hounds Gettinger, Katchouk, Kopacka and Timmins. Howdeshell went the USNTDP route and spent last year in the USHL. Was slated to join Ferris State but opted for the Hounds
Ryan Roth - Slick FA signing from the HPHL. Stood out at USA Hockey camps this summer
Zack Trott - 2016 draft pick was a scoring sensation in Jr C last year for Staynor. Has continued to put the puck in the net through preseason.
Key Losses
Zach Senyshyn - Bruins 1st rounder scored over 100 career goals with the Hounds
Blake Speers - Spent 2 years as the Hounds captain.
Colton White - Underrated Dman who is off to the Devils farm team.
Gustav Bouramman - Import pick who played 3 years with the Hounds
Bobby MacIntyre - Offensive revelation after coming over from the Steelheads for a mid round pick
Joseph Raaymakers* - former #1 goalie is holding out looking for a trade.
Reasons to be Optimistic
The Greyhounds return 3 30 goal scorers from last years team in Katchouk, Gettinger and Kopacka. They have one of the top puck moving deference in the OHL in Connor Timmins and two burgeoning talents in Morgan Frost and Barrett Hayton. There continue to be whispers that one of their elite import selections will be making their way to the OHLs most Northwesterly outpost.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
This team lost a lot of talent from last years team. They also have a rather bare cupboard in terms of tradeable draft picks. They had to get creative last year it it looks like they will have to do it again.
Twitter Must Follows
@Bradcoccimiglio
(2) Owen Sound Attack
HC Todd Gill
GM Dale DeGray
Leading Returning Scorer: Nick Suzuki 40-58-98
2017 1st round draft pick: Mitchell Russell
Key Additions
Zach Bowman - Has his fans in this league. Could a forgotten goalie from Sudbury lead another western conference team to glory?
Alan Lyszczarczyk - Should help add some depth scoring and should be in line for a career year as he never had the talent around him in Sudbury that he does in Owen Sound.
Key Subtractions
Petrus Palmu - the pint sized finnish import put up 98 points last year
Michael McNiven - OHL goalie of the year last season
Santino Centorame - most underappreciated of a deep OA defenceman crop last season.
Reasons to be Optimistic
This team returns 121 goals and 255 points between Nick Suzuki, Jonah Gadjovich and Kevin Hancock. On paper they have one of the best bluelines in the league led by Marcus Philips and Jacob Friend. They also have plenty of assets to make moves at the deadline after holding off last year and Dale DeGray is easily a top 3 GM in the OHL
Reasons to be Pessimistic
Goaltending. Zach Bowman was aqcuired from Sudbury in August but he doesnt have the track record of success to not come without questions. That said last years OHL champs picked up a forgotten goalie from Sudbury and were able to turn that into a championship.
Twitter Must Follows
@Mark14Mckelvie Rogers TV play by play host for Attack games
(3) London Knights
HC Dale Hunter
GM Rob Simpson
Leading Returning Scorer: Cliff Pu 35-51-86
2017 1st round draft pick
Key Additions
Tim Fallowfield - standout at the Bulldogs rookie camp in 2016. Signed by the Spits in 2017 then signed by the Knights later in 2017 because he was on their protect list and Windsor couldnt sign him in the first place
Alec Regula - 2016 draft pick has signed with the Knights after winning a USHL championship with Chicago as a 16 year old
Harrison Cottam - Signed as a FA in 2016. suited up for Niagara Falls in the GOJHL last year where he picked up 62 points in 49 games.
Key Subtractions
Mitchell Stephans - World Jr Alum picked up from Saginaw at the deadline in a failed attempt to get past Erie
Mitchell Vande Somple - Dynamic puck moving Dman picked up from Oshawa
JJ Piccnich - OA sniper off to play professional hockey
Janne Kuokkanen - Carolina draft pick off to play in the AHL after a year with London
Tyler Parsons - One of the best goalies in recent memory wasnt will be sorely missed
Olli Juolevi - Vancouver draft pick off to bigger and better things
Reasons to be Optimistic
They are the London Knights they dont rebuild they just reload. Dale Hunter knows how to maximize his roster and will develop young players to create internal competition that will push the level of play throughout the lineup. They still have plenty of assets to trade if they decide to push all in again this year.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
They have major question marks between the pipes. Kooy is an intriguing goalie but doesn't have the experience of others which leads to some variability in his projection.
Twitter Must Follows
@MoDaCoatLFPress Sports reporter for the London Free Press
@RyanatLFPress Covers the OHL for the London Free Press
(4) Kitchener Rangers
HC Jay McKee
GM Mike McKenzie
Leading Returning Scorer Adam Mascherin 35-65-100
2017 1st round draft pick: Grayson Ladd
Key Additions
Logan Stanley - Top 3 OHL defender should solidify the Rangers backend by soaking up 35+ minutes a game
Anthony Dumont-Bouchard - OA goalie from the QMJHL who should help soak up some minutes till Opilka comes back
Adam Liska - 1st round import pick from Slovakia who should bring some offensive depth the Rangers
Rickard Hugg - 2nd round import pick from Sweden was captain of Swedens U18 and Hlinka team last year
Jack York - 17 year old defender from the CCHL who passed on a commiutment to Maine to sign with the Rangers
Key Subtractions
Elijah Roberts - Promising 16 year old had some road bumps last year. Passed on the depth chart and was sent to Niagara where he will get a fresh start.
Reasons to be Optimistic
This was a good team last year just not as good as the rest of the west. They have added a legitimate top pair OHL defender in Logan Stanley. The rest of the roster is a year older and they have a Scoring title contender in Adam Mascherin ready to lead the way offensivly
Reasons to be Pessimistic
Is Richardson ready to take the reins between the pipes and start fulfilling some of the promise he has shown at the Jr B level? Will Opilka be the same goalie he was 2 years ago when he gets healthy mid season? Will this team finally return to the level that OHL fans expect out of a big market franchise like Kitchener?
Twitter Must Follows
@BrownRecord Id put him in the top 5 among OHL reports with Victor Fernendes in Erie, Peter Ruicci in the Soo and Tony Saxon in Guelph
@Farwell_OHL Rangers Radio play by play voice
(5) Flint Firebirds
HC Ryan Oulahan
GM Barclay Branch
Leading Returning Scorer Ryan Moore 39-51-90
2017 1st round draft pick Ethan Keppen
Key Additions
Jack Wismer - 2016 2nd rounder selected with a pick from the McLeod trade. Put up 17 points in 17 games in an injury shortened year for Ancaster in the GOJHL
Max Kislinger - Import picked up from North Bay in a trade before the import draft adds 103 games of OHL experience to the Flint lineup
Nikita Alexandrov- hulking 6'7" defender from Russia adds size to a young but intriguing Flint blue line
Nicolas Mattinen - Steep price paid for Londons 6th D man. Will need career year to justify price
Key Subtractions
Everett Clark - gritty leader will be sorely missed on the PK
Kole Sherwood - Lethal scorer who had disciple issues. Offence will be hard to replace
Alex Peters - Captain and veteran of 5 OHL seasons
Mathieu Henderson - One of the highest scoring defenders in the OHL last year
Jalen Smereck - The best combination of skill and physicality will be missed.
Reasons to be Optimistic
They have one of the best young coaches in the league behind their bench. Was robbed by not getting a coach of the year nomination last year. Strong core of returning vets with a nice mix of burgeoning young talent. Already reaping the rewards of the Ryan McLeod trade and should see more fruits from that ripping this season.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
They have Barclay Branch now calling the shots as GM who has had a less than stellar track record while calling the shots. Goalie Garrett Forrest has shown promise but is he ready to be THE guy on a team looking to make the next step. If he falters is it really fair to expect Luke Cavallin to pull a Jacob Ingham steal the job? They also lost their top 3 defenceman last year all of whom ate up big minutes on the backend for the Firebirds.
Twitter Must Follows
@DominicHennig Radio and TV play by play man for the Firebirds. Also their director of communications.
(6) Guelph Storm
HC George Burnett
GM George Burnett
Leading Returning Scorer Ryan Merkley
2017 1st round draft pick: Tag Bertuzzi
Key Additions
Owen Lalonde - '16 2nd overall pick had some bumps in Sudbury but showed considerable promise.
Zach Porier - Former 1st rounder from North Bay who could use a change of scenery
Cam Hillis - Would have been a 1st round pick in '16 if he was OHL commited. Broke commitment to Providence to sign with the Storm this summer
Alexey Toropchenko - Import pick and Blues NHL pick. Will by dynamic offensivly once he becomes acclimatized to North America
Mark Shoemaker - Veteran Dman from North Bay who will help fill some high leveraged minutes on the backend to help insulate some of the young defenders on the roster
Key Subtractions
Nolan Makkenen - Traded to Sudbury in the Lalonde deal
Nic Sicoly - lost in the numbers game and still looking for a team. Could be a Bobby MacIntyre lite in the right situation
Albert Michnac - Rights rescinded to open up import spot to select Toropchenko. Selected by the Steelheads
Reasons to be Optimistic
Arguably the best grouping of '00 born talent int he OHL led by Merkley, Lalonde, Hillis and Kirwin. Veteran scoring in Smith, Schnarr and Radcliffe to take pressure off the young talent. The anchor around this franchises neck that was the '12 and '13 OHL priority selection has almost been let go.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
Decided to go with a GM and HC in the dual role. A role that Burnett had with Belleville and Hamilton and while he had success in the past it had come few and far between in his latter years with the franchise.
Twitter Must Follows
@SaxonOnTheStorm covers the storm for Guelph Today. Fantastic game reports and opinion pieces.
(7) Sarnia Sting
HC Derien Hatcher
GM Nick Sinclair
Leading Returning Scorer: Jordan Kyrou 30-64-94
2017 1st round draft pick: Jamieson Rees
Key Additions
Hugo Luefvenius - Won a bronze medal with Swedens U17 team in 2016
Key Subtractions
Jeff King - OA defenceman was a key shutdown guy who added some offence
Kevin Spinnozzi - OA defenceman was one of the best at bringing offence from the backline last year.
Reasons to be Optimistic
They bring back one of the top offensive players in the leauge in Jordon Kyrou. They have solid goaltending with Justin Fazio. Rymsha, Ruzicka and Salinitri give them an enviable group of centers.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
This is Sarnia and nobody knows how to Sarnia better than Sarnia. There is some quality on their blueline but still some questions marks. Have they done enough to stay compatative in the West?
Twitter Must Follows
@stingupdates Brings all the up to date news on the Sting that you need
(8) Windsor Spitfires
HC Trevor Letowski
GM Warren Rychel
Leading Returning Scorer Gabriel Vilardi 29-32-61
2017 1st round draft pick: Nathan Staios
Key Additions
Mathew MacDougall - Highly regarded prospect wouldnt report to Barrie.
Kirill Kozhevnikov - 1st round import selection
Lev Starikov - 2nd round import selection is a towering 6'7" defenceman
Key Subtractions
Jeremy Bracco - One of the most dynamic offensive players in the OHL last season
Logan Stanley - Top flight 1st pair defender was moved to Kitchener as a 2nd part to the Bracco trade
Graham Knott - Midseason pick up from Niagara offered depth scoring for the Spits
Mikael Sergachev - 1st round NHL pick was a minutes eater for the Spits
Mario Culina - last years back up but one of the more underrated goalies in the leauge. shocked he didnt hook on with antoher team.
Reasons to be Optimistic
Michael DiPietro is still in net the unquestioned top goalie in the OHL. 2 NHL 1st round picks Logan Brown and Gabe Vilardi are skating up front for the Spits. They can still recruit with the best of them as seen by some of their offseason trades.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
This team will still need to sell to recoup assets traded for last years MemCup. This team has lost a lot of talent and has a very young back line that will expierience growing pains.
Twitter Must Follows
@winstarparker Covers the Spits for the Windsor Star
(9) Saginaw Spirit
HC Troy Smith
GM Dave Drinkill
Leading Returning Scorer Brady Gilmour 26-21-47
2017 1st round draft pick: Nicholas Porco
Key Additions
Blade Jenkins - 2016 1st round pick defected from the USNTDP to join the Spirit.
Tom Bappert - 2nd round import pick. Captained Germanyès U18 team last year.
Ben Badalamenti - FA signing who played in the HPHL last season for Honeybaked.
Key Subtractions
Hayden Hodgson - Spirit leading scorer has graduated from the OHL
Filip Hronek - Red Wings draft pick was one of the top Dmen in his age group in the OHL last year.
Marcus Niemelainen - Finnish Import decided it was time to move on from Saginaw even though he had a year of eligibility remaining.
Reasons to be Optimistic
Blade Jenkins has joined the team! That alone is a reason to invest in Season Tickets if you are a hockey fan in Saginaw. They have a young group ready to grow together and if things fall right could be among the confrences best in a year or two.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
Their leading returning goal scorer has 47 points. This team is going to need to grow up and it will need to do it fast. They have a lot of potential but potential doesnt win hockey games. As young and intriguing as they are these arent new words used to describe the Spirit in recent years although this does seem different.
Twitter Must Follows
@JoeySpiritOHL Radio and TV play by play guy for the Spirit
(10) Erie Otters
HC Chris Hartsburg
GM Dave Brown
Leading Returning Scorer Taylor Raddysh 42-67-109
2017 1st round draft pick Emmett Sproule
Key Additions
Stephane Patry - 1st round import pick. Played on the Swiss U18 team last year as an underage and on this summers Hlinka team.
Alex Gritz - PA native comes to Erie in an offseason trade with the Greyhounds.
Key Subtractions
Alex DeBrincat - will go down as one of the best OHLers of all time
Darren Raddysh - 2016-17 Max Kamensky winner for top D man.
Dylan Strome - Former OHL scoring champ.
Anthoney Cirelli - WJC alum came over from Oshawa was a point per game player for Erie
Reasons to be Optimistic
There is still lots of talent on this team with Taylor Raddysh, Jordan Sambrook and Ivan Lodnia. This team has the talent to easily make their way to the playoffs. When they do plan on selling they should recoup a lot of assets and position themselves for a quick rebuild.
Reasons to be Pessimistic
They have no assests so a sell off is desperately needed. Can they build up a big enough cushion were they can still make the playoffs if they sell off at the deadline? They had questionable goaltending last year that was covered up by an elite team. How will they fair this season with a weaker team up front.
Twitter Must Follows
@GoErieHockey Offers great covered of the Erie Otters
@Aaron_cooney Radio voice of the Otters and rumor has it he will have an hour long radio show dedicated to the Otters this season on Wednesday nights
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