Monday 13 November 2017

OHL Power Rankings Week 8

Once again there are some in the OHL media who are bemoaning the existence of the 3 stars. Feeling that because some teams dont pick them fairly it is a major black mark on the league. For about the past 2 seasons there have been a few who have been complaining about this and I never planned on chiming in but enough is enough.

The 3 stars are around for 1 thing. The home town fans. London seems to be the largest cause of their ire because the 3 stars tend to always be Knights. London has a promotion around their 3 stars where fans get their picture selected with the Stars. I dont know if they do it any more but I remember Mississauga (They may have been the Majors at the time) having the stars sign a hockey stick then tossing it to a kid in the stands. I saw this at a game where they got handly beaten by the Greyhounds but does it really matter that no Hounds were named one of the stars?

At the end of the day the Stars are for the hometown fans. If you are in Sault Ste. Marie, Windsor, Niagara or Barrie to name a few do you really want to see someone from the Knights or Rangers. There are a lot bigger things to worry about and removing the 3 stars in its entirety because certain home teams have promotions tied around it and the fact that most home teams dont care if a player from a road team gets a 3rd star is a bit extreme.


The world under 17 hockey challenge is now in the books. 2 Canadian teams made it to the semifinals but only team Canada Red was able to skate away with a medal. One player from the OHL made the all-star team and that was Flint netminder Luke Cavallin who was stellar leading up to the gold medal game but even though he let in 5 goals he helped keep Canada in it. 1st overall pick Ryan Suzuki was the highest scoring OHL player with 7 points while Nick Wong continues to show that he was a gem of a 2nd round pick by picking up 6 points in the tournament. Mississauga 1st round pick and USNTDP star Jack Hughes led the tournament in scoring with 15 points and was an unstoppable force.

Is it just be or do these West Division matchups between Sault Ste. Marie and Sarnia make you want to listen to some Ennio Morrione. Another very good western clash with the Hounds getting the win this time in OT.... The Firebirds need to do something to get out of this slump. They need better goaltending to keep them in games to protect the development of their younger players.

I'm just going to assume he was the first but Taylor Raddysh picked up a penalty shot goal Thursday vs Team Russia. Something he did in his last OHL/Russia game in Hamilton last year... I havnt seen a Storm this hot since Harvey was charging up in the Gulf of Mexico but Guelph has won 3 straight and have 15 points in their lst 10. Their upcoming 6 game stretch is brutal though and will be a real test. The Raaymakers trade has really sparked the Knights as their Goals per game has increased and their PP and PK have improved exponentially.

The Central is better then last year but it is a continual mix of hot teams and struggling teams. The Colts and Steelheads are flying high each with 15 points in their last 10 games. While Niagara, North Bay and Sudbury have 8, 6 and 8 respectively over that same stretch.... The Colts are the only team in the division with a positive goal differential, the Steelheads may change that this week but goal differential again is a problem in the East.

The East Division has been a murderers row this season especially the Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa road trip for teams.... Injuries and suspensions are starting to bury the Generals who have lost 5 in a row and are now 5 points behind Kingston who have a game in hand.... The 4th place Fronts have the highest goal differential in the division at +14 and outside of a poor 5 game stretch where Dunkley was suspended have been the divisions best.... Ottawa continues to show burgeoning depth up front and can score with anyone... Is it time to worry about the Petes and their goaltending issues?



(1) Sarnia Sting 16-3-1 Power Rank Percentage (PR%) .776
The Sting fought back to get a point against the Greyhounds on Friday before thumping the Attack 7-0 on Sunday which was enough to keep their spot atop the Power Rankings.
Games this week: Nov 15 @ Fli, Nov 17 vs WSR: Nov 19 @ Gue

(2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 15-3-2 PR% .7598
The hounds have been on a role since losing their first game in Sarnia by reeling off 6 straight wins including the rematch against the Sting. 2 more road games this week as Curling is taking over the Essar centre. Road trips are no problem as the Hounds continue to be the leagues top road team.After going 26-7-1 last year on the road they are 7-2-1 this year. That said their Achilles heel on the road continues to be Northern Rivals Sudbury who they gave on Friday.
Games this week: Nov 16 @ NB; Nov 17 @ Sby

(3) Barrie Colts 12-4-2 PR% .7303
Former 3rd round pick Jason Willms is really starting to come into his own this year. He is up to a point per game this year after averaging only .35 last year in his rookie season. He picked up his first career hat trick on Saturday and had 4 goals this past weekend and has 6 in his last 6 games. The Colts needed players to step up onces Svechnikov broke his wrist and Willms is one of the players who answered the call.
Games this week: Nov 16 vs Sby; Nov 18 vs Kit; Nov 19 @ Osh

(4) Guelph Storm 10-7-2 PR% .6685
One of 4 teams to have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10. Only the Greyhounds are better. Winners of 3 in a row the Storm continue to get fantastic goaltending from Popovich. Ratcliffe had a big weekend with 5 points in 2 games, Hillis had 4 points while Merkley chipped in with 6. One worry is import pick Alexey Toropchenko who has not scored since September 30th. A stretch of 15 games that has only included 7 assists.
Games this week: Nov 16 @ Ldn; Nov 17 @ Kit; Nov 19 vs Sar

(5) Kitchener Rangers 11-6-2 PR% .6468
For some reason my formula does not like the Rangers. One thing that has stuck out to me about the Rangers is that they have been incredible consistent this year. They are never too hot and never too cold. They seem to win 2 and lose 1 or at just about that rate. The stalled development of Greg Meireles is a bit of a worry. Import pick Rickard Hugg is still looking for his first OHL goal but has been able to contriute with 11 helpers so far.
Games this week: Nov 14 vs Ldn; Nov 17 vs Gue; Nov 18 @ Bar; Nov 19 vs Pbo

(6) Mississauga Steelheads 8-10-1 PR%.6450
2nd round pick Keean Washkurak will be returning to the lineup after a silver medal performance at the U17. Before Sundays loss Ingham had turned in 6 straight games with either a save percentage greater than .911 or giving up less than 3 goals. His improved play is a big reason for their jump in the standings. Ryan Mcleod had his 14 game point streak snapped in their loss to Hamilton. Only 4 of those games were of the multi point variety with only 1 of those being more than 2. A very steady streak for a player who is starting to find his offensive grove in his 3rd season.
Games this week: Nov 15 vs Eri; Nov 17 vs Osh; Nov 19 vs Nia

(7) Windsor Spitfires 12-7-1 PR% .6352
18 year old Like Boka has broken out this year for the Spits. With more icetime the forward has doubled his point production on a per game basis over last season and is halfway to a career high in points. This team has enough intriguing pieces where it doenst look like there will be a complete bottoming out for this franchise. That said they will need an answer in net if and when they move on from DiPietro.
Games this week: Nov 16 vs OS; Nov 17 @ Sar; Nov 19 vs LDN

(8) London Knights 7-9-2 PR% .6160
The Knights are 6-1-1 in games started by Joseph Raamakers. Outside of a 2 game stretch where he allowed 10 goals he hasnt give up more then 2 in any other start. He also seems to have a trickle down affect on the rest of the team. In the games he has started London has outscored their opponents 39 to 18. Their power play is running at a clip of 29.6% while their PK is at 87.9%
Games this week: Nov 14 @ Kit; Nov 16 vs Gue; Nov 17 vs Sag; Nov 19 @ Wsr

(9) Kingston Frontenacs 10-6-3 PR% .6312
The Fronts picked up Brendan Bonello at the end of October with everyone thinking it meant an imminent trade with Owen Sound. Only problem is with Helvig in their lineup they are playing like an East contender with the 2nd highest goal differential in the conference. The value he adds to the Fronts right now may be greater than teams who are looking to acquire him.
Games this week: Nov 16 @ Nia; Nov 17 vs Ham; Nov 19 vs Ott

(10) Ottawa 67s 12-8-1 PR% .5998
The 67's keep winning but their goal differential still is a bit of a worry. The goaltending has been improving however and as long as their young blueline continues to develop this will be a dangerous team come playoff time. Kevin Bahl will have an opportunity to make an impression on hockey Canada Monday in Sudbury. He wont be in the discussion this year but is an intriguing WJC option next year.
Games this week: Nov 18 vs Ham; Nov 19 @ Kgn

(11) Hamilton Bulldogs 10-5-4 PR% .5901
Fulcher's break out season is looking like it will be sustainable. As a Bulldogs season ticket holder the last 2 years I am not surprised. Some Bulldogs fans may be surprised. Espcially the one from the Season Ticket Holder town hall meeting last year who asked Steve Staios how the team was going to compete this year with no goaltender and then scoffed at the notion that Fulcher was someone the team could trust. Gotta love season ticket holders. The Bulldogs have a school day game this week against Peterborough. 1 of 2 they will have this year. Last year their only game against Owen Sound was a school day game. Something that pissed me off enough that I vowed not to renew my season tickets. I ended up moving to SSM so it was a moot point by why the fuck would you have a teams only visit a school day game. When I brought it up at the town hall meeting they said it was a league decision. Seems like I have gone off on a bit of a tangent.
Games this week: Nov 15 vs Pbo; Nov 17 @ Kgn; Nov 18 @ Ott

(12) Owen Sound Attack 10-6-2 PR% .5838
Defenceman Sean Durzi has been added to the OHL roster for the Russia game in Sudbury. The Attack continue to be a Jekyl and Hyde team as they cant seem to string together multiple wins recently. A roadtrip to Michigan should help with that this week. They start off in Windsor where they will get a first hand look at the answer to all their problems in net.
Games this week: Nov 16 @ Wsr; Nov 18 @ Fli; Nov 19 @ Sag

(13) Erie Otters 8-9-3 PR% .5740
Winless in their last 3 the Otters hot streak has somewhat stalled. 2 games against the wests worst are just what the doctor ordered. While the Otters will be sellers at the deadline to help recoup some of the assets they lost through their 4 year run they have been strong up front this year. Raddysh is the known asset that will bring a big haul but an underrated option is Kyle Maksimovich approaching 200 career OHL points as he is having another stellar season in what is lining up as his 3rd straight averaging a point per game. Undrafted Maksimovich is plausible OA option for next year and could be seen as a valuable piece to teams like Oshawa and Guelph who are a year away from entering their peak.
Games this week: Nov 15 @ Miss; Nov 18 @ Fli; Nov 19 @ Sag

(14) Peterborough Petes 12-8-1 PR% .5376
So does Dylan Wells even get an invite to the World Junior camp? He stuck out for the wrong reasons in the OHL/Russia game in Owen Sound on Thursday and has been very mediocre the last few weeks. With Carter Hart having 1 spot on the team locked down you have to wonder how many other goalies will get invites. DiPietro should be a lock based on his play and with Samuel Harvey shinning in the Q do you take Wells over him? And we havnt even started talking about Even Kitzpatrick the Blues 2nd round pick from 2016.
Games this week: Nov 15 @ Ham; Nov 16 @ Osh; Nov 19 @ Kit

(15) Saginaw Spirit 7-9-2 PR% .5252
The Spirit keep winning and inching up closer to a playoff spot. They have been doing it by getting production from different young players every game. Former prized OHL draft prospect Hayden Davis picked up his first career multi goal game on the weekend.
Games this week: Nov 17 @ Ldn; Nov 18 vs OS; Nov 19 vs Eri

(16) Niagara Icedogs 8-6-4 PR% .5134
The Icedogs are mired in their worst stretch of the year. This has allowed Barrie to pull away from them and has given Mississauga a chance to reel them in. They have a good cusion on a playoff spot as we are past the quarter point in the season but they are in the discussion for home ice in the first round and will want to right the ship quickly before it is too late.
Games this week: Nov 16 vs Kgn; Nov 17 vs NB; Nov 19 @ Miss 

(17) Oshawa Generals 8-10-2 PR% .4640
The Generals have been beset by injuries and suspensions are playing their worst hockey of the year because of it. With no Keyser it is hard for this team to stay afloat. Allan McShane had his best weekend of hte year however with 5 goals. Getting Brewer and Wong back from the U17 will help but Keyser once again is the key to this teams success. A roster shakeup may be in order to help define roles and clear up some of the log jam that exists when this team is healthy
Games this week: Nov 16 @ Pbo; Nov 17 @ Miss; Nov 19 vs Bar

(18) Sudbury Wolves 6-12-4 PR% .4521
The Wolves are slumping again with 1 point in their last 4. The Levin injury has been a killer but on the good news front is that Macauley Carson is back from injury and scored his first goal of the season on Sunday.
Games this week: Nov 16 @ Bar; Nov 17; vs SSM; Nov 19 vs NB

(19) North Bay Battalion 6-12-2 PR% .4166
One silver lining for the Battalion this year is that 1st round pick Brandon Coe picked up a silver medal at the U17. One intriguing trade piece that has flown under the radar is Cam Dineen. If the Battalion move him they should be able to fetch quite a ransom.
Games this week: Nov 16 vs SSM; Nov 17 @ Nia; Nov 19 @ Sby

(20) Flint Firebrids 6-11-2 PR% .3318
The Firebirds have allowed 5 goals or more in 9 of their last 11 games. Included in that stretch is 17 goals given up to London in 2 games and 15 goals given up to the Greyhounds in 2 games. They have scored more than 3 goals just once in that stretch and have been held to 2 or less in their last 5. This is a team in need of a shakeup and I hope it isnt behind the bench because that would be a grave mistake for this franchise.
Games this week: Nov 15 vs Sar; Nov 18 vs Eri; Nov 19 vs OS

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