OHL Eastern Conference Top 10 Power Rankings

1. Oshawa Generals - Undefeated in 4 games, the Oshawa Generals have proven in the early stages of the season that they are legit competitors for the top spots on the east. Christian Thomas very well should have been in my 50 goal scorers projection for this year. Coming off a 41 goal and 66 point season, Thomas is leading the Gens with 5 goals and seven points, while rookie Lucas Lessio has 3 and 1, one of many players with four points on the Gens. Michael Zador has four wins in net, and Boone Jenner hasn't heated up yet... The Gens look like they could continue the roll and sit around the top of the Eastern Conference for weeks to come.

2. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors - Although tied with the Brampton Battalion for six points, the Majors have only had one tough loss against the Ottawa 67's, 7-2 this past Sunday. However, they did beat the Windsor Spitfires 5-1 Friday, and the Belleville Bulls 5-3 Saturday, proving they are still dangerously offensive. The Majors still have all the pieces necessary to lead the Eastern Conference for the majority of the season. Casey Cizikas, Jordan Mayer, and Justin Shugg each have five points, while Devante Smith-Pelly and Finnish rookie Mika Partanen have 3, not to mention a huge potential of secondary scoring... Majors are still my pick to headman the conference.

3. Ottawa 67's - Move up after their 7-2 victory over the St. Mike's Majors. Shane Prince is doing a fine job quarterbacking the 67's scoring, and there are too many names that could be noted as offensive juggernauts to mention any at all... However, I will say Chris Perugini has played great, picking up the only two 67's wins, stopping 73 of 77 shots... Uhhh, I think it's time to give him the number one spot... If he played the other two games, would they be two and two? Ottawa moves up if they play Perugini and continue to utilize their scoring potential.

4. Niagara IceDogs - IceDogs stay about the same. This team has an extreme potential to succeed this season. Although they lost two of their three games over the weekend, they losses were indeed tough. 4-3 to Guelph after being up 3-1 into the third, and 4-3 to Brampton in overtime after coming back to tie the game 3-3 late in the third of what turned out to be quite the emotional match-up. The IceDogs will continue winning games, and with a fairly easy upcoming schedule facing Sudbury and Barrie this coming weekend, The IceDogs should gain the points and possibly even move up depending on how Ottawa and Mississauga make out. Ryan Strome, Alex Friesen, Andrew Agozzino, Freddie Hamilton, and now Steven Shipley provide a first-line scoring ability that could compete with any other OHL club, not to mention their depth potential that could very well be the most evenly balanced in the league.

5. Kingston Frontenacs - The Fronts had a tough weekend, finishing with a loss to the undefeated Oshawa Generals. Kingston, along with the other three teams Oshawa has beat, just couldn't solve the superb goaltending of Michael Zador, not to mention Christian Thomas' scoring streak. The Fronts have a solid team, despite being two and two, and will still remain and a powerful opponent in the East Division. Should stay around third in the East Division, and 5th in the conference.

6. Brampton Battalion - The soldiers drop this week for me. Why? Because it just doesn't quite make sense as to how they are first in the Central Division. I just can't see Mississauga and Niagara losing their games this weekend, not to mention Brampton being too successful in the upcoming weekend where they face the Kingston Frontenacs, the red hot Owen Sound Attack, and the Mississauga Majors on Thanksgiving Monday... Just can't see Brampton's young team continue the streak.

7. Peterborough Petes - Matt Puempel is huge for the Petes. Last season's rookie of the year will be one of the OHL's top scorers and prospects in 2011. Ryan Spooner, another one to watch out for in the scoring race. The team has had a shaky start, but with the young talent and skill this team could very well turn it around. I have faith in the Petes and to me, they just plain have a better team then any I am about to talk about in the next three spots.

8. Sudbury Wolves - The Wolves have an average team, John MacFarland is impressive, Marcus Folingo, and Mike Lomas have the ability to put up some numbers, but judging by their play this past weekend, the team just doesn't seem to have much secondary scoring. The Wolves are a pain to play against, but just don't have the offensive chemistry to do anything great this year, which is why they will stay around the mid-late mark in the rankings this season.

9. Belleville Bulls - Sure, they have some talent.. They're 1-3. Don't have as many games as Peterborough or Sudbury, face Barrie on Wednesday which could result in a win, but then they have London, Sarnia and Niagara, and to be direct, the Bulls just haven't done anything for me to prove they can legitimately compete in the top of the conference. Until I see something to prove me otherwise, they stick around the ladder half of the standings.

10. Barrie Colts - Not much to say here. Really.. This is a seriously damaged team. Lost their captain, star players, Head Coach and GM... They're rebuilding. They'll be 10 all year unless they make some big moves, but they don't have much to offer. 10 for sure.


- Jeff Blay
jeff.blay@intheoradio.com