Will the OHL take back top spot in June?

The Ontario Hockey League will look to re-stake its claim as the league producing the number one pick heading into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting will be looking to join the likes of Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares and Taylor Hall as former top dogs in their respective draft classes.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins narrowly edged out Gabriel Landeskog last June ending a run by the OHL in which they produced the top pick in the NHL Entry Draft consecutively since 2007. Even more interesting is that since 2005, the OHL has produced at least one of the top two picks in each draft, their best coming in 2008 when seven of the top 10 came from the OHL.

While Yakupov proved to be a dominant player as a rookie in Sarnia last season, he left a lot for fans to get excited about heading into his sophomore campaign. He can dictate the pace of a game and is extremely dangerous whenever he steps on the ice. Yakupov broke the Sting record for most goals in a season with 47, eclipsing none other than Steven Stamkos’ 42 along the way.

There will be a number of other draft eligible players jockeying for position in the OHL this season and as a result, we should be in for some entertaining hockey this winter.

Alex Galchenyuk is Yakupov’s teammate in Sarnia. As rookies last season, they provided a dominating one-two punch for the Sting. Galchenyuk will push Yakupov all season to be the top draft eligible forward. Before draft day rolls around however, do not be surprised when other projected first round forwards like Matia Marcantuoni (Kitchener Rangers) and Andreas Athanasiou (London Knights) break out offensively for their respective teams.

Also in the running for a position in the first round are Scott Laughton (Oshawa Generals), Brendan Gaunce (Belleville Bulls) and Jarrod Maidens (Owen Sound Attack). Each of whom joined Athanasiou and Marcantuoni as part of the gold medal winning Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament. Each player will look to build off of his successes both last year in the OHL and at that tournament moving forward into this season.

From the back-end, Nick Ebert (Windsor Spitfires), Slater Koekkoek (Peterborough Petes) and Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67’s) will push for the top defensive spot in June. At one point, Ebert was one of the top defensive prospects in this draft. He will be looking to regain that spot on the Windsor team that will desperately need him to step up, now that stalwart Ryan Ellis has moved onto pro hockey. Import pick Olli Maatta (London Knights) and Adam Pelech (Erie Otters) will also look to make themselves noticed this year.

Not to be left out are forwards Matthew Campagna (Sudbury Wolves), Gemel Smith (Owen Sound Attack), defenseman Gianluca Curcuruto (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) and goaltender Malcolm Subban (Belleville Bulls), each of whom can thrust themselves, into better positioning at the draft with solid performances this season.

One thing is for sure the road to the 2012 entry draft will be making several stops through Ontario, and coming to an arena near you.

2011/12 OHL Season Preview

It is that time of the year again. Where the great minds here at In The O... attempt to predict the storm that is the Ontario Hockey League. This year will not be easy as there has been lots of movement throughout the league. Players and management alike. Drafted players, recruited players, disgruntled players this off season had it all. And so far the preseason has not disappointed and come tomorrow night. Plymouth and Owen Sound will get it all started this season. Winford further delay let's get these conference predictions on the road

EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

10. Kingston Frontenacs - after years of applying a 'band-aid' to the franchises problems. It looks as though the Fronts will finally go through a proper rebuild and take this season to let the young'ns get some playing time. But they still will not develop a goalie.

9. Peterborough Petes - this team is a year older but it has not improved much. By trading for Mike Morrison and OA Andrew Yogan the Petes have made it look like they are moving in the right direction but hose pieces will not be enough. There are still holes on this team and unfortunately for Peres fans this will be another year just missing the playoffs... Probably on the last day of he season too.

8. Barrie Colts - the addition of Aaron Ekblad has helped this team reduce the future amount of Goals against by 30 instantly. Add in the addition of Yuill, Sutch, Telegin and their new starting goaltender Mathias Neiderberger this team is vastly approved. Another year under the belt for Mark Scheifele and Eric Locke and offensively can be one of the best in the Eastern Conference. Too bad the majority of the Conference also got better.

7. Belleville Bulls - The Bulls will be taking a step in the right direction. They moved their former number 1 goalie, Tyson Teichmann to Erie making Malcolm Subban the bonafide number one goalie. In the same light the Bulls traded away their leading scorer Andy Bathgate wwcoring come from? Belleville is in the same boat as Barrie, a small step forward but the majority of the conference took a leap.

6. Mississauga Majors - The Majors can really go either way this year. After loading up for their OHL Championship & Memorial Cup run, the Majors are now in mini-rebuild mode. There are still some great pieces here and under the new GM/Coach James Boyd's style of play, could be very effective without the likes of Cizikas, DeSousa, Kitsyn and the like. JP Anderson will more than likely return and be the rock in the net. Which will give the Majors a chance every night.

5. Brampton Battalion - maybe it is the youth on the blueline or maybe hoping that the NHL drafted forwards can now break out. But I see that there is more hope in the city of Brampton than most give them credit for. Matej Machovsky still has prove that he could carry the load of being a number one goalie but he does have the ability to steal a game or two.

4. Ottawa 67's - last season the PMT line (Prince, Martindale, Toffoli) was unstoppable. Their secondary scoring... Not so much. Goaltender Petr 'Mrdazzle' Mrazek stood on his head and stole the show every single night. Both he and Martindale may not be back for the 67's this season. In the case of Martindale there are replacements ready to go. But to replace Mrazek... GM/coach Chris Byrne may have to make a trade for a lights out Net minder. If it wasn't for another team in their Division. I would say the 67's are poised to repeat as division champions.

3. Sudbury Wolves - After a slow start to last season the Wolves were able to place 7th and even knock off heavily favored Ottawa in the first round of the playoffs. This is a young team that has a full year under their belts together. Sgarbossa, Kuchin and Leivo will be a force up front while Corrado and McFadden will be putting up the points on the blueline. Johan Mattson will be expected to carry the workload much like Alain Valliquette did last season. And from what I have seen from him in the preseason, that should not be an issue.

2. Oshawa Generals - this was too close to call and will come down to the goaltending. The only knock that can be said about the Oshawa Generals is that Daniel Altahuller for all is potential and accolades he has received recently. Will still be a 17 year old rookie with no OHL experience. That will be the biggest difference. He will be given every chance to succeed but don't expect GM/Coach Chris DePiero to sit by. If he has to get an experienced goalie to help out, he will not hesitate. Thomas, Jenner, Laughton, Lessio, Jensen, Uvira, Andreoff and Labardo will get the job done up front. And the defense lead by Maggio and Valentine will shut them down.

1. Niagara IceDogs - The reason why the IceDogs are rated number one is simply the man in the net. Mark Visentin. This man is the difference between Oshawa and Niagara. The IceDogs can match up player for player with the Generals, Strome, Hamilton, Friesen, Aggozino, Theoret, Jenkins, Bennett. There is a great mix of skill and size up front while the back end can easily jump right in and provide an additional threat.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

10. Guelph Storm - The Storm are entering the season without their big 3 of Latta, Beck and Holland. It will be a tough year in Guelph with some young stars who will learn by making mistakes. And that goes for the forwards and the defense. In net there is reliable Brandon Foote who has manned the Storm net for the past couple of seasons. But there is now Garrett Sparks who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs this past June. Could there be pressure to play Sparks who played all of 19 games in his OHL career?

9. Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds - new GM Kyle Dubas has infused this team with a new attitude and has made quite a few roster moves that will benefit he team moving forward. However, with all the positive moves that Dubas has made he also had to deal Daniel Catenacci within his conference. The team is poised to break out. But it isn't this season. Add in what the rest of the conference has done. And the Soo can make it 3 years in a row missing the playoffs.

8. Windsor Spitfires - As much as Bob Boughner declared that this team will be around the 6th place rank in the West... I don't see that. Granted Jack Campbell and all his pedigree could still carry this team on his back but the loss of Kassian and Ellis may be too much to recover from. There are pieces in place with the likes of Ebert (Ellis V2.0?) and of course the returning Koko, Kuhn and Ryan upfront. But this year will be a Bjorne step back for the Spitfires.

7. Saginaw Spirit - The Spirit loaded up last season and fell short. What they are left with looks pretty good. Include the additions of Steven Strong and Jamie Oleksiak on the back end and the veteran group of forwards. The only question on this team is in the net. Can the combo of Galansky and Paterson get the job done when it counts. We don't think so.

6. Sarnia Sting - It is incredible what having a legitimate GM/Head Coach can do in terms of recruiting power. This Sting team has been transformed, much like the Greyhounds, but the Sting still got to build around Galchenyuk and Yakupov. Definite first rounders in this years NHL draft. Add in the likes of Maxwell in goal to teach Brando Hope. Anthony DeAngelo and Connor Murphy make the jump to the OHL helps this blueline which has struggled to stop the opposition. Reid Boucher and Ludvig Rensfeldt add a new dynamic making this team a three line threat. Is it enough this season? considering goaltenders have to adjust to playing in the OHL. Why wouldn't rookies who left the NCAA also struggle in he beginning? Sarnia makes a leap. But not a giant one.

5. Erie Otters - Much like last season this team will look like an unstoppable juggernaut most nights. And a complete enigma other nights. This year Ramis Sadikov is not expected back and it can be widely agreed that he was a big reason, if not the biggest reason for the Otters success. Greg McKegg isnexected back as is fellow Leafs draft pick Sondre Olden. Throw in Brett Thompson and Mike Cazzola. These veterans will have to help the young forwards grow up fast. The blueline may be young by they have looked good in preseason play. The question mark is whether or not the change of scenery for Tyson Teichmann will help him regain what many expected from him. If TT can not find it early, Chris Festarini will have to shoulder the load and he is as unproven as Teichmann.

4. London Knights - The Knights never rebuild. Just reload. And they loaded up on draft picks last season and got Max Domi in exchange for some of those picks. Not a bad exchange. Their horse Michael Houser will be more focused and determined after being passed up in the NHL draft yet again. With a goalie like him the defense can take more opportunities to help out the forwards and the forwards on turn. Do not have to focused so much on their defensive play. The Knights are back this season. But they are definitely not contending for a championship. But once in the playoffs. knights hockey is tough to beat.

3. Kitchener Rangers - Kitchener is definitely not the same team as last season. In consecutive years the Rangers lose a player that they would beg to have back. Captain Gabriel Landeskog will be sticking with the Avalanche in the NHL which gives an opportunity for someone to step up. Their forwards are not only skilled but can play physical which will work in their favor whole their top 4 on the blueline all have the ability to shut you down and light you up in the same shift. Goaltending is an issue as their new number 1 is an American. Recent history suggests that John Gibson is not the answer. But when you watch him play you can tell that he is definitely better than the previous American goaltenders.

2. Owen Sound Attack - Even without Joey Hishon and Garret Wilson in this seasons lineup, this Attack squad boasts probably the best young talent in the league. All season long you will be hearing the names Smith, Maidens and Brace. To go along with familiar names like Catenacci, Halmo, Childerley and Zweep. The defense will be tough to top but will have to work on protecting their all-star netminder Jordan Binnington. The man who saved their season and got them to the Memorial Cup.

1. Plymouth Whalers - Many people do not want to believe that the Whalers are this tears favorites to represent the OHL in this years Memorial Cup but it is highly possible. Plymouth is undoubtedly the most complete team in the OHL this season. They have the best goaltending in the league with 'Money' Wedgewood and Matt Mahalak. Their D is only missing that offensive defensman to keep the opposition guessing but that by no means there will be no scoring from the blueline. When it conne to their forwards. The Whalers matchup right alongside the Niagara IceDogs and the Oshawa Generals. Bathgate, Noesen, Rakell, Meurs, Aleardi, Mahalak, Heard and Whaley... Maybe even better than their Eastern Conference counterparts.


The great minds at ITO have made it so and declared their 2011/12 OHL predictions. Now only time will tell whether or not you praise our predictions. Or mock ITO for being completely wrong. Either way let the season begin.

Ireland Ready Behind Attack Bench

The Owen Sound Attack ended their .500 exhibition season with a win over their arch rival the Mississauga Majors. Attack coach Greg Ireland was pleased with the 5-2 win, believing it is an indication of the young team’s efforts to become consistent and to display a stronger work ethic. With four regulars off to NHL training camps (Jordan Binnington -St. Louis, Kurtis Gabriel-Phoenix, Daniel Catenacci -Buffalo and Geoffrey Schemitsch-Tampa) the exhibition season was an opportunity for young players to gain some OHL experience and prove to their coach they deserve a spot on the team.

Ireland’s arrival to Owen Sound follows the departure of OHL coach of the year Mark Reeds. Ironically, Reeds is now a partner with his rival from last season, Mississauga Majors and Team Canada coach Dave Cameron. The pair has now entered the NHL as assistant coaches for the Ottawa Senators.

Not daunted by the big shoes left for him to fill, Ireland is confident his past professional experience in the East Coach Hockey League and American Hockey League has prepared him for the competitiveness of the OHL’s Western Conference. While many question if Ireland is up to the pressure of following Reed’s success, Ireland feels his own competitive nature and the pressure he puts on himself will enable him to successfully make a smooth transition to the Attack’s bench.

Just an hour south of Owen Sound down highway #10, the Orangeville native was destined to end up behind the Attack bench. Ireland’s name has been bandied around in many discussions for past coaching vacancies many times in the Attack and its predecessor the Plater’s history. This time around Ireland was chosen over 40 other applicants including former NHL head coaches Cory Clouston (Ottawa) and John Anderson (Atlanta). Ireland is now ready for what he believes will be a competitive season.

Ireland still needs to make some adjustments to the final roster as there is a healthy internal competition. Nine defensemen need to be whittled to seven or eight , there is a tight competition for back- up goalie as well as a player or two up front. Ireland predicts the Attack will be a hard working team that makes it tough for any team to compete against the reigning OHL champions.

The A’s, B’s, and C’s of the Majors

As the OHL regular season nears, I know my curiosity has gotten the better of me…and no one will settle my eagerness with a hint. “C” is for Captain, and I want to know which Major will wear it this year.

If you’re a Majors fan, for the last couple of seasons the next-in-line captain was clear; Jesse Messier, Cameron Gaunce, and Casey Cizikas.

In addition, four of last year’s five alternate captains (Brett Flemming, Rob Flick, Justin Shugg, and Corey Bureau) are gone, so there isn’t an obvious player to step up.

And now there’s a vacancy. Initially, I had my eye on Jordan Mayer. As an overager this year, he has the experience and respect to take on that leadership role. In the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, his first and second full years on the team respectively, he put up good numbers for the squad. Then last year he fell off the charts for a while, but that could be attributed to being on a much more talented team with a lot of depth and dominant players. However, he really stepped up in the playoffs earning 18 points in 20 games. And he had the opportunity to wear the “A” as alternate captain last season.

Devante Smith-Pelly is continuing to turn heads. His skill, strength, intelligence and of course, goal-scoring ability are all reasons why he’s a great fit for the Majors, but also impressive at the Anaheim Ducks camp. He earned 36 goals during the regular season, 15 goals (tied for the OHL lead in goals) and 21 points in 20 games throughout the playoffs, and six points in five Memorial Cup games. I’m sure I could go on, but I’ll leave it at that. With that said, his future with this team is still uncertain.

Then there’s Stuart Percy. He had the opportunity to wear the “C” during exhibition before he left for the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp, which means the Majors staff could be looking at him to take the lead. He seems to have the whole package and a lot of people agree. The other thing I like about this choice is that Percy most likely still has a couple of years left on this team and it would be nice to see a captain stick around for a while.

One player that has impressed me so for is Derek Schoenmakers. He spent a number of games as a healthy scratch last season, but left his mark as a player with this team. His overtime goal in Game Four against Sudbury to complete the Majors sweep of the Wolves in April is just one example. He has a lot of emotion, even during exhibition, and he’s a great guy on and off the ice. Embarking on his third year with the team, like Percy, he has potential to be here longer. Not sure if he’s capable of stepping up and being the leader for the Majors, but it’s great to see him take the reins while the top guns are away at NHL rookie camps.

At the end of the day, the choice that seems obvious to us could be completely different from that of the Majors camp. The situation on the Brampton Battalion last season is a perfect example of this. I talked to a lot of people who believed the “C” would go to either Sean Jones, Scott Tanski, even Kyle Pereira. No one I encountered thought Stephon Thorne would be the main man. Captaincy isn’t just about the best player; it’s about being a leader, building chemistry, taking a stand, encouraging his team when they’re down, being a good competitor and representative, and among other things a coaching staff is looking for. Everyone on the Battalion agreed he fit that profile.

Now, I’m going to throw another curve ball…take a breath…all this is relevant if Cizikas doesn’t return. But then you can also bring in the Shugg, Flemming, and Flick factors. If Cizikas returns, he gets his spot back. If he doesn’t, and let’s say Flemming returns, he doesn’t necessarily have the “C” tattooed on his chest, but it wouldn’t be out of the question. Then throw in a dash of OA’s and you complicate things even more. You can mix and match this all day; none of their futures are 100 per cent decided.

But looking at what we have in front of us right now, this is at the very least an idea of what we could see. When it comes to the alternate captains, basically any one of the other guys can fill that role.

To cap it all off, I’ll answer Trevor’s question. Yes, it sure is fun to speculate.

Let's Get It Started!

It’s that time of year again. The kids have gone back to school, the sun sets seemingly right after dinner, shorts are being put away in favour of less comfortable, but warmer, pants, and most importantly, regular season hockey is almost here.

With the exhibition schedule almost over and the regular season quickly approaching, there are a number of questions that I eagerly look forward to getting answered.

First of all, with NHL training camp starting up last week, it remains to be seen which players will be kept by the big league squad, and who will be returned to the O. For OHL teams with older players, this can make a big difference in how they perform this season. Last year, Barrie was crippled when Alexander Burmistrov and Kyle Clifford were kept by their respective teams, forcing them to endure a tough season. Again, this season Barrie has seen a number of players leave to attend camps, but all of them should be returning for another year with the team. Will Barrie be able to bounce back from their worst season in franchise history?

If players are to leave, there are always the rookies to take their place. Last season wasn’t all bad for Barrie, as they managed to pick up defenseman Aaron Ekblad in the 2011 OHL priority selection. Ekblad was granted exceptional status to be eligible for the draft, the last player to do so being John Taveres, and looks to be a huge piece to the puzzle for the Colts this season. Another rookie I am interested in seeing is son of former Maple Leaf Tie Domi, Max Domi. After being selected 8^th by the Kingston Frontenacs, Domi was traded to the London Knights, where he hopes to help a young Knights team improve on their 8^th place finish from a year ago. Most of the talk this off season surrounded him and his playing situation, so it will be interesting to see if he is able to live up to the hype in his OHL debut.

Some of the biggest off ice news in the offseason was the introduction of mandatory soft cap shoulder and elbow pads, which is intended to help reduce the number of head injuries suffered by players. In a blog last week, “In the O” got the players options, which ended up being split between ‘it will help’ and ‘it won’t’. I believe something does need to be done to help protect the players, and this should help, but I am not sure that this will be the final piece of the puzzle for the league. What other measures are we going to see come into practice over the next year or two, in the battle to make the game safer?

Will early season favourites Niagara, Sarnia, or Plymouth hold the J. Ross Robertson Cup above their heads at year end? Or will an unexpected team climb the ranks and surprise us all?

So many questions, and so few answers, let’s get this season started already!