Attack, Hounds lead charge in West
McNiven would make Owen Sound Mem Cup favourite
KITCHENER — It really was the conference of death last season.
Four of the top six teams in the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 came out of the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference.
Champs the Erie Otters were second, Owen Sound fourth, Sault Ste. Marie fifth and London sixth.
And that list doesn’t even include eventual Mem Cup winners the Windsor Spitfires. Talk about tough going. The good news for the rest of the OHL is that things, while competitive, shouldn’t be as top heavy this season.
Windsor and Erie will take a step back after loading up for runs last season and will only get worse as they trade away some of their remaining marquee players in a bid to rebuild.
Meanwhile, several clubs that finished in the bottom half of the conference are packed with young talent and primed for a surge forward.
That means that the west should see a bit more parity from top to bottom this time around.
FAVOURITE: Owen Sound Attack. There are holes, notably on defence and in goal. But of all the top teams from last season, Owen Sound returns the scariest bunch. Forwards Nick Suzuki, Jonah Gadjovich and Kevin Hancock could all eclipse 100 points. If the team’s prayers are answered and somehow overage goalie Michael McNiven is sent back by the Montreal Canadiens, the Attack will be a Memorial Cup favourite.
NEXT IN LINE: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The ’Hounds will score, even with the graduation of Blake Speers, Zachary Senyshyn and Bob MacIntyre. Veteran goalie Joseph Raaymakers has asked for a trade so the Soo is banking on a big year from young Matthew Villalta, who was brilliant in the regular season but not so much in the playoffs.
DARK HORSE: London Knights. Yeah, the roster isn’t dotted with the superstar talent of years gone by. But this I’ve learned over time, never count out the Knights. They still have Cliff Pu, Robert Thomas, Victor Mete et al. and can do some damage. And you just know owner Dale Hunter will add a gem out of nowhere midway through the season. MOVING FORWARD: Kitchener Rangers. Last year’s roster is virtually intact. Studs such as 100-point man Adam Mascherin, defenceman Logan Stanley and sniper Connor Bunnaman are the real deal. The Blueshirts should take full advantage of the changing landscape in the West.
FALLING BACK: Erie Otters. Most of the big names are gone. The ones that are left are surely on the trading block as the Otters try to replenish their severely depleted draft pick reserve. Four consecutive 50-win seasons sure was something special. Now, the rebuilding begins.
Erie Otters
GM: Dave Brown Coach: Chris Hartsburg Last season: 50-15-2-1
Ice chips: Kris Knoblauch led team to four consecutive 50-win seasons but is now an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. … F Taylor Raddysh (109 pts) could be the biggest trade chip in the OHL. … F Ivan Lodnia, D Kyle Maksimovich and G Troy Timpano will also be in demand. … Director of scouting Scott Halpenny leaves team for scouting gig with Buffalo Sabres. Key loss: F Alex DeBrincat had 65 goals and 127 points — both tops in the OHL. Big question: Will Erie go first to worst in the west?
Flint Firebirds
GM: Barclay Branch Coach: Ryan Oulahen Last season: 32-28-3-5 Ice chips: Leading scorer F Ryan Moore (90 pts, seventh in OHL) should be back as an OA. … NHL draft class includes F Jack Wismer, F Hunter Holmes, D Dennis
Busby and F Ty Dellandrea. … Pieces are there to make ’Birds a real surprise team in the west. … G Connor Hicks was released by the team and is hoping to catch on with the Greyhounds. … Add D
Nicolas Mattinen via trade with London. Key loss: D Alex Peters and his six-foot-four, 220-pound frame. Big question: Is team still a year away from being a real force?
Guelph Storm
GM/coach: George Burnett Last season: 21-40-5-2
Ice chips: F Givani Smith is the league’s top returning shift disturber with 139 penalty minutes last season. … Acquisition of D
Owen Lalonde gives Guelph top two overall picks from 2016 OHL draft (other is D Ryan Merkley) and six first-rounders in total on the roster. … F Nate Schnarr has breakout potential. … Worst team in the West over the past two years. Key loss: G Liam Herbst, sole overage player moving on. Big question: Can goalie Anthony Popovich be the No. 1 guy in net?
Kitchener Rangers
GM: Mike McKenzie Coach: Jay McKee Last season: 36-27-3-2
Ice chips: F Adam Mascherin (100 pts) is one of only two players that hit the century mark to return to the league this season. … D
Logan Stanley adds size and Memorial Cup experience to blue line. … Imports Adam Liska and
Rickard Hugg give secondary scoring a boost. … G Luke Opilka out until December — and maybe longer — after having second hip surgery. Key loss: Captain Frank Hora’s presence will be missed. Big question: Can the Rangers get past the second round of the playoffs?
London Knights
GM: Rob Simpson Coach: Dale Hunter Last season: 46-15-3-4 Ice chips: Evan Bouchard and Victor Mete a vicious one-two punch in the back end. … F Max
Jones a real difference maker if he can stay healthy and avoid suspension. … F Alex Formenton paying dividends as an 11th-round pick (16 goals last season). … Sophomore Jordan Kooy is primed to take over in net. … Knights had a league-high 17 players invited to NHL camps.
Key loss: G Tyler Parsons had the best save percentage (.925) among starters. Big question: Is this the year London finally takes a step back?
Owen Sound Attack
GM: Dale DeGray Coach: Todd Gill Last season: 49-15-2-2 Ice chips: Owned league’s top PP last season at 28.4 per cent. … Veteran G Zack Bowman and F Alan Lyszczarczyk acquired from Sudbury for a pair of picks. … Former Sting captain Jordan Hill joins bench as an assistant coach. … F Chase Campbell could be a sleeper. … Team went a perfect 5-0 during the pre-season. Key loss: G Michael McNiven was the team’s MVP last season. Big question: How will coach Ryan McGill’s exit affect team?
Saginaw Spirit
GM: Dave Drinkill Coach: Troy Smith Last season: 27-32-7-2 Ice chips: Inking F Blade Jenkins (fourth overall pick 2016) a big get. … OA candidate F Mike Davies now playing Jr. B. … Former Rangers boss Troy Smith is back in the hockey game after a one-year hiatus. … Top three scorers from last year’s squad have moved on. … One of the youngest teams in the OHL. Key loss: F Hayden Hodgson and his 38 goals will be missed. Big question: Will G Evan Cormier finally fulfil his promise?
Sarnia Sting
GM: Nick Sinclair Coach: Derian Hatcher Last season: 31-30-6-1
Ice chips: F Jordan Kyrou to challenge for OHL scoring title. … G Justin Fazio had a league-high five shootout victories last season. … Co-owner David Legwand adds associate coach to his title. … Forwards Drake Rymsha and
Anthony Salinitri are 40-goal threats. … New Swedish C Hugo
Leufvenius adds size at six-foot-three and 220 pounds.
Key loss: D Kevin Spinozzi was the team’s captain.
Big question: Can Sting get past quarter-finals for first time in nine years?
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
GM: Kyle Raftis Coach: Drew Bannister Last season: 48-16-3-1 Ice chips: F Boris Katchouk had a league-high seven short-handed goals. … Plenty of fire power up front with Katchouk, Tim Gettinger, Morgan Frost and Jack
Kopacka. … G Matt Villalta was 25-3 as a rookie. … Had worst goals against among top five teams in the West last season (208). … F Barrett Hayton a bright star heading into NHL draft.
Key loss: F Zachary Senyshyn scored 42 goals, many of them beauties.
Big question: Is the Soo being overlooked as a league favourite?
Windsor Spitfires
GM: Warren Rychel Coach: Trevor Letowski Last season: 41-19-5-3 Ice chips: D Logan Stanley sent to Kitchener in off-season trade. … Are F Gabe Vilardi, F Logan
Brown and G Michael DiPietro next to go? … Lethal penalty kill last season at 88.5 per cent. … Coach Rocky Thompson left to run the bench with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves. … Team went 4-1 in pre-season play.
Key loss: F Jeremy Bracco team in scoring during Memorial Cup run.
Big question: How many players will be traded during the rebuild?