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OHL Western Conference preview

Guelph Storm is in the running for top spot in the Western Conference as OHL season gets underway tonight
20211210 storm vs spirit ts 6
The Guelph Storm opens the 2022-23 campaign on Friday night at home against Hamilton.

At this point there are probably four teams that could win the west, if everything played out in their favour.

It’s likely going to come down to who makes the right moves before the trade deadline and who gets the best goaltending. 

The market for London overage Brett Brochu could be very, very high come January, with at least two other older goaltendes likely on the market.

Here's how things look in predicted order of finish in the West before the dealing starts:

FLINT FIREBIRDS

Last season: 4th (42-21-1-4)

The Firebirds return a ton of offensive talent and top gun Brennan Othmann is no one-man show.

If overage Will Cranley can handle the goaltending chores after being acquired from Ottawa, the Firebirds are only a couple of pieces away from being OHL championship material. Winger Riley Piercey is one of the league’s more underrated players.

NHL drafted: 5

Player to watch: Cranley. One of several goaltenders under the microscope in the early going.

PREDICTION: 1st

GUELPH STORM

Last season: 5th (36-24-5-3)

No doubt about it, the Storm roster is seeing the fruition of two solid drafts, with a great group of 18 year olds and strong 19-year-old crop Danny Zhilkin, Braeden Bowman and Sasha Pastujov. 

Arguably the best top four defence in the conference, but the question will be can Jacob Oster be a true number one goaltender? If Oster finds the consistency to go with the talent, Guelph could be gunning for top spot come March.

NHL drafted: 5

Player to watch: Valentin Zhugin. Has as much skill as anyone on this team and scored 17 goals in limited playing time a year ago.

PREDICTION: 2nd

OWEN SOUND ATTACK

Last season: 6th (34-26-5-3)

The young and exciting Attack are one of the pre-season darlings heading into the campaign, but are likely a year away from being considered frontrunners. Still, they will be very good and should own the Bayshore.

Lots of offence and experience in net but pretty thin core of 19 year olds.

NHL drafted: 3

Player to watch: Cedrick Guindon. 30 goals and 59 points as a 17-year-old rookie. Sky is the limit for the Montreal Canadiens pick.

PREDICTION: 3rd

KITCHENER RANGERS

Last season: 7th (30-31-5-2)

A veteran squad with seven 19 year olds and nine 18 year olds on the roster, the Rangers have a solid group at the top end of scoring, returning seven of its top nine scorers from last season. Defence is the question, and the team needs that group of 18 year olds to take the next step and start producing more than it did a year ago.

NHL drafted: 3

Player to watch: Carson Rehkopf. Jury is still out on the former first rounder, who could be ready to blossom.

PREDICTION: 4th

WINDSOR SPITFIRES

Last season: 1st (44-17-4-3)

This ranking is based on Wyatt Johnston not sticking with the Dallas Stars, which he may do, at least to start the season.

With seven 19 year olds in the fold and veteran goaltender, the Spits are one of those teams that could switch to rebuild mode as the season progresses, especially if Johnston isn’t back.

Or they could be close and decide to make another run at it.

NHL drafted: 3

Player to watch: Ryan Abraham, a gritty centre with big offensive potential who is the kind of guy you hate to play against but would love to have on your team. Only one of his 15 goals last season came on the power play.

PREDICTION: 5th

LONDON KNIGHTS

Last season: 2nd 39-22-5-2

They say the Knights don’t rebuild, they reload. But this might be the year London takes a bit of a step back.

Not that they’re going to be terrible, with six NHL draft picks and arguably the league’s top goaltender in Brett Brochu. 

But they’re very young up front, with Sean McGurn (73 pts) the only returning goalscorer who had more than 15 last season.

The green and gold will rise again, just not this year.

NHL drafted: 6

Player to watch: Sam Dickinson. The fourth-overall pick (thanks Niagara!) has 2024 NHL first rounder written all over him.

PREDICTION: 6th

SAGINAW SPIRIT

Last season: 10th (24-43-1-0)

They’re building something in Saginaw, where their last cycle was hijacked by COVID. Nine players on the roster are 17 or younger, including exceptional status first overall pick Michael Misa, who will be at the centre of the rebuild.

But a team that gave up the most goals in the conference a year ago is still a year or two away from being in the top half of the standings.

Top end talent Josh Bloom, Pavel Mintyukov and Tristan Lennnox should get them in the playoffs.

NHL drafted: 4

Player to watch: Misa. Anyone getting exceptional status should be an eye-catcher.

PREDICTION: 7th

ERIE OTTERS

Last season: 9th (27-37-2-2)

The lowest scoring team in the conference a year ago made a nice pickup from the Knights in Liam Gilmartin but is still very thin up front. 

Nolan Lalonde will again be a workhorse in net and has a decent defence in front, but goal scoring will again be the biggest challenge.

Second overall pick Malcolm Spence is the only 16 year old on the roster.

NHL drafted: 2

Player to watch: Spence would have gone first overall in the draft if not for Michael Misa’s exceptional status.

PREDICTION: 8th

SARNIA STING

Last season: 7th (27-36-4-1)

A team that will struggle to score goals traded 29-goal scorer Nolan Dann to Niagara, but still has top scorer Ty Voigt, who is likely major trade bait in a couple of months.

Former first round pick Ben Gaudreau needs to be better in net if the Sting have any chance of making the playoffs.

NHL drafted: 5

Player to watch: Marko Sikic. Former Guelph Storm pick had a solid season after landing in Sarnia and should be on the top line.

PREDICTION: 9th

SOO GREYHOUNDS

Last season: 4th (39-22-6-1)

Top five scorers, top three defencemen and starting goaltender all gone from last season. It’s going to be a long year in the Soo, who were all-in a year ago. Top returning scorer is Bryce McConnell-Barker, who had 49 points.

NHL drafted: 2

Player to watch: Justin Cloutier. The 2021 first rounder had eight goals last season but will be thrust into a much bigger role this year.

PREDICTION: 10th


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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