OHL Season Preview: Midwest Division
September 19, 2008
By Aaron Bell
The 2008-09 Ontario Hockey League regular season officially kicked off on Wednesday when the Saginaw Spirit hosted the London Knights. A full slate of games is scheduled for this weekend.
Here is a look around the Midwest Division.
Erie Otters
Key Returnee: Zack Torquato took a small step forward offensively last season but looks like he is ready to be a top-end sniper this year. He looked very good playing on a line with former OHL star Cory Emmerton in the Red Wings' rookie tournament in Traverse City and should start this season with a lot of confidence.
Forwards: The Otters have good depth up front with Torquato along with big forwards Luke Gazdic and Justin Hodgman. Ryan O'Reilly, the first overall pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection, has the qualities of a special player and will continue to produce at an elite level. First rounder Greg McKegg was outstanding as a minor midget last year and offers the Otters a very bright future. Veterans Nick Palmeiri and Jordan Skellett are out of the mix and should bring some quality players in return.
Defence: The Otters have a serviceable group of veterans on the back end in Josh Kidd, Frank Grzeszczak and Paul Cianfrini and are excited about their group of young blueliners including Mitch Gaulton and 2007 third rounders David Shields and Brett Cook.
Goaltending: Slovak netminder Jaroslav Janus carried the load last season and will be counted on to do the same this year while Shane Owens will supply relief as he bides his time before being their number one.
Behind the Bench: Former NHL player and coach Robbie Ftorek came in last fall on a temporary basis to try to help the Otters right the ship. He signed a three-year deal in the summer to assume the role on a more permanent basis.
Guelph Storm
Key Returnee: After two seasons as a standout starter for Guelph, goalie Thomas McCollum (pictured) was picked in the first round of last June's NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. The defending Stanley Cup champions won't have room for him for a while so Guelph can count on him for the foreseeable future. He piled up nine shutouts in his first two seasons.
Forwards: Rugged winger Matt Kennedy is a workhorse on the ice and a leader in the room. He was named captain while Brandon Buck will be counted on again to score at a point-a-game pace. Peter Holland and Taylor Beck should take big steps forward this season as sophomores and it will be interesting to see if Luke Pither can become the elite scorer that he was in minor hockey.
Defence: The likely loss of Drew Doughty leaves a big hole but veterans Corey Syvret and Nathan Martine are more than capable of anchoring the defence. Ben Chiarot and Patrick Moran played limited roles last year but will play a larger part this year. Draft pick David Searle is a big project that will be brought along slowly.
Goaltending: McCollum will be the guy again in Guelph but Jake Fischer is a capable backup and will take the reins with McCollum at NHL camp and maybe again at Christmas if McCollum gets to backstop the U.S. at the World Juniors.
Behind the Bench: Former assistant Jason Brooks takes over after Dave Barr returned to the pro ranks. Brooks guided Ontario's U-17 squad to a gold medal last year and was groomed as Guelph's coach of the future. He has a tireless work ethic and will demand a lot from his players.
Kitchener Rangers
Key Returnee: Overage blueliner Ben Shutron was outstanding last season after overcoming some adversity early in the year. He was outstanding at the Memorial Cup, playing a solid game at both ends of the ice.
Forwards: The Rangers are uncertain about the return of Justin Azevedo for an overage season. The CHL and OHL player of the year and OHL playoff MVP is an offensive sparkplug that would accelerate the Rangers' rebuilding program. The Rangers aren't expecting the flashy Mikkel Boedker back from Phoenix but Scott Timmins is a dependable scorer that will get the chance to play in more situations.
Defence: Shutron may log as many minutes as any player this season and the Rangers are excited to have Dan Kelly back on a full-time basis. Robert Bortuzzo is a big presence that had his season derailed by injuries last year but could emerge as one of the best defensive guys in the Western Conference this season. Alex Dzielski, and Myles Barbieri also return from the OHL championship squad.
Goaltending: Josh Unice was the Rangers starter last year and was solid in the OHL finals and Memorial Cup. He returns as the obvious workhorse but the Rangers picked up overager Ryan Van Buskirk from the Bulls in the pre-season. He will also be looking for a lot of minutes.
Behind the Bench: After 12 successful seasons in partnership with Peter DeBoer, associate coach Steve Spott makes the jump up to head coach and GM. He is considered one of the bright young minds in the game and could have been a head coach somewhere else years ago if he wanted.
London Knights
Key Returnee: It's hard to tell if Akim Aliu is ready to make the jump to the Chicago Blackhawks but if he returns to the OHL, he will be an unstoppable force. He's had his share of setbacks but when he is on his game, Aliu is one of the most commanding figures in the league.
Forwards: It didn't take the Knights long to rebuild. They already have another crop of outstanding forwards that includes Nazem Kadri, the cornerstone of their trade with Kitchener last season that sent World Junior hero Steve Mason the other way. Kadri is an exciting player that gained piles of experience during Kitchener's run last year. Justin Taylor took a big step forward last season and Phil Varone scored at better than a point a game after coming over in January.
Defence: The Knights added Washington first rounder John Carlson to a group that also includes leader Scott Aarssen and two-way guys Steven Tarasuk and Vladimir Roth. Veteran Matt Clarke and big rookie Barron Smith will also be in the mix.
Goaltending: Overage Jason Guy is expected to carry the load while the promising Michael Zador gets ready for prime time. Guy didn't fare well in the season opener on Wednesday but had a winning record after coming to London late last year.
Behind the Bench: Dale Hunter is one win away from 300 in his six-season coaching career. He is by far the fastest to reach that mark and has set a new precedent for success at the OHL level. He already has three 50-win seasons under his belt and may be ready for another one this year.
Owen Sound Attack
Key Returnee: As a rookie, Joey Hishon did everything the Attack could ask of him. He scored 20 goals and 47 points and established himself as a player to watch. They are hoping that he can continue his progress this year as their top returning scorer.
Forwards: Overage forward Andrew Wilkins comes from the Knights and will be counted on as a character guy while the Attack expect big things from standout rookie Steven Shipley. They will need to patient, but Shipley was a force in minor midget last year. The coaches say that rookie pivot Myles Doan is a handful to play against while winger Lane MacDermid won the team's training camp fitness award for the second straight season.
Defence: David Kolomatis doubled his offensive production as a second year player last season. The New Jersey native plays a similar game to former Attacker Bobby Sanguinetti and has the skills to be one of the league's top point producers from the blueline this season. Frankie Santini plays a steady game and added some offence last year.
Goaltending: Tyler Beskorowany holds many of the keys to Owen Sound's success this season. The big netminder is a top pro prospect for the Dallas Stars and looked good as an OHL rookie last season. He will shoulder most of the minutes this season while Scott Stajcer returns after a limited role last year.
Behind the Bench: First year coach Mark Reeds had a difficult road ahead with a rebuilding effort last season but made some ground and should get his team back to the playoffs this season. He played junior with the Peterborough Petes before a pro career that included 365 career games with the St. Louis Blues.
