Pre-Season Update: Western Conference

September 11, 2008

By Aaron Bell
The OHL regular season kicks off next Thursday. Here are some of the players making headlines around the Western Conference as the pre-season winds down.
Pre-season record is in brackets as of September 9.
Erie Otters (0-3-1) After missing the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, the Otters are looking to emerging stars like Zach Torquato and Ryan O'Reilly to lead them back into the post-season this year. So far, they both look good as does second overall pick Gregg McKegg, who is already scoring at an impressive pace…Overage forward Justin Hodgman was impressive in his pro debut last spring. He helped the Fort Wayne Comets win the IHL championship, taking playoff MVP honours along the way.
Guelph Storm (1-1-1) New head coach Jason Brooks was also given the title of assistant GM last week and will be the team's top hockey guy. The long-time assistant took over the head coaching reigns after Dave Barr left for the pro ranks. Brooks guided Ontario to the gold medal at the World Under-17 tournament last January in London…sophomore winger Taylor Beck scored a goal in each of Guelph's first three pre-season games.
Kitchener Rangers (0-3-0) New head coach Steve Spott is still looking for his first exhibition win, but don't expect him to wait long once the season starts for real next week. Spott was Peter DeBoer's right-hand man for more than a decade and was instrumental in helping the Rangers and Plymouth Whalers rack up wins on a regular basis…First rounder Jeff Skinner has been turning heads with his puck control in the pre-season.
London Knights (2-1-1) The Knights have secured the release of third round pick Jared Knight from U.S.A. Hockey. Knight played for Detroit Compuware last season and expects to play in the Knights' pre-season game against Plymouth on Friday...Akim Aliu is heading for the Chicago Blackhawks with a freshly-signed contract in hand. If he doesn't make the big club, he will be a handful for opposing defencemen when he gets back to London.
Owen Sound Attack (2-1-0) Diminutive winger Josh Ocampo is signed, sealed and delivered after leaving camp last week to decide if he was coming to the OHL or waiting out an NCAA scholarship. The five-foot-eight, 157 pound right winger has speed to burn and his coaches love his nose for the net…Dallas Stars' pick Tyler Beskorowany has been solid so far and is poised to be one of the top netminders in the Western Conference this season.
Plymouth Whalers (2-0-2) The Whalers used late third period goals to salvage a pair of pre-season ties against the Sting last weekend. Chris Terry scored the tying goal in the final minute of Friday's game in Sarnia and on Saturday Jordan O'Neill evened the game with less than five minutes left on the clock…Terry and Veteran forward Vern Cooper have led the way offensively in the pre-season and will be keys to the Whalers' success this season.
Saginaw Spirit (0-0-2) The Spirit aren't settling anything with the Greyhounds in pre-season play. The two clubs tied their first two exhibition games against each other last week…After a breakout season in the OHL, Jack Combs is hoping to take his game to the pro level. He was invited to Colorado's rookie camp and hopes to leave an impression. If he comes back to Saginaw for an overage season, Combs will be one of the top scorers in the Western Conference.
Sarnia Sting (1-1-2) The Sting are preparing for life after Stamkos after their star centre was drafted first overall in the NHL draft last June and is a likely to spend the season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite a large graduating class, they have been pleased with the play of several youngsters, including rookie defenceman Nathan Chiarlitti who is already showing the poise of a veteran…
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (0-1-2) Jordan Nolan has been playing the left side on a line with captain Matt Lyall (pictured) and looks like he is ready for a breakout season…Lyall scored late in the third period to salvage a tie with the Spirit on Saturday…the Greyhounds will be going through a bit of a youth movement this season after the graduation of top guns like Dustin Jeffrey, Wayne Simmonds and Josh Godfrey but James Livingston and Matt Caria look like they are ready to step up in a big way.
Windsor Spitfires (1-2-0) The Spitfires' dressing room is about to empty out quick. Eight veterans are expecting to leave this week to attend various NHL camps leaving the squad short-handed for their final two exhibition games this week against Sarnia…After a strong finish to the season last year, the Spitfires were picked to finish second to the Bulls in The Hockey News' pre-season rankings published this week…the Spitfires are going to retire the jersey of former captain Mickey Renaud, who passed away last season.
Photo: Aaron Bell/OHL