Around the OHL: OHL expectations
It's that time of year again, back
to hockey… well maybe not in the
NHL, but we still have the OHL.
We're just about ready to start a new
season that will give us another year
of surprises and disappointments.
Going into the 2012/13 season,
something's got to give for a couple
of teams of interest.
The London Knights will have higher expectations after their heartbreaking loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2012 Memorial Cup. Last year the core players were too young or inexperienced, so this year we will see what they really have to offer. Players to watch: Bo Horvat, Seth Griffin and Jake Patterson.
The Erie Otters were the worst team in the Ontario Hockey League last year. That's behind them now, and we should see a young but very promising Otters line-up come opening day. Connor McDavid, first overall pick of the 2012 OHL priority selection, will have the whole North American hockey world watching his every move. Don't expect outrageous numbers, but expect to witness a lot of talent from this 16-year-old. Players to watch: Connor McDavid, Troy Donnay, Connor Brown and Stephen Harper.
Belleville Bulls finished seventh in the Eastern Conference last year, a team that had a lot of talent but not much experience. Expect goaltender Malcolm Subban to have a fantastic year in net as the undisputed number one goalie. Don't be surprised if he is up for nomination for OHL goaltender of the year or even CHL goaltender of the year. Players to watch: Subban, Daniil Zharkov and Jordan Subban.
Next we will take a look at the biggest disappointment in the OHL last season: the Oshawa Generals, a team that was undisciplined, underachieving and with a defence that couldn't stop a cold. I expect better this year and a top-three finish in the Eastern Conference with Captain Boone Jenner returning once again for the 2012 season. Players to watch: Cole Cassels and Lucas Lessio.
When it comes to the Niagara IceDogs, you must lower your expectations of anything past the second round of playoffs. Mark Visentin and Freddie Hamilton are moving on to bigger opportunities in professional hockey. With that core group of players graduating from the OHL, a big gap must be filled in net and on the blue line for the IceDogs. The scoring will be there, but things won't be the same in Niagara. Players to watch: Aaron Haydon, Christopher Festarini and Dougie Hamilton.
The London Knights will have higher expectations after their heartbreaking loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2012 Memorial Cup. Last year the core players were too young or inexperienced, so this year we will see what they really have to offer. Players to watch: Bo Horvat, Seth Griffin and Jake Patterson.
The Erie Otters were the worst team in the Ontario Hockey League last year. That's behind them now, and we should see a young but very promising Otters line-up come opening day. Connor McDavid, first overall pick of the 2012 OHL priority selection, will have the whole North American hockey world watching his every move. Don't expect outrageous numbers, but expect to witness a lot of talent from this 16-year-old. Players to watch: Connor McDavid, Troy Donnay, Connor Brown and Stephen Harper.
Belleville Bulls finished seventh in the Eastern Conference last year, a team that had a lot of talent but not much experience. Expect goaltender Malcolm Subban to have a fantastic year in net as the undisputed number one goalie. Don't be surprised if he is up for nomination for OHL goaltender of the year or even CHL goaltender of the year. Players to watch: Subban, Daniil Zharkov and Jordan Subban.
Next we will take a look at the biggest disappointment in the OHL last season: the Oshawa Generals, a team that was undisciplined, underachieving and with a defence that couldn't stop a cold. I expect better this year and a top-three finish in the Eastern Conference with Captain Boone Jenner returning once again for the 2012 season. Players to watch: Cole Cassels and Lucas Lessio.
When it comes to the Niagara IceDogs, you must lower your expectations of anything past the second round of playoffs. Mark Visentin and Freddie Hamilton are moving on to bigger opportunities in professional hockey. With that core group of players graduating from the OHL, a big gap must be filled in net and on the blue line for the IceDogs. The scoring will be there, but things won't be the same in Niagara. Players to watch: Aaron Haydon, Christopher Festarini and Dougie Hamilton.
