By Mike Beasley /
A month into the OHL regular season, a couple of things are becoming apparent.
The Windsor Spitfires look like legitimate contenders to repeat as champions in the Western Conference.
Although the Kitchener Rangers, Saginaw Spirit, London Knights, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Guelph Storm may have a say in the matter as the season progresses.
The Wild West is as tight as ever with eight of the ten teams holding records of .500 or more midway through October.
In the East, the Barrie Colts led the pack followed by a logjam of teams including the surprising Oshawa Generals, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, Kingston Frontenacs and Peterborough Petes.
Barrie and Mississauga were expected to contend this year in the Eastern Conference with the remaining eight teams as wildcards.
After ten games this season, the Kitchener Rangers had not lost a contest in regulation. Their three losses came in overtime (1) or by a shoot-out (2).
Who would have ever predicted that the Ottawa 67’s would get off to a miserable 3-7-2-1 record in their first 13 games of the regular season?
It’s still early in the season, the conference leaders may change a dozen times before the playoffs start in late March but standing sometimes end they way they begin.
WINDSOR HOSTS TOP PROSPECTS
The City of Windsor and the Spitfires organization will host the 2010 CHL/NHL Top Prospects game at the WFCU Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
This will be the 15th annual showcase of the top 40 NHL Draft prospects from across the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.
A skills competition will take place on Tuesday night, Jan. 19 featuring all 40 players in attendance.
“We are very excited to provide our fans with the opportunity to see some of the world’s best Junior-aged hockey talent here in the great City of Windsor,” said Bob Boughner, Spitfires President and head coach.
“The Spitfires organization looks forward to hosting yet another major CHL event.”
OHL TEAMS AMONG CHL TOP TEN
The Ontario Hockey League boasted four teams in the CHL Top Ten during the second week of October.
No.3 Windsor Spitfires (7-3-0-1), No.6 London Knights (7-2-0-0), No. 7 Kitchener Rangers (6-0-0-1), and No. 9 Barrie Colts (7-3-0-0).
EARLY SEASON TOP OHL PRO PROSPECTS
The following players have been pegged as potential professional prospects. F Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires), D Cam Fowler (Spitfires), G J..P. Anderson (Mississauga St. Mike’s Majors), F Alexander Burmistrov, (Barrie Colts), D Erik Gudbranson (Kingston Frontenacs), C John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves), G Bryce O’Hagan (Soo Greyhounds), C Tyler Seguin (Plymouth Whalers), C Ryan Spooner (Peterborough Petes), RW Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s), RW Austin Watson (Windsor Spitfires), D Brock Beukeboom (Soo), C Joey Hishon (Owen Sound Attack), D Stephen Silas (Belleville Bulls), RW Jeff Skinner (Kitchener Rangers), RW Ivan Telegen (Saginaw Spirit), RW Christian Thomas (Oshawa Generals).
SARNIA SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT GETS NEW NAME
The current home of the Sarnia Sting will now be called the RBC Centre after the financial institution did a little investing of their own by purchasing the naming rights to
the facility.
“Royal Bank has always been a partner with this building over the past ten years, the Sting over the past fifteen years and in our community,” stated RBC Centre and Sting President, Larry Ciccarelli.
“We look forward in strengthening this relationship by elevating the profile both locally and nationally of this multi-use community based facility.
OTTAWA 67’S NOW PLAYING OUT OF URBANDALE CENTRE
The Ottawa Civic Centre will be now known (until July 1, 2010) as the Urbandale Centre after the residential home builder, land developer and commercial property management company won the naming rights in a local promotion orchestrated by 67’s team owner Jeff Hunt.
The Urbandale logo will now be made visible on the Landsdowne Park marquis (the main site where the arena is located) on Bank Street. Urbandale also receives an on ice ad, a mention in all 67’s print ads and all audio and visual advertisements..
SPIRIT PROMOTE WATSON
The Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club promoted Todd Watson, their head coach and Director of Operations to the position of General Manager.
Watson’s contract was also extended for another five years.
FRONTENACS HONOUR THE CANADIAN MILITARY
The Kingston Frontenacs held a special night for Canadian Forces Base Kingston at the K-Rock Centre on Oct. 21 against the St. Mike’s Majors. Hockey Night in Canada personality Don Cherry was in attendance as the guest of honour as the organization and the Kingston-native saluted our Canadian soldiers.
The Frontenacs unveiled a limited edition, one-of-a-kind sweater for the occasion that was auctioned off after the game with the benefits going to the charity, Soldier On.
SHANNON NAMED OHL BROADCAST CONSULTANT
On Oct. 6, the league announced that they had signed a three-year agreement with John Shannon to become the league’s broadcast consultant.
“The Ontario Hockey League is very excited to welcome John Shannon to our team as the league’s Broadcast Consultant” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise as a proven industry leader who will certainly enhance the television broadcast experience for our fans.”
Effective immediately, Shannon will work closely with the league and its broadcast partners in the presentation of the league’s television broadcasts.
“The players and coaches of this league have always been passionate about the sport and attaining their goals” said new OHL Broadcast Consultant John Shannon. “Our goal is to create great television, and give the OHL’s broadcast partners a great platform to tell the stories of those players and coaches.” |