OHL’s Eastern Conference a four-horse race
One thing is likely in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference: The Hamilton Bulldogs won’t repeat as champions.
The ’Dogs dominated from start to finish to claim their second J. Ross Robertson Cup in five years last season and will now reset and rebuild.
There are still some big names in Steeltown but, if GM Steve Staios sticks to his script, prime players will likely be dealt for prospects and draft picks, which opens the door for a new beast of the east.
Good luck if you can figure out who that might be as the conference is crowded with contenders.
I count four in the running — the Barrie Colts, Mississauga Steelheads, North Bay Battalion and Peterborough Petes.
All have pros and cons.
Barrie was supposed to win last season, but that plan was derailed when star forward Tyson Foerster started the year in the American Hockey League and didn’t rejoin the Colts until about a month before the playoffs.
The club could have seven NHL prospects in its lineup, boasts promising young players and might have the biggest stockpile of prime draft picks in the OHL to use in trades, which is always a major plus.
Mississauga was one of the hottest teams in the season’s first half but faded down the stretch. The Steelheads have some of the game’s most exciting players in forwards Owen Beck and Luca Del Bel Belluz.
It’s a similar story in North Bay. Yes, the Battalion lost some key veterans but there are still standouts up front, on defence and in net.
Peterborough has been crafting its roster with this season in mind and will be one of the oldest teams. Goaltending is a concern, but that can be remedied via trade.
As for the rest for the conference? All the remaining teams could finish fifth or 10th. It’s that tight.
How they finish Barrie, Peterborough, North Bay, Mississauga, Ottawa, Sudbury, Hamilton, Niagara, Oshawa, Kingston.
BARRIE COLTS
2021-22 34-27-6-1, fifth place GM/coach Marty Williamson NHL picks F Declan McDonnell (TB), F Ethan Cardwell (SJ), F Hunter Haight (MIN), F Evan Vierling (NYR), D Brandt Clarke (LAK), D Artur Cholach (LVK), G Anson Thornton (ARZ)
Young gun D Beau Akey is the future in the back end.
Key loss D Nathan Allensen was a leader and rock on the blue line. Need to know Longtime assistant general manager and scout Rob Stewart, of Cambridge, is no longer with the club.
HAMILTON BULLDOGS
2021-22 51-12-3-2, first place
GM Steve Staios
Coach Jay McKee
NHL picks F Ryan Winterton (SEA), D Artem Grushnikov (DAL), D Gavin White (DAL), D Jorian Donovan (OTT)
Young gun F Patrick Thomas enjoyed a coming-out party in the playoffs.
Key loss F Mason McTavish averaged 1.62 points per game.
Need to know Had a record of 34-23-1 when leading after the first period last season.
KINGSTON FRONTENACS
2021-22 41-22-4-1, third place
GM Kory Cooper
Coach Luca Caputi
NHL picks F Shane Wright (SEA), F Francesco Arcuri (DAL), F Paul Ludwinski (CHI), D Braden Hache (FLA), D Ben Roger (OTT), G Ivan Zhigalov (COL)
Young gun F Gabriel Frasca follows in footsteps of brothers Jordan (former Front) and Jacob (Barrie). Key loss F Lucas Edmonds capped his OHL career with a 113-point effort.
Need to know If Wright isn’t back, team will lose more than half of the 285 goals it scored last season.
MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS
2021-22 37-23-2-6, fourth place GM/coach James Richmond NHL picks F Luca Del Bel Belluz (CBJ), F Owen Beck (MTL), D Ethan Del Mastro (CHI)
Young gun F Luke Misa is the older brother to 2022 first overall pick Michael (Saginaw).
Key loss G Joe Ranger (2.54 goals against average) was traded to Sudbury.
Need to know Ended last season on an unspectacular 9-15-1-3 run.
NIAGARA ICEDOGS
2021-22 22-42-3-1, 10th place GM Darren DeDobbelaer
Coach Daniel Fitzgerald
NHL picks F Pasquale Zito (DET) Young gun Fifteen rookies dressed last season. F Kevin He went 25th overall in this year’s draft.
Key loss F Danil Gushchin was the sole ’Dog to surpass 50 points last season (71).
Need to know Allowed a leagueworst 316 goals against last season.
NORTH BAY BATTALION
2021-22 43-18-3-4, second place GM Adam Dennis
Coach Ryan Oulahen
NHL picks F Justin Ertel (DAL), F Liam Arnsby (FLA), Matvey Petrov (EDM), F Kyle Jackson (SEA), D Tnias Mathurin (DET), D Ty Nelson (SEA), G Dom DiVincentiis (WPG)
Young gun 2022 first-rounder F Ethan Procyszyn had a strong preseason.
Key loss F Brandon Coe had a breakout season with 101 points. Need to know Went 23-1-1-1 down the stretch before being swept by Hamilton in east final.
OSHAWA GENERALS
2021-22 30-31-2-5, sixth place GM Roger Hunt
Coach Derek Laxdal
NHL picks F Brett Harrison (BOS) Young gun F Calum Ritchie could be a top 10 pick in next year’s NHL draft.
Key loss Say farewell to F Ty Tulio and his 42 goals.
Need to know G Patrick Leaver was busy last season and faced the third most shots (1,623).
OTTAWA 67’S 2021-22 28-31-2-7, seventh place GM James Boyd Coach Dave Cameron NHL picks F Tyler Boucher (OTT), F Jack Beck (CGY), F Vinzenz Rohrer (MTL), D Jack Matier (NSH)
Young gun F Luca Pinelli is younger brother of Kitchener captain Francesco.
Key loss G Will Cranley was traded to the Flint Firebirds.
Need to know No one on the 67’s eclipsed more than 48 points last season.
PETERBOROUGH PETES
2021-22 29-33-5-1, eighth place GM Mike Oke
Coach Rob Wilson
NHL picks F J.R. Avon (PHI), F Connor Lockhart (VAN), F Chase Stillman (NJ), F Tucker Robertson (SEA), D Brian Zanetti (PHI), D Artem Guryev (SJ)
Young gun F Nick Lardis was the fourth highest scoring 2005-born player last season.
Key loss F Emmett Sproule led the Petes with 86 points.
Need to know Gave up a league high 74 PP goals but led OHL with 19 short-handed markers.
SUDBURY WOLVES
2021-22 23-28-3-4, ninth place GM Rob Papineau
Coach Craig Duncanson
NHL picks F David Goyette (SEA), D Jacob Holmes (DAL), D Nolan Collins (PIT)
Young gun F Nathan Villeneuve went third overall in this year’s
OHL draft.
Key loss D Liam Ross spent his entire OHL career in Sudbury.
Need to know Most penalized team in the OHL last season (900 PIMS).