OHL west preview

Guelph Storm the pre-season darlings, but don’t overlook the Flint Firebirds

This space is usually reserved for the London Knights.

Every year, you can safely pencil in the Green Machine to be the top dog — or among them — in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference.

But things are changing.

Oh, the Knights will be good. They’re always good. It’s just not their year to dominate.

That said, the power still resides in the Midwest Division, a.k.a. the division of death.

The Guelph Storm are at the top now.

We’ve been hearing about their nucleus for years and the Royal City crew seems ready to go all in. Goaltending, defence and scoring pop — the Storm seems to have it all.

Toss in the return of coach Scott Walker — whose last full season behind the bench included a J. Ross Robertson Cup — and you’ve got a recipe for success.

There’s tweaking to be done, but visitors are going to dread the Sleeman Centre this season.

There is also a lot of hype surrounding the Owen Sound Attack and their bevy of young stars.

Don’t sleep on Kitchener and its veteran squad and London, as mentioned, is always a tough beat. Only lowly Erie appears to be in rebuild mode in the Midwest Division.

Flint should run away with the West Division crown and could contend for the conference title, with some additions.

If the Storm make good on the hype, it’ll be the franchise’s third west championship in the past decade. How they finish Guelph, Flint, Kitchener, Owen Sound, London, Sarnia, Windsor, Erie, Saginaw, Sault Ste. Marie.

ERIE OTTERS

2021-22 27-37-2-2, ninth place

GM Dave Brown

Coach BJ Adams

NHL prospects D Christian Kyrou (DAL), F Liam Gilmartin (STL) Young gun: F Malcolm Spence was the second overall selection in this year’s draft.

Key loss F Daniel D’Amato led the Otters with 63 points. Need to know Haven’t made the playoffs since winning the OHL title in 2017. Three words On playoff bubble.

FLINT FIREBIRDS

2021-22 42-21-1-4, third place

GM/coach Ted Dent

NHL prospects F Braeden Kressler (TOR), F Gavin Hayes (CHI), F Brennan Othmann (NYR), F Amadeus Lombardi (DET), D Dmitry Kuzmin (WPG), G Will Cranley (OTT)

Young gun Sophomore F Gavin Hayes is coming off a 49-point rookie season.

Key loss G Luke Cavallin appeared in 56 games — second most in the OHL last season.

Need to know Flint is coming off its best season in franchise history (89 points). Three words West title contender.

GUELPH STORM

2021-22 36-24-5-3, fifth place

GM George Burnett

Coach Scott Walker

NHL prospects F Jake Karabela (WAS), F Sasha Pastujov (ANA), F Danny Zhilkin (WPG), F Matt Poitras (BOS), D Michael Buchinger (STL)

Young gun D Cam Allen looked like a seasoned veteran last season as a rookie.

Key loss D Daniil Chayka was styling on and off the ice.

Need to know F Cooper Walker is the coach’s son.

Three words Time is now.

KITCHENER RANGERS

2021-22 30-31-5-2, seventh place

GM Mike McKenzie

Coach Chris Dennis

NHL prospects F Francesco Pinelli (LAK), D Roman Schmidt (TB), D Tomas Hamara (OTT) Young gun Sophomore F Carson Rehkopf played for Canada’s U18 team this past summer.

Key loss G Pavel Cajan was named the team’s most valuable player. Need to know Club has the rights to six NHL drafted players currently unsigned by the team. Three words Veteran heavy squad.

LONDON KNIGHTS

2021-22 39-22-5-2, second place

GM Mark Hunter

Coach Dale Hunter

NHL prospects F Max McCue (SJ), F Landon Sim (STL), D Isaiah George (NYI), D Logan Mailloux (MTL), D Bryce Montgomery (CAR), D Jackson Edward (BOS) Young gun D Sam Dickinson (fourth overall in 2022 draft) acquired via trade with Niagara.

Key loss F Luke Evangelista averaged 1.79 points per game.

Need to know Despite dominance, haven’t reached a conference final since 2016. Three words Rare down year.

OWEN SOUND ATTACK

2021-22 34-26-5-3, sixth place

GM Dale DeGray

Coach Greg Walters

NHL prospects F Cedrick Guindon (MTL), F Servac Petrovsky (MIN), F Kaleb Lawrence (LAK) Young gun(s) Guindon, Petrovsky and F Colby Barlow combined for 88 goals as freshmen. Key loss Captain Mark Woolley was a force on the blue line and a minutes-eater.

Need to know A shoulder injury limited Lawrence to just two games last season. Three words Popular sleeper

team.

SAGINAW SPIRIT

2021-22 24-43-1-0, 10th place

GM Dave Drinkill

Coach Chris Lazary

NHL prospects F Josh Bloom (BUF), F Matyas Sapovaliv (VGK), D Pavel Mintyukov (ANA), G Tristan Lennox (NYI)

Young gun All eyes on first overall pick and exceptional status player F Michael Misa.

Key loss Veteran F Dalton Duhart was tied for third in team scoring with 52 points.

Need to know Team has nine first or second round picks from OHL priority draft on its roster. Three words Fighting for playoffs.

SARNIA STING

2021-22 27-36-4-1, eighth place

GM Dylan Seca

Coach Alan Letang

NHL prospects F Sandis Vilmanis (FLA), F Ty Voit (TOR), D Ryan Mast (BOS), D Chandler Romeo (OTT), G Ben Gaudreau (SJ) Young gun F Porter Martone was the fifth overall pick in this year’s OHL draft.

Key loss F Nolan Dann (29 goals) traded to the Niagara IceDogs. Need to know Sarnia has won just one playoff round since 2009. Three words May surprise foes.

SAULT STE. MARIE GREYHOUNDS

2021-22 39-22-6-1, fourth place

GM Kyle Raftis

Coach John Dean

NHL prospects F Bryce McConnell-Barker (NYR), D Kirill Kudryavtsev (VAN)

Young gun D Brodie McConnellBarker is the younger brother of Bryce.

Key loss F Rory Kerins was second in OHL scoring last season with 118 points. Need to know Owned the league’s best power play at 28.4 per cent last season. Three words Down year ahead.

WINDSOR SPITFIRES

2021-22 44-17-4-3, first place

GM Bill Bowler

Coach Marc Savard

NHL prospects F Wyatt Johnston (DAL), F Matt Maggio (NYI), D Daniil Sobolev (MTL)

Young gun F Ethan Miedema to see an expanded role this season. Key loss F Will Cuylle had 58 goals in the regular season and playoffs. Need to know Defending west champs. Lost to Hamilton in seven games in the OHL final. Three words Could be sellers.