Western Conference power
A powerhouse sector in 2016-2017, the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League is expected to be forceful again in 2017-2018.
Consider, by comparison with the Eastern Conference, how deep and dominant the Western Conference was in 2016-2017.
Windsor Spitfires, who would go on to win the 2017 Memorial Cup championship, finished fifth in the Western Conference standings with 90 points. Those 90 points were one more than what was posted by the Peterborough Petes, who finished first in the Eastern Conference.
Then there’s the Saginaw Spirit, which finished ninth and missed the Western Conference playoffs in 2016-2017 despite putting up 63 points. The 63 points that Saginaw put on the board were more than three teams that made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference — Sudbury Wolves, Ottawa 67’s and Niagara IceDogs.
Which brings us to the 2017-2018 season and the notion that the two teams that missed the Western Conference playoffs in 2016-2017 — Saginaw and the Guelph Storm — seem ready for advancement as their respective group of young players matures and develops.
But if either or both of Saginaw and Guelph are going to make the playoffs in 2017-2018, which teams are they going to beat out?
To be sure, the Erie Otters, which finished first in the Western Conference and first overall with 103 points in 2016-2017, have lost several prolific players to graduation. Of all the higher-up teams in the Western Conference, Erie may be the one that regresses the most from 2016-2017 to 2017-2018.
Soo Greyhounds, who had 100 points in 2016-2017, look to be very good again in 2017-2018. Led by bench boss Drew Bannister — who may be the most under-rated coach in the OHL — the Greyhounds are poised to make another run this coming season.
Owen Sound Attack, which put up 102 points in 2016-2017, may not be quite as strong in 2017-2018. But under new coach Todd Gill, the Attack should at least be among the top five teams in the 10-member Western world.
What about the London Knights? The team that fans from other centers love to hate quietly rang up an impressive 99 points in 2016-2017 and are again being projected as a contender led by ageless, master coach Dale Hunter.
The defending Memorial Cup champions from Windsor will be in rebuild mode this season. But is any one calling for the Spitfires to go from champs to chumps?
Kitchener Rangers finished sixth in the Western Conference in 2016-2017 with a solid 77-point season. And the Rangers are expected to be in that range again in 2017-2018 as the youthful, albeit wise-beyond-his-years Mike McKenzie prepares to rise and shine as a rookie general manager.
Flint Firebirds fashioned a 72-point season to finish seventh in 2016-2017 and — like Kitchener — should be as good, maybe better in 2017-2018 under the direction of blooming coaching star Ryan Oulahen.
Sarnia Sting snagged the eighth-and-final playoff spot with 69 points in 2016-2017 and certainly have the parts to at least hang in there again in 2017-2018.
So, who does Saginaw and/or Guelph supplant to make it into the playoffs next spring?
Erie? Flint? Sarnia?
The going figures to be tough and testy on the Western side again in 2017-2018.
PHOTO: Soo Greyhounds coach Drew Bannister. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)
Great article Randy. The West is going to be a powerhouse. Lets hope we get a few suprise returnees. Its gonna be one heck of a season no time for slacking every game is important.
The Guelph Storm should have a 20th year reunion for the 1997-98 championship team.
Great Read Randy. Can you do a write-up on the Eastern Conference now?
Why wouldn’t the Attack be better? They have the most players returning and the highest amount of goals returning. They have questions in net, but other then the Soo, who among Western Contenders don’t? Odd.