Magic Number Watch
Hamilton - 5
Barrie- 16
Kingston - 16
Niagara - 18
Sault Ste. Marie X ( Magic number for Hamilton Spectator Trophy is 20)
Sarnia X
Kitchener - 2
London - 18
Saginaw - 18
Guelph - 20
Games of the Week
February 9th Sarnia Sting (1) @ Kitchener Rangers (3)
Preview of a likely 2nd round playoff series which highlights a fantastic Friday that that also includes intriguing games between Owen Sound and Kingston/Mississauga and Barrie/ Saginaw and Guelph.
February 11th Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (2) @ Hamilton Bulldogs (5)
The top team in the West travels to the top team in the East as they face of for the first time this season. There will be no Robert Thomas for Hamilton and the Hounds may be without Sandin and Timmins. Game 2 of the season series is next weekend so they wont have to wait long to renew acquaintances.
Divisional quick hits
Bulldogs star deadline acquisition got slapped with a 5 game suspension for a vicious slash to the face of Pete's forward Zach Gallant. He has already missed key games vs Kitchener and Mississauga and will miss this weeks games vs Barrie, Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie.... Frontenacs defender Jakob Brahaney was named academic player of the month for the East Division.
Sam Militic was named OHL player of the month for January after picking up 25 points. His month was highlighted by a 5 game stretch of 3 point games.... Travis Mailhot of the North Bay Battalion was named academic player of the month for the central divison
Nick Suzuki became the first member of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection to hit the 200 point mark on his career. Guelph Storm 1st rounder Tag Bertuzzi was named Mid-West academic player of the month
The Windsor Spitfires have brought in former player Mike Weber as an assistant coach... Damian Giroux of the Saginaw Spirit was named Academic player of the month for the West Division
Power Rankings
(1) Sarnia Sting 35-12-4 Power Rank Percentage (PR%) .7983
Luckily for Sarnia they will not be facing the Firebirds in the playoffs as they seem to have the blue print for knocking them off. They were still able to escape the week with 5 out of 6 points which was enough for them to maintain top spot in the power rankings
Games This Week: Feb 9 @ Kit; Feb 10 vs Nia; Feb 11 vs Sby
(2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 43-5-2 PR% .7873
Without Conor Timmins and Rasmus Sandin the Greyhounds were still able to pick up all 6 points available too them. They Greyhounds have pushed their record at home to 25-1-1.
Games This Week: Feb 8 @ Nia; Feb 10 @ Eri; Feb 11 @ Ham
(3) Kitchener Rangers 34-15-2 PR% .7280
The Rangers split their weekend opening with a big win over Hamilton before dropping their game in Owen Sound the next night. They have Sarnia and Hamilton this week so it wont get any easier.
Games This Week: Feb 6 vs Nia; Feb 9 vs Sar; Feb 10 @ Ham
(4) Kingston Frontenacs 27-16-7 PR% .6987
With wins over Oshawa and Niagara the Fronts completed their 2nd straight perfect weekend and now have a 5 game winning streak. It didnt come without a cost however. Already missing Max Jones it now sounds like Sean Day is out 4-6 weeks with an injury.
Games This Week: Feb 7 @ Osh; Feb 9 vs OS; Feb 11 vs NB
(5) Hamilton Bulldogs 33-12-6 PR% .6961
The Bulldogs finished the week 2-1 although they didnt look too spectacular in their wins. They did however play Kitchener tight in their loss. It is a murderers row of games this week with a potential OHL championship preview on Sunday as the Soo Greyhounds come to visit.
Games This Week: Feb 8 vs Bar; Feb 10 vs Kit; Feb 11 vs SSM
(6) North Bay 23-21-7 PR% .6486
Disappointing week for Stan Butlers crew as they dropped home games to Erie and Guelph. They saved face with a road win in Mississauga but it was still a week where they should have had more. They have a pair of winnable games before they visit the beat up Fronts. Can they steal on in Kingston?
Games This Week: Feb 8 vs Fli; Feb 10 @ Pbo; Feb 11 vs Kgn
(7) Owen Sound Attack 23-19-7 PR% .6439
Winners of 7 of 8 and fresh off of a perfect 3 game weekend. The suddenly red hot attack take their show out East. This will be a good test for the Fronts.
Games This Week: Feb 8 @ Pbo; Feb 9 @ Kgn; Feb 11 @ Ott
(8) Guelph Storm 25-21-4 PR% .5898
2 out of a possible 6 points for Guelph this weekend but they ended with a big OT win in North Bay on Sunday. With Windsor free falling my dream of a Sault Ste. Marie/Guelph 1st round matchup seems like a longshot. A Kitchener/Guelph first round match up will be fun though.
Games This Week: Feb 8 @ Wsr; Feb 9 vs Sag; Feb 11 vs Ldn
(9) Barrie Colts 29-18-3 PR% .5872
The Colts picked up a pair of resounding wins versus a pair of Western Conference sellers in London and Barrie to close out the week after opening with a loss in Owen Sound. They will have a big test in Hamilton on Thursday. Can they take advantage of Robert Thomas being out with a suspension?
Games This Week: Feb 8 @ Ham; Feb 9 @ Miss; Feb 10 vs Fli
(10) Mississauga Steelheads 23-26-1 PR% .5813
2 out of 6 points is disappointing, their 2 losses were to North Bay and Hamilton who are higher than they are in the power rankings but it still feels like a lost opportunity.
Games This Week: Feb 9 vs Bar; Feb 11 @ Eri
(11) Niagara Icedogs 26-16-4 PR% .5735
2 losses this past week and winless in their last 3. The Icedogs get a brutal stretch with the 3 best in the West before they visit Windsor for what will be their 4th game of the week.
Games This Week: Feb 6 @ Kit; Feb 8 vs SSM; Feb 10 vs Sar; Feb 11 vs Wsr
(12) Ottawa 67s 21-21-8 PR% .5729
The 67s follow up a week that had 3 OT/SO losses with a perfect 4 point weekend. They now have points in 6 straight games as they prepare to put the finishing touches on a 12 game strectch that included 11 at home.
Games This Week: Feb 10 vs Osh; Feb 11 vs OS
(13) Saginaw Spirit 25-19-6 PR% .5699
The Spirit took home 4 points on a weekend where they had to visit the Greyhounds which is about as much as you can ask for. However their strong comeback against the Hounds a team they have struggled with all year was overshadowed by a disappointing loss to the Flint Firebirds. The Spirit have a must win game in Guelph on Friday if they have hopes of claiming the 4th or 5th seed.
Games This Week: Feb 9 @ Gue; Feb 10 vs Wsr
(14) London Knights 26-20-4 PR% .5440
Outscored 13-5 this past weekend the Knights have now dropped 3 straight. It is a favourable schedule this week and we should see London get things back on track.
Games This Week: Feb 9 vs Eri; Feb 10 vs Sby; Feb 11 @ Gue
(15) Oshawa Generals 25-23-3 PR% .5419
They suffered a blowout loss at the hands of the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday before winning in blowout fashion in each of their next 2 games. They open their week again againts Kingston so they will have a chance for revenge rather quickly
Games This Week: Feb 7 vs Kgn Feb 10 @ Ott; Feb 11 vs Pbo
(16) Flint Firebirds 16-30-4 PR% .4630
A pair of OT wins over Saginaw and Sarnia help boost Flint to their highest spot in the power rankings since October. This team is finally playing up to its potential although it is likely too late to make a run for the playoffs
Games This Week: Feb 8 @ NB; Feb 9 @ Sby; Feb 10 @ Bar
(17) Erie Otters 15-27-9 PR% .4261
After a rough couple of weeks put them in the Quintin Byfield discussion the Otters took a trip up north and picked up 4 out of a possible 6 points including a win over cellar dweller Sudbury.
Games This Week: Feb 9 @ Ldn; Feb 10 vs SSM; Feb 11 vs Miss
(18) Peterborough Petes 18-27-6 PR% .4107
The Pete's continue to free fall faster than the Trump Hotels bond rating losing all 3 games this past week and are now winless in their past 9. This is a team that should be in the market for a new GM in the offseason as well as a HC. There are systemic issues within this organization that just one change will not fix.
Games This Week: Feb 8 vs OS; Feb 10 vs NB, Feb 11 vs Osh
(19) Windsor Spitfires 23-23-4 PR% .4047
Dipietro is struggling although he is not getting much help in front of him. The Spits seem destined for the final playoff spot in the West and possibly the 5th overall pick in the draft as the Spits have suffered 6 straight regulation losses.
Games This Week: Feb 8 vs Gue; Feb 10 @ Sag; Feb 11 vs Nia
(20) Sudbury Wolves 13-32-6 PR% .3541
A quick week as they were done by Friday, losing both games 1 in Sault Ste. Marie and the other at home to Erie. They open at home this week before heading to Midwestern Ontario. They are now in the lead for the 1st overall pick and can more or less wrap it up with a regulation loss to Flint.
Games This Week: Feb 9 vs Fli; Feb 10 @ Ldn. Feb 11 @ Wsr
