Ontario Hockey League commissioner David Branch (OHL Images)

Now that the Ontario Hockey League will suspend players for reaching a certain number of fights in a season, it's a safe bet that fighting's days are numbered in major junior hockey. But change isn't made by fiat or in one fell swoop.

On Wednesday, OHL commissioner David Branch noted his league's new rule targeting "needless fighting," which calls for a minimum two-game suspension each time a player exceeds a limit of 10 fighting majors in a season was part of an "evolutionary process." In other words, the political capital is not there for an outright ban, but this an incremental change in that direction. The OHL is the first major junior league to enact such a rule, although the Canadian Junior Hockey League and five of its Junior A leagues passed a stricter rule in 2010-11 and have enhanced it for this season (players can be suspended starting with their fifth fight of the years). Whether it is emulated throughout North America remains to be seen.

First, the rationale for the rule, then some technical explanations.

Combing all corners of the country and the blogosphere for your junior hockey headlines ...

WHL

It sounds like the setup to a joke: "A CHLPA guy walks in on team unannounced as they're having dinner after a game tonight. Introduces himself by saying 'Hi, I'm Jake but please call me John'. Handed these guys a sheet asking them all to sign. No info, no details... nothing." Dean Millard and Guy Flaming dined out on the lack of information coming from proposed CHLPA. (Coming Down The Pipe, The Pipeline Show)

The Kamloops Blazers are top of the heap in the B.C. Division in the pundits' view. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Kamloops Daily News)

The people demand conference previews from Steve Ewen and Peter Loubardias. (The Pipeline Show, times two)

The two-time defending Western Conference champion Portland Winterhawks aren't that experienced, notes Dylan Bumbarger. (Oregon Live)

Defenceman Tye Hand is hoping to get a foothold in Regina after having the start of his junior tenure deferred by a concussion. (Regina Leader-Post)

Is Patrik Polivka the No. 1 goalie in Victoria? (Victoria Times-Colonist)

New York Islanders first-rounder Griffin Reinhart is the new captain in Edmonton. (iNews 880 AM)

Portland's Ty Rattie as league scoring champion? Count me in for that bandwagon. (WHL From Above)

OHL

Today's should-read is about Mississauga Steelheads owner Elliott Kerr's plan to make major junior work in 'Sauga: "Most people were saying, 'It can't be done, it can't work.' That was a motivator for me, to be quite frank." (Globe & Mail, Mississauga News)

Brampton Battalion's Brandon Robinson, Patrik Machac and Dylan Blujus (OHL Images, Getty Images)

With the OHL season beginning this week, BTN is taking an early look at each team in reverse order of last season's standings.

Brampton Battalion

In 2011-12 — 36-22-3-7, 82 points; fourth, Eastern Conference. Lost 4-0 to Niagara in second round.

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — fourth OHL, 19th CHL.

Drafted — D Dylan Blujus (Tampa Bay Lightning, third round).

Draft watch — LW Brandon Robinson was the Troops' only 16-year-old regular last season; he has promise but next season is his draft year; RW Mike Amadio is also one to watch for 2014.

Sarnia Sting's Reid Boucher, Alex Galchenyuk and Charlie Sarault (OHL Images, Getty Images)

With the OHL season beginning this week, BTN is taking an early look at each team in reverse order of last season's standings.

Team name

In 2011-12 — 34-27-2-5, 75 points; fourth, Western Conference. Lost 4-2 to Saginaw in first round.

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — 11th OHL, 32nd CHL.

Drafted — C Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal Canadiens, first round), D Connor Murphy (Phoenix Coyotes, first), LW Reid Boucher (New Jersey Devils, fourth), G JP Anderson (San Jose Sharks, free-agent signing).

Draft watch — LW Davis Brown and playmaking C Daniel Nikandrov (who is 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds) each thrived in a strong Junior B league as 16-year-olds. Rushing defenceman Anthony DeAngelo is eligible in 2014.

Sudbury Wolves Frank Corrado, Josh Leivo and Nick Baptiste (OHL Images)

With the OHL season beginning this week, BTN is taking an early look at each team in reverse order of last season's standings.

Sudbury Wolves

In 2011-12 — 36-26-4-2, 78 points; fifth, Eastern Conference. Lost 4-0 to Brampton in first round.

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — ninth OHL, 28th CHL.

Drafted — LW Josh Leivo (Toronto Maple Leafs, third round), D Justin Sefton (San Jose Sharks, third), D Frank Corrado (Vancouver Canucks, fifth).

Draft watch — LW Brody Silk and RW Nick Baptiste; the incoming imports from the Czech Republic, LW Dominik Kahun and LW Dominik Kubalik, are both in their NHL draft season.

Halifax Mooseheads right wing Martin FrkAfter a flu scare forced the cancellation of two pre-season games this week, the Halifax Mooseheads hope to have all of their players back practicing Wednesday, general manager Cam Russell told Buzzing the Net on Tuesday.

There was no word out of the Mooseheads organization on which of their 24 listed players missed games, all they stated was that they were left with an "inoperable number of players" for their final two pre-season games at Harbour Station and the Halifax Forum against the Saint John Sea Dogs.

"We've got a few of the guys back practicing," said Russell. "Three of the guys are back in school, and barring the bug picks up, all of the guys will be back practicing tomorrow. The virus has run its course."

Apparently this bug wasn't restricted simply to Halifax. From Willy Palov on Tuesday morning:

The Mooseheads called in an infectious disease specialist on Monday to assess their players after the team doctor informed them they were suffering from something other than the flu.

"We had our doctor checking our players every day and swabs were done and they came back negative for influenza," Russell said. "So our doctor contacted an infectious disease guy and he said there is a virus going around Halifax right now but that it's something that will pass." [Chronicle Herald]

Russell also downplayed our own blog's concern that there was the possibility that the Mooseheads players, and all QMJHL players, were being overworked by the month-long pre-season and delayed regular season start. Camps started back in mid-August and many "Q" teams had their rosters set before the start of September.

Islanders pick Griffin Reinhart leads defending champion Edmonton (Getty Images)

The Edmonton Oil Kings sit on a high pedestal in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, let alone Central Division. It will be tough to knock last year's champions off it.

The Calgary Hitmen seem to be the clear-cut No. 2 squad in the Central Division. They appear to be on the upswing after finishing third overall in the Eastern Conference last year.

Behind Edmonton and Calgary, it is somewhat of a shot in the dark. All four squads lost major impact players in the offseason. It is hard to make out in the Dub's crystal ball who will be able to shake off their roster losses the smoothest.

With the WHL season opening Thursday, here is a look at the Central Division.