Yahoo Sports Four OHL Teams That Are Shocking the League This Season
The Ontario Hockey League has officially commenced its holiday break. Players and coaches have left the rinks to engage in valuable family time, and competitions will resume on Saturday, Dec. 28.
This marks the halfway point of the season, and we're starting to get a much clearer picture of who the top contenders are this year and who will be sellers leading up to the OHL trade deadline on Jan. 10.
Below we look at the most surprising teams thus far in the season and reasons why their resurgence has been noticeable.
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Windsor Spitfires
From finishing second-last in the OHL in 2023-24 with a record of 18-42-5-3 and a dreadful -113 goal differential to being one of the best teams in the league, the Windsor Spitfires' resurgence to the top has been incredible.
First-year Head Coach Greg Walters has his team playing a tighter more structured game with much more pace. The depth of the team on forward and defense has been very noticeable this season and Walters isn't shy at running an 11-7 lineup.
Related: Windsor Spitfires' Forward Taking His Talents To The NCAA Bowling Green State University
LA Kings first-rounder and captain Liam Greentree has been fantastic this season. He sits fifth in league scoring with 52 points and the signing of import forward and Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas has been a great success.
The organization seems to have greatly succeeded with several of its 2024 draft picks. Notably, first-overall pick Ethan Belchetz has performed as expected, ranking fifth in rookie scoring with 18 points in 25 games. Additionally, forward Jean-Christoph Lemieux and defenseman Carter Hicks have solidly established themselves in Windsor's lineup.
Lastly, the Spitfires allowed the most goals (360) last season. They have 93 goals against, which is the fourth-fewest in the league. Joey Costanzo has been excellent as their number one in between the pipes and is in the running for Goalie of the Year. His 2.37 goals-against average and .915 save percentage are third-best in the league.
Brandon Taylor/OHL Images
Niagara IceDogs
After Windsor, the Niagara IceDogs are the most surprising team in the OHL this season.
In 2023-24, Niagara finished last, two points behind the Spitfires in the overall standings. If it wasn't bad enough, they slipped in the draft lottery and ended up with the fourth overall pick.
However, it appears to have worked out perfectly for them, as their first-rounder Braidy Wassilyn has been outstanding. If the season ended tonight, he would take home Rookie of the Year. He's registered 24 points in 27 games and has made his transition to the OHL look seamless, thanks to his high-end hockey IQ.
Surprisingly, the IceDogs are in first place in the Eastern Conference at the holiday break and have scored the most goals (145) in the league. They have a very young team and their lack of experience will be tested in the playoffs.
Regardless, Niagara is a ton of fun to watch this season with all the talent on their roster lighting up the scoresheet every game. Their offense leads them to victory on most nights and are averaging four goals a game.
Who's been their MVP this season? Has it been the incredible goal-scorer and 2026 NHL draft-eligible forward Ryan Roobroeck? Or Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He? Both have been the play drivers for the IceDogs this season.
Related: Kevin He Signing With Winnipeg Marks A Historic Moment
Sudbury Wolves
The Sudbury Wolves lost 2023-24 OHL's leading scorer David Goyette, St. Louis Blues first-rounder Dalibor Dvorsky, overage forward Landon McCallum, and traded away Nolan Collins, Matthew Mania, and Evan Konyen to Flint.
They completely overhauled their roster, yet here they stand in fifth place in the East and have been playing as one of the most structured teams in the OHL this season.
The Wolves had the most lethal offensive team last season. They have taken a step back offensively (their 112 goals are 11th-best in the OHL) but have been a much better defensive team.
Furthermore, the development of Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton, who appears to be an incredible find in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, has been a significant positive for the franchise. Walton has accounted for 46% of Sudbury's goals this season. His 53 points are 19 more than second on the team.
Sudbury's special teams have been a huge reason for their success. They have the fifth-best powerplay (25.4%), led by Walton who is tied for the most powerplay points in the league with 25. Their penalty kill is also fifth-best in the league (81.7%).
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Kitchener Rangers
Were the Kitchener Rangers supposed to take a step back this season? GM Mike McKenzie and Head Coach Jussi Ahokas had other plans, and are sitting comfortably in a tie with the Windsor Spitfires for second in the league and Western Conference.
Why is Kitchener on this list you may ask? Look at all the impact players they lost that were on their roster last season.
Carson Rehkopf - 52G, 43A, 95PTS
Hunter Brzustewicz - 13G, 79A, 92PTS
Matthew Sop - 43G, 47A, 90PTS
Filip Mesar - 19G, 33G, 52PTS
Eduard Sale - 15G, 23A, 38PTS
Simon Motew - 11G, 19A, 30PTS
In summary, they lost two top-four defensemen, one of whom scored over 90 points. A 50-goal scorer, overage player of the year, and two NHL first-round picks. Between Rehkopf, Sop, Mesar, and Sale, they lost 129 goals among the four of them.
So why have they been so good? Jackson Parsons has been flat-out elite in the crease for them. He has the lowest goals-against average (2.12) and highest save percentage (.926%) amongst goalies with a minimum of 20 games played. Clarkson University is lucky to have him committed to play for them next season.
Kitchener gets contributions on the scoresheet throughout their lineup. They have four forwards with 14 or more goals — Adrian Misaljevic, Trent Swick, Luca Romano, and Luke Ellinas — and the signing of Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham has been a home run hit.
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