OHL Power Rankings: Week 1 – Oct. 2, 2023
Last week’s inaugural edition of the OHL Power Rankings created quite a stir. Well, get ready for more of that because the first week of the season inspired some movement. Here’s a quick look at teams rising and falling entering the first week of October!
Who’s up:
Guelph Storm – up three spots to #4 this week
The Storm opened their season with a home-opening triumph over previously fourth-ranked Owen Sound. They proceeded to silence the crowd in Windsor, defeating the Spitfires by a score of 4-2 in their home opener on Saturday night. They did this without star centreman Matthew Poitras, who remains at Boston Bruins training camp. Newcomer Leo Serlin lit the lamp twice last week.
Barrie Colts – up three spots to #6 this week
The ponies scored back-to-back wins over their long-time rival, the North Bay Battalion who were listed as the League’s sixth-ranked squad in the preseason. They came up a little short in Owen Sound on Saturday, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Attack in their home opener. Ben West and Sam Hillebrandt were both solid in the crease for Barrie while Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Sale made his mark with four assists, and rookie winger Riley Patterson scored twice.
Kingston Frontenacs – up one spot to #10 this week
The Fronts were in action on opening night, falling 5-4 to the defending champion Peterborough Petes before splitting decisions with the Oshawa Generals. The Fronts won their home opener over the Gennies by a score of 4-2 on Friday. Mason Vaccari was busy, getting the start in all three games. Buffalo Sabres prospect Ethan Miedema got off to a strong start, recording six points (3-3–6) last week.
Oshawa Generals – up two spots to #11 this week
The Generals went 1-1, rebounding from a Friday night loss by defeating the Frontenacs 5-4 to win their home opener in Oshawa on Sunday night. Big 6-foot-7 forward Dylan Roobroeck showed-off his skill with a highlight reel goal on Sunday. Oshawa fans got a look at rookie forward Tristan Delisle, who scored his first OHL goal on Sunday night.
Soo Greyhounds – up two spots to #12 this week
The Hounds put on an impressive display of offence, scoring 18 goals in two victories. The Hounds hammered the Flint Firebirds 11-3 in their home opener on Friday, scoring double-digits in their first home game of the season for just the third time in their history. They followed-up by outgunning the Brantford Bulldogs 7-5 on Saturday. Recent acquisition Jack Beck got a warm welcome in Sault Ste. Marie, putting up six points (2-4–6) in his first week as a Greyhound.
Kitchener Rangers – up two spots to #15 this week
OHL fans showed their support for the Rangers in last week’s WINMAR Fan Poll after they were left off the preseason edition of the Power Rankings. The Blueshirts responded with resounding success, knocking-off the second-ranked Saginaw Spirit in their home opener on Friday before burying the Flint Firebirds 8-0 in Michigan on Saturday night. Jackson Parsons looked sharp in his return to the Kitchener crease, stopping 59 of 62 shots over the weekend.
Peterborough Petes – up two spots to #16 this week
The Petes started their title defence with a pair of victories last week, defeating the Kingston Frontenacs 5-4 following a championship banner-raising ceremony at the PMC on Thursday. The went up to Ottawa and defeated the rival 67’s 5-2 on Friday, with Ottawa-area products Jax Dubois and Sam Mayer starring in the victory.
Who’s down:
Owen Sound Attack – down one spot to #5 this week
In a season-opening showdown, the Bears were bested by division rival Guelph, being unseated in the four-spot. Owen Sound came back strong with a win over Barrie on Saturday.
Sudbury Wolves – down two spots to #7 this week
The Wolves walloped the Brantford Bulldogs in their home-opener, but weren’t able to get past North Bay on Sunday. Sudbury’s drop on the list is more a result of the success of a couple other teams last week.
North Bay Battalion – down three spots to #9 this week
Of all the teams falling this week, the Troops probably get the raw deal. The Battalion dropped a pair of games against Barrie, resulting in the Colts climbing the list. They snuck out a late win over Sudbury on Sunday afternoon, but the 2-0 Mississauga Steelheads are holding steady at #8, pushing the Battalion to #9. North Bay can climb with success on the road in Windsor and London this week.
Brantford Bulldogs – down three spots to #13 this week
A season-opening northern swing didn’t go great for the Dogs, who were outscored 13-7 in their travels to Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Nick Lardis scored the first goal in the Brantford chapter of Bulldogs history on Friday night in Sudbury.
Flint Firebirds – down two spots to #14 this week
We’ll file this under forgettable opening week for the Firebirds, who surrendered 19 goals in a pair of losses. The Birds are without Gavin Hayes who remains with the Chicago Blackhawks into the preseason. Flint has just one game next weekend, at home to Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday, giving coach Ted Dent some valuable practice time in the schedule.
Erie Otters – down two spots and off the list this week
The Otters didn’t get off to the start they’d hoped for, losing a pair against Mississauga. It doesn’t get easier, with stops in Guelph and Owen Sound next weekend.
Windsor Spitfires – down one spot and off the list this week
The Spits lost to Sarnia and Guelph in their first week of action. 2024 NHL Draft prospect Liam Greentree was a bright spot, with a pair of goals.
