OHL Power Rankings: Mar. 18, 2024

OHL Power Rankings: Mar. 18, 2024

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty as the 2023-24 OHL season enters its final week. Here’s a look at the landscape, with the OHL Power Rankings presented by Power Staffing Solutions.

Who’s up:

Oshawa Generals – up one spot to #1 this week
The Oshawa Generals are peaking at the right time, with a 10-game winning streak carrying them to the top of the OHL Power Rankings in Week 24. The Generals scored wins over Mississauga, Sudbury and Sarnia and sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, with their first East Division banner since 2015 within reach.

London Knights – up one spot to #2 this week
The Knights continue to hang around the top five, working their way back up to second on the list with the season dwindling away. London defeated Erie, Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor last week, with Easton Cowan setting a new franchise record when his current point streak hit 34 games on Sunday. The Knights are the first OHL team to hit 100 points as they close in on the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as regular season champions, with the Saginaw Spirit nipping at their heels.

North Bay Battalion – up one spot to #5 this week
The Troops collected five of a possible six points last week, falling in overtime on Sunday afternoon in Kingston. The big unit of Anthony Romani, Dalyn Wakely and Owen Van Steensel was lethal last week, powering wins over Brantford and Peterborough. The Troops have the Central Division title in their sights, with a Friday night showdown in Mississauga potentially determining who takes the crown in 2024.

Mississauga Steelheads – up one spot to #6 this week
The Steelheads are surging, with points in 10 consecutive games. What’s most impressive is the fact that much of their success has come without 32-goal scorer Porter Martone in the lineup of late. The Steelheads lost in overtime to red hot Oshawa before stringing together wins over Sarnia, Niagara and Brantford last week. Dallas Stars prospect Angus MacDonell joined Martone in the 30-goal club on Sunday.

Kingston Frontenacs – up two spots to #14 this week
The Fronts opened the week with a loss to Peterborough before rebounding against the Petes at home on Friday. Paul Ludwinski pulled out all the stops in Sunday’s 4-3 overtime win over North Bay, completing a hat-trick with 10 seconds remaining in the extra frame. Kingston is locked into the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference to enter the playoffs.

Who’s down:

Saginaw Spirit – down two spots to #3 this week
The Spirit escaped a close call in Guelph on Friday, pulling out a win in overtime thanks to a game winner from Josh Bloom. They weren’t so fortunate on Saturday in Erie, losing 5-4 to the Otters. The split decisions make Saginaw’s Hamilton Spectator Trophy aspirations more challenging as they now trail London by four points with a game in hand. The Spirit can clinch first in the West Division on Friday night in Sarnia. Owen Beck continues a 17-game point streak.

Soo Greyhounds – down one spot to #4 this week
The Hounds opened the week with a shootout loss in Flint followed by a 6-3 loss to the London Knights on Friday. They turned things around with a 5-2 victory in Owen Sound on Saturday. The Greyhounds are at home to close out the schedule, welcoming Sarnia, Flint and Saginaw this week.

Kitchener Rangers – down two spots to #7 this week
The Rangers bludgeoned Owen Sound 9-2 on Friday before losing a 5-4 decision on the road in Guelph on Sunday. Top scorer Carson Rehkopf currently trails North Bay’s Anthony Romani by one goal for the OHL goal-scoring crown. Kitchener is locked into fourth in the Western Conference entering the first round of the playoffs.

Barrie Colts – down two spots to #16 this week
The Colts backpedaled into a playoff spot over the weekend as their current losing slide hit five games on Sunday in Niagara. They allowed six goals in back-to-back games, losing to Ottawa and Sudbury to start the week.

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