OHL Power Rankings: Oct. 7, 2024
The season is young, but there’s lots of movement in the Week 2 edition of OHL Power Rankings! The Saginaw Spirit and Niagara IceDogs both saw surges with success over the weekend. A lot can change in October, so stay tuned!
Who’s up:
Saginaw Spirit – up four spots to #2 this week
Draft eligible forward Michael Misa is off to a hot start as the OHL’s leading goal-scorer with 10 goals through five games. His reigning Memorial Cup champion Spirit aren’t too shabby either, defeating both Sarnia and Erie over the weekend to improve to 4-0-1-0 out of the gate.
Barrie Colts – up two spots to #3 this week
The Colts rebounded from a 4-1 loss to Brampton with wins over Sudbury and Oshawa. Ben Hrebik was Saturday’s hero, making 36 saves against the Wolves to earn his first OHL victory. Cole Beaudoin and Riley Patterson each tallied three points in Sunday’s 4-3 road win over the Oshawa Generals. The Colts got a shot in the arm over the weekend as Edmonton Oilers prospect Beau Akey returned to the lineup, seeing his first OHL action since November 2023.
Niagara IceDogs – up six spots to #6 this week
All aboard the Niagara IceDogs hype train! The Dogs, who didn’t make the preseason edition of OHL Power Rankings, are all the way up to ninth just two weeks in following big wins over a pair of top-5 teams in Oshawa and Brampton over the weekend. Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He exploded for six points on Sunday and has racked up 11 over just four contests. Rookies Braidy Wassilyn and Max Crete have also found their way into the offence.
Windsor Spitfires – up two spots to #11 this week
The Spits were another team not on many peoples’ radar to begin the season, but here they are up in 11th following wins over both Sault Ste. Marie and Brantford, outscoring their opponents 10-1. Joey Costanzo locked in the shutout in Thursday’s 5-0 win over the Greyhounds before captain Liam Greentree chipped in with three assists on Saturday in Brantford.
Who’s down:
London Knights – down two spots to #4 this week
The Knights lost to both Erie and Brampton over the weekend. The Knights are off to an 0-2 start on home ice after losing to the Otters 5-3. They were no match for the Brampton Steelheads on the road Saturday afternoon, losing 7-3. The Knights made a game of things late as rookie Cohen Bidgood scored his first two OHL goals. It remains to be seen where Easton Cowan will spend the season, but Philadelphia Flyers prospects Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey will rejoin the club this week.
Brantford Bulldogs – down two spots to #5 this week
Not a good weekend for the Bulldogs, who dropped consecutive home dates against Owen Sound and Windsor. The Bulldogs have a home-heavy first half of the schedule and get back at it on Wednesday when the Sarnia Sting visit the Civic Centre.
Oshawa Generals – down two spots to #6 this week
The Generals came up short against both Niagara and Barrie at home on Colby Barlow’s debut weekend with the club. Anaheim Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke returned to make his season debut but Calum Ritchie remains with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. The Generals hit the road for the next four, visiting Sarnia, Flint and Windsor on Thanksgiving weekend.
Guelph Storm – down three spots to #12 this week
The Stormers dropped decisions against Sault Ste. Marie and Kitchener. Rookie netminder Colin Ellsworth provided 29 saves in Sunday’s 3-2 road loss to the Rangers, turning in a solid OHL debut.
Kingston Frontenacs – down one spot to #13 this week
The Frontenacs are somewhat victims of circumstance this week (with Niagara surging up six spots), clobbering the North Bay Battalion 9-0 on Friday before coming up short in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday. Calgary Flames prospect Jacob Battaglia continues to produce, recording 12 points (5-7–12) through his first five games of the season. The Fronts are at home on Friday and Saturday, with Sudbury and Brantford coming to town.
North Bay Battalion – down three spots to #14 this week
The week started well, but went downhill from there. The Battalion beat the Peterborough Petes 5-3 on Thursday, but didn’t show up in a 9-0 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday followed by a 6-3 defeat in Ottawa on Sunday. Reigning OHL goal-scoring leader Anthony Romani was held off the scoresheet in Kingston and Ottawa. The Edmonton Oilers returned overage centreman Dalyn Wakely to the Battalion last week, but he’s yet to see action.
Sudbury Wolves – down one spot to #15 this week
The Wolves defeated Peterborough 5-2 before losing 2-1 to Barrie on Saturday night. Goaltender Finn Marshall is off to a 2-0 start in his OHL career following Friday’s win at home. The Wolves will see the return of Seattle Kraken prospect Nathan Villeneuve on Sunday in Ottawa as they close out a three-game East Division road trip. The San Jose Sharks returned star forward Quentin Musty to Sudbury last week, but he’s yet to suit up for the club.
