OHL Power Rankings: Jan. 13, 2025
It’s the ol’ trade deadline shuffle on this week’s edition of the OHL Power Rankings, with a few teams sneaking up into the top five while the Erie Otters and Barrie Colts, who had a stranglehold on those spots in recent weeks, drop down the list.
Who’s up:
Oshawa Generals – up four spots to #4 this week
The Gennies climb the list after winning both ends of a home-and-home against the Ottawa 67’s. New addition Andrew Gibson factored into both wins, scoring the winner on Friday in the nation’s capital before picking up two assists back at home on Sunday. Look out Eastern Conference, the Generals look like they are hitting their stride.
Niagara IceDogs – up one spot to #5 this week
They might be higher if Sunday’s 5-2 loss to Peterborough didn’t happen. It was an otherwise positive week for the Dogs following wins over Saginaw and Sudbury. Braidy Wassilyn had himself a five-point night on Thursday and leads OHL rookies with 31 points (7-24–31) over 35 games.
Brantford Bulldogs – up two spots to #7 this week
Brantford beat both Flint and Peterborough and have won three straight to improve to 21-15-4-0. Saturday’s win in Peterborough was a big one for captain Patrick Thomas as he made Bulldogs history by setting up new teammate Tommy Budnick’s first as a Bulldog to record his 144th career assist – one more than Logan Morrison’s previous franchise record. Thomas would go on to tie Saturday’s game in the third period before netting the shootout winner.
Sudbury Wolves – up two spots to #8 this week
The Wolves had a high-scoring week, winning two of three as they defeated Sault Ste. Marie and Kingston. Quentin Musty returned with a vengeance on Sunday, recording a hat-trick and two assists as the Wolves hung up a 10-spot on the Frontenacs. Overage winger Kocha Delic has been a force of late, racking up eight points across the three outings. Blueliners Henry Mews and Noah Roberts joined the team at the trade deadline, making for an interesting stretch run in the nickel capital.
Saginaw Spirit – up one spot to #10 this week
After a tough stretch, the Spirit found their footing on the road, rebounding from a 7-2 loss in Niagara with victories over Erie and Kitchener. Zayne Parekh connected with Michael Misa for the overtime winner on Sunday night in Kitchener as Andrew Oke returned to the win column. Saginaw’s other netminder, Kaleb Papineau, has wins in three straight outings.
Peterborough Petes – up three spots to #13 this week
The Petes have been rolling of late, grabbing five of a possible six points last week with wins over contenders Barrie and Niagara while taking a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to Brantford. Easton Rye had a great week in the crease, making appearances in all three games after Zach Bowen went down with an injury on Thursday. Captain Jonathan Melee scored twice in Sunday’s win, giving him 15 goals on the season.
Owen Sound Attack – up three spots to #14 this week
The scrappy Attack get their due this week, getting back into the thick of things after wins over Barrie and Sarnia before closing out the week in a 6-4 loss to London. Newly minted captain Landen Hookey leads the Bears with 37 points (16-21–37) through 40 games this season. Recent addition Cole Zurawski scored his first in an Attack uniform on Saturday night.
Guelph Storm – up one spot to #16 this week
The Storm are back! Guelph dropped a 5-4 overtime loss to Erie on Wednesday before heading out to secure back-to-back road wins over Flint and Sault Ste. Marie. Overage winger Ryan McGuire made his return to the lineup on Friday in Flint, scoring twice to help the Storm take down the Firebirds 6-4. Lev Katzin continues to be a big boost to the offence, putting up three points for first star honours in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday. Guelph continues on the road with games in London and Saginaw on Friday and Saturday.
Who’s down:
Erie Otters – down two spots to #6 this week
The Otters did a great job with their Friday night celebration of Connor McDavid, putting together a great ceremony and festivities at Erie Insurance Arena. On the ice, that same success was not there as the Otters beat Guelph on the road Wednesday night before dropping back-to-back home dates against Saginaw and Sarnia. Erie hits the road for Ottawa, Peterborough and Kingston this week.
Kingston Frontenacs – down two spots to #9 this week
The Fronts had a new cast of characters getting integrated after the addition of Saginaw’s Joey Willis, Ethan Hay and Will Bishop. The Fronts beat North Bay on the road Thursday night, had a wild back-and-forth 6-5 overtime win in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday and surrendered 10 goals in a loss to the Sudbury Wolves on Saturday. The Fronts shouldn’t have any trouble scoring goals, but their success on the defensive side will dictate how the stretch run goes in the Limestone City.
Barrie Colts – down six spots to #11 this week
The week couldn’t have gone much worse for the Barrie Colts, who lost to the last place team in each conference before dropping a 4-1 loss to the Kitchener Rangers at home on Saturday. The Colts try and regroup heading into North Bay on Thursday.
Sarnia Sting – down one spot to #15 this week
The Sting beat the Erie Otters on Saturday night with three-point performances from both Daylen Moses and Ruslan Karimov. A 5-3 loss at home to Owen Sound on Friday saw the Bears jump the Sting on this week’s power rankings.
Flint Firebirds – down four spots and off the list this week
The Birds went 0-3 with losses to Brantford, Guelph and Windsor, surrendering 19 goals over three games. We’ve seen two versions of the Flint Firebirds this season, and this past week’s was the one that finds itself off the power rankings. Flint hits the road for Kitchener and Owen Sound this week.
Ottawa 67’s – down two spots and off the list this week
The Barber Poles dropped three straight, losing to Brampton before consecutive defeats against Oshawa. The 67’s sit eighth in the Eastern Conference, three points up on North Bay for the last playoff spot.
