OHL Power Rankings: Jan. 27, 2025
That’s right, there’s a new team on top as the OHL schedule spills into February this coming weekend!
Who’s up:
Kitchener Rangers – up four spots to #1 this week
The Rangers had a perfect week, and they beat the team on top of the mountain, unseating the London Knights from the number one spot for the first time since early November. The Blueshirts beat London, Owen Sound and Erie, taking care of business in the Midwest Division to improve to 33-9-3-1.
Windsor Spitfires – up one spot to #3 this week
The Spits beat both Sarnia and Brampton, with defenceman Tnias Mathurin having a big hand in both victories. The overage rearguard scored the OT winner in Friday’s 4-3 win over the Sting before collecting three assists in a first star performance Sunday as Windsor downed Brampton 5-2. The 33-10-2-1 Spitfires have a firm grip on first place in the West Division.
Barrie Colts – up five spots to #4 this week
The Colts went through a bit of a slump, but seem to have collected themselves after going 3-0 with wins over Owen Sound, Brampton and Brantford last week. Draft eligible defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson had himself a big week with a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Owen Sound. He scored the OT winner on Thursday as Barrie rallied from behind to beat Brampton 3-2. Barrie leads Niagara by two points atop the Central Division heading into a three-in-three against Ottawa, Oshawa and Niagara this week.
Owen Sound Attack – up one spot to #12 this week
The Bears continue to make things interesting, ending the week on a high note as rookie Pierce Mbuyi bagged a hat-trick and a shootout goal in a 5-4 win over Sarnia on Saturday. The win followed losses to Barrie and Kitchener as Owen Sound sits six points out of a playoff spot. The Attack continue a stretch of eight home games in their next nine contests on Wednesday at home to Erie.
Sarnia Sting – up one spot to #13 this week
The Sting picked up a point in Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to Windsor before adding another on Saturday in Owen Sound, losing 5-4 to the Attack in a shootout. Sarnia’s nine points collected in overtime and shootout losses this season lead the OHL. They have points in four straight games.
Soo Greyhounds – up one spot to #14 this week
The Hounds stayed ahead of Flint on the power rankings, beating the Birds 5-3 at home on Friday as Nolan Lalonde captivated the hockey world with the first goalie goal in franchise history. The Greyhounds were no match for the London Knights on Sunday, losing 7-3.
Flint Firebirds – up one spot to #15 this week
The Firebirds were on the short end of a 5-3 decision Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, but rebounded on Tropics Night at the Dort on Saturday, beating the Brampton Steelheads 5-3. The Firebirds prepare for a three-in-three weekend with matchups against Windsor, Kitchener and Kingston.
Who’s down:
London Knights – down one spot to #2 this week
The Knights were perfect in northern Ontario, beating North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, but that success followed a 5-2 loss in Kitchener on Tuesday as the Rangers climb into the driver’s seat in Week 18. A shot at redemption looms on the calendar as the Rangers are in London on Tuesday, February 4th. London had success on the road over the weekend despite missing both Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey from their lineup for parts of the trip. Austin Elliott enters a new week with a perfect mark of 20-0 on the campaign.
Brantford Bulldogs – down three spots to #5 this week
The Bulldogs had their eight-game winning streak snapped on Saturday in Barrie, falling 6-3 to the Colts. Brantford started the week with wins over both Niagara and Guelph. Nick Lardis enters the week as the league’s leading goal-scorer, lighting the lamp 41 times so far this season. The 26-16-4-0 Bulldogs sit third in the East Division, one point back of Kingston and two back of Oshawa.
Oshawa Generals – down three spots to #6 this week
The Gennies faced two of the league’s lower ranked teams at home to Peterborough and Guelph, beating the former 6-3 before the Storm stunned Oshawa in a 6-1 final Sunday night. The Generals look to rebound from one of their more unimpressive showings of the season as they wrap-up a four-game home stand at home to Barrie on Friday.
Niagara IceDogs – down one spot to #7 this week
The IceDogs took back-to-back losses against Brantford and Erie before rebounding against the Otters at home on Sunday as Sean Doherty and Ryan Roobroeck both had a goal and two assists in a 6-3 outcome. Niagara remains in the conversation atop the Central Division, trailing first place Barrie by two points. The IceDogs are in Barrie on Saturday before a Sunday trip to North Bay.
Kingston Frontenacs – down one spot to #8 this week
The Fronts put up seven goals in wins over both Saginaw and Ottawa before losing 5-4 to the 67’s on the road Saturday afternoon. The Frontenacs depart for Saginaw, Flint and Sarnia this week, continuing a stretch of five straight on the road.
Erie Otters – down one spot to #9 this week
The Otters beat the Niagara IceDogs 3-2 in a shootout at home on Friday, but lost the rest of the way, coming up short against Kitchener and Niagara. Erie is in a dogfight with Saginaw for home ice advantage in the first round of the OHL Playoffs, tied with the Spirit at 48 points apiece while holding a six-point cushion over sixth place Flint in the Western Conference.
Brampton Steelheads – down four spots to #16 this week
It was another disappointing weekend for the Steelheads, who managed to pick-up a point in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Barrie, a game that got away on them after they led late in the third period. Brampton lost in Flint and Windsor, surrendering five goals in both contests. The Steelheads look to take advantage of a home-and-home against Peterborough starting on the road Thursday night.