OHL Power Rankings: Oct. 21, 2024

We’re movin’ and shakin’ in the Week 4 edition of OHL Power Rankings, with a new team at the top. There’s lots of movement on the list this week, so here’s a quick synopsis.

Who’s up:

Barrie Colts – up one spot to #1 this week
The Colts take their turn at the top this week, defeating Owen Sound and Ottawa to improve to 6-3 on the season. The Colts have really spread out the scoring, and both Sam Hillebrandt and Ben Hrebik have been dependable in the crease.

Saginaw Spirit – up three spots to #2 this week
The defending Memorial Cup champions put together a solid road trip against three of the league’s most capable squads, coming away with four of six points. Saginaw scored wins in both London and Brampton before dropping a 5-3 Sunday night decision in Oshawa. Draft eligible standout Michael Misa sits second in OHL scoring, riding a 10-game point streak while veteran Andrew Oke has played all of Saginaw’s 10 games this season to lead the league in minutes played.

Windsor Spitfires – up four spots to #3 this week
The Spits keep forcing their way up the list, to the point that there’s a case to be made for #1. Windsor won three more games last week, besting Oshawa, Guelph and Owen Sound as captain Liam Greentree rocketed to the top of the OHL scoring leaders, sporting 23 points (6-17–23) over just nine games. Veteran netminder Joey Costanzo is off to an 8-0 start in the crease and things are looking up in Windsor under new head coach Greg Walters.

Niagara IceDogs – up one spot to #8 this week
There’s a case to be made for Niagara to be higher on this week’s list, but fans hankering for more IceDogs love can go to the standings page where they sit first in the Central Division with a record of 7-2. The Dogs won two of three last week, beating Ottawa and Kingston in overtime, victories that book-ended a 4-2 loss in Kitchener on Friday night. Sophomore standout Ryan Roobroeck was the hero of Sunday’s win, tying the game late before winning it in OT. Overage goaltender Owen Flores returned from a four-game suspension to pick up the win on Sunday. Offseason defence pick-up Jack Brauti continues to play great, scoring Thursday’s OT winner against Ottawa while producing nine points (1-8–9) through his first nine games with Niagara. The Dogs can force their way up the list with success in an upcoming three-in-three that sees Oshawa visit St. Catharines on Thursday before the Dogs head to Sarnia and Windsor on Friday and Saturday.

Oshawa Generals – up one spot to #9 this week
The Gennies rebounded from a tough road trip, rattling off a pair of wins over last place Peterborough before beating the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday night at home. Anaheim Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke has things rolling, coming-off a four-point showing on Sunday while Colby Barlow got the monkey off his back, scoring his first goal in a Generals uniform in the victory. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Marrelli leads OHL defenders with six goals on the season.

Kitchener Rangers – up five spots to #11 this week
With points in nine straight, the Rangers’ perhaps over-extended stay at #16 on the list has come to an end as they get a healthy bump following a 3-0 showing last week. The Blueshirts beat the Niagara IceDogs 4-2 at the Aud on Friday before doubling-up with consecutive wins over the rival Guelph Storm on Saturday and Sunday. Overage forward Adrian Misaljevic put up three points in Sunday’s win and has led the Kitchener attack, putting up 15 points (6-9–15) over 11 games. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Trent Swick has also given Kitchener a boost, with seven points (4-3–7) in six games since his return.

Kingston Frontenacs – up one spot to #12 this week
How does a team lose three straight and still manage to climb a spot? Lose all three in overtime! The Kingston Frontenacs were tasked with a tough trip to Erie, Brantford and Niagara but managed to come out of it with three points following three straight OT losses. The Fronts made things interesting in all three contests, just failing to come up with the big goal. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Tuomas Uronen has been a nice story, rebounding from an injury-laden 2023-24 season to put up 14 points (3-11–14) through his first 10 games.

Sarnia Sting – up four spots to #13 this week
The Sting scooped five of a possible six points up north last week, defeating both North Bay and Sudbury before losing 5-4 in a shootout on Sunday in Sault Ste.  Marie. The Sting have earned an early season reputation for never being out of a game and they’re back home this week with matchups against Flint, Niagara and London. Rookie forward Beckham Edwards is Sarnia’s current scoring leader with 11 points (6-5–11) through as many games.

Sudbury Wolves – up one spot to #14 this week
The Wolves emerged victorious over both of their northern foes last week, defeating Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay while losing 5-1 to visiting Sarnia on Friday. Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton had a nice week, recording four points (2-2–4) including the OT winner in Sunday’s 4-3 triumph in North Bay. The 6-foot-6 winger leads Sudbury with 15 points (6-9–15) over 10 outings.

Soo Greyhounds – up one spot to #16 this week
The Hounds are back on the radar this week, taking one-goal wins over Flint and Sarnia on home ice. Both goaltenders in Charlie Schenkel and Landon Miller performed well, with the latter earning his first win of the season as the Greyhounds beat the Sting 5-4 in a shootout. Sophomores Brady Martin and Travis Hayes lead the Soo offensively into another week as they’re home to play Saginaw and Ottawa.

Who’s down:

London Knights – down three spots to #4 this week
The Knights dropped a Memorial Cup Final rematch to Saginaw on Friday, losing 5-1 to fall to 3-3 on home ice this season. They rebounded on Sunday in a 3-1 win over Erie as recent goaltending acquisition Austin Elliott made 30 saves to win his OHL debut. The Knights wrap-up a five-game home stand against Brantford on Friday before visits to Saginaw and Sarnia on Saturday and Sunday.

Brampton Steelheads – down two spots to #5 this week
The Trout beat Ottawa in a shootout before losing in overtime to Saginaw in a pair of home games last week. The Steelheads will have goaltender Jack Ivankovic back in the crease this week as he finished serving a four-game suspension. NHL Draft prospect Porter Martone continues to wow every night, recording 20 points (10-10–20) through his first nine games of the season.

Brantford Bulldogs – down two spots to #6 this week
Brantford lost in overtime to North Bay before defeating Kingston in similar fashion in a pair of home outings. Windsor’s big climb has bumped a few teams, namely London, Brampton and Brantford down a spot or two within the top grouping of teams. Nick Lardis continues to do big things for the Bulldogs, scoring Saturday’s OT winner against Kingston.

Erie Otters – down one spot to #7 this week
The Otters took four of six points last week, with their lone loss coming in London on Sunday. Overage winger Sam Alfano is off to a great start, sitting tied for the team lead with fellow OA Pano Fimis in producing 13 points (6-7–13) over nine games. Swedish import Noah Erliden is also proving to be a worthy solution in goal, posting a 4-2 record with a .927 save percentage through seven outings.

Flint Firebirds – down two spots to #10 this week
The ‘Birds were stationary in the eighth spot for a few weeks, put drop two following close losses against Sault Ste. Marie and Erie. Flint’s had an offence-by-committee approach thus far in the season, with Chris Thibodeau and Jimmy Lombardi at the top of their scoring list.

North Bay Battalion – down one spot to #15 this week
The Troops played four games last week, going 2-2. The two losses both came at home, coming against Sarnia and Sudbury. Friday’s 3-2 road win in Brantford came on a game winner by Andrew LeBlanc. Mike McIvor has seen his share of rubber through seven games, but is 5-1-1-0 while boasting a .920 save percentage.

Ottawa 67’s – down six spots and off the list this week
With both Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie forcing their way onto the list this week, one of the two casualties coming off are the Ottawa 67’s, who have lost five in a row. Their latest loss came at the hands of the #1 ranked Barrie Colts on Sunday in the nation’s capital. The job doesn’t get easier as Ottawa hits the road for North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury next weekend.

Guelph Storm – down six spots and off the list this week
As a preface, the Storm likely weren’t envisioning being short Jett Luchanko and Tommy Budnick at this point in the season, but here we are. Luchanko is in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, Budnick just signed with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, Quinn Beauchesne is out with an injury and the Storm have lost six of their last seven. Guelph dropped consecutive decisions against the rival Kitchener Rangers on Saturday and Sunday. The Storm try and get back on track Friday night at home to Flint.