OHL 20 in 20: Belleville Bulls

Sunday September 21, 2014

By Evan Mathias @EvanMathias61

The Belleville Bulls are hoping a combination of returning players and a handful of young talent can help them bounce back following an inconsistent ninth-place finish a season ago.

Early into the season, General Manager George Burnett decided to change up the veteran presence on the team.

He acquired Dallas Stars prospect Remi Elie from the London Knights, who led the Bulls in scoring, in exchange for overager Brady Austin. 19-year-old’s Brendan Gaunce, Garrett Hooey, Luke Cairns and 18-year-old goalie Jason Da Silva were also moved to make way for rookie talent to crack the Bulls roster.

“We made some changes with our group last year, with our older players,” said Burnett. “Those guys that were first and second year players last year, in a year where we were regrouping to say the least…It’s time for them to put some results up.”

During the offseason, Burnett filled the void left by his traded veterans and the overage graduation of high scoring forward Cameron Brace, by acquiring 20-year-old Brett Gustavsen from the Ottawa 67’s.

“Brett has always played very well in our rink and against us, so we know him well,” said Burnett. “He needs to be a guy that agitates and works and competes every shift. A guy that we really believe can put some numbers up for us.”

Gustavsen is the lone overage forward on the Bulls roster this season, he will be joined up front by 2014 sixth-round Los Angeles Kings pick Jake Marchment, who was recently named as Belleville’s captain for this season.

Along with Marchment is utility player Stephan Harper who came over from Erie in the Gaunce trade. Due to injuries to the Bull’s defence last season Harper, who has played centre throughout his OHL career, played on the back-end periodically and will likely start the season as a defenceman.

“Stephan Harper has moved from up front, he was our first line centre last year, because of injuries we moved him back for the last 12 or 15 games and he played very well,” said Burnett. “He’s on his way to LA’s camp as a defenceman. We’ll adjust when he comes back, if his future is on the blue line he will play there for us and if it’s not, we may move him to the forward position.”

Joining the Bulls’ offence is fourth overall 2014 Priority Selection pick Brandon Saigeon, from the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs. In 40 games for the Bulldogs last season, the 6-foot-one 185 pound centre recorded 28 goals and 57 points. His impressive draft year earned him a spot at the OHL Gold Cup, playing for team OMHA Black. In five tournament games he posted three points.

“Brandon Saigeon is our fourth overall pick, I really believe he can be a forward that can have an impact right away even as a young player and play with good players,” said Burnett. “Be someone that is counted upon continually throughout the season and even more as the season develops.”

Two defencemen from the ’98 draft class join Saigeon as rookies on this year’s Bulls squad. Second round pick Cole Candella, a 6-foot-one defenceman posted three assists in five OHL Cup tournament games for the Vaughan Kings.  Fourth-round pick Jack Hanley joins the team following a draft year where he posted 21 points in 34 games for the Whitby Wildcats.

“It’s not an easy transition to be a defenceman out of minor midget into this league,” said Burnett. “They’ll have their tough nights but I really feel strongly about them being a part of our group.”

Such was the case for 2013 first round pick Justin Lemcke who blossomed on the blueline in his rookie season and is now a top 2015 NHL Draft prospect. He is one of six returning defencemen to the Bulls, including the return of 2013 Vancouver Canucks draft pick, Jordan Subban. The 19-year-old enters his fourth OHL season with an impressive career thus far. He led all Bulls defencemen in points last season with 42 and has amassed 113 points in 190 career OHL games.

The Bulls will boast a goaltending tandem that Burnett believes to be a huge asset to this year’s roster. Charlie Graham will return between the pipes for his fourth season with the club. Burnett believes that Graham, who played in 53 games last season, is among the best tenders in the league and will be able to carry the workload again this season.

In the backup role this year is 17-year-old Connor Hicks who had a solid year of Junior B with the Metcalfe Jets.

“Connor Hicks will provide him (Graham) with some quality support and be a guy that is going to be able to play some games. I think he’s earned the respect of his teammates with the way he’s worked and prepared for his first OHL campaign,” said Burnett.

The Bulls last made a splash in the Eastern Conference in 2013 pushing all the way to the Conference Finals before losing a tough seven game series to the Barrie Colts. Burnett knows that competing with the league’s top teams is a tough, but attainable task.

“The key thing for us is consistency, establishing a work ethic and a compete level that’s more consistent each and every night,” said Burnett. “There needs to be results from the ’95 and ’96 age group.”

If the Bulls can find that consistency this year from their leaders, they have the pieces in place to take some forward strides in a tough East Division.

The Bulls visit the defending champion Guelph Storm on Friday September 26 before returning home on Saturday night to host the Sudbury Wolves.

ontariohockeyleague.com will feature one team each day in advance of the 2014-15 season which begins Wednesday September 24.

Read more OHL 20 in 20 previews:

West Division: Plymouth Whalers, Saginaw Spirit, Sarnia Sting, Soo Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires

East Division: Kingston Frontenacs, Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67’s, Peterborough Petes

Central Division: Barrie Colts, Mississauga Steelheads, Niagara IceDogs, Sudbury Wolves

Midwest Division: Erie Otters, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Owen Sound Attack