2011 OHL Cup – Team Profiles

Here is a breakdown of the 20-team field that will compete for the 2011 OHL Cup March 22-27!

 

Division 1:

 

Toronto Marlboros

Qualified:  GTHL Champions

Head Coach:  Ken Strong

Notable OHL Alumni: Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs

Record:  59-2-4

Road to the OHL Cup:  Defeated the Toronto Jr. Canadiens 8-2 in GTHL Championship Series.

Players to Watch:  Nicholas Ritchie (F), Jordan Subban (D), Bryson Cianfrone (F)

Outlook:  A balanced and well coached team that plays a pretty complete game.  Steady improvement all year and are the pre tournament favourite.

 

Halton Hurricanes

Qualified:  OMHA Invite

Head Coach:  Gary Abraham

Notable OHL Alumni: Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs

Record:  37-24-9

Road to the OHL Cup:  Defeated York Simcoe Express 4-3 to win Bronze Medal at OMHA Championship.

Players to Watch:  Brody Milne (F), Jason Dickinson (F), Jacob Harris (F)

Outlook:  OMHA Bronze Medalists like to push the puck up ice while playing a high pressure offensive game.  Look to outwork you on every shift.

 

North Jersey Americans

Qualified:  USA Invite

Head Coach:  Alex Shindelman

Outlook:  First OHL Cup appearance. Look to test themselves against some of the best Minor Midget teams in Ontario.

 

Ottawa Valley Titans

Qualified:  ODMHA Finalists

Notable OHL Alumni: Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals

Head Coach: Jeff Fitch

Record:  23-27-8

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost to the Ottawa Jr. 67’s to finish second place in ODMHA.

Players to Watch: Alexander Robinson (D), Stephan Cooney (F), Evan de Haan (D)

Outlook:  Well coached team that has improved during the 2nd half of the season.  1st round upset in the OEMHL AAA playoffs helped them reach the OHL Cup.

 

GNML Wolves

Qualified: NOHA Rep

Head Coach:  John Couch

Notable OHL Alumni: Alain Valiquette, Sudbury Wolves

Record: N/A

Road to the OHL Cup: Great North Midget League All-Star team assembled for OHL Cup.

Players to Watch: Danny Desrochers (F), Ken Appleby (G), Tyler Brown (F)

Outlook:  GNML All-Stars look to gel and come together as a team quickly.  They will try to keep it simple while competing hard every shift.

 

Division 2:

 

Don Mills Flyers

Qualified: GTHL Invite

Head Coach: Bob Marshall

Notable OHL Alumni: Peter Di Salvo, Oshawa Generals

Record: 52-15-6

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens 8-6 in GTHL Semi-Final series.

Players to Watch: Max Domi (F), Darnell Nurse (D), Adam Bateman (D)

Outlook:  Offensive minded team that possesses excellent speed throughout the line-up.  They like to play a real high tempo game.

 

St. Catharines Jr. Falcons

Qualified: OMHA Invite

Head Coach: Frank Girhiny

Notable OHL Alumni: Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs

Record: 34-18-10

Road to the OHL Cup: Qualified for OMHA Championship but lost in round-robin to Halton Hurricanes.

Players to Watch: Jordan Malette (F), Nick Halagain (F), Justin Nichols (G)

Outlook:  Like to play a real tight checking game, limiting chances and protecting the puck.  Have some high end offensive talent that can hurt you.

 

Elgin Middlesex Chiefs

Qualified: ALLIANCE Champions

Head Coach: Jeff Van Vliet

Notable OHL Alumni: Greg McKegg, Erie Otters

Record: 49-9-6

Road to the OHL Cup: Defeated the Waterloo Wolves 3-2 in the ALLIANCE Championship Series.

Players to Watch: Bo Horvat (F), Davis Brown (F), Mitchell Fitzmorris (F)

Outlook:  Like to play a real offensive minded run and gun style of game.  They have dangerous scorers throughout the lineup.

 

Ottawa Jr. 67’s

Qualified: ODMHA Champions

Head Coach: John Yablonski

Notable OHL Alumni: Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs

Record: 36-18-4

Road to the OHL Cup: Defeated the Ottawa Valley Titans as Champions of the ODMHA.

Players to Watch: Jacob Jammes (F), Patrick Crampton (D), Brandon Seatter (F)

Outlook:  ODMHA Champions. Offensive minded team that likes to use their speed to play an aggressive, high pressure game.

 

Oakville Rangers

Qualified: OMHA Invite

Head Coach: Don McLaughlin

Notable OHL Alumni: N/A

Record: 39-18-4

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost to the St. Catharines Jr. Falcons 2-1 in the SCTA Playdowns.

Players to Watch: Connor McGlynn (F), Luke Shiplo (D), Jacob Smith (G)

Outlook:  Play a very competitive, hard working style game in and game out.  They have speed and skill throughout the line-up with timely goaltending.

 

Division 3:

 

Welland Tigers

Qualified: OMHA Champions

Head Coach: Rick Berard

Notable OHL Alumni:  Brandon Alderson, Sarnia Sting

Record: 42-13-9

Road to the OHL Cup: Defeated the Barrie Colts 5-0 to win Gold Medal at OMHA Championship.

Players to Watch: Hunter Garlent (F), Anthony DiFruscia (F), Jake Evans (F)

Outlook:  OMHA Champions that play a very exciting, offensive and aggressive game.  They like to stretch the ice and use their speed.

 

Mississauga Senators

Qualified: GTHL Invite

Head Coach: Mark Filippone

Notable OHL Alumni: Ben Fanelli, Kitchener Rangers

Record: 31-19-8

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost to the Markham Majors 8-4 in the GTHL Quarter-Finals.

Players to Watch: Joshua Sterk (F), Nicholas Santoro (F), Troy Crema (F)

Outlook:  Surprised in the 1st Rd of the GTHL P.O.  Rely on their team work ethic and solid play to create scoring chances.

 

Thunder Bay Kings

Qualified: HNO Rep

Head Coach: Lonny Bohonnos

Notable OHL Alumni: Michael MacDonald, Sudbury Wolves

Record: 26-18-3

Road to the OHL Cup: Representing Hockey Northwestern Ontario.

Players to Watch: Riley Corbin (G), Jordan Larson (F), Dylan Mascarin (F)

Outlook:  Hard working well coached team that plays a very simple and complete team game.  Have goaltending that can steal games.

 

Toronto Jr. Canadiens

Qualified: GTHL Finalists

Head Coach: Tyler Cragg

Notable OHL Alumni: Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s

Record: 46-15-12

Road to the OHL Cup: Finished second place in the GTHL losing 8-2 to the Toronto Marlboros.

Players to Watch: Spencer Martin (G), Brandon Robinson (F), Scott Tesky (F)

Outlook:  Great goaltending gives this team a chance to win every night.  They have dangerous FWDs up front who are very opportunistic.

 

York Simcoe Express

Qualified: OMHA Invite

Head Coach: Brock Neuman

Notable OHL Alumni: Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers

Record: 37-18-9

Road to the OHL Cup: Qualified for the OMHA Championships but lost to Halton Hurricanes for Bronze.

Players to Watch: Nick Moutry (F), Steven Varga (D), Stephan Nosad (F)

Outlook:  Team that is built on speed and skill.  Likes to play a real offensive minded puck posession game, forcing teams to play defense.

 

Division 4:

 

Waterloo Wolves

Qualified: ALLIANCE Finalists

Head Coach: Shawn Dietrich

Notable OHL Alumni: Colin Behenna, Barrie Colts

Record: 35-15-9

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost to the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs 3-2 in the ALLIANCE Championship Series.

Players to Watch: Brent Pederson (F), Kyle Platzer (F), Evan Buehler (F)

Outlook:  Hard working team that has improved during the ALLIANCE Playoffs.  Getting a balanced scoring and timely goaltending at the right time is their key.

 

Barrie Colts

Qualified: OMHA Finalists

Head Coach: Josh Dahmer

Notable OHL Alumni: Cameron Wind, Brampton Battalion

Record: 31-12-13

Road to the OHL Cup: Won the Silver Medal in the OMHA Championship losing 5-0 to Welland in finals.

Players to Watch: Zach Nastasiuk (F), Chris Bigras (D), Alex Carnevale (F)

Outlook:  OMHA Silver Medalists.  Hard working team that plays an in your face style, have the potential to score goals in bunches.

 

TPH Thunder

Qualified: USA Invite

Head Coach: Jim McKenzie

Notable OHL Alumni:  Bjorn Krupp, Belleville Bulls

Record: 25-25-5

Players to Watch: Cole Cassels (F), Brady Crabtree (F), Ryan Hutchinson (F)

Outlook:  Perennial USA Hockey Representative at the OHL Cup.  Play a competitive game and will look to advance to the playoff round.

 

Markham Majors

Qualified: GTHL Invite

Head Coach: Phil Wolfenden

Notable OHL Alumni: Joseph Cramarossa, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Record: 35-22-10

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost to the Toronto Marlboros 8-0 in GTHL Semi-Finals.

Players to Watch: Mackenzie Lemmon (F), Daniel Nikandrov (F), Jordan DeKort (G)

Outlook:  Well coached team that plays hard each and every shift.  They look to take advantage of their opponent’s mistakes and have improved all year long.

 

Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs

Qualified: OMHA Invite

Head Coach: Fred Lucibello

Notable OHL Alumni: Jarrod Maidens, Owen Sound Attack

Record: 42-20-10

Road to the OHL Cup: Lost 2-0 to the St. Catharines Jr. Falcons in the SCTA Playdowns. 

Players to Watch: Carter Verhaeghe (F), Josh Pace (F), Jason O’Connor (D)

Outlook:  Hard working team that likes to grind opponents down with three solid lines.  They really turned it on after Christmas, looking to surprise some teams.

 

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