2014 OHL Cup Preview

The 2014 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament begins on Tuesday March 11 at Buckingham Arena in Toronto.

Here’s a fan’s guide to the 20 competing teams:

 

Division 1:

Toronto Jr Canadiens

Qualified: GTHL Champions

Players to Watch:  Jakob Chychrun (D) (injured), Travis Barron (F), Victor Mete (D)

Notable Alum: Spencer Martin (Mississauga Steelheads)

Outlook:  A balanced and well coached team that plays hard from the opening whistle to the final buzzer, relentless in all three zones of the ice.

 

Hamilton Jr Bulldogs

Qualified: OMHA Bronze Medalist

Players to Watch: Brandon Saigeon (F), Nicholas Caamano (F), Jonathon Schaefer (D)

Notable Alum: Carter Verhaeghe (Niagara IceDogs)

Outlook: A very skilled team with a ton of individual talent. They had an up and down season, but finished it off with a Bronze Medal at the OMHA’s and are looking to build off of last weekend.

 

Ottawa Jr. 67’s

Qualified: OEMHL Finalist

Players to Watch: William Bitten (F), Keenan Reynolds (F), Patrick Steski (G)

Notable Alum: Zac Leslie (Guelph Storm)

Outlook: Had a strong regular season finishing first and losing in league finals.  Deep team with a couple of key go to players, but can beat you a number of ways.  Very good team speed.

 

Team NOHA

Qualified: Northern Ontario Hockey Association Rep

Players to Watch: Zack Dorval (F), Raphael Lecours (F), Zachary Senecal (F)

Notable Alum: Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

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

 

North York Rangers

Qualified: Wild Card win over Don Mills Flyers

Players to Watch:  Luke Kutkevicius (F), Connor Cruickshank (D), Danill Vertiy (F)

Notable Alum: Gemel Smith (London Knights)

Outlook:  An offensive minded freewheeling type of team that is fun to watch.  They had a solid season in a very tough GTHL this year.

 

Division 2:

Ottawa Valley Titans

Qualified: OEMHL Champion

Players to Watch: Tye Felhaber (F), Jacob Collins (F), Taylor Egan (D)

Notable Alum: Riley Bruce (North Bay Battalion)

Outlook: A very offensive minded team that loves to score goals in bunches. Have a solid goaltending tandem to go along solid of position player.

 

Mississauga Senators

Qualified: GTHL Semi-Finalist

Players to Watch: Michael Pezzetta (F), Jordan Kyrou (F), Matthew Thom (D)

Notable Alum: Franky Palazzese (Sudbury Wolves)

Outlook:  Very well coached team that plays well in all three zones.  Very hard working and hard to play against team that earns everything they get.

 

Peterborough Petes

Qualified: OMHA 4th Place

Players to Watch: Riley Stillman (D), James Allen (F), Cameron Harris (F)

Notable Alum: Chad Heffernan (Belleville Bulls)

Outlook:  A very well coached team that continued to get better with each game this season. They play a very tight checking style and will wait for the other team to make mistakes and capitalize on their chances.

 

Chatham Kent Cyclones

Qualified: ALLIANCE Semi-Finalist Series Winner

Players to Watch: Joseph Raaymakers (G), Brendan Harrogate (F), Ben Nicholls (D)

Notable Alum: Dane Fox (Erie Otters)

Outlook: Had a solid playoff run.  Play a good team game and rely on solid goaltending and timely scoring.

 

South Central Coyotes

Qualified: Wild Card win over Brantford 99ers

Players to Watch:  David Pearce (F), Jordan Sambrook (D), Kyle Thomas (F)

Outlook:  Had a very good regular season and ran into a hot team in the playoffs.  A team with a very balanced attack and solid goaltending.

 

Division 3:

Waterloo Wolves

Qualified: ALLIANCE Champions

Players to Watch: Boris Katchouk (F), Logan Stanley (D), Chase Cambell (F)

Notable Alum: Brent Pedersen (Kitchener Rangers)

Outlook:  Had a very good league and playoff season.  They have a very solid blue line to go along with some very dynamic forwards.

 

Toronto Marlies

Qualified: GTHL Finalist

Players to Watch: Taylor Raddysh (F), Reagan O’Grady (D), Michael McLeod (F)

Notable Alum: Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs)

Outlook:  One of the most individually skilled teams in the tournament, exciting to watch as they have a number of very dynamic players.

 

Elite Hockey Group

Qualified: USA Rep

Players to Watch:  Shaun Bily (F), Cameron Dineen (D), Marcus Dickerson (F)

Outlook:  Look to test themselves against some of the best Minor Midget teams in Ontario.  Will be challenged to find team chemistry in a short event

 

Southern Tier Admirals

Qualified: OMHA Finalist

Players to Watch: Reid Yochim (D), Zach Moore (G), Nicholas Prestia (F)

Notable Alum: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)

Outlook:  A very well coached team that plays a very well structured game.  A deep team that relies on a solid defensive effort and very good goaltending.

 

Guelph Gryphons

Qualified: Wild Card win over Halton Hurricanes

Players to Watch: Sean Allen (D), Connor Bunnaman (F), Liam Devine (G)

Notable Alum: Patrick Sanvido (Windsor Spitfires)

Outlook:  They had a very solid season and playoff tournament.  They ran into some injury problems at the OMHA championships and if healthy will be a team to watch.

 

Division 4:

Whitby Wildcats

Qualified: OMHA Champions

Players to Watch: Matthew Hotchkiss (F), Jonah Gadjovich (F), Jack Hanley (D)

Notable Alum: Holden Cook (Owen Sound Attack)

Outlook:  They are playing some of their best hockey of the season at exactly the right time.   A well balanced team that competes hard each and every shift.

 

Vaughan Kings

Qualified: GTHL Semi-Finalist

Players to Watch: Adam Mascherin (F), Cole Candella (D), Ryan Barbosa (D)

Notable Alum: Dylan Sadowy (Saginaw Spirit)

Outlook:  Had a very consistent season in their league play as well as the major tournaments.  Very opportunistic and they need few chances to make teams pay.

 

TPH Thunder

Qualified: USA Rep

Player s to Watch:  Tyler Johnson (G), Matthew Jakubowski (F),

Notable Alum: Cole Cassels (Oshawa Generals)

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

 

Kitchener Jr Rangers

Qualified: ALLIANCE Finalist

Players to Watch: Nicolas Hague (D), Tyler Kleine (F), Owen Lane (F)

Notable Alum: Mitchell Theoret (Barrie Colts)

Outlook:  Had a very strong playoff run in the Alliance. They are a well coached, hard working team that relies on timely scoring and solid goaltending. 

 

Thunder Bay Kings

Qualified: HNO Rep

Players to Watch: Bradley Belisle (F), Troy Williams (D), Brendan Gillis (F)

Notable Alum: Matt Murray (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

Outlook:  Hard working well coached team that plays with grit, skill and competes hard while playing a team game.  Is always a team that shows great development it their game from the start of the season.

 

For more information including schedule, rosters, and stats please visit www.ohlcup.ca.