2016 OHL Cup: Meet the teams
The 20-team field is set and the puck has dropped at the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament! Action is underway with round-robin games continuing through Friday March 18 followed by Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals on Saturday March 19 all at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto. The Championship Final takes place on Monday March 21 at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
Here’s a fan’s guide to the 20 competing teams:
Lindros Division:
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Regular season: 22-8-3, 4th GTHL)
Qualified: GTHL Semi-Finalist (Lost to Toronto Marlboros 8-4 in pts.)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (5-1-0-0, lost in semi-finals)
Players to Watch: Kirill Nizhnikov (F), Sergey Popov (F), Matthew Falls (F)
Notable Alum: Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia Sting)
Outlook: Recent injury to standout blueliner Ryan Merkley hasn’t kept him out of the showcase as he re-joins quality minute-eaters in Aidan Timmermans and Ryan Boon on the back end. Offensively gifted forwards Kirill Nizhnikov and Sergey Popov have game-breaking abilities and when at the top of their game can seemingly score at will. A team to keep an eye on this week.
—
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs (Regular season: 29-3-4, 1st SCTA)
Qualified: OMHA Finalists (L 5-2 vs. York-Simcoe)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2014 (2-2-0-0)
Players to Watch: Jack Wismer (F), Trevor LeDonne (D), Tanner Sheppard (G)
Notable Alum: Brandon Saigeon (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Outlook: OMHA Finalists were a dominant force in the SCTA this season with eight different scorers in double digits. With solid team depth and a highly touted goaltender in Tanner Sheppard, the Bulldogs are right where they belong at the 2016 OHL Cup.
—
Thunder Bay Kings (Regular season: 8-14-3, 13th NAPHL)
Qualified: HNO Representative
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (1-2-0-1)
Players to Watch: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (F), Jett Leishman (F), Fletcher Anderson (F)
Notable Alum: Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts)
Outlook: Kings had a hard time creating offence in the NAPHL’s Under-16 circuit this season and will need a commitment to defence if they want to make noise this week. Goaltenders Scott Adams and Seth McKay will be looked to for support as the Kings square off with some unfamiliar opponents.
—
Waterloo Wolves (Regular season: 24-5-4, 2nd ALLIANCE)
Qualified: ALLIANCE Champions (defeated London Jr. Knights 7-5 in pts.)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (2-3-0-0, quarter-final loss to Jr. Canadiens)
Players to Watch: Mitch Hoelscher (F), Chris Playfair (F), Nathan Torchia (G)
Notable Alum: Logan Stanley (Windsor Spitfires)
Outlook: Minor Midget Wolves have been perennial competitors, claiming their third straight ALLIANCE title last weekend. Deep forward group consisting of Mitch Hoelscher, Chris Playfair, Alex Gritz and Spencer Kersten provides the goals while top draft eligible netminder Nathan Torchia keeps them out. A well-rounded, well-coached group.
—
Niagara North Stars (Regular season: 17-10-9, 4th SCTA)
Qualified: Wild Card Play-In victory vs. Markham (Game Summary)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: First OHL Cup appearance
Players to Watch: Hunter Holmes (F), Adam McMaster (F), Riley McCourt (D)
Notable Alum: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Outlook: Holmes and McMaster provide a nice 1-2 punch offensively, but the Stars will need contributions from up and down their lineup this week. Without top blueliner Riley McCourt (day-to-day) to begin the showcase, they’ll need others to step up and fill the void in his absence.
—
Nash Division:
Toronto Marlboros (Regular season: 27-4-2, 1st GTHL)
Qualified: GTHL Semi-Finalist (defeated Jr. Canadiens 8-4 in pts., face Miss. Rebels in GTHL Finals)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (6-1-0-0, OHL Cup Champions, Matthew Strome OT winner vs. Don Mills)
Players to Watch: Allan McShane (F), Akil Thomas (F), Thomas Tinmouth (F)
Notable Alum: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Outlook: Marlies are at the top of the heap in the GTHL again this season. High-powered attack can go toe-to-toe against any opponent but Marlies need to show that they can shut down the OHL Cup’s best opposing offences. Looking for their third straight OHL Cup title.
—
Southern Tier Admirals (Regular season: 21-7-8, 2nd SCTA)
Qualified: OMHA 4th place (L 1-0 in OT to Barrie)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2014 (2-2-0-0)
Players to Watch: Owen Cole (F), Tyler Angle (F), Daylon Groulx (F)
Notable Alum: Niki Petti (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Outlook: Admirals have played their best hockey in the last two months, coming on towards the end of the season to make it into the OMHA Championships where they placed fourth after a 1-0 overtime loss to Barrie. A scrappy, hard-working team that will have to be at their best this week to come away with the desired result.
—
Team NOHA
Qualified: NOHA Representative
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (0-4-0-0)
Players to Watch: Lucas Theriault (F), Billy Moskal (F), Damien Giroux (F)
Notable Alum: Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Outlook: One of the strongest NOHA entries in recent years, group of the top northern talent will garner plenty of attention throughout the week with several quality forwards in the lineup. Talent level is there, but coming together will be the process needed to beat the OHL Cup’s best.
—
TPH Hockey
Qualified: USA Invite
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (2-2-0-0)
Players to Watch: Josh Maine (F), Alec Regula (D), Jack Tucker (D)
Notable Alum: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Outlook: TPH looks to make it a fourth straight year of at least two wins at the OHL Cup and has the tools to accomplish that with Michigan high school standouts Josh Maine and Alec Regula in the lineup. Underage forward Tag Bertuzzi will be one to watch this week. Is the son of Guelph Storm grad and NHL vet Todd Bertuzzi.
—
Quinte Red Devils (Regular season: 19-11-6, 3rd ETA East)
Qualified: Wild Card Play-In win vs. Vaughan (Game Summary)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (3-1-0-1, quarter-final OT loss to Toronto Marlboros)
Players to Watch: Nathan Dunkley (F), Dawson Baker (F), Joe Roy (D)
Notable Alum: Brady Gilmour (Saginaw Spirit)
Outlook: After icing a highly competitive team that reached the OHL Cup quarter-finals last year, the Red Devils are back after a 4-2 Wild Card Play-In victory over the Vaughan Kings. Nathan Dunkley gives Quinte one of the most dynamic forwards in the showcase while complimentary shooters Dawson Baker and Matt Sherwin contribute to the scoring punch. Performance of depth players will be a determining factor of Quinte’s success this week.
Subban Division:
Toronto Red Wings (Regular season: 23-6-4, 3rd GTHL)
Qualified: GTHL Semi-Finalist (Lost to Miss. Rebels 8-4 in pts.)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2014 (0-4-0-0)
Players to Watch: Barrett Hayton (F), Luke Moncada (F), Travis Mailhot (D)
Notable Alum: Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads)
Outlook: A swift-skating, fast paced team capable of scoring in bunches. The Red Wings were right in the thick of things in the GTHL this season, making it into the semi-finals before recently being eliminated by the the Mississauga Rebels.
—
York-Simcoe Express (Regular season: 26-4-4, 1st ETA West)
Qualified: OMHA Champions (W 5-2 vs. Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (2-2-0-0)
Players to Watch: Cameron Hillis (F), Matthew MacDougall (F), Carter Robertson (D)
Notable Alum: Travis Dermott (Erie Otters)
Outlook: The Express come at opponents with speed and a hard forecheck. OMHA Champions have the skill and depth to be in the discussion come Saturday. Boast one of the best bluelines in the province.
—
Windsor Jr. Spitfires (Regular season: 15-12-6, 6th ALLIANCE)
Qualified: ALLIANCE Wild Card Series (2-1 series victory vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2007 (1-2-1-0) (Team included NHL forward Zack Kassian)
Players to Watch: Owen Lalonde (D), Blake McConville (F), Kory Silverio (F)
Notable Alum: Anthony Salinitri (Sarnia Sting)
Outlook: Jr. Spits rely on the contributions of elite blueliner Owen Lalonde who plays in all situations. Jake Rosa stepped up in the playoffs to lead the team in scoring while Kory Silverio and Evan Ferguson factor into the offence regularly. The Spits are back at the OHL Cup for the first time since 2007.
—
Mississauga Senators (Regular season: 12-13-8, 7th GTHL)
Qualified: Wild Card Play-In win vs. Halton (Game Summary)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2014 (2-2-1-0, quarter-final loss to Tor. Marlboros)
Players to Watch: Alexis Gravel (G), Olivier Charest (F), Martin Templeton (D)
Notable Alum: Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)
Outlook: After a tight defensive win over Halton on Tuesday, the Sens enter as a Wild Card and will rely on the strong goaltending of Alexis Gravel to keep them in games down the stretch. Scoring will be the challenge for the Senators, who had the lowest number of goals scored among the GTHL’s top eight teams.
—
Greater Kingston Jr. Frontenacs (Regular season: 24-9-3, 1st ETA East)
Qualified: Wild Card Play-In win vs. Clarington (Game Summary)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2008 (1-2-1-0) (Team included AHL defenceman Scott Harrington)
Players to Watch: Nolan Hutcheson (F), Mathieu Halle (F), Jack Duff (D)
Notable Alum: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Outlook: Surrendered just 78 goals, leading the ETA East this season thanks to solid team defence and goaltending. The Fronts look to Jack Duff as their go-to on the powerplay while leading scorer Nolan Hutcheson joins Mitchell Larabie, Cole Edwards and Mathieu Halle in paving the way offensively.
—
Shanahan Division:
Barrie Jr. Colts (Regular season: 20-8-6, 3rd ETA West)
Qualified: OMHA Finalists (L 5-2 vs. York Simcoe Express)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2013 (4-1-0-0, quarter-final loss to TPH Thunder)
Players to Watch: Dennis Busby (D), Connor Corcoran (D), Jacob Ingham (G)
Notable Alum: Tyler MacArthur (Owen Sound Attack)
Outlook: The Colts feature solid goaltending from Jacob Ingham and Parker Simpson and an accomplished smooth-skating blueliner in Dennis Busby. A gritty team led by undersized buzzsaw Barrett Kirwin, the Colts can compete with the best of them.
—
Elite Hockey Group
Qualified: USA Invite
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (0-4-0-0)
Players to Watch: Kevin Wall (F), Jake Goldowski (F), Sam Steele (F)
Notable Alum: Cam Dineen (North Bay Battalion)
Outlook: Feature a number of intriguing players up front including the Buffalo tandem of Kevin Wall and Trevor Peca. Looking to reach two wins in the showcase for the first time since 2011. Skill is there, coming together is the challenge.
—
London Jr. Knights (Regular season: 24-3-6, 1st ALLIANCE)
Qualified: ALLIANCE Finalists (Loss to Waterloo Wolves 7-5 in pts.)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (4-1-1-0, semi-final loss to Toronto Marlboros)
Players to Watch: Eric Guest (F), Joel Mazzilli (F), Brett Fisher (F), Kyle Fisher (F)
Notable Alum: Ethan Szypula (Owen Sound Attack)
Outlook: Jr. Knights out for redemption after falling in the ALLIANCE Finals against Waterloo. Intelligent forwards in Eric Guest, Brett & Kyle Fisher and Joel Mazzilli lead the charge on the scoresheet. Will be tasked with shutting down bigger, more physical opponents.
—
Mississauga Rebels (Regular season: 24-3-6, 2nd GTHL)
Qualified: GTHL Semi-Finalst (def. Toronto Red Wings 8-4 in pts., will face Toronto Marlboros in GTHL Finals)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2013 (2-0-1-1)
Players to Watch: Peter Stratis (D), Ryan Littlejohn (F), Sam Bitten (F)
Notable Alum: Stephen Desrocher (Kingston Frontenacs)
Outlook: Rebels have consistently remained among GTHL’s top teams throughout the season, getting solid play on the blueline from Peter Stratis and D.J. King while Ryan Littlejohn, Sam Bitten, Riley Damiani and underage standout Jack Hughes take care of things offensively. Looking for their first OHL Cup title since Robby Fabbri raised the trophy in 2012.
—
Don Mills Flyers (Regular season: 16-11-6, 5th GTHL)
Qualified: Wild Card Play-In win vs. Kitchener in 20T (Game Summary)
Last OHL Cup Appearance: 2015 (6-0-0-1, Championship OT loss to Toronto Marlboros)
Players to Watch: Tyler Weiss (F), Jack McBain (F), Declan Chisholm (D)
Notable Alum: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Outlook: The Flyers are riding high off Tuesday’s double overtime Wild Card win over Kitchener and are getting some great performances from high-end forwards in Tyler Weiss, Jack McBain and Wyllum Deveaux. They’ve got something to prove after finishing outside of the GTHL’s top four.
For more information including schedule, rosters, and stats please visit www.ohlcup.ca.
