OHL 2017-18 Season Preview: Eastern Conference

The Bobby Orr Trophy is up for grabs again this year, and there are several teams vying for the crown

Oshawa Generals

Division: East

Coach: Bob Jones

2016-17 Record: 40-23-3 (2nd in division, 3rd in conference)

Key Additions:

Mitchell Brewer (D, OHL Priority Selection), Nick Wong (C, OHL Priority Selection), Eric Lalonde (D, OHL Priority Selection), Zachary Paputsakis (G, OHL Priority Selection), Adam Jeffrey (LW, OHL Priority Selection), Cole Spencer (LW, OHL Priority Selection), John Farinacci (D, OHL Priority Selection)

Key Departures:

Joe Manchurek, Medric Mercier, Jeremy Brodeur

Last season the Oshawa Generals surprised many during the 2016-17 OHL campaign, finishing third in the eastern conference and making it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the Mississauga Steelheads.

Despite the departure of key veterans and members of the club’s 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup team, Anthony Cirelli and Mitchell Vande Sompel, specifically, the Generals were able to bring in a slew of prospects from this summer and last to help continue to build the foundation of the team. Though the majority of the club is relatively young, there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the future of the organization with players like Allan McShane, Serron Noel, Danil Antropov, William Ennis and Swiss defenceman Nico Gross.

Top Players:

Jack Studnicka (C) – 64 GP / 18 G / 34 A / 52 Pts /  36 PIM / -6

Domenic Commisso (C) – 68 GP / 19 G /  44 A / 63 Pts / 36 PIM / -1

Eric Henderson (LW) – 65 GP / 22 G / 30 A / 52 Pts / 14 PIM / +6

Mason Kohn (C) – 67 GP / 11 G / 29 A / 19 Pts / 48 PIM / -4

Kenny Huether (RW) – 68 GP / 16 G / 17 A / 33 Pts / 53 PIM / +2

Kyle Keyser (G) – 26 GP / 3.40 GAA / 0.891 Sv% / 0 Shutouts

Mason Kohn (C) and Kenny Huether (C) will likely share frontline duties with Jack Studnicka, Domenic Commisso and Eric Henderson in the upcoming season. Studnicka, who was drafted by the Boston Bruins last year in the second round, had a tremendous finish to last season, finishing with 17 points in just five playoff games; while young, he is expected to lead the charge at centre.

Henderson, Commisso, Huether and Kohn combined for 167 points last season and will surely be called upon to spearhead head coach Bob Jones’ offence, especially with the departure of Anthony Cirelli this past January during the trade deadline.

Defensively, the team is likely to see a drop off with defensive stalwarts Mitchell Vande Sompel and Medric Mercier not returning due to overage graduation. But with Riley Stillman and Sean Allen still in the mix, the drop off should not be substantial.

Although Brodeur’s absence isn’t ideal, the Generals expect goaltender Kyle Keyser to fill in his shoes. Keyser has two seasons under his belt (Flint and Oshawa) and is surely prepared to start an entire season now that Brodeur’s gone.

It looks as though the Generals may be in store for another 40-plus win season in a relatively competitive East Division. Though the club will miss their core veteran crew this season, there’s a new crop of young prospects on the rise and ready to take over the helm.

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Posted: Sep 23 2017 6:45 pm
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