OHL 2017-2018 Season Preview: Western Conference

East look to get back on top after Western Conference wins league championship

Kitchener Rangers

Division: Midwest
Coach: Jay McKee
2016-17 record: 36-27- 5

Key Additions:

Grayson Ladd – Pos: D – Prev Team: – Chatham-Kent Bantam AAA/Chatham Maroons – 2017
OHL Priority Draft RD: 1 Pick: 13
Logan Stanley – Pos: D – Prev Team: – Windsor Spitfires – Acquired in exchange for a
conditional 15 th round pick in the 2018 Priority Selection
Adam Liska – Pos: LW – Prev Team: Orange HK 20 – 2017 CHL Import Draft RD: 1 Pick: 29
Rickard Hugg – Pos: C – Prev Team: Leksands IF Jr. – 2017 CHL Import Draft RD: 2 Pick: 60
Anthony Dumont-Bouchard – Pos: G – Prev Team: – Acadie-Bathurst Titan – Acquired in
exchange for 2018 OHL Priority Selection 14 th round pick
Mike Petizian – Pos: LW – Prev Team: – Mississauga Reps Min Midget AAA – 2017 OHL
Priority Draft RD: 5 Pick: 92
Jack York – Pos: D – Prev Team: Kemptville 73’s (CCHL) – 2016 OHL Priority Selection RD:
5 Pick: 98

The Rangers finished sixth in the Western Conference, and fourth in the Midwest division last season with 77 points, against tough competition. Two teams cracked 100 points in the Midwest, the Owen Sound Attack and Erie Otters, and a third in the London Knights reached 99, thus the Rangers faced off against a dominant Attack as the lower seed.

“I think we have pretty high expectations for this season. We have a lot of returning players, and then we’ve added some guys via the import draft and by trade as well,” said GM Mike McKenzie. “A year older doesn’t always mean a year better, but I think the guys in our room and our staff have pretty high expectations for our team this year, and we’re really looking forward to getting things started.”

Key Departures:

Frank Hora – (Overage Graduation)
Darby Llewellyn – (Overage Graduation)
Dylan Di Perna – (Overage Graduation)
Andrew Burns – (Overage Graduation)

Despite the first round exit in the 2016-17 playoffs the Rangers have a reason to be optimistic as both Adam Mascherin and Connor Bunnaman are returning following impressive seasons. Mascherin put up 100 points, for third league wide, behind only Alex DeBrincat and Taylor Raddysh.

He scored 35 goals for the second consecutive season, and returns for his fourth season as a Ranger with Bunnaman, who scored 37. Mascherin will be a player to watch this season according to his general manager.

“He had a real great year last year, put up 100 points, 3rd in league scoring I think, so he’s definitely our go to player and a guy to watch and to kinda zone in on if you ever get to see this team play,” said McKenzie in a phone interview.

“Offensively, he’s one of the best offensive guys and best shooters in the league so that was a guy that really took a step forward in production and rounding out his game. We’re hoping and looking forward
to seeing Adam kinda take that next step again this year.”

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Posted: Sep 23 2017 6:53 pm
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