The OHL Central Division was a tight race for the better part of the season last year with the Barrie Colts pulling away late.
But it was the Niagara Ice Dogs who surprised many by sweeping the Colts in the third round only to lose to the London Knights in the OHL Final. This may be the most open the Central Division has been in years, with no clear favourite for the banner.
It's a new dawn, a new day where every team has those same hopes of winning it all, and if the pre-season tells us anything, the Northern rivalries of old may be back.
Sudbury Wolves
2015-16 record/standing: 16-46-5-1
10th in Eastern Conference - 5th in Central Division
Playoff result: Missed playoffs
Head Coach: David Matsos
2016 First round pick: Owen Lalonde, 2nd overall
Predictions: 3rd in Central Division
Barrie Colts
2015-16 record/standing: 43-22-0-3
Second in Eastern Conference - First in Central Division
Playoff result: Lost in third round to Niagara Ice Dogs
Head Coach: Dale Hawerchuk
First round draft pick: Jack McBain 20th overall
Predictions: 4th in Central Division
The Colts have been a model of consistency over the last few years winning the Central Division three of the last four seasons. But the landscape of the division is changing and the Colts are going to be young. Winning comes easy when you have players like Andrew Mangiapane, Justin Scott, Rasmus Andersson and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. All of those players are gone and the colts have made moves this offseason to get younger. They are always a tough team to play against and will make the playoffs but it will be in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference.
North Bay Battalion
2015-16 record/standing: 35-23-6-4
Third in Eastern Conference - Second in Central Division
Playoff result: Lost in first round
Head Coach: Stan Butler
First round draft pick: Adam McMaster 13th overall
Predictions: 2nd in Central Division
One can never count out the Troop, and for that reason we are giving them a second place finish. A Stan Butler team can never be counted out no matter who is on their roster. But this roster is a younger one so they may take a step back record wise overall but still finish higher than they did a season ago. Look for second year player Cam Dineen to take the next step after a 59 point rookie season. But Mike Amadio, Kyle Wood, Mathew Santos and Jake Smith are gone, so players like Zach Poirier and Brett McKenzie will have to help out Dineen this season.
Mississauga Steelheads
2015-16 record/standing: 33-30-2-3
Seventh in Eastern Conference - Fourth in Central Division
Playoff result: Lost in first round
Head Coach: James Richmond
2015 First round pick: Kirill Nizhnikov 8th overall (traded to Barrie)
Predictions: 1st in Central Division
The Steelheads surprised many last season by making a trip to the post-season and pushing the Barrie Colts to a game seven. They lost Alexander Nylander and others but have a very strong returning group of Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian, Sean Day and Owen Tippett. They also went out and traded for goalie Matthew Mancina. In what may be the most open Central Division in years, the Steelheads should take advantage of the opportunity and swim upstream to the top of the division and conference.
Niagara Ice Dogs
2015-16 record/standing: 35-26-4-3
Fourth in Eastern Conference - Third in Central Division
Playoff result: Lost in OHL Final to London
Head Coach: Dave Bell
2015 First round pick: Akil Thomas 12th overall
Predictions: 5th in Central Division
The Ice Dogs were a weird team last season. They were early favourites to go all the way, then played a ho-hum regular season only to find their stride in the playoffs and go all the way to the OHL Final. That may not be in the cards because all, literally all of their top scores are gone. Notably Josh Ho-Sang, Jordan Maletta, Brendan Perlini and Anthony DiFruscia. It’s going to be a rebuild year, possibly a couple years as their top pick didn’t come until number 12 in the OHL Draft.