With the launch of #OHLOpeningWeek, a poll of various media who cover the League in broadcast booths and press boxes provides opinions and analysis on some of the players and teams to watch in 2023-24.
Below is a compilation of the most popular answers with select media comments to support their decisions. This year’s media poll came down to the wire, with the London Knights and Saginaw Spirit both equally supported in voting to predict which team will win this year’s OHL Championship.
Which team will win the Midwest Division?
London Knights (80%)
“Loaded with talent up and down the lineup, the London Knights look as strong as any team in the OHL. The Knights’ back-end led by Dickinson, Bonk and Jackson could be the best in the League.”
Honourable Mentions: Guelph Storm (10%), and Owen Sound Attack (10%)
Which team will win the West Division?
Saginaw Spirit (95%)
“The 2024 Memorial Cup hosts started building last year and will be all-in this season. Having two of the best rookies in the league last year, this team will only get stronger as the season goes on.”
Honourable Mention: Soo Greyhounds (5%)
Which team will win the East Division?
Ottawa 67’s (75%)
“The class of the Division. Dave Cameron will want to go after a title again after they were supposed to be there last season.”
Honourable Mention: Oshawa Generals (15%)
Which team will win the Central Division?
Sudbury Wolves (65%)
“They won’t run away with it in what should be a tight Division, but with the talent of Goyette, Musty, Delic, Villeneuve, Pharand, and Konyen, the Wolves are armed with plenty of firepower up front.”
Honourable Mention: Barrie Colts (25%)
Which team will be the most surprising?
Erie Otters (30%)
“There is a lot to like about this young team. They have a lot of young talent with a good mix of veterans to teach these young players. I don’t expect them to compete for a division title but I think they will open a lot of eyes with their progress this season.”
Honourable Mentions: Mississauga Steelheads (20%)
Which player will lead the League in scoring?
David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves (50%)
“With 41 goals and 92 points last season, Goyette is a force with a wealth of talented forwards around him in Sudbury. The Seattle Kraken sniper should pass the 100-point mark this season.”
Honourable Mention: Matthew Poitras, Guelph Storm (30%)
Who will be the League’s best goaltender?
Dom DiVincentiis, North Bay Battalion (75%)
“He was the OHL Goaltender of the Year last season, and while the Troops are a much younger group this year, DiVincentiis will keep them competitive. He could be the most sought-after player come the trade deadline.”
Honourable Mention: Michael Simpson, London Knights (15%)
Who will be the League’s best defenceman?
Ty Nelson, North Bay Battalion (75%)
“This is the year of Ty Nelson. He took a huge step forward last season and should continue to perform this year.”
Honourable Mention: Oliver Bonk, London Knights and Zayne Parekh, Saginaw Spirit (10%)
Who will be the League’s top rookie?
Matthew Schaefer, Erie Otters (45%)
“The Erie Otters should take a big step forward and a big reason for that will be this young stud defenceman who should be ready to log important minutes despite being 16-years-old. Schaefer plays a complete game and it won’t take Otters fans long to grow to love their new star on the blueline.”
Honourable Mention: Brady Martin, Soo Greyhounds (25%)
Who will win Coach of the Year honours?
Chris Lazary, Saginaw Spirit (45%)
“The Spirit have one of the top coaches in the OHL and he’ll get the recognition he deserves heading up to the Memorial Cup. A strong motivator, he impressed with a fairly young team last season.”
Honourable mention: Dale Hunter, London Knights (20%)
Who will be the League’s top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft?
Sam Dickinson, London Knights (75%)
Dickinson has proven he’s a top two-way defenceman who can skate and has great reach and size, something NHL scouts won’t look past.”
Honourable Mention: Zayne Parekh (20%)
Who will be the League’s most outstanding player of the year?
David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves (25%)
“I expect Goyette to lead the league in scoring and that usually makes a player a top contender for the Red Tilson Trophy, especially given that Sudbury should be a top contender in the East.”
Honourable Mention: Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (20%)
Who will win the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference champion?
London Knights and Saginaw Spirit (45%)
“I think the London Knights are once again the best team in the West. They have a nice mix of young players and veterans and they complement each other so well. Adding a championship goaltender puts them over the top.”
“This is the biggest season in Spirit franchise history and I think they’re going to make sure they find a way to capitalize on it.”
Honourable Mention: Guelph Storm and Owen Sound Attack (5%)
Who will win the Bobby Orr Trophy as Eastern Conference champion?
Sudbury Wolves (50%)
“Much of Sudbury’s core is returning and I’ve been really impressed by Jakub Vondras. Get a hot goalie at the right time, and the Wolves could find their way back to a final for the first time since 2007.”
Honourable Mention: Barrie Colts (25%)
Who will win the Robertson Cup as OHL champion?
London Knights and Saginaw Spirit (40%)
“The Knights came two wins away from doing it last year. I expect they’ll finish the job this time around.”
“I think Saginaw will be able to do it. With the Spirit hosting the Memorial Cup, I think it will be a very fun story to follow.”
Honourable Mention: Sudbury Wolves (15%)
• Greyhounds sign netminder Noah Tegelaar
• Otters hire former long-time WHL coach Kris Mallette as 11th Head Coach in club history
• Fourteen OHL graduates competing in 4 Nations Face-Off
• Rangers visit Frontenacs in upcoming Friday Night Faceoff
• Steelheads surge back onto 20th edition of OHL Power Rankings
• Knights’ Allen suspended pending outcome of League review
• Spirit’s Chernyshov continues hot start, named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
• Petes sign 2007-born goaltender Dylan Lee-Stack
• Attack’s Bruce McDonald commits to Robert Morris University
• Bulldogs’ Leenders named OHL Goaltender of the Week
• Registration underway for OHL Performance Development Program
• Attack’s Mbuyi named OHL Rookie of the Week
• Explore the OHL: Kingston Frontenacs
• Day’s 63rd win a new Firebirds record
• OHL celebrates Black Heritage Month throughout February
• Schaefer headlines list of 67 OHL players named to NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings
Which 2008-born forward will finish with the most points this season?
View Results
• Greyhounds sign netminder Noah Tegelaar
• Otters hire former long-time WHL coach Kris Mallette as 11th Head Coach in club history
• Fourteen OHL graduates competing in 4 Nations Face-Off
• Rangers visit Frontenacs in upcoming Friday Night Faceoff
• Steelheads surge back onto 20th edition of OHL Power Rankings
• Knights’ Allen suspended pending outcome of League review
• Spirit’s Chernyshov continues hot start, named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
• Petes sign 2007-born goaltender Dylan Lee-Stack
• Attack’s Bruce McDonald commits to Robert Morris University
• Bulldogs’ Leenders named OHL Goaltender of the Week
• Registration underway for OHL Performance Development Program
• Attack’s Mbuyi named OHL Rookie of the Week
• Explore the OHL: Kingston Frontenacs
• Day’s 63rd win a new Firebirds record
• OHL celebrates Black Heritage Month throughout February
• Schaefer headlines list of 67 OHL players named to NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings
Which 2008-born forward will finish with the most points this season?
View Results
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