EASTERN CONFERENCE 2021- 2022

[Blacksox]

EASTERN CONFERENCE 2021- 2022 (As of Jan.2, 2021)

For those who’ve written off the 20-21 season, here is an early look at the 21-22 Eastern Conference – and there’s reason to be optimistic, as the IceDogs resurface in a much better situation than several other teams.

In 20-21, the IceDogs were neither contenders, buyers nor sellers – and losing no players of major significance. Accepting the fact that player development was lost league wide, the IceDogs come out on the other side relatively unscathed, unlike those who lost opportunities at championships or trades (to restock draft cupboard).



TIER I - TOP TEAM

BARRIE COLTS
DRAFT PICKS
6- 2nd and 5- 3rd (+ 4 unspecified conditional picks)

GRADS
20-21 99 J.Nelson; 99 A.Brown; 99 C.Cameron
21-22 00 V.Hadfield; 00 L.Bignell; OA-01 A.Silovs (SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01 N.Porco (Drafted - Unsigned)
OA-01 M.Hill (Drafted - Unsigned)
OA-01 ATabak
OA-01 N. Allensen
OA-01 J. Greaves
02 T.Foerster (Drafted - SIGNED)
02 E.Vierling (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 E.Cardwell (Undraftd)
03 B.Clarke
+ 03 C.Punnett
+ 04 H.Haight
+ 04 C.Matthews
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 2nd,2nd, 3rd, 3rd

OUTLOOK: Barrie returns a strong 02 core, a pair of NHL Drafted OAs (assuming they remain UNSIGNED) and an emerging superstar 03 Brande Clarke. Colts need a veteran top 4 defenceman and a top-tier goalie, but they have the draft capital to be the top team.



TIER II – NEXT FOUR
(Alphabetical Order)

KINGSTON FRONTENACS
DRAFT PICKS
3 - 2nd and 4 - 3rd

GRADS
20-21 99 C.Propp; 99 J.Brahaney; 99 N.King; 99 J.Pringle
21-22 00 D.Baker; 00 J.Roach

TEAM CORE
OA-01 J.Frasca
OA-01 L.Rowe
OA-01 N.Wong
OA-01 D.Hutton
OA-01 L.Peric
OA-01 E.Brand
OA-01 P.Dugas
04 S.Wright
02 M.Chromiak (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 Z.Wisdom (Drafted – SIGNED)
02 J.Murray (Undrafted)
02 V.Pinchuk (Undrafted)
+ 03 F.Acuri
+ 03 M.Callens
+ 03 B.Hache
+ 04 P.Ludwinski
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

OUTLOOK: Kingston features the OHL’s best #1 line: Phenom Shane Wright, M.Chromiak and Z.Wisdom. However, the Fronts can only retain 3 of their 7 returning 01s, leaving several holes to fill and limited draft assets to do so. Shane Wright’s final OHL year, therefore, Kingston needs to figure out a way to be buyers in their “Go for it” year.



NIAGARA ICEDOGS
DRAFT PICKS
6- 2nd and 3- 3rd

GRADS
20-21 99 E.Roberts; 99 I.Lodnia; 99 O.Castleman
21-22 00 D.Murphy; 00 A.Beraldo; 00 B.Hinz. 00 A.Bruder

TEAM CORE
OA-01 M.Howard
OA-01 D.Betts
02 D.Gushchin (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 C.Butler (Undrafted)
02 J.Uberti (Undrafted)
02 T.Tynan
02 C.Peters
02 C.Snow
02 G.Chanton
+ 03 I.Enright
+ 03 A.Agostinelli
+ 03 L.Cato
+ 04 P.Fimis
+ 04 A.Leonard
+ 04 B.Cooke
+ 04 D.Roobroeck
+ 05s DRAFT: 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd

OUTLOOK: The IceDogs’ (02s x 7) are set up for modest success in 21-22 (Top 4) – but even greater success in subsequent years.



NORTH BAY BATTALION
DRAFT PICKS
4– 2nd and 7– 3rd (+ 2 unspecified conditional picks)

GRADS
20-21 99 S.Bultika, 99 N.Grima
21-22 00 L. Moncada; 00 C.Lamour; 00 C.Denault; 00 B.Henderson

TEAM CORE
OA-01 M.Primeau (Drafted – Unsigned)
OA-01 B.Coe (Drafted – Unsigned)
OA-01 M.Russell
OA-01 H.Caines
OA-01 S.Rose
02 J.Vrbetic (Undrafted)
02 A.Winslow (Undrafted)
02 K.Jackson (Undrafted)
+ 03 M.Petrov
+ 03 A.Christopoulos
+ 03 P.Christopoulos
+ 03 L.Arnsby
+ 04 T.Nelson
+ 04 D.Wakely
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd

OUTLOOK: NB will be vastly improved, especially if Brandon Coe and Mason Primeau return as OAs. The Battalion have an impressive group of 03s and 04s – so they may retool and continue to build around that core?



OTTAWA 67s
DRAFT PICKS
4 - 2nd and 2 - 3rd

GRADS
20-21 99 A.Keating, 99 J.Garreffa, 99 N.Hoefenmayer
21-22 00 K. Bahl; 00 M. Okhotyuk; 00 F.Tourigny; 00 D.Groulx; 00 M.Hoelscher; 00 M.Rippon: 00 C.Andree; OA-01 M.Rossi (SIGNED); OA-01 G.Clarke (SIGNED); OA-01 J.Quinn (SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01 None
02 W.Cranley (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 C.Tolnai (Undrafted)
02 A.Belanger (Undrafted)
02 A.Constantini (Undrafted)
02 D.Robinson (Undrafted)
+03 J.Matier
+03 J.Beck
+03 B.Sirizzotti
+03 R.Gill-Shane
+04 N.Moldenhauer (OHL Unsigned)
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd

OUTLOOK: Ottawa lost a dozen high-end players, a couple chances at a championship and the opportunity to restock their draft cupboard. The 67s will be a young talented but inexperienced team – in need of draft picks to return as contenders soon.


TIER III – MIDDLE THREE
(Alphabetical Order)

HAMILTON BULLDOGS
DRAFT PICKS
2 - 2nd and 7 – 3rd (+ 1 unspecified conditional pick)

GRADS
20-21 99 B.Johnson; 99 K.Landry; 99 I.Nurse
21-22 00 J. Gravelle; 00 J.Jenik ; OA-01 A.Kaliyev (SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01 M.Mutter
OA-01 L.Van Loon
OA-01 P.Vescio
OA-01 N.Staios
OA-01 C.Supryka
OA-01 T.Bertuzzi
02 J.Mysak (Drafted – SIGNED)
02 L.Morrison (Undrafted)
02 A.Hayes (Undrafted)
+ 03 A.Grushnikov
+ 03 R.Winterton
+ 03 L.Sherk
+ 04 J.Donovan
+ 04 J.Melee
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 3rd, 3rd

OUTLOOK: The veteran laden 20-21 team was a missed opportunity for Hamilton to either “Go for It” or “Sell Big”. The Bulldogs have a surplus of valuable OAs and quality 02s, to start the rebuild.



MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS
DRAFT PICKS
3- 2nd and 3- 3rd (+ 1 unspecified conditional pick)

GRADS
20-21 99 N.Isaacson, 99 C.Martin, 99 L.Ham
21-22 00 N.Canade; 00 R.Whittaker; 00 K.Edmonds; OA-01 C.Schwindt (SIGNED); OA-01 T.Harley (SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01 K.Washkurak (Drafted - Unsigned)
OA-01 A.Pueter
02 O.Bjorgvik-Holm (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 K.Larson
02 J.Hardie (Undrafted)
02 T.Collins (Undrafted)
02 W.Portokalis (Undrafted)
+ 03 E.Del Mastro
+ 04 Z.Lavoie
+ 04 O.Beck
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 2nd

OUTLOOK: Mississauga will have a few high-end forwards and some talented defenceman, but limited resources. The Steelhead rebuild process begins at the 2022 trade deadline.



SUDBURY WOLVES
DRAFT PICKS
2 - 2nd and 3 - 3rd

GRADS
20-21 99 B.Chenier; 99 M.Carson; 99 D.Levin
21-22 00 O.Gilhula; 00 N.Hutcheson; 00 O. Robinson; 00 A.Samuelsson; 00 E.Serensits; 00 C.Purboo; 00 Pekar, Matej (Drafted - SIGNED); 02 Q.Byfield (Drafted – SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01 F.Dichow (Drafted – Unsigned Import)
OA-01 K.Loponen (Drafted – Unsigned Import)
OA-01 B.Murray (Drafted – Unsigned)
OA-01 I.Phillip (Drafted – Unsigned)
OA-01 L.Ross
OA-01 M.Weeks
02 J.Thompson (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 N.Ribau
+ 03 C.Stillman
+ 03 L.McCallum
+ 04 D.Goyette
+ 04 D.Kocha
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, **2nd

OUTLOOK: With a near empty draft cupboard, an early Q. Byfield departure and two OA Imports, Sudbury is headed for a rebuild in 21-22, but the future is bright.


TIER IV – BOTTOM TWO
(Alphabetical Order)

OSHAWA GENERALS
DRAFT PICKS
3- 2nd and 4- 3rd (+ 2 unspecified conditional picks)

GRADS
20-21 99 B.Neumann; 99 C.Resnick; 99 K.McLean,
21-22 00 N.Gross; 00 A.McShane; 00 C.Allan; 00 G.Vallati; 00 J.Kooy; 00 W. Ennis; OA-01 P.Tomasino (SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01
02 T.Tullio (Drafted – Unsigned)
02 O.Suni (Undrafted)
02 H.Fowler (Undrafted)
02 L.Moore (Undrafted)
+ 03 B.Harrison
+ 03 D.Michaud
+ 04 A.Castle (OHL Unsigned)
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 2nd

OUTLOOK: Oshawa sold the farm a few times, but never got the chance to win or host Mem-Cup. After these two lost seasons, the cupboard is barren – and a difficult rebuild is underway.



PETERBOROUGH PETES
DRAFT PICKS
2- 2nd and 3 - 3rd (+ 2 unspecified conditional pick)

GRADS
20-21 99 Z.Gallant, 99 W.Hudson, 99 J.Paquette; 99 D.Maier
21-22 00 A.Thomas; 00 S.Der-Arguchintsev; 00 D.Chisholm; 00 H.Jones; 00 L.Kirk; 00 M.Grondin; 00 J.Parker-Jones; 00 M. McNamara; 00 J.York; 00 M.Little; 01 N.Robertson (Drafted – SIGNED)

TEAM CORE
OA-01 None
02 T.Austin (Undrafted)
02 S.Spearing (Undrafted)
03 M.McTavish
+ 03 J.R. Avon
+ 03 A.Guryev
+ 03 B.Zanetti
+ 03 T.Robertson
+ 04 D.McCoy
+ 04 S.Alfano
+ 04 J.Dezoete
+ 05s DRAFT: 1st, 3rd

OUTLOOK: A long list of elite players lost due to the pandemic, leaves the Petes without a championship – and only a few players to recoup all those draft picks. A long slow rebuild awaits the Petes.

[Dogs Enthusiast 104]

Thank for all this .... again.