Taylor Hall is looking to make it two titles in two years as he prepares to enter the NHL draft.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

The Barrie Colts may have been crowned regular season champions, but the defending Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires remain the team to beat in the Ontario Hockey League.

The Guelph Storm salvaged a poor start and could be giant killers when the playoffs begin this week.

The Favourite

Windsor Spitfires

Regular season record: 50-12-1-5 (106 points)

League ranking: First in Western Conference, Second overall

Regular season goal differential: 331-203

First round opponent: Erie Otters

There was little surprise the Windsor Spitfires would be in contention for the league and Memorial Cup this season. Many believed the Spitfires were a year ahead of schedule when they won the Memorial Cup in 2009. Windsor became the first team in tournament history to win the Memorial Cup after losing its first two games. Ten players from last year's team remain on this year's lineup, including the league's scoring champion and potential first-overall National Hockey League pick, Taylor Hall.

Strengths: Windsor's strength is in its numbers. The Spitfires are a very deep team offensively and defensively. Its dynamic offensive attack is anchored by Hall and Memorial Cup heroes Adam Henrique and Dale Mitchell. Henrique stepped into the spotlight at last year's tournament, and followed it up with a breakout offensive campaign. Mitchell, meanwhile, was a surprise return for the Spitfires when the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League reassigned him in November.

The Spitfires are loaded with depth up front. Zack Kassian is capable of producing offensively, but will be used mostly to intimidate and wear down the opposing team's defence. Justin Shugg and Scott Timmins were hot down the stretch, while the team also has plenty of offence from its defence. Ryan Ellis, Cam Fowler and Mark Cundari can all provide additional scoring and transitional play for the Spitfires.

This year's version of the Spitfires actually scored 20 more goals than last season.

Weaknesses: Windsor added German goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the mix in a trade with the Belleville Bulls prior to this year's trade deadline. Grubauer will assume the starter's role, but will also have a short leash.

The Spitfires did not receive dependable goaltending from Grubauer or Troy Passingham down the stretch, which could be a concern in the playoffs. The team signed American phenom Jack Campbell early in the season, but he will remain unavailable until next season.

This year's team may have scored more than last year's, but it also allowed 32 more goals. The Spitfires will need one of Grubauer or Passingham to step up if they're going to repeat as OHL champions.

Why Windsor is the favourite: It's hard to replace experience, and the Spitfires are loaded with it. Although the Barrie Colts won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as regular season champions and beat Windsor in both regular season meetings, Windsor goes into the playoffs with the comfort of knowing how to win. The road will be tougher in the Western Conference for the Spitfires, but they have a team worthy of winning the title.

The Darkhorse

Guelph Storm

Regular season record: 35-29-3-1 (74 points)

League ranking: Seventh in Western Conference, Tenth overall

Regular season goal differential: 242-255

First Round Opponent: London Knights

The Guelph Storm showed up late to the party, but they could now be ruining it for some of the top teams. Guelph is one of the league's hottest teams heading into the playoffs after a slow start put them in chase mode in the second half. Much more was expected from the team boasting a star-studded offence, which includes Anaheim first-round pick, Peter Holland.

Head coach and general manager Jason Brooks also missed part of the season after undergoing back surgery. As far as the Storm is concerned, its inclusion to the playoffs is better late than never.

Strengths: The Storm can score with the best of them, and will need its best from its three-headed monster. In addition to Holland, Taylor Beck, a third-round pick of the Nashville Predators, finished tied for fourth in league scoring with 93 points. Beck was one of the league's pleasant surprises this season and one of the main reasons his team managed to qualify for the post-season. He was the lone consistency in the Storm's otherwise inconsistent season.

Michael Latta, another third-round pick of Nashville, finished third in team scoring with 73 points. Newcomer Mathew Sisca was the fourth player to reach 30 goals, giving Guelph a balanced offensive attack.

Meanwhile, defencemen Adam Comrie and Sam Lofquist enjoyed productive seasons. Lofquist joined the Storm after beginning the season at the University of Minnesota and became one of Guelph's most consistent defenders.

Weaknesses: The Storm's struggles this season began between the pipes, and while Brandon Foote is back in the lineup, goaltending remains a question mark heading into the playoffs. Foote, who was acquired as part of compensation for Thomas McCollum last season, was unavailable to the Storm until January after a hip injury. He has been an improvement over Matt Hoyle and Cody St. Jacques, but still needs to prove he can carry a team when it matters most.

Why Guelph can surprise: The Storm is riding a wave going into the playoffs to the tune of a six-game winning-streak and is winners of nine of the last 10 games. This team is finally playing up to its potential and has nothing to lose going into the playoffs. That mentality will bode well for them and its offence will give London everything it can handle in what should be an entertaining first-round series.