With the playoffs right around the corner in the CHL, here are 10 teams to watch once the playoffs begin. We’ve included a couple of upset teams, a few favourites and a few underdogs. We’ve stayed away from the obvious choices such as Regina, Erie and Rouyn-Noranda.
10. Hamilton Bulldogs: The Bulldogs have points in 12 of their past 14 games and have played equally as well at home as they have on the road, so home-ice advantage in the playoffs isn’t essential. Hamilton’s head coach John Gruden wants to prove to ownership they made the right decision hiring him after a tumultuous year in Flint a season earlier. The Bulldogs have a nice blend of contributing youth and experienced veterans to navigate the playoffs, not to mention a healthy goaltending competition which is always a bonus in the post-season.
9. Portland Winterhawks: The young guns can score and they have a coach who really appreciates the up-tempo game. The Winterhawks have picked it up of late, scoring 40 goals over their past eight games. Portland was patient waiting for overager Matt Revel who is nine games back from a two-and-a-half month injury layoff. He brings experience and a steadying presence down the middle of the ice. The issue for Portland will be how well they can keep the puck out of their own net. Cole Kehler has had his moments, but he’s streaky.
8. Gatineau Olympiques: The Olympiques are always dangerous in the playoffs, especially on home ice where the fans are right on top of you at the Robert Guertin Centre. A coaching change in late January has seen Gatineau go 13-4 and resemble the team most ‘Q’ prognosticators expected before the season started. Coach Eric Landry has his team paying attention to the details, such as backtracking. They are more than capable on the back end and have the league’s most potent offensive player in Vitalii Abramov up front. It’s time to turn the page on Benoit Groulx, he’s not coming back this time.
7. Victoria Royals: With a bitter memory of how it all ended last year — a last-second, game-tying goal before an overtime loss to Kelowna in Game 7 — the Royals should be a motivated playoff team beyond normal expectations. They are solid in goal, with Griffen Outhouse surpassing Coleman Vollrath’s franchise win record. A 50-goal scorer in Matthew Phillips, and the re-emergence of Toronto prospect Vladimir Bobylev, the Royals are well-suited for a first round upset. The Royals have stumbled down the stretch, but it won’t impact their playoff position. Getting healthy will be key, especially Tyler Soy. Ryan Peckford seems likely, Chazz Reddekopp not likely for Round 1.
6. Mississauga Steelheads: After a terrible start to the season and a lengthy November losing streak, the coaching staff lead by first-year head coach James Richmond challenged itself to be 5-10 per cent better. They went back to the drawing board and figured out a way to get their team to perform to expected levels, blending skill with structure. Despite losing first-rounder Alexander Nylander to the AHL, the Steelheads are still talented enough to do damage if their goaltenders can withstand the rigours of a long playoff run. A divisional title helps with home ice.
5. Acadie-Bathurst Titan: The Titan made quite a few moves at the trade deadline that solidified things for this season with an eye on next year as well. More will be determined around the QMJHL draft. Battle-tested all season long in a Maritimes Division that many people say has been the toughest in years, the Titan should have a favourable first round match-up to help springboard them into what will likely be a difficult Round 2. This group plays like a team, but will have to be better on special teams for sustained post-season success.
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4. Windsor Spitfires: The 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup host is in the unenviable position of facing either Erie, London or Owen Sound in Round 1. Recent history says the host team has had difficulty going through the front door and Windsor is no different. Having said that, the Spitfires are still a 40-win team with plenty to like on the roster. They are solid in goal with draft eligible Michael DiPietro, they own the best penalty kill in the OHL and have been a top-five power play team for most of the season. A new offensive zone set employed by the coaching staff some 25 games ago is starting to show dividends.
3. Moose Jaw Warriors: The Warriors are big, heavy, can score and defend well. They check just about every box when it comes to traditional playoff success. They play well at home and on the road — and this franchise is overdue. The Warriors last played for a league title in 2006 and were upset that season by an upstart Don Hay-coached Vancouver Giants team.
2. Lethbridge Hurricanes: Not at all afraid to trade chances, the Hurricanes have a hulking netminder in his draft year with Stuart Skinner, who is no stranger to facing a heavy workload of shots. Tyler Wong has established himself as the league’s top pure sniper. Lethbridge has some vulnerability on the back end, but on most nights, they score too much for that to matter. Since January 6, the Hurricanes have just four regulation losses in 29 games. The Canes will draw a first round opponent that will have at least 20 fewer points than them.
1. Owen Sound Attack: The Attack may still win the Western Conference, but because Owen Sound is a small market the team doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. This is a hard-working, high-scoring machine. Nick Suzuki, Petrus Palmu and Kevin Hancock are all amongst the league’s top 10 scorers. Michael McNiven has used his WJC snub as motivation and the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena is no fun to play in. The defence in front of him his highly underrated. The Attack is built for playoff hockey: Could this be 2011 all over again?
