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-- t - THE INTELLIGENCER, Tuesday, September 20,1994 -- New look for OHL in 1994-95 By Tom Gavey The Intelligencer Carter, Radim Bicanek and The Ontario Hockey League is ambarking on a new era this season, its first with a three-division format. However, it's more than the divisional changes that make this jrear different from any of the previous 14 the Belleville Bulls have participated in. Over the summer there were Unprecedented changes in the faces who run many of the Bulls rivals. Gone are such mainstays as North Bay's Bert Templeton, Ottawa's Brian Kilrea (although he remains as 67's GM), Oshawa bench boss Rick Cornacchia, Detroit's Jim Rutherford, Sault Ste. Marie's Ted Nolan and here again, gone again Wayne Maxner. Gone also are veteran stars like Keli Corpse, Rod Hinks, Aaron Gavey and Drew Bannister. Here are our fearless predictions for the DHL's East, West and Central Divisions. the vastly improved Sean Brown. A big boost has been the play of rookie goaltender Kory Cooper. Belleville needs to find some wings to go with Craig Mills and Jeff Ambrosio, one of the answers appears to be Belleville native Steve Tracze. Many believe Gary Agnew got a raw deal in London and he'll prove it this year behind the bench with the Kingston Frontenacs. Hell have no problems in net as long as Tyler Moss remains healthy. Sophomore Chad Kilger appears poised to join the league's elite and was the Fronts best player in the playoffs last year. A pretty good supporting .cast includes pesky David Ling and possibly bruising Brett Lindros. Craig Rivet should again anchor a decent blueline. GM Randy Hall does not have one of the OHL's better track records and this could be his last chance. West Division Led by the epitome of character player, Todd Harvey, we believe the Detroit Jr. Red Wings can capture a second consecutive division championship. The return of overage goaltender Aaron Ellis is a bonus and people like Sean Haggerty, Bill McCauley and Jeff Mitchell have been through the wars. Coach and GM Paul Maurice did a great job in his rookie seaYes, we know all the stars have gone away. Still, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are one class organization and Danny Flynn may have enough left for one more push at the top. Steve Sullivan will have to carry a lot of the offensive load, along with Deseronto's Andrew Clark. A lot of games will be saved by goaltender Dan Cloutier. The Windsor Spitfires are hoping to have stellar defenceman Ed Jovanovski back from the NHL's Florida Panthers and if so they should rebound from a dismal 1993-94. Big Dave Roche, the former Peterborough star, appears set to take over as the Spits leader both offensively and in the dressing room. Coach Mike Kelly was' an assistant in the AHL and with the London Knights. Let's face it, things couldn't have gone much worse for the Sarnia Sting last year. They were then the Newmarket Royals and they were awful. Returning coach Don Boyd should get some help from sophomore Aaron Brand, a healthy Larry Courville and veteran netminder Todd Laurin. It's a cinch the London Knights won't have Jason Allison back and that just about says it all. There's little for new coach Mike Fedorko to work with, other than 28-goal man Chris Brassard. Oshawa Generals scooped defenceman Mike Ware in the first round of the June midget draft and he was probably the most talented player available. He was still around because of doubts he would play for anyone Belleville and Oshawa-East Division rivals. but new Gens coach Stan ButNorth Bay cruised to the divi- ler. The former minor hockey sion title and OHL championship major domo will need Ware's Petes, look out, they never stay number one pick in the '93 draft. last season and although they help. Only one of the Gens top down for long and in another year If so, he'll be worth the second may have to work a little harder four scorers from last year is back the kids will have matured. round pick the Rangers gave up this time around, expect them to (Marc Savard) and Oshawa to get him. repeat. Don't underestimate the wasn't overly impressive last seaThe team with the best onevalue of long-time coach and GM son. Joel Gagnon provides solid .two goalie tandem in the OHL There wasn't a better goalt- may not have either to open the Bert Templeton, who has been re- goaltending. ender in the OHL last year than season. Jamie Storr may stick placed by Shane Parker. But, In a division that, as is tradiParker has the bulk of the DHL's tion, should be tight, the Ottawa Matt Mullin and his return with the L.A. Kings while Kevin best team back, including impres- 67's could finish literally any- gives the Sudbury Wolves a leg Weekes was a training camp sive sophomore netminder Dave where in the pack. Peter Lee en- up in the Central. Come to think holdout from the Owen Sound Roche. Scoring will be no probters his first season as head coach of it, there weren't many better Platers. There are some good lem with the likes of Vital! depending heavily on returning defencemen than Jamie Rivers overage possibilities here to comYachmenev (61 goals), Lee Jin- forwards Sean Donovan and (121 points). Up front, Glenn pliment returnees Wayne man (101 points) and Scott Steve Washburn and last year's Merkosky can still count on Primeau and they include JaCherrey. Brad Brown and Co- number one pick overall, Alyn Zdenek Nedved (50 goals), Bar- son MacDonald (55 goals) and rey Neilson will be back to an- McCauley who was slowed by rie Moore (36 goals) and wild Jeff Kostuch (30 goals). chor the blueline. If the Guelph Storm get both injuries. Other key returnees in- card Luc Gagne, who was NewGo up and down this division clude Mark Edmundson, Dave market's number one pick in Jeff O*Neil and Todd Bertuzzi and it's tough to find a team with Nemirovsky and Jeff Salajko 1993 but was traded to move back from NHL camps, move closer to a French-speaking them up at least a notch. If not, it more depth down the middle and in goal. on defence than the Belleville will be a long season in Guelph. The rebuilding job continues school. Veterans are dotted through- New coach Craig Hartsburg has Bulls. Richard Park, following for the Peterborough Petes, his first NHL camp, should be who should benefit from a lot of out the Kitchener Rangers never run a team before. ready to bust loose and Brian early picks in last June's draft. lineup and that should carry Niagara Falls Thunder are Secord and Corey Isen are Sophomore sensation Jamie them to second place. Top scorer hoping to bounce back from last proven OHLers and rookies Dan Langenbrunner should return Trevor Gallant is back, along year's finish in the cellar of the Cleary and Larry Paleczny from Dallas along with impres- with Stirling's Eric Manlow and Emms Division. The keys to that both enjoyed stellar pre-seasons. sive sophomores Mike Williams, 26-goal scorer Wes Swinson. are Ethan Moreau (44 goals) On the blueline an embarass- Dan Delmonte and hulking vet Question mark for the Rangers? and NHL first rounder Jason ment of riches includes Marc Matt Johnson. While this might Can Travis Riggin show the Bonsignore, who so far hasn't Dupuis, Dan Preston, Steve be another down year for the ability that made him Belleville's lived up to his press clippings. East Division Central Division f1 f ; Guardian Druas GET TO KNOW YOUR GUARDIAN PHARMACIST We're Open Everyday 'Til 9 p.m. PLENTY OF FREE PARKING 411 BRIDGE ST. EAST, BELLEVILLE, ONT. 962-5387