OHL first half review (Part III)

The first half of the Ontario Hockey League season is in the books.

With the second half of the season set to open up this week, this story is the third in a series that will take a look at how the league is shaping up heading into the second half of the season.

Western Conference

Midwest Division

Kitchener Rangers (24-10-0-2, First in Midwest, First in Conference)

The addition of overage forward Peter Tsimikalis gives the Rangers a scarier look as they already feature one of the OHL's best all-around teams. In six games prior to the Christmas break, Tsimikalis posted six goals and 15 points on a roster that already features high-scoring forward Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling.

The Rangers lack a big name defenseively like they had in years past with players like Boris Valabik but import picks Jakub Kindl and Yannick Weber along with others have done an admirable job in front of goaltender John Murray.

Murray, a rookie, has come in a given the Rangers quality goaltending all season. Defensively, the Rangers have given up the fewest goals in the league, 99.

London Knights (23-8-1-2, Second in Midwest, Third in Conference)

Not many people expected the Knights to be where they are right now coming into the season. The additions of Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner during the summer and the emergence of Steve Mason as the No. 1 goaltender has given the Knights a chance to be among the OHL's elite for another season.

The Knights also added American defenseman Kevin Montgomery to their lineup heading into the final weekend before the break which shores up a defensive corps that was thought to be a weakness coming into the season.

Mason has already faced a high shot total this season (he is among the league leaders in total shots faced) and the big question is whether it will wear him out down the stretch. That's where the addition of Montgomery comes in.

Heading into the trade deadline, it will be interesting to see if the Knights make a move for another defenseman.

Owen Sound Attack (17-15-1-3, Third in Midwest, Sixth in Conference)

The Owen Sound Attack are a team that features the scoring power of players such as Bobby Ryan (20 goals, 53 points), Trevor Lewis (17 goals, 44 points) and Scott Tregunna (15 goals, 44 points) along with defensemen Bobby Sanguinetti, Theo Peckham and Elgin Reid and they currently sit just two games over .500.

Goaltending has been an issue all season for the Attack and they seem to have it shored up with the acquisition of overage netminder Anthony Guadagnolo from Windsor. Guadagnolo has settled in and his numbers have been solid since the trade. A quick start to the second half could put the Attack back in the running with Kitchener and London atop the division.

Guelph Storm (16-14-1-4, Fourth in Division, Seventh in Conference)

The Guelph Storm have become a quietly defensive-minded hockey club this season after losing the likes of Matt D'Agostini, Kelsey Wilson. and Ryan Callahan to graduation. Defensemen Ryan Parent and Drew Doughty have been solid all season and rookie goaltender Thomas McCollum has progressed nicely between the pipes with a 2.54 goals against average in the first half.

Depending on how the early part of January goes, the Storm could find themselves as sellers at the trade deadline though as they look to build towards the future.

Erie Otters (8-25-0-2, Fifth in Division, Tenth in Conference)

The Otters have already begun rebuilding the roster and that process began with the trade of franchise player Ryan O'Marra to the Saginaw Spirit.

In return the Otters received Zack Torquato as the key to the deal. Torquato has stepped in and become a leader on a young hockey club. Torquato has 12 points in 11 games since the trade and has filled in well with an increased role that he didn't have with the Spirit.

Despite going through some growing pains this season, the Otters are building a roster that could make some noise down the road as their roster develops.

*** OHL first half review (Part I) OHL first half review (Part II)