This week, I’ll break down all 20 OHL clubs division by division and unveil my predictions for the 2012-13 season. Today, let’s look at the Western Conference’s West Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Plymouth Whalers
Coach/GM: Michael Vellucci
2011-12 finish: 47-18-2-1, 1st division, 2nd conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Kitchener 4-3 in conference semifinals
Key players: LW Stefan Noesen (38 goals, 44 assists, 82 points; signed with Ottawa), C Mitchell Heard (29-28-57; signed with Colorado), RW Alex Aleardi (36-29-65), LW J.T. Miller (25-37-62; signed with N.Y. Rangers; G Matt Mahalak (19-8-0-0 record, 2.66 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 3 shutouts; Carolina prospect)
Key losses: G Scott Wedgewood (28-10-2-1, 3.02, .911, 3 SO; signed with New Jersey), D Beau Schmitz (14-40-54, +37; signed with Carolina), C Andy Bathgate (19-44-63)
Outlook: The Whalers had a chance to reach the Western finals last season, but they lost Game 7 at home to Kitchener. They lost some key players off that team, but the Whalers still have are strong enough to make a deeper run this season.

Saginaw Spirit
Coach/GM: Greg Gilbert/Jim Paliafito
2011-12 finish: 40-22-4-2, 3rd division, 5th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to London 4-2 in conference semifinals
Key players: C Vincent Trocheck (29-56-85; signed with Florida), LW Brandon Saad (34-42-76; signed with Chicago), LW Garret Ross (25-29-54), C Eric Locke (20-20-40), D Dalton Young (5-15-20)
Key losses: LW Josh Shalla (40-36-76; signed with Nashville), RW Michael Fine (22-45-67), C John McFarland (20-21-41; signed with Florida), D Brad Walch (5-18-23, +21)
Outlook: Trocheck and Saad headline an offense that ranked fifth in the league a season ago with 259 goals. Now they have to solidify a defense that allowed 259 goals, the fourth most in the league. Clint Windsor and Jake Paterson are the keys in net.

Sarnia Sting
Coach/GM: Jacques Beaulieu
2011-12 finish: 34-27-2-5, 2nd division, 4th conference
Playoff finish: Lost 4-2 to Saginaw in conference quarterfinals
Key players: C Alex Galchenyuk (0-0-0 in 2 games; signed with Montreal), G J.P. Anderson (27-23-2-4, 3.03, .908, 3 SO), LW Reid Boucher (28-22-50), D Connor Murphy (8-18-26; signed with Phoenix), D Alex Basso (9-27-36, +5)
Key losses: RW Nail Yakupov (31-38-69 in 42 games; signed with Edmonton), C Brett Thompson (32-38-70; former Otter), C Ryan Spooner (29-37-66; signed with Boston), LW Tyler J. Brown (21-27-48), D Adrian Robertson (10-28-38, +13)
Outlook: Yakupov, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, isn’t expected to rejoin the Sting. But Galchenyuk, the No. 3 pick in the draft, returns after missing nearly all of last season with a knee injury. But can the Sting overcome other key losses?

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Coach/GM: Mike Stapleton/Kyle Dubas
2011-12 finish: 29-33-2-4, 5th division, 9th conference
Playoff finish: Did not qualify
Key players: C Nick Cousins (35-53-88; signed with Philadelphia), G Matt Murray (13-19-0-1, 4.08, .876; Pittsburgh prospect), D Ryan Sproul (23-31-54, +16), RW Andrew Fritsch (13-19-32 in 35 games; Phoenix prospect), LW Michael Schumacher (26-24-50)
Key losses: C Brett Findlay (20-36-56; traded to Peterborough), C Carson Dubchak (16-16-32)
Outlook: The Greyhounds are trying to avoid a third straight season out of the playoff picture. But does Stapleton, the Otters’ former associate and assistant coach, have enough talented depth to make that happen in a challenging conference?

Windsor Spitfires
Coach/GM: Bob Boughner/Warren Rychel
2011-12 finish: 29-32-5-2, 4th division, 8th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to London 4-0 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: LW Kerby Rychel (41-33-74); C Brady Vail (22-30-52), LW Chris Marchese (18-25-43; former Otter), D Nick Ebert (6-33-39), RW Joshua Ho-Sang (No. 5 pick in OHL Priority Selection), LW Ben Johnson (18-20-38)
Key losses: C Alexander Khokhlachev (25-44-69; playing in Russia), C Zack MacQueen (18-20-38; son of former Otters coach Dave MacQueen)
Outlook: The unexpected departure of Khokhlachev will hurt thre Spitfires, unless forwards like Rychel, Vail, former Otter Marchese and first-round pick Ho-Sang pick up the slack. But will they have enough on defense and in net to win consistently?

- Victor Fernandes

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Andrew Agozzino of the Niagara IceDogs is the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy winner awarded to the OHL’s Overage Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season.

Agozzino tied for fifth in league scoring with a career-high 88 points in 67 games scoring 40 goals and 48 assists leading the IceDogs to their first Central Division title and best overall record in team history with a record of 47-18-0-3 for 97 points. Agozzino becomes the second member of the IceDogs’ to win the award following his former teammate Michael Swift who earned it in the club’s first season in Niagara back in 2007-08.

“It’s a great feeling to win this award and it’s something I was looking forward to at the start of my overage year,” said Agozzino. “Having the opportunity to be an overager on the same team I started with is something special and I would like to thank the entire IceDogs organization for the opportunities they have given me.”

A 21-year-old native of Kleinburg, ON, Agozzino played all five of his OHL seasons with the IceDogs after being the franchise’s first ever draft pick selected 15th overall in the 2007 Priority Selection. This season the three-year captain led the IceDogs in both goals and points for the third time in five years finishing his career with a franchise record 159 goals and 147 assists for 306 points in a franchise record 318 regular season games played. In 2010, Agozzino represented the IceDogs at the OHL All-Star Classic in Kingston, ON, where he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Game scoring an All-Star Classic record four goals.

“We couldn’t be more happy or proud of Andrew winning the Overage Player of the Year Award,” said IceDogs owner Bill Burke. “Andrew is everything you could ask for in a leader, hockey player and a person and is extremely deserving of this award. He has meant everything to this organization in our five years here and will be impossible to replace.”

The Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top overage player of the year as selected by OHL General Managers. Teams were not permitted to vote for players from their own hockey club. Players received five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

Agozzino finished the voting process with 53 points just slightly ahead of Owen Sound Attack forward Mike Halmo who finished with 52 points. Defenceman Beau Schmitz of the Plymouth Whalers finished in third with 28 voting points.

Former winners of the trophy include Bill Bowler (Windsor, 1994-95), and Dan Tessier (Ottawa 99-00), along with current NHL stars Chad LaRose (Plymouth 2002-03), and Ryan Callahan (Guelph, 2005-06). Top scorer Jason Akeson of the Kitchener Rangers captured the award last season.

The Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy was donated by the trainers of the Ontario Hockey League, in memory of the late Leo Lalonde, former Chief Scout of OHL Central Scouting. Leo Lalonde was also formerly the Chief Scout for the Belleville Bulls as well as a scout for the Peterborough Petes.

Agozzino will be formally presented with the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy at the 2011-12 OHL Awards Ceremony scheduled for June 5 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

- From OHL news release

What: Erie Otters (17-16-1-1) at Plymouth Whalers (17-14-1-1)

When: Tuesday, 2 p.m.

Where: Compuware Arena – Plymouth, Mich.

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points), RW Shawn Szydlowski (17-15-32), RW Anthony Luciani (13-17-30), G Ramis Sadikov (17-12-1-1 record, 2.89 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, 2 shutouts), C Phil Varone (12-14-26)

Plymouth – G Scott Wedgewood (16-9-0-1, 2.51, .917, 2 SO), RW Stefan Noesen (15-21-36), RW Robbie Czarnik (13-19-22), LW Tyler Brown (11-16-27), C Alex Aleardi (14-12-26)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters and Whalers begin the second half in a virtual tie for fifth place in the Western Conference. Both teams have 36 points and 17 wins (the first tiebreaker), but the Whalers have a better winning percentage (.545 to .514). … The Otters begin the second half without rookie LW Chris Marchese (3-7-10) and rookie D Adam Pelech (1-5-6, plus-1), who are representing Ontario in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The tournament runs from Wednesday through Dec. 28 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. … Sadikov should continue his franchise-record streak of 25 straight starts. … McKegg begins the half fourth in the OHL scoring race and tied for third in goals. … Luciani has 10 goals and 25 points in 16 games since returning from a broken wrist last month. … Szydlowski needs six goals and 16 points to surpass his single-season career high in goals (23 in 2008-09) and points (48 in 2009-10). … The Otters won the first meeting between the teams – 4-1 in Erie Oct. 27. That remains the Otters’ only win against the West Division (1-4-0-1). … Varone made his Otters’ debut that same night. The team has a 14-7-0-1 record since he was acquired from London Oct. 26. … C Mike Cazzola (9-16-25), who has missed two months with a broken wrist, is scheduled for X-rays today. He could rejoin the lineup next week.

Plymouth – The Whalers ended the first half with a four-game losing streak. … They won both meetings with the Otters in Plymouth last season. … Wedgewood ranks among the league’s top five in wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. … Noesen has shattered his 33-game totals from his rookie season last year (3 goals, 8 points). … The Whalers rank near the bottom of the league on the power play (17 percent), but they are in the top 10 on the penalty kill (80.5). … They are the second-most penalized team (671 minutes). … D Beau Schmitz (3-16-19) ranks among the top 20 defensemen in scoring.

Up next: at Saginaw (Wednesday, 7:11 p.m.), at Windsor (Friday, 2:05 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

What: Plymouth Whalers (5-5-1-1) at Erie Otters (3-9-1-0)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points), C Mike Cazzola (6-12-18), RW Shawn Szydlowski (6-7-13), LW David Broll (2-5-7), D Tyler Hostetter (3-6-9)

Plymouth – C Alex Aleardi (8-7-15), RW Stefan Noesen (7-7-14), LW Tyler Brown (5-9-14), RW Robbie Czarnik (4-8-12), D Beau Schmitz (1-7-8, plus-6)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have lost seven straight games, their longest losing streak since setting the franchise record of 16 consecutive defeats in the 2007-08 season. … They look to rebound from a 1-3 start at home. … D Brett Cook (concussion) rejoined the lineup last weekend. … RW Anthony Luciani, who has a cast on his injured wrist, isn’t expected to play this week. Coach Robbie Ftorek said Tuesday the length of the healing process will determine the timetable for his return. … Ftorek said Ds David Shields (back) and Mitch Gaulton (hand) and Fs Brett Appio (leg) and Connor Crisp (concussion) haven’t been “ruled into” the lineup for tonight’s game. … McKegg ranks second to Owen Sound LW Garrett Wilson (16-8-24) in the OHL’s scoring race. … McKegg also stands among the top 15 in goals as well as second in assists and first with three short-handed goals. … Cazzola is tied for seventh in scoring. … Szydlowski has six goals in the past nine games. … Broll has one point in his past eight games. … The Otters have allowed 36 goals during their skid. They rank in the bottom three with 56 goals against. … G Ramis Sadikov has five losses and a no-decision in his last six starts (4.63 goals-against average, .852 save percentage). … Through the club’s Hockey for the Hungry event, fans can bring a non-perishable food item to a local State Farm agent or the Otters’ front office to receive a voucher for a $2 ticket to tonight’s game. … Buck Night returns tonight with $1 Smith’s hot dogs, Coke products, beer and popcorn.

Plymouth – C Tyler Seguin, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, remains with the Boston Bruins. The NHL club has until before his 10^th game, set for Nov. 5 against the Washington Capitals, to return Seguin (48-58-106) to the Whalers without starting the first year of a three-year, entry-level contract. … Noesen already has surpassed his 33-game totals (3-5-8) as a rookie last season. … G Scott Wedgewood has enjoyed a strong start to the season (5-4-0-1 record, 2.91 GAA, .904 save pct., 1 shutout). … The Whalers have .500 records at home (3-3-0-0) and on the road (2-2-1-1). … D Max Iafrate, the Whalers’ 2010 OHL first-round pick and son of former NHL defenseman Al Iafrate, has no points, a minus-1 rating and 25 penalty minutes in his first 10 games.

Up next: vs. Windsor (Friday, 7 p.m.), vs. Oshawa (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes