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 Eastern Conference’s Central Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Barrie Colts
Coach/GM: Dale Hawerchuk/Jason Ford
2011-12 finish: 40-23-3-2, 2nd division, 3rd conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Ottawa in conference semifinals
Key players: LW Tanner Pearson (37 goals, 54 assists, 91 points; signed with Los Angeles), C Mark Scheifele (23-40-63 in 47 games; signed with Winnipeg), G Mathias Niederberger (29-14-1-2 record, 2.68 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, 3 shutouts), C Zach Hall (19-40-59), D Ryan O’Connor (8-28-36)
Key losses: C Colin Behenna (26-48-74), C Ivan Telegin (35-29-64; signed with Winnipeg)
Outlook: The continued emergence of standouts like Pearson and Scheifele, and the play of Niederberger in his first season, sparked the Colts to a 25-game improvement in the win column. Now these Colts could be tough to contend with this year.

Brampton Battalion
Coach/GM: Stan Butler
2011-12 finish: 36-22-3-7, 3rd division, 4th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Niagara 4-0 in conference semifinals
Key players: RW Barclay Goodrow (26-26-52; Carolina prospect), G Matej Machovsky (24-13-0-4, 2.36, .902, 5 SO; Ottawa prospect), D Dylan Blujus (7-27-34), D Cameron Wind (2-19-21, +16), LW Brandon Robinson (15-9-24)
Key losses: C Sam Carrick (16-23-39; signed with Toronto), LW Ian Watters (16-14-30)
Outlook: Defense is the name of the game in Brampton, which has featured one of the league’s top defenses the past several seasons. Machovsky anchors this year’s unit, while a defense led by Blujus and Wind provide plenty of help.

Mississauga Steelheads
Coach/GM: James Boyd
2011-12 finish: 33-28-1-6, 5th division, 6th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Barrie 4-2 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: LW Riley Brace (33-49-82), D Dylan DeMelo (7-40-47; signed with San Jose), C Kristoff Kontos (15-32-47), D Stuart Percy (4-30-34, plus-50; signed with Toronto), D Trevor Carrick (6-13-19)
Key losses: G Brandon Maxwell (33-22-1-3, 2.92, .913, 6 SO), LW Jamie Wise (31-17-48)
Outlook: This club has a new owner – Mississauga, Ontario, businessman Elliott Kerr, and nickname. But the Steelheads’ new goaltending tandem of Spencer Martin and former Otter Tyson Teichmann will have the biggest impact on this team’s success.

Niagara IceDogs
Coach/GM: Marty Williamson
2011-12 finish: 47-18-0-3, 1st division, 1st conference
Playoff finish: Lost to London 4-1 in league finals
Key players: C Ryan Strome (30-38-68 in 46 games; signed with N.Y. Islanders), D Dougie Hamilton (17-55-72, +37; signed with Boston), D Jesse Graham (4-37-41, +25; N.Y. Islanders prospect), RW Brett Ritchie (24-21-45; signed with Dallas), G Chris Festarini (16-10-0-0, 2.85, .904, 2 SO; former Otter)
Key losses: G Mark Visentin (30-9-0-2, 1.99, .926, 10 SO; signed with Phoenix), C Andrew Agozzino (40-48-88), LW Freddie Hamilton (35-51-86; signed with San Jose), C Alex Friesen (26-45-71; signed with Vancouver), RW David Pacan (29-35-64)
Outlook: Festarini faces serious pressure as Visentin’s replacement in net. But Festarini has plenty of experienced talent – led by Strome and Hamilton – in front of him that will help keep the puck out of the net as well as score a lot of goals.

Sudbury Wolves
Coach/GM: Trent Cull/Blaine Smith
2011-12 finish: 36-26-4-2, 4th division, 5th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Brampton 4-0 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: LW Joshua Leivo (32-41-73), D Justin Sefton (3-16-19, 143 penalty minutes; San Jose prospect), LW Nathan Pancel (23-21-44), D Frank Corrado (3-23-26, +26), C Matthew Campagna (8-23-31 in 45 games)
Key losses: C Michael Sgarbossa (36-46-82; signed with San Jose), D Josh McFadden (19-53-72; signed with Florida), G Johan Mattsson (23-11-2-1, 3.16, .910), LW Andrey Kuchin (25-40-65), RW Derek Schoenmakers (26-24-50; traded to Windsor)
Outlook: The Wolves spent little time in the playoffs the past two seasons, as they were swept both times. But the departure of skilled leaders like Sgarbossa, McFadden, Mattsson and Kuchin might keep these Wolves out of the playoffs entirely.

- Victor Fernandes

SARNIA, Ontario – Three goals in the third period by the Sarnia Sting were the difference, as the Erie Otters lost their season opener at RBC Centre Friday night 5-2.

Nail Yakupov, Craig Hottot and Charlie Sarault all scored in the third for the Sting, as they handed the Otters a season-opening loss.

Alex Basso scored first for the Sting while on the power play, but his goal was quickly neutralized by Sondre Olden’s first OHL goal.

The Norwegian took a feed from Connor Brown down the left wing of the Sarnia zone and fired a wrist shot from the circle through the glove of Brandon Maxwell to tie the game nine minutes, five seconds into the game.

Brett Ritchie scored on a two-on-one just over a minute later to put the Sting back in front. However, a hard check by Chris Marchese during an Otters’ penalty kill led to their first shorthanded goal of the season. Brown picked up the loose puck and started a two-on-none, waiting until the last moment to find Marchese, as he rang the puck just under the crossbar to make it two-all with four minutes, 19 seconds left in the first.

The second period was more defensive than the first, but neither team was short on chances. Chris Festarini stopped Ritchie with a terrific right arm save on a breakaway and Brett Thompson was denied by the outstretched right pad of Maxwell.

The goalies kept the scoreline at two apiece going into the third. The third was where the Sting were able to pull away, and despite Festarini’s best efforts with 35 saves, the Otters could not find the offense to take at least a point on the road.

Brown led the way for the Otters with two assists, while Nathan Glass, Stephen Harper and Jake Evans had solid debuts despite not appearing on the scoresheet. The Otters continue on the road to Plymouth to take on the Whalers Saturday at 7 p.m.

- From Erie Otters news release

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League announced this morning that they have selected left wing Stephen Harper of the Burlington Eagles with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection being held today via the Internet and conference call.

A resident of Burlington, Ontario, Harper collected 38 goals and 24 assists in 55 games this season for the Eagles. Harper is a 6-foot, 180-pound left wing that can also play on defense, as he played on the blue line through most of his career.

Harper is a player who likes to model himself after Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla because of his leadership, goal scoring and character. He is also a model student, earning honors at Nelson High School in Burlington.

With their second round pick (34th overall), the Otters drafted center Jake Evans out of the Welland Tigers Minor Midget program. Evans scored 27 goals and added 46 assists in 59 games this season. A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, Evans now resides in Thorold. He is an honors student at Thorold High School and his favorite NHL player is San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton.

Here are the Otters’ other draft picks:

4th round – G Corey Foster (5-11, 165), Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs — 2.13 GAA, 4 SO in 39 games; Otters’ highest draft pick for a goaltender since Brandon Maxwell in the 2nd round in 2007.

5th round – D Patrick Murphy (6-0, 175), Hill Academy (Concord, ON) — 13 goals, 30 points in 37 games

5th round – D Sean Power (6-0, 170), Markham Majors – 1 goal, 18 points, 44 penalty minutes in 58 games

5th round – G Devin Williams (5-10, 145), Motor City Metal Jackets U16 – 2.17 GAA, 2 SO in 10 games

6th round – RW Nick Betz (6-3, 200), Detroit Little Caesars U16s — 9 goals, 17 points, 28 penalty minutes in 35 games

6th round – LW Ryan Coulter (5-9, 170), Welland Tigers (Harper’s teammate) — 29 goals, 72 points, 72 penalty minutes in 52 games

7th round – C Jordan Dunin (5-9, 165), York Simcoe Express — 3 goals, 9 points in 11 games

- From Erie Otters news release, staff reports

KITCHENER, Ontario – Phil Varone has enjoyed facing the Kitchener Rangers this season.

He had a goal and two assists in the Erie Otters’ 4-2 win in front of 6,446 at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Friday night. He has six goals and eight points in three games against his former team.

The Otters (20-18-1-1) won all three meetings, including the last two in Kitchener. The Otters had lost the previous 11 meetings overall with the Rangers (23-10-3-1) and were winless in 16 straight on the road.

The Otters, which also have a three-game winning streak overall, are two games above the  .500 mark for the first time this season. Varone helped seal Erie’s latest win by assisting on Greg McKegg’s empty-net goal with 10 seconds left. Varone also opened the scoring for the Otters.

Varone scored his 15^th goal of the season to tie the score at 1 with 4:32 left in the first period. Shawn Szydlowski’s 20^th goal of the season snapped the tie 2:21 into the second. Varone then assisted David Broll’s goal less than three minutes later. Kitchener’s Cody Sol sliced the lead to 3-2 at the 7:58 mark of the third. But the Otters held off the Rangers until McKegg’s goal sealed the Midwest Division victory.

Szydlowski added an assist to his goal, while Anthony Luciani had two assists. Ramis Sadikov made 34 saves to earn his 20^th win of the season. Jason Akeson and Matthew Tipoff had two assists apiece for the Rangers. Brandon Maxwell, a former Otters prospect, had 32 saves for the Rangers. In other Otters’ news, the club announced that Barrie claimed forward Jordan Coccimiglio off waivers.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Otters 4, Rangers 2

Erie  1  2  1  —  4

Kitchener  1  0  1  —  2

1^st Period — 1. Kitchener, Michael Catenacci 9 (Akeson, Tipoff), 8:50 (pp). 2. Erie, Phil Varone 15 (Luciani, Holden), 15:28. Penalties — Broll (E) 5-min. fighting, 3:39; Randell (K) 5-min. fighting, 3:39; Cook (E) holding, 6:55; Varone (E) holding, 18:45.

2^nd Period — 3. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 20 (Cazzola), 2:21. 4. Erie, David Broll 8 (Varone, Luciani), 4:57. Penalties — Doornbosch (K) checking to the head, 10:43.

3^rd Period — 5. Kitchener, Cody Sol 3 (Tipoff, Akeson), 7:58. 6. Erie, Greg McKegg 28 (Varone, Szydlowski), 19:50 (en). Penalties — Cook (E) roughing, 5:20; Appio (E) 5-min. fighting, 8:05; Ming (K) 5-min. fighting, 8:05; Sol (K) checking to the head, 11:13; Szydlowski (E) holding, 11:57; McEneny (K) high sticking, 18:14.

Shots on goal — Erie, 10-14-13—37; Kitchener, 15-10-11—36.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 20-14-1-1 (36 shots, 34 saves); Kitchener, Brandon Maxwell 16-7-3-0 (36 shots, 32 saves).

Power plays — Erie (0-4), Kitchener (1-3).

Referees — Matt Parlette, Ben Wilson. Linesmen — Matthew Traub, Garrett Rank.

Attendance — 6,446.

Three stars

* Phil Varone, Otters (goal, 2 assists) ** Ben Thomson, Rangers (0 points) *** Ramis Sadikov, Otters (34 saves)

Injury plagued or not, the Erie Otters are scoring goals.

Behind Phil Varone’s hat trick and Greg McKegg’s two goals, the Otters set a season high in goals in a 7-3 win against Kitchener in front of 3,731 at Tullio Arena on Saturday night.

Erie’s offensive onslaught – the most goals scored in a game since the 2009-10 season finale (8 against London), occurred two nights after scoring six goals in a shutout win against Belleville.

Kitchener entered the game with nine wins in the past 10 games. But the surging Otters (12-14-1-0) jumped on the Rangers, as they built a 3-0 lead in the opening 5½ minutes of the opening period on their way to snapping a 10-game losing streak against their Midwest Division rival. The Otters also have their first three-game winning streak since February.

“That was the best game we’ve played,” said Varone, a former Ranger.

Varone scored on assists from Bret Cook and David Broll at the 2:03 to open the scoring. Then McKegg continued his offensive assault with the first of his two straight goals. He fired a rebound of David Shields’ shot past goaltender Brandon Maxwell, a former Otters’ draft pick, for a 2-0 lead.

Fifty-seven seconds later, McKegg scored again – his sixth goal in the past two games – on assists from Shields and Derek Holden for a 3-0 advantage. Ryan Murphy, the league’s highest-scoring defenseman, slipped a shot through goaltender Ramis Sadikov’s pads to move the Rangers within 3-1 with 2:28 left.

The Otters’ lead shrunk to 3-2 just 17 seconds into the second, as Gabriel Landeskog deflected Jonathan Jasper’s shot past Sadikov for Landeskog’s team-leading 20^th goal of the season.

But the Otters responded 1:02 later, as Varone scored his second goal of the game and seventh in 14 games as an Otter, for a 4-2 lead. Then Jeremy Gottzmann scored at the 2:44 mark of the period to regain the Otters’ three-goal lead – his first goal since Feb. 13, a span of 46 games.

Kitchener (17-6-0-1) sliced that lead to 5-3 at the 7:14 mark on Cody Sol’s first goal of the season. Landeskog and Jason Akeson assisted on the goal, with Akeson recording his Ontario Hockey League-leading 36^th assist and 48^th point of the season. But the Otters continued attacking the Rangers’ net.

The Otters finished the second with 25 shots on goal, which tied for the season high (Oct. 22 against Sault Ste. Marie). The teams combined for 39 shots on goal in the middle period. The Otters finished with a season-high 51 shots.

Early in the third, Matthew Paton, who assisted on Gottzmann’s goal, snapped a 16-game goal drought to hand the Otters a 6-3 lead. Jordan Coccimiglio earned his second assist of the game on the play.

Then Varone completed the first three-goal outing in his five-year OHL career – and the team’s second in two games (McKegg) with a power-play goal on assists from McKegg and Luciani 7:43 into the period. Varone and McKegg were the first Otters’ teammates with hat tricks in consecutive games since Justin Hodgman (Dec. 20 vs. Sudbury) and Andrew Yogan (Dec. 28 at Brampton).

Varone and McKegg, who also had an assist, led the Otters’ offense. Shields, Luciani and Coccimiglio had two assists apiece. Paton (goal, assist) also had two points.

“When (role players) chip in,” McKegg said, “you know you’re going to have a good night.”

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Otters 7, Rangers 3

Kitchener  1  2  0  —  3

Erie  3  2  2  —  7

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Phil Varone 6 (Cook, Broll), 2:03. 2. Erie, Greg McKegg 19 (Shields, Szydlowski), 4:26. 3. Erie, McKegg 20 (Shields, Holden), 5:23. 4. Kitchener, Ryan Murphy 13 (Maxwell), 17:32. Penalties — Lowry (K) interference, 15:13.

2^nd Period — 5. Kitchener, Gabriel Landeskog 20 (Jasper, Catenacci), :17. 6. Erie, Varone 7 (Luciani), 1:19. 7. Erie, Jeremy Gottzmann 1 (Paton, Coccimiglio), 2:44. 8. Kitchener, Cody Sol 1 (Landeskog, Akeson), 7:14. Penalties — Broll (E) 5-min. fighting, 2:47; Randell (K) 5-min. fighting, 2:47; Gazdic (E) 5-min. fighting, 6:00; Thomson (K) 5-min. fighting, 6:00; Szydlowski (E) elbowing, 13:39; Randell (K) interference, 15:10.

3^rd Period — 9. Erie, Matthew Paton 4 (Coccimiglio, Grant), 4:47. 10. Erie, Varone 8 (McKegg, Luciani), 7:43 (pp). Penalties — Crescenzi (K) checking to the head, 6:26; Austin (E) tripping, 10:39.

Shots on goal — Kitchener, 11-14-15—40; Erie, 12-25-15—51.

Goaltenders — Kitchener, Brandon Maxwell 12-5-0-0 (51 shots, 44 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 12-10-1-0 (40 shots, 37 saves).

Power plays — Kitchener (0-2), Erie (1-3).

Referees — Darcy Burchell, Dave Gauthier. Linesmen — Daryl Wolfe, Mike Harrington.

Attendance — 3,731.

Three stars

* Phil Varone, Otters (hat trick) ** Greg McKegg, Otters (2 goals, assist) *** David Shields, Otters (2 assists)

What: Erie Otters (1-2-0-0) at Kitchener Rangers (2-0-0-0)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Kitchener Memorial Auditorium – Kitchener, Ontario

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (1 goals, 2 assists, 3 points), C Mike Cazzola (2-3-5), RW Anthony Luciani (2-1-3), LW David Broll (1-2-3), D Tyler Hostetter (1-1-2, plus-4)

Kitchener – RW Tobias Rieder (2-3-5), RW Gabriel Landeskog (3-1-4), D Ryan Murphy (2-2-4), LW Matthew Tipoff (2-0-2), RW Jason Akeson (0-2-2)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters face Kitchener for the first of eight times in the regular season. They lost all eight meetings last season by a combined 44-17 score. … The Otters haven’t beaten Kitchener since a 4-1 win on March 14, 2009. … They haven’t won in Kitchener since a 6-3 victory on Jan. 18, 2009 – a span of five straight losses. … Rookie RW Macaulay McDonnell recorded his first point, an assist, in his OHL debut on Thursday at Niagara. … The Otters have been outshot 126-95 in three games this season, including 98-59 in two road games. … D David Shields, who returned from NHL camp with the St. Louis Blues last weekend, had no points and a plus-1 rating in his season debut on Friday. … Rookie C Connor Crisp (mild concussion) missed his third straight game on Friday. …

Kitchener – LW Jeremy Morin and C Jeff Skinner remain at NHL training camps with the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively. They combined for 22 goals and 33 points in eight games against the Otters last season. … Rieder was the fifth overall pick in the CHL Import Draft in June. … The Rangers began the season with a 5-2 home win against Saginaw and 6-4 road win against Guelph last weekend. … G Brandon Maxwell (1-0-0-0, 2.00 goals-against average, .946 save percentage), a former Otters’ draft pick, stopped 35-of-37 shots in the season-opening win against Saginaw.

Up next: vs. London (Saturday, 7 p.m.), at Guelph (Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes