Erie Otters (18-40-3-5) at Guelph Storm (38-23-1-4)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Sleeman Centre – Guelph, Ontario
On the air: WJET-AM/1400, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)*
Upcoming schedule: Saturday vs. Guelph, 7 p.m. (season finale)
What to expect: The Otters enter the final weekend of the season tied with the 2007-08 club (18-46-2-2) for the third-fewest, single-season wins in the franchise’s 17-year history. They currently have the fourth-worst, single-season winning percentage (.333) in franchise history, behind only the 2011-12 club (.191), 2006-07 club (.243) and 2007-08 club (.294). … The Otters have topped 300 goals against for the second straight season and fourth time in the past seven years. … The Otters have clinched the No. 2 pick in the OHL Priority Selection April 6. Ottawa (16-43-0-5) will have the No. 1 pick. … Otters C Connor McDavid (25 goals, 37 assists, 62 points) entered Thursday trailing Sarnia RW Nikolay Goldobin (27-36-63) by one point for the league’s rookie scoring title. McDavid leads his counterpart by one assist and trails him by two in goals. The Sting faced Oshawa at home Thursday night. … McDavid needs one point to set a new franchise mark for points by a rookie in a season. He’s tied with Tim Connolly, who had 62 points in the 1997-98 season. McDavid already has broken the club’s mark for assists by a rookie in a season originally held by Brad Boyes (36 in 1998-99). … RW Connor Brown (26-41-67) could finish the season among the league’s top 20 scorers. … C Jake Evans (5-11-16) remained on crutches for Wednesday night’s loss to London at Erie Insurance Arena. … The Otters are holding a raffle as part of their annual Mario Lemieux Foundation Night. Tickets are $5 for one, $20 for five and $50 for 15 and will be drawn Saturday night. The list of 15 prizes include a framed Lemieux sweater signed by 15 players from his fantasy camp and sweaters signed by Lemieux, a Hockey Hall of Famer and Penguins co-owner, and current Penguins Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. … Guelph stands four points behind Midwest Division rival Kitchener with two games left. The Storm need to sweep the Otters this weekend and Rangers losses in Sault Ste. Marie and Saginaw this weekend to clinch the fourth seed and home-ice advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. … The Storm are fourth in the league with 247 goals scored despite having one player among the top 20 in goals (RW Scott Kosmachuk, 33) and no players among the top 20 in points.
* Saturday’s game will air on WFNN-AM/1330

- Victor Fernandes

GUELPH, Ontario – The Erie Otters began the third period Friday night with a chance at a road win against a Midwest Division rival.
That chance didn’t last long, though, as Tyler Bertuzzi‘s goal 1 minute, 46 seconds into the final period sparked Guelph’s decisive three-goal outburst that handed the Otters a 6-3 loss in front of 3,417 at Sleeman Centre. Erie (2-4-1-1) fell to 1-4-1-0 on the road.
Otters captain Connor Brown scored his team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the season. He scored with 6:36 left in the first period, and then added a power-play goal 24 seconds into the second to complete a comeback from an early 2-0 deficit. Guelph (5-2-0-1) regained the lead at 3-2 on Scott Kosmachuk‘s sixth goal of the season, scored on the power play 4:26 in the period.
That lead disappeared when Spencer Abraham’s first goal as an Otter tied the score at 3 with 6:07 left in the period. But Bertuzzi’s second goal of the game early in the third helped the Storm pull away for the victory. Oscar Dansk allowed all six goals on 39 shots to take the loss for the Otters. J.P. Labardo assisted on Brown’s two goals, while linemate Connor McDavid added an assist to give the team’s most potent line 11 goals and 15 assists in six games together. McDavid leads all OHL rookies with 10 points. He also has a seven-game point streak after being held scoreless in his debut Sept. 20 at Niagara. Tanner Richard had three assists for the Storm.
The Otters return to Erie Insurance Arena to face Mississauga today at 7 p.m.

Victor Fernandes unveils his predictions for the 2012-13 OHL season:

REGULAR SEASON

Eastern Conference
East Division
1. Belleville
2. Oshawa
3. Ottawa
4. Peterborough
5. Kingston

Central Division
1. Barrie
2. Niagara
3. Brampton
4. Mississauga
5. Sudbury

Western Conference
Midwest Division
1. Kitchener
2. Guelph
3. Owen Sound
4. London
5. Erie

West Division
1. Plymouth
2. Windsor
3. Sarnia
4. Saginaw
5. Sault Ste. Marie

PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Barrie def. No. 8 Peterborough, 4-0
No. 2 Belleville def. No. 7 Mississauga, 4-1
No. 3 Niagara def. No. 6 Ottawa, 4-1
No. 4 Oshawa def. No. 5 Brampton, 4-3
Semifinals
No. 1 Barrie def. No. 4 Oshawa, 4-2
No. 2 Belleville def. No. 3 Niagara, 4-2
Finals
No. 2 Belleville def. No. 1 Barrie, 4-3

Western Conference
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Kitchener def. No. 8 Erie, 4-1
No. 2 Plymouth def. No. 7 Sarnia, 4-1
No. 3 Guelph def. No. 6 Windsor, 4-2
No. 4 Owen Sound def. No. 5 London, 4-2
Semifinals
No. 1 Kitchener def. No. 4 Owen Sound, 4-1
No. 2 Plymouth def. No. 3 Guelph, 4-2
Finals
No. 1 Kitchener def. No. 2 Plymouth, 4-3

League finals
No. 1 Kitchener def. No. 2 Belleville, 4-2

- Victor Fernandes

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 Midwest Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Erie Otters
Coach/GM: Robbie Ftorek/Sherry Bassin
2011-12 finish: 10-52-3-3, 5th division, 10th conference
Playoff finish: Did not qualify
Key players: C Connor McDavid (No. 1 pick in 2012 OHL Priority Selection; 33 goals, 39 assists, 72 points in 33 games with Toronto Marlboros minor midget), G Oscar Dansk (No. 3 pick in 2012 CHL Import Draft; 2.82 goals-against average, .910 save percentage in 28 games with Brynas in Sweden), C Dane Fox (23-31-54), RW Connor Brown (25-28-53; Toronto prospect), LW Stephen Harper (24-11-35)
Key losses: G Ramis Sadikov (6-23-3-2, 4.26, .894)
Outlook: The highly anticipated McDavid era begins in Erie, but this team has other promising players at every position. Now these young Otters have to learn how to win after enduring the worst record in franchise history a season ago.

Guelph Storm
Coach/GM: Scott Walker/Mike Kelly
2011-12 finish: 31-31-2-4, 4th division, 7th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Plymouth 4-2 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: RW Zack Mitchell (37-38-75), G Garret Sparks (27-25-1-3, 3.11, .907, 5 SO; Toronto prospect), RW Cody McNaughton (25-24-49), RW Scott Kosmachuk (30-29-59; Winnipeg prospect), D Andrey Pedan (10-30-40; N.Y. Islanders prospect)
Key losses: C Francis Menard (24-36-60; traded to Peterborough)
Outlook: The Storm are ready to take the next step in this always competitive conference. They play solid defense, led by Sparks in goal and Pedan on the blue line, and they have skill up front in Kosmachuk, Mitchell and McNaughton.

Kitchener Rangers
Coach/GM: Steve Spott
2011-12 finish: 42-24-1-1, 2nd division, 3rd conference
Playoff finish: Lost to London 4-0 in conference finals
Key players: RW Tobias Rieder (42-43-85; Edmonton prospect), D Ryan Murphy (11-43-54, +14; signed with Carolina), C Radek Faksa (29-37-66; signed with Dallas), LW Matt Puempel (34-35-69; acquired from Peterborough, signed with Ottawa), G John Gibson (21-10-0-0, 2.75, .928, 1 SO; signed with Anaheim)
Key losses: C Michael Catenacci (25-44-69), C Andrew Crescenzi (24-23-37; signed with Toronto)
Outlook: The Rangers are a perennial contender in the conference, and they made sure this season was no different with the acquisition of Puempel from Peterborough. Expect the Rangers to be near, if not at, the top of the West in 2012-13.

London Knights
Coach/GM: Dale Hunter/Mark Hunter
2011-12 finish: 49-18-0-1; 1st division, 1st conference
Playoff finish: Won league championship, lost to Shawinigan (QMJHL) in Memorial Cup final
Key players: RW Seth Griffith (45-40-85, Boston prospect), D Scott Harrington (3-23-26, +26; signed with Pittsburgh), D Olli Maatta (5-27-32, +25; signed with Pittsburgh; C Max Domi (21-28-49), C Ryan Rupert (17-31-48)
Key losses: Michael Houser (46-15-0-1, 2.47, .925, 6 SO; signed with Florida), C Greg McKegg (31-44-75; former Otter, signed with Toronto), C Vladislav Namestnikov (30-39-69; signed with Tampa Bay), RW Jared Knight (25-45-70; signed with Boston), C Austin Watson (25-43-68; signed with Nashville)
Outlook: Dale Hunter returns behind the Knights’ bench after leading the NHL’s Washington Capitals to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. He has work to do if the Knights are to recapture the success they enjoyed in 2011-12.

Owen Sound Attack
Coach/GM: Greg Ireland/Dale DeGray
2011-12 finish: 32-29-304, 3rd division, 6th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Kitchener 4-1 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: G Jordan Binnington (21-17-0-1, 2.99, .906, 1 SO; signed with St. Louis), C Daniel Catenacci (33-39-72; signed with Buffalo), C Gemel Smith (21-39-60; Dallas prospect), C Cameron Brace (29-27-56), D Keevin Cutting (7-18-25, +20)
Key losses: LW Mike Halmo (40-45-85; signed with N.Y. Islanders), D Jay Gilbert (10-23-33, +8)
Outlook: The Attack lost a 40-goal scorer in Halmo, but they have enough talent from back to front to make a run in the conference. But they need to be more consistent after tailing off late last season and losing in the first round of the playoffs.

- Victor Fernandes

Toronto – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Kitchener Rangers’ Chief Operating Officer and Governor Steve Bienkowski is the recipient of the OHL Executive of the Year Award for the 2011-12 season.

Bienkowski championed the 2012 expansion of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex creating a business plan that will see the Rangers Hockey Club fully fund the $10.6 million upgrade to the city owned facility. The venture will see an additional 968 seats installed providing more opportunities for fans to enjoy Kitchener Rangers hockey.

The facility will also receive new media boxes and suite expansions, new concourse, washrooms and concessions, improved accessibility, along with a dressing room upgrade for the club, new medical and training facilities for players, and business offices for staff. The renovations will also create a new Rangers “Hall of History” in time for the franchise’s 50th Anniversary celebrations next season.

“We are very fortunate to have Steve leading our business operations,” said Craig Campbell, President of the Kitchener Rangers Board of Directors. “Steve complements the vision of our entire Board in recognizing the importance of our role in supporting community. On behalf of our Board, I offer congratulations to Steve on this most deserving recognition.”

Under Bienkowski’s leadership the Rangers maintain a strong focus on their community supporting hundreds of charitable programs and non-profit organizations including: St. John Ambulance, Kitchener Sports Association, Children’s Wish Foundation, Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, House of Friendship, Kitchener Panthers Baseball Club, Food Bank of Waterloo Region , THEMUSEUM, Waterloo Regional Boxing Academy, and the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Bienkowski, the Rangers’ COO since 2002, previously served six years on the club’s Board of Director’s Executive Committee. He is also a graduate of the league playing two seasons with the Rangers from 1979-81 winning an OHL Championship in his final season. His tireless efforts have also been recognized by the community as Bienkowski received the 2011 Citizen of the Year Award bestowed by the Lions Club of Kitchener, and also recently received the Order of St. John from the Governor General of Canada in recognition of his many years of volunteer service to St. John Ambulance.

The OHL Executive of the Year Award is presented annually to the executive whose team demonstrates success both on the ice and at the administration level through excellent organization and franchise success. The winner is selected by the League’s Executive Council.

This marks Bienkowski’s second OHL Executive of the Year Award having first received the honour following the Rangers’ Memorial Cup-winning season in 2002-03. Other recipients of the award include Craig Goslin of the Saginaw Spirit who won the award back-to-back in 2005-06 and 2006-07, followed by Denise Burke of the Niagara IceDogs in 2007-08, Warren Rychel of the Windsor Spitfires in 2008-09, Rick Gaetz of the Guelph Storm in 2009-10, and Dale DeGray of the Owen Sound Attack who won the award last season.

Bienkowski will be formally presented with the OHL’s Executive of the Year Award at the league’s annual award ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

- From OHL new release

Toronto – The Canadian Hockey League in association with SUBWAY® restaurant chain and the Ontario Hockey League today announced that the OHL’s Guelph Storm and Sarnia Sting will host Game 3 and Game 4 of the 2012 SUBWAY® Super Series.

Game 3 of the series will be played on Thursday November 7 in Guelph, Ontario, who last hosted the event in 2008. The series then returns to Sarnia, Ontario, for Game 4 to be played on Monday November 12, 2012. This will mark the third time that the Sting have hosted a Canada-Russia contest with previous games played in 2006 and 2003 when the event first began.

The 2012 SUBWAY® Super Series marks the tenth straight year that regional teams of CHL All-Stars will compete against the Russian National Junior Team as part of a six-game series. The series takes place November 5-15 and begins with two games in the QMJHL hosted by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Val-d’Or Foreurs, and wraps up with two games in the WHL hosted by the Victoria Royals and the Vancouver Giants.

The SUBWAY® Super Series is an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship which will be played in Russia next season. Last season the CHL edged Team Russia with a 3-2-1 record to win the series by a 10-8 margin in points, just one year following Russia’s first ever series victory in 2010. Canada and Russia would later meet at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship hosted by Calgary and Edmonton, AB, with Russia winning the semifinal contest with a roster that included 16 players from this event. 19 CHL players from the 2011 event competed on the bronze medal winning Team Canada.

All six games of the SUBWAY ® Super Series will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet with TVA Sports televising both games from the QMJHL. The 2012 SUBWAY® Super Series is supported by CHL associate sponsors, Bank of Montreal and CCM.

2012 SUBWAY® Super Series Schedule of Games:
Game 1 – Monday November 5 at Blainville-Boisbriand, QC
Game 2 – Wednesday November 7 at Val-d’Or, QC
Game 3 – Thursday November 8 at Guelph, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 12 at Sarnia, ON
Game 5 – Wednesday November 14 at Victoria, BC
Game 6 – Thursday November 15 at Vancouver, BC

For more information please www.subwaysuperseries.ca

- From CHL news release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that a media conference is scheduled for Wednesday at 12 pm at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, to announce the winner of the Red Tilson Trophy presented to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season.

The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented annually by the league to the Most Outstanding Player in the Ontario Hockey League during the regular season schedule of games as voted by sports writers and broadcasters in the OHL. The award is in honour of Albert “Red” Tilson, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Tilson was the OHA scoring champion for the 1942-43 season after scoring 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 22 games with the Oshawa Generals. Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires captured the award last season.

2011-12 Red Tilson Trophy Nominees
Barrie Colts – Tanner Pearson
Belleville Bulls – Brendan Gaunce
Brampton Battalion – Sam Carrick
Erie Otters – Adam Pelech
Guelph Storm – Matt Finn
Kingston Frontenacs – Darcy Greenaway
Kitchener Rangers – Tobias Rieder
London Knights – Michael Houser
Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors – Riley Brace
Niagara IceDogs – Mark Visentin
Oshawa Generals – Kevin Bailie
Ottawa 67’s – Tyler Toffoli
Owen Sound Attack – Mike Halmo
Peterborough Petes – Andrew Yogan
Plymouth Whalers – Stefan Noesen
Saginaw Spirit – Brandon Saad
Sarnia Sting – Nail Yakupov
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Nick Cousins
Sudbury Wolves – Michael Sgarbossa
Windsor Spitfires – Kerby Rychel

- From OHL news release

The Erie Otters made a valiant comeback attempt against Guelph Sunday afternoon.

But the Storm held on for a critical 6-4 win against the Otters in front of 2,864 fans at Tullio Arena.

Guelph (28-31-2-4) moved two points ahead of Sault Ste. Marie in the race for the Western Conference’s final spot in the OHL playoffs. Both teams have three regular-season games left. The Storm also are one point behind seventh-place Windsor, which also has three games left.

Meanwhile, the Otters (10-49-3-3) moved one regulation loss closer to equaling the 2006-07 club’s franchise record of 50. The 2011-12 club already owns the mark for most overall losses in a season (55), which surpassed the 53 defeats in 2006-07. The 2011-12 club already is assured of setting the mark for fewest losses in a season. The Otters are five wins behind the 2006-07 team with three games left.

The Storm grabbed a 2-0 lead late in the first period, as Brock McGinn scored the first of his two power-play goals with 4 minutes, 36 seconds left. Hunter Garlent followed with a goal 2:04 later.

Guelph’s lead reached 3-0 on McGinn’s goal 9:49 into the second period. But the Otters began to mount their comeback with rookie Mitchell Eisenberg’s third career OHL goal 47 seconds later. The Storm regained a three-goal lead at 4-1 on Jason Dickinson’s goal with 40 seconds left in the period.

But the Otters capitalized on Storm winger Scott Kosmachuk’s four-minute penalty for high sticking early in the third. Dane Fox and Anthony Cortellessa scored with the man advantage 1:09 apart to move the Otters within 4-3 at the 5:11 mark of the period.

Kosmachuk answered with his 29^th goal of the season, which handed the Storm a 5-3 lead, only to have Otters rookie Jake Evans score with 3:08 left. Evans’ goal pulled the Otters within 5-4. But Zack Mitchell scored into empty net with 37 seconds left – his 34^th goal of the season – to seal the Storm’s win.

McGinn (two goals) and Garlent (goal, assist) paced the Storm, while Garret Sparks made 31 saves.

Adam Pelech had two assists for the Otters, which had only 15 skaters – three below the league’s maximum – for the second straight game. J.P Cesario, who joined the team last week on emergency loan from Owen Sound, stopped 25-of-30 shots in his Otters’ debut.

SUMMARY

Storm 6, Otters 4

Erie  0  1  3  —  4

Guelph  2  2  2  —  6

1^st Period — 1. Guelph, Brock McGinn 11 (Kosmachuk, Finn), 15:24 (pp). 2. Guelph, Hunter Garlent 14 (Pereira), 17:28. Penalties — McCarthy (E) interference, :20; Kosmachuk (G) tripping, :35; Harper (E) hooking, 3:04; Kosmachuk (G) interference, 4:56; Pelech (E) tripping, 14:53.

2^nd Period — 3. Guelph, McGinn 12 (Kosmachuk, Finn), 10:11 (pp). 4. Erie, Mitchell Eisenberg 3 (McCarthy), 10:58. 5. Guelph, Jason Dickinson 12 (Gaskin), 19:20. Penalties — Donnay (E) interference, 1:23; Pereira (G) holding, 6:02; Evans (E) slashing, 8:49; Maaskant (E) roughing, 18:49; McNaughton (G) roughing, 18:49.

3^rd Period — 6. Erie, Dane Fox 22 (Pelech, Cairns), 4:02 (pp). 7. Erie, Anthony Cortellessa 7 (Pelech, Brown), 5:11 (pp). 8. Guelph, Scott Kosmachuk 29 (Garlent), 15:20. 9. Erie, Jake Evans 11 (unassisted), 16:52. 10. Guelph, Zack Mitchell 34 (unassisted), 19:23 (en). Penalties — Menard (G) tripping, :19; McCarthy (E) instigator, :19; McCarthy (E) 5-min. fighting, :19; Pedan (G) 5-min. fighting, :19; McCarthy (E) 10-min. misconduct, :19; Kosmachuk (G) 4-min. high sticking, 3:12; Harper (E) roughing, 4:57; Finn (G) roughing, 4:57.

Shots on goal — Guelph, 11-13-7—31; Erie, 9-10-16—35.

Goaltenders — Guelph, Garret Sparks 25-25-1-3 (35 shots, 31 saves); Erie, J.P. Cesario 0-1-0-0 (30 shots, 25 saves).

Power plays — Guelph (2-5), Erie (2-5).

Referees — David Gauthier, Steve Picco. Linesmen — Rick Janco, Mike Harrington.

Attendance — 2,864.

Three stars

* Brock McGinn, Storm (2 goals) ** Scott Kosmachuk, Storm (goal, 2 assists) *** Anthony Cortellessa, Otters (goal)

The Erie Otters will have an opening act at Tullio Arena Sunday.

Before the Otters face Guelph at 4:30 p.m., Meadville and Jamestown (N.Y.) will meet in the Lakeshore Hockey League championship game for the second straight season. Game time is set for noon.

Coaches and players from all LSHL freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams can attend both games for free by completing forms that are available from teams. Additional tickets can be purchased for a discounted price of $10. For more information, contact Jaime Cieszynski at the Otters’ office at 455-7779.

Jamestown, the two-time defending champion, reached the title game by beating Fort LeBoeuf 4-2 in the semifinals Thursday. Meadville earned a spot in the final with a 5-1 win against Fairview Thursday.

Jamestown beat Meadville 4-2 in the 2011 championship game. The Red Raiders won the 2010 title with a 3-2 victory against Harbor Creek.

The Erie Otters have finally reached double digits in wins. They needed a shootout to make it happen.

Dane Fox, Sondre Olden and Luke Cairns all scored in the shootout, with Cairns netting the winning goal in a 3-2 win against Guelph in front of 2,507 at Tullio Arena Wednesday night. Once Ramis Sadikov stopped Hunter Garlent on the game’s final attempt, the Otters had their 10^th win of the season.

Sadikov finished with 40 saves on 42 shots in regulation and overtime and two more on four shots in the shootout. The Otters (10-45-3-2), which had a goal and assist apiece from Cairns and Connor Brown earlier in the game, snapped a three-game losing streak and kept the Storm (25-28-2-4) from securing a critical extra point in the OHL’s Western Conference standings.

The Storm (56 points) are now tied with Sault Ste. Marie, which beat Sarnia 8-2 at home Wednesday, for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Storm have two games in hand and nine games left overall.

The teams played to a scoreless tie in the opening period. The Otters took a 1-0 lead on Cairns goal, off assists from Brown and Fox, 6 minutes, 17 seconds into the second period. Guelph tied the score at 1 on Kyle Pereira’s goal 1:24 later. That score lasted until early in the third, when Brown scored on the power play – his 21^st goal of the season – 4:48 into the period. Garlent’s power-play goal with 10:12 left in regulation tied the score at 2. But Sadikov forced overtime by stopping 18-of-19 shots in the period.

The teams managed only three shots on goal in the five-minute overtime. But they combined for five goals on eight shots in the shootout. Fox and the Storm’s Francis Menard scored in the opening round.

The Storm’s Jason Dickinson matched Sondre Olden’s goal in the third round to send the teams into a sudden-death round. Cairns slipped a shot past Storm goaltender Garret Sparks (21 saves). Garlent wasn’t able to do the same against Sadikov, sealing the Otters’ victory despite being outshot 42-24.

- Victor Fernandes