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 Brandon Saad of the Saginaw Spirit is the 2011-12 recipient of the William Hanley Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.

Saad, a 19-year-old from Gibsonia, PA, scored 34 goals and 42 assists for 76 points in just 44 games while recording just 38 penalty minutes in his second OHL season with the Spirit. He becomes the second member of the Spirit to win the award following current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tom Pyatt who received the honour in 2006-07.

“It’s an honor to win any award and be recognized by the league,” commented Saad. “I’m excited about the news and happy to win the award and accept this award on behalf of the Saginaw Spirit and my teammates.”

The Spirit captain led all OHL players with 1.73 points-per-game after beginning the season with the Chicago Blackhawks who selected him in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Upon his return to Saginaw he immediately produced an eight-game point-streak and received OHL Player of the Week honours following his second week in action ending October 23. That week included his first career five-point game where he scored a career-high four goals October 20 as first star of a 5-2 win over the Brampton Battalion.

A member of the U.S National Junior Team at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, Saad recorded 21 multi-point games this season and had the fourth longest point-streak in the league at 16 games between January 15 and February 24. He also finished with the sixth-best plus-minus rating in the OHL with a mark of plus-35.

“Brandon has been an outstanding player for the Spirit organization,” said Head Coach Greg Gilbert. “His commitment both on and off the ice exemplifies the type of player and person he is. His passion for the game and his leadership for our club have been second to none. He plays each game with determination and respect, not only for the game itself, but for his team and opponents. He is a true leader.”

The William Hanley Trophy is awarded each year based on a selection by the 20 General Managers of the Ontario Hockey League. Teams are not permitted to vote for their own candidate with players receiving five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote. The trophy is presented by the OHL to commemorate William Hanley, former Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association for over 25 years.

“Since his first day in Saginaw, Brandon Saad has displayed an extraordinary commitment to doing things right, both on and off the ice,” said Craig Goslin, Spirit Managing Partner, President and Governor. “Whether communicating with his teammates or visiting sick kids in a local hospital or doing a community appearance, his approach is consistently conducted with class and respect for others. Our franchise has certainly been the recipient of an outstanding future NHL hockey player and an outstanding person as well.”

Saad received 45 points in the voting process ahead of Tobias Rieder of the Kitchener Rangers who received 38 voting points, and Freddie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs who finished in third place with 31 voting points.

Former winners of the William Hanley Trophy include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie 1977-78), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1998-99), Brad Boyes (Erie 2000-01 and 2001-02), Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie 2004-05), Wojtek Wolski (Brampton 2005-06), and Cody Hodgson (Brampton 2008-09). Last season OHL top scorer Jason Akeson of the Kitchener Rangers claimed the award, while Ryan Spooner won the award in 2009-10 as a member of the Peterborough Petes.

Saad will be presented with the William Hanley Trophy at the 2011-12 OHL Awards Ceremony set for Tuesday June 5 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He will also be the OHL’s nominee for Sportsman of the Year at the Annual CHL Awards.

- From OHL news release

The new-look Sarnia Sting looked better than the new-look Erie Otters Friday night.

Ryan Spooner had two goals and an assist and J.P. Anderson stopped all 30 shots to lead the Sting to a 4-0 win against the Otters in front of 2,395 at Tullio Arena.

With the win, the Sting (20-14-1-4) snapped a two-game losing streak to the rebuilding Otters (5-31-1-1), which lost their fourth straight game.

The Sting unveiled the newly acquired Anderson, defenseman Adrian Robertson and forwards Spooner and Tyler J. Brown. Forward Dane Fox and defenseman Troy Donnay made their debuts for the Otters.

Fox and Donnay were acquired Thursday in the trade that sent veterans Greg McKegg, Brett Cook and Tyson Teichmann to London. The newest members of the Sting made an immediate impact.

Spooner and Brown assisted on rookie Connor Murphy’s first OHL goal, a power-play score that opened the scoring with 2:12 left in the first period. Then Spooner fired a wrist shot past Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov with 34.6 seconds left in the period. Robertson assisted on Spooner’s 100^th career goal.

Meanwhile, Anderson stopped all 13 shots he faced. He was acquired from Mississauga St. Michael’s on Friday for former Otters draft pick Brandon Maxwell and two picks. The Sting built a 3-0 lead with 8:48 left in the second, as Craig Hottot’s shot trickled past Sadikov and just across the goal line.

Anderson continued his strong start, as he stopped 9-of-9 shots to keep his shutout bid intact. Then Spooner scored his second goal on an unassisted breakaway for a 4-0 Sting lead 4:37 into the third. Anderson capped his first shutout of the season and ninth of his career. Hottot had a goal and assist. Sadikov made 26 saves in a losing effort for the Otters.

In other news, McKegg had a goal and assist in his debut for the Knights, a 3-1 win in Sudbury on Friday. Cook had an assist and was a plus-1. Teichmann didn’t dress for the Knights. Derek Holden didn’t play for Windsor on Friday in Sault Ste. Marie. But former Otter Chris Marchese scored twice in the Spitfires’ 5-3 win. He has five goals and seven points in six games.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Sting 4, Otters 0

Sarnia  2  1  1  —  4

Erie  0  0  0  —  0

1^st Period — 1. Sarnia, Connor Murphy 1 (Spooner, Brown), 17:48 (pp). 2. Sarnia, Ryan Spooner 15 (Hottot, Robertson), 19:25. Penalties — Hottot (S) high sticking, :49; Dundas (S) interference, 10:03; Grant (E) cross checking, 17:12.

2^nd Period — 3. Sarnia, Craig Hottot 14 (Thompson, DeAngelo), 11:12. Penalties — Basso (S) checking to head, 2:13; Donnay (S) high sticking, 9:11.

3^rd Period — 4. Sarnia, Spooner 16 (unassisted), 4:37. Penalties — McGuire (E) cross checking, 6:32.

Shots on goal — Sarnia, 13-9-8—30; Erie, 11-8-11—30.

Goaltenders — Sarnia, J.P. Anderson 16-11-1-3 (30 shots, 30 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 3-12-1-1 (30 shots, 26 saves).

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

Referees — T. J Foster, Craig Spada. Linesmen — Ryan Wilson, Daryl Wolfe.

Attendance — 2,395.

Three stars

* Ryan Spooner, Sting (2 goals, assist) ** Craig Hottot, Sting (goal, assist) *** J.P. Anderson, Sting (30 saves, shutout)

Sarnia Sting (19-14-1-4) at Erie Otters (5-30-1-1)

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

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

Up next: vs. Kitchener (Saturday, 7 p.m.), at Owen Sound (Jan. 13-14, 7:30 p.m.)

Fast facts: The Otters return home for two games after losing all three games on an Eastern Conference trip to Barrie, Oshawa and Peterborough last weekend. … The Otters have posted two of their five wins against the Sting. They capped the first half with a 5-3 home win against Sarnia Dec. 17. … LW Sondre Olden (broken finger on right hand) hopes to play this weekend. He suffered the injury during his first shift in the gold-medal game at the IIHF World Junior Championship’s Division I Group A tournament in Germany last month. He hasn’t played for the Otters since Dec. 3. … RW Connor Brown (14 goals, 26 points) was named OHL rookie of the month for December (6 goals, 10 points in 12 games). He leads the team in goals and ranks second in assists (12) and points. … LW Stephen Harper could miss this weekend’s games after reportedly being injured in Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Russia at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ontario. … Sarnia could be without RW Nail Yakupov (21 goals, 53 points in 26 games). He led his native Russia against Sweden Thursday night in the gold-medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary, Alberta. … The Sting have lost five straight and seven of their 10 games to fall 10 points behind Plymouth in the West Division standings and slip to fourth in the Western Conference. … C Brett Thompson has 16 goals and 32 points in 22 games with the Sting. He has a goal and two points in two games against his former team. … The Sting acquired C Ryan Spooner (14-18-32 in 27 games) from Kingston on Thursday for 2011 first-round pick Ryan Kujawinski. … C Charles Sarault (14 goals, 60 points) leads the OHL in assists (46) and ranks second in scoring. He was named player of the month for December (5 goals, 23 points in 11 games).

- Victor Fernandes

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced Monday that 41 of Canada’s top junior-aged players (born in 1992 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp, Dec. 10-14, 2011 at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex in Calgary.

Goaltenders
Tyler Bunz (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Louis Domingue (Quebec Remparts)
Mark Visentin (Niagara IceDogs)
Scott Wedgewood (Plymouth Whalers)

Defensemen
Nathan Beaulieu (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67’s)
Mathew Dumba (Red Deer Rebels)
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc (Rimouski Oceanic)
Brandon Gormley (Moncton Wildcats)
Dougie Hamilton (Niagara IceDogs)
Scott Harrington (London Knights)
Brenden Kichton (Spokane Chiefs)
Joseph Morrow (Portland Winterhawks)
Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers)
Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips)
Jamie Oleksiak (Saginaw Spirit)
Alex Petrovic (Red Deer Rebels)
Mark Pysyk (Edmonton Oil Kings)

Forwards
Michael Bournival (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Brett Bulmer (Kelowna Rockets)
Phillip Danault (Victoriaville Tigres)
Michael Ferland (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants)
Freddie Hamilton (Niagara IceDogs)
Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Boone Jenner (Oshawa Generals)
Mark McNeill (Prince Albert Raiders)
Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts)
Zack Phillips (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Max Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)
Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks)
Brad Ross (Portland Winterhawks)
Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts)
Ryan Spooner (Kingston Frontenacs)
Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Ryan Strome (Niagara IceDogs)
Christian Thomas (Oshawa Generals)
Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s)

What: Kingston Frontenacs (18-15-2-2) at Erie Otters (20-18-1-1)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (28 goals, 29 assists, 57 points), RW Shawn Szydlowski (20-17-37), RW Anthony Luciani (13-22-35), G Ramis Sadikov (20-14-1-1 record, 2.90 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, 2 shutouts), C Phil Varone (15-18-33)

Kingston – C Nathan Moon (20-25-45), C Ryan Spooner (21-17-38), G Philipp Grubauer (15-8-2-0, 3.38, .909, 2 SO), D Taylor Doherty (15-15-30), RW Michael Fine (9-22-31)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have moved into sixth place in the tight Western Conference. Five points separate fourth-place Windsor and No. 8 London. … The Otters and Frontenacs meet for the first time this season. They also play in Kingston Feb. 13. The teams split the two-game season series in 2009-10, with the Otters winning 6-1 at home and losing 7-5 on the road. … Sadikov’s franchise record of consecutive starts stands at 30 games. … McKegg has points in three straight games (three goals, four points). … Szydlowski has goals and points in three consecutive games (three goals, five points). … LW David Broll also has goals and points in the past three games (three goals, three points). He has set a career high in points (22). He needs one goal to match his nine-goal total as a rookie last season. … Luciani has a seven-game, goal-scoring drought. … Varone has a three-game point streak (two goals, six points).

Kingston – D Mitch Gaulton (3-7-10 in 25 games) faces his former team for the first time since being traded Nov. 18. Gaulton, who has a goal, three points and a minus-5 rating in 11 games with the Frontenacs, rejoined the lineup New Year’s Day against Mississauga St. Michael’s after missing three weeks reportedly with a concussion. … LW Sean Jones (17-12-29), another former Otter, has six goals and 13 points in 14 games since being acquired from Brampton Nov. 22. … Spooner has 11 goals and 19 points in 19 games since being acquired from Peterborough Nov. 11. … C Ethan Werek (15-15-30) hasn’t played since Dec. 10 reportedly because of a wrist injury.

Up next: at Niagara (Thursday, 7 p.m.), vs. Barrie (Friday, 7 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

What: Erie Otters (8-13-1-0) at Peterborough Petes (4-13-1-1)

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: Peterborough Memorial Centre – Peterborough, Ontario

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (12 goals, 17 assists, 29 points), G Ramis Sadikov (7-10-1-0 record, 2.86 goals-against average, .913 save percentage, 1 shutout), RW Shawn Szydlowski (7-11-18), RW Anthony Luciani (4-5-9 in 8 games), D Derek Holden (2-10-12)

Peterborough – LW Matt Puempel (12-10-22), D Kalle Ekelund (5-8-13), C Austin Watson (4-9-13), C Alan Quine (5-7-12), D Slater Koekkoek (3-9-12)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters, which have won three of their last four games, face their longest road trip since playing three games in five day at Kitchener, Windsor and London from Oct. 11-15. … The Otters lost all three games by a combined 17-5 score in last season’s trip to Peterborough, Oshawa and Barrie. … They have lost six straight games in Peterborough by a combined 35-12 score since a 4-3 win on Jan. 29, 2004. … The Otters, which are 3-6-1-0 on the road, begin the three-game road trip without C Mike Cazzola (broken wrist) and D Tyler Hostetter (hand). Cazzola is one of the OHL’s top 20 scorers (9-16-25). Hostetter is one of the top scoring defensemen (4-13-17). … The Otters also could play without D Brady Austin (bruised shoulder), who missed part or all of last weekend’s games and missed practice time this week. … Sadikov has started 12 straight games. He leads the league with 1,153 minutes played and ranks among the top 10 in goals-against average and save percentage. … Szydlowski has one goal and five points in the past seven games – with three of those points in a win against Guelph on Nov. 10. … The Otters haven’t allowed a power-play goal since Oct. 29 against Windsor – a span of 26 straight chances. … Holden, who has points in three straight games, faces his former team in his hometown of Peterborough for the first time since being acquired from the Petes on Oct. 24, 2009. … LW David Broll (3-8-11) snapped a 16-game goal-less streak on Saturday against London. … The Otters are 3-7 in one-goal games.

Peterborough – The Petes have lost seven straight and nine of their past 10 games. … They are tied with Barrie for the league’s fewest wins and have the second-worst home record (3-7-1-0). … They have lost six of eight one-goal games. … They have scored a league-low 53 goals and allowed the third-most goals (87). … The Petes traded high-profile C Ryan Spooner (12-11-23) to Kingston last week. … Quine, the No. 2 pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, has one goal and one point in three games since joining the Petes in the Spooner deal. … Koekkoek, the team’s 2010 first-round pick, ranks third among rookie defensemen and among the top 20 overall in scoring.

Up next: at Oshawa (Friday, 7:35 p.m.), at Barrie (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

The Kingston Frontenacs have acquired high-profile center Ryan Spooner today from the Peterborough Petes.

Check out the details of this deal by clicking the link.