Erie Otters (5-36-3-1) at Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (19-24-2-2)

When: Friday, 7:35 p.m.

Where: Essar Centre – Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

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

Up next: at Sudbury (Saturday, 7:05 p.m.), vs. Brampton (Feb. 3, 7 p.m.)

Fast facts: The Otters are winless in 11 straight games (0-9-2-0), the third-longest skid in franchise history. The 2007-08 club had a 16-game streak (0-14-1-1). The 1996-97 club lost 13 in a row (0-12-1-1). … The Otters lost three one-goal games last weekend, including overtimes losses to Peterborough and London. They allowed eight goals in those games (2.6 per game), a stark contrast from their OHL-worst total of 221 goals against (4.9 per game). … They have lost 10 straight road games, three shy of the franchise mark of 13 set in 1996-97. They haven’t won on the road since a 7-3 victory in Sarnia Dec. 9. … RW Johnny McGuire (hand) is expected to play tonight. … … Rookie D/F Tyler McCarthy (ill) has missed the past four games. … Former Otters LW David Broll has two goals and 18 points in 40 games this season. He has scored seven goals in 64 games with the Greyhounds and 24 in 169 OHL games. … Mike Stapleton is in his first season as Greyhounds coach. He served as an associate coach and assistant for the Otters from 2006-08. … The Otters could face G Jack Campbell, who helped Windsor eliminate the Otters in a seven-game, first-round playoff series last spring. … Sault Ste. Marie (42 points) has lost four straight and nine of their last 10 games to slip to ninth in the Western Conference. The Greyhounds trail Guelph by one point for the final playoff spot in the conference. … The Otters are the least penalized team in the OHL (605 minutes). The Greyhounds have the fifth-highest total (836).

- Victor Fernandes

This week, I’ll break down all 20 OHL clubs division by division and unveil my predictions for the 2011-12 season. Today, let’s look at the Western Conference’s West Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Plymouth Whalers

Coach/GM: Michael Vellucci

2008-09 finish: 36-26-2-4, 3^rd division, 6^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Owen Sound 4-0 in conference semifinals

Key players: G Scott Wedgewood (28-18-1-1 record, 2.99 goals-against average, .908 save percentage, 2 shutouts; New Jersey prospect), RW Stefan Noesen (33-44-77; Ottawa prospect), C Mitchell Heard (20-30-50; Toronto prospect), D Beau Schmitz (7-23-30; Carolina prospect), C Rickard Rakell (20-25-45; Anaheim prospect)

Key losses: C Robbie Czarnik (33-44-77), LW Tyler Brown (25-34-59), RW James Livingston (22-27-49), LW Jamie Devane (18-20-38; signed with Toronto)

Outlook: Noesen blossomed into a big-time player in his second season. Now he leads a club that returns quality players at every position, including Wedgewood in net, Schmitz on defense and Heard up front.

Saginaw Spirit

Coach/GM: Todd Watson

2008-09 finish: 40-22-4-2, 1^st division, 2^nd conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Windsor 4-2 in conference semifinals

Key players: LW Josh Shalla (47-25-72; Nashville prospect), RW Jordan Szwarz (27-39-66; signed with Phoenix), C Vincent Trocheck (26-36-62; Florida prospect), LW Brandon Saad (27-28-55), C John McFarland (25-13-38; signed with Florida)

Key losses: C Ivan Telegin (20-41-61; traded to Barrie; signed with Winnipeg), C Mathew Sisca (12-30-42)

Outlook: The Spirit’s once-promising season ended in the second round against the rival Spitfires. Yet they still have enough talent to make a deep playoff run, as long as Tadeas Galansky plays well in net.

Sarnia Sting

Coach/GM: Jacques Beaulieu

2008-09 finish: 25-36-5-2, 4^th division, 0^th conference

Playoff finish: Did not qualify

Key players: RW Nail Yakupov (49-52-101), C Alex Galchenyuk (31-52-83), G Brandon Maxwell (23-15-4-2, 3.22, .903, 1 SO with Kitchener), C Taylor Carnevale (35-35-70 with Barrie/Windsor; Los Angeles prospect), RW Brett Ritchie (21-20-41; Dallas prospect)

Key losses: LW Kale Kerbashian (37-51-88), LW Tyler Peters (21-40-61), D Joe Rogalski (7-25-32; traded to Sault Ste. Marie)

Outlook: Yakupov and Galchenyuk were the most notable rookie tandem in the league last season. But the Sting added a few key pieces in Carnevale and Maxwell through offseason trades.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Coach/GM: Mike Stapleton/Kyle Dubas

2008-09 finish: 24-36-5-3, 5^th division, 10^th conference

Playoff finish: Did not qualify

Key players: C Nick Cousins (29-39-68; Philadelphia prospect), RW Andrew Fritsch (27-35-62 with Owen Sound; Phoenix prospect), LW David Broll (13-21-34 with Erie/Sault Ste. Marie; signed with Toronto), D Joe Rogalski (7-25-32 with Sarnia; Pittsburgh prospect), RW Carson Dubchak (18-22-40)

Key losses: C Daniel Catenacci (26-45-71; traded to Owen Sound), LW Vern Cooper (25-35-60), G Chris Perugini (17-21-4-1, 3.96, .885, 1 SO; has left the club, according to The Sault Star)

Outlook: Stapleton, the Otters’ former associate/assistant coach, rejoins the Greyhounds after a season as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He will continue the rebuilding process.

Windsor Spitfires

Coach/GM: Bob Boughner/Warren Rychel

2008-09 finish: 39-23-3-3, 2^nd division, 4^th conference

Playoff finish: Lost to Owen Sound 4-1 in conference finals

Key players: C Alexander Khokhlachev (34-42-76; Boston prospect), LW Tom Kuhnhackl (39-29-68; signed with Pittsburgh), G Jack Campbell (24-14-2-2, 3.80, .884; signed with Dallas), D Nick Ebert (11-30-41), D Adrian Robertson (5-21-26)

Key losses: D Ryan Ellis (24-77-101; signed with Nashville), RW Zack Kassian (26-51-77; signed with Buffalo), C Taylor Carnevale (35-35-70; traded to Sarnia), RW Kenny Ryan (21-37-58; signed with Toronto), C Stephen Johnston (21-29-50)

Outlook: Ellis and Kassian, key members of the Spitfires’ consecutive league and Memorial Cup title teams from 2008-10. Now they have passed the torch to Khokhlachev, Kuhnhackl and company.

- Victor Fernandes

Former Erie Otters associate coach Mike Stapleton is the Sault Ste. Greyhounds’ new coach, according to The Sault Star.

Former Erie Otters winger David Broll, who was traded to Sault Ste. Marie in the Brett Thompson deal in January, appears to be in a bit of trouble with the Greyhounds.

THE SAULT STAR FROM SUNDAY’S GAME VS. SARNIA: Hounds winger David Broll was a healthy scratch, a decision (GM Dave) Torrie, when questioned, admitted was punitive. Torrie said both Broll and winger Chad Thibodeau, out with a high ankle sprain, were sent home from the arena Sunday. Asked if the two had broken a team rule, Torrie answered in the affirmative.

“But I won’t get into specifics,” Torrie said. “We’ll deal with it Monday (today). We’ll talk to them and if the two of them handle it properly, we’ll move on from it.”

UPDATE: In a message sent to me Monday, Broll wanted to clarify that he was sent to his billet home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Broll also said he will play in Tuesday’s game at Sudbury. He declined to provide further details.

What: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (16-26-5-2) at Erie Otters (25-23-1-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (34 goals, 30 assists, 64 points), C Brett Thompson (28-24-52), RW Shawn Szydlowski (27-24-51), C Phil Varone (23-25-48), RW Anthony Luciani (17-30-47)

Sault Ste. Marie – C Daniel Catenacci (21-33-54), C Nick Cousins (17-26-43), LW Vern Cooper (18-22-40), LW David Broll (10-18-28), C Carson Dubchak (15-13-28)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters return home for two games after losing three of five on a season-long road trip that ended last weekend. … They have slipped to eighth in the tight Western Conference, where nine points separate third-place Kitchener and the Otters. … Thompson, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, faces his former team for the first time since being acquired Jan. 10. He has three goals and six points in nine games with the Otters. … The Otters also face former teammate Broll for the first time since being dealt in the Thompson trade. The second-year winger has two goals and six points in nine games with the Greyhounds. … Varone has seven goals and 14 points in an eight-game point streak, three shy of equaling his career high set in the 2007-08 season with London. He finished January with nine goals and 19 points – the highest point total in one month in his career. … The Otters finished January with a 7-5-0-0 record. … G Ramis Sadikov (25-16-1-1 record, 2.97 goals-against average, .910 save percentage, 2 shutouts) had a personal eight-game winning streak snapped last weekend in Owen Sound. … The Otters have eight hat tricks this season (Szydlowski 4, McKegg 3, Varone) – five shy of the franchise record of 13 set in 1998-99. … Students with school identification can purchase a ticket to tonight’s game for $5. … McKegg had nine goals in 10 January games, his second-best monthly total this season (11 in November). He needs four goals to eclipse his single-season career high of 34, set last season. … Luciani has points in three straight games (five points). … D Tyler Hostetter (broken hand) could end a nearly three-month absence as early as next weekend, said Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager. … F Andrew Yogan (shoulder) could make his season debut in two to three weeks, Bassin said. … Rookie LW Chris Marchese (shoulder) hasn’t played since being injured at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Sault Ste. Marie – The Greyhounds won 7-3 at home Oct. 22 to extend their winning streak over the Otters to three straight games. … They have lost three straight and nine of their last 11 games to slip to last in the West and 13 points out of a playoff spot. … They are 2-7 under general manager/interim coach Dave Torrie, who fired then-coach Denny Lambert Jan. 11. … They have seven road wins – the fourth-lowest total in the OHL behind Barrie (two), Belleville (six) and Sarnia (six). … They rank near the bottom on the power play (18.1 percent) and penalty kill (78.1).

Up next: vs. Windsor (Saturday, 7 p.m.), at Ottawa (Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

Former Mercyhurst College men’s hockey recruit Rudy Sulmonte has signed with the OHL‘s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Find out more by clicking the link.

What: Erie Otters (3-7-1-0) at Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (4-6-1-0)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Essar Centre – Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points), C Mike Cazzola (5-11-16), RW Shawn Szydlowski (4-7-11), LW David Broll (2-5-7), D Tyler Hostetter (3-5-8)

Sault Ste. Marie – C Brett Thompson (9-4-13), C Daniel Catenacci (3-10-13), LW Vern Cooper (2-11-13), C Nick Cousins (5-3-8), C Carson Dubchak (4-2-6)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have a season-high, five-game losing streak. … They have lost three straight on the road and are 2-5-0-0 overall. … The two-game trip through northwestern Ontario concludes a stretch of seven road games in 10 outings. The Otters begin a stretch of five straight games and eight of nine at home on Wednesday against Plymouth. … The injury-ravaged Otters have been playing without defensemen Brett Cook (concussion) and David Shields (back) and forwards Brett Appio (leg), Connor Crisp (concussion) and Anthony Luciani (wrist). … Defenseman Mitch Gaulton has played despite a nagging hand injury. But he left Saturday’s game against Ottawa in the third period. … The Otters and Greyhounds rank near the bottom of the OHL with 46 and 43 goals against, respectively. … McKegg ranks among the top 10 in goals, assists and points. He leads the league with three short-handed goals.

Sault Ste. Marie – Former Otters assistant coach Mike Stapleton (2006-08) left his assistant position with the Greyhounds (2008-10) in June to become an assistant with the Syracuse Crunch, the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate. … The Greyhounds won both meetings against the Otters last season – 4-3 in a shootout at home on Sept. 19, 2009, and 5-1 in Erie on Oct. 24, 2009. … They return home after a 1-2 road trip to Brampton, Mississauga St. Michael’s and Guelph. … The Greyhounds swapped goaltenders last week, trading Bryce O’Hagan to Peterborough and acquiring Chris Perugini from Ottawa. … Thompson ranks fourth in goals and among the top 20 in points.

Up next: at Sudbury (Saturday, 7 p.m.), vs. Plymouth (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters forward David Broll was one of 43 players invited to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, which runs from July 31-August 3 at in Calgary, Alberta.

The camp, which includes 15 Ontario Hockey League players, will be used to determine the players for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that will play in the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, scheduled for August 10-14 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Former Otters center Ryan O’Reilly represented Canada in the 2008 Hlinka tournament, helping the team to a gold medal. Current Otters right wing Shawn Szydlowski played for the United States in 2007, when the squad finished in fifth place.

Broll, the Otters first round draft pick in 2009, finished his rookie year with nine goals and nine assists in 64 games. He has experience in international play with Team Ontario in the 2009 World Under-17 Ice Hockey Challenge.

CHL Players:

Defencemen:

Myles Bell, Regina Pats

Cody Ceci, Ottawa 67’s

Dillon Donnelly, Shawinigan Cataractes

Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs

Scott Harrington, London Knights

Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers

Ryan Murray, Everett Silvertips

Jimmy Oligny, PEI Rocket

Xavier Ouellet, Montreal Juniors

Stuart Percy, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Jonathan Racine, Shawinigan Cataractes

Reece Scarlett, Swift Current Broncos

Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon Blades

Stephen Woodworth, Lewiston MAINEiacs

Forwards:

Brent Andrews, Halifax Mooseheads

Olivier Archambault, Val d’Or Foreurs

Austen Brassard, Belleville Bulls

David Broll, Erie Otters

Raphael Bussieres, Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Michael Curtis, Belleville Bulls

Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres

Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs

Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals

Jean-Francois Leblanc, Val d’Or Foreurs

Adam Lowry, Swift Current Broncos

Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders

Garrett Meurs, Plymouth Whalers

Bryce Milson, Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels

Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes

Alan Quine, Kingston Frontenacs

Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks

Brett Ritchie, Sarnia Sting

Carter Sandlak, Guelph Storm

Colin Smith, Kamloops Blazers

Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings

The players, born in 1993, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray, in consultation with head coach George Burnett (Port Perry, Ont./Belleville Bulls, OHL) and assistant coaches Ron Choules (Montreal, Que./Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL) and Jim Hiller (Nelson, B.C./Tri-City Americans, WHL). Murray evaluated these players over the course of the 2009-10 season, following them along with numerous other candidates for the program during league play, as well as during the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held from December 29-January 4 in Timmins, Ont.

“The upcoming National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp will be competitive and exciting,” Murray said. “These players represent the future of Canadian hockey and are a testament to the strength of the Canadian Hockey League and the skill development taking place in minor hockey across the country.”

The camp roster includes 12 skaters from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, 15 from the Ontario Hockey League, 10 from the Western Hockey League and one from the Central Canadian Hockey League (Junior A). In total, 36 of those 38 skaters (14 defencemen and 22 forwards) competed at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Of the 43 players who have been identified for the selection camp, 22 skaters and two goaltenders will be selected for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that will play in the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, scheduled for August 10-14 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

- From Erie Otters, Hockey Canada/CHL news releases

-  Ottawa’s 2^nd Round pick in 2011
-  Ottawa’s 4^th Round pick in 2011

-  Barrie’s 2^nd Round pick in 2010 (41^st overall)
-  Sault Ste. Marie’s 7^th round pick in 2010 (134^th overall)

- From Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds news release

Toronto – The Ontario Hockey League announced Friday that Jacob Muzzin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the winner of the Max Kaminsky Trophy awarded to the OHL’s most outstanding defenceman for the 2009-10 season.

Muzzin, a 21-year-old from Woodstock, Ontario, led the Greyhounds in scoring and finished second overall in league scoring by a defenceman with 15 goals and 52 assists for 67 points in 64 games.  He finished the season with 76 penalty minutes and tied for a team-best plus-minus rating of plus-6.  His 31 power play assists were also tied for second overall in the league.

Muzzin becomes the second member of the Greyhounds to win this award, following Craig Hartsburg in 1976-77.

“This is a great honor to win this award and be recognized with so many other great players,” said Muzzin. “I worked hard this offseason and took on a leadership role this year and developed more confidence with the puck.  Sault Ste. Marie has given me so much and is like a second home. This was a good way to end my stay here.”

Muzzin was also highly recognized in the 2009-10 Western Conference’ coaches poll, where he finished first in voting in the hardest shot and best defensive defenseman categories.  He also finished tied for first in the best body checker category and was considered the second best offensive defenseman.  This season, he finished second in voting behind Bryan Cameron of the Barrie Colts for the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy awarded to the OHL’s top overage player.

“Jacob did an outstanding job for us this season,” said Greyhounds coach Denny Lambert. “He brought class, respect, and loyalty to this organization and was a role model for our younger players.  He was a key member of our turnaround this year and is exactly what our organization represents in all areas on and off the ice.”

Muzzin was selected 11^th overall by the Greyhounds in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection and played four seasons with the club, competing in 230 career games.  The ‘Hounds captain represented his club twice in the OHL All-Star Classic and was an assistant captain for the Western Conference All-Stars this season.  He scored a career-high four assists on November 28 as second star of a 7-1 win over the Sarnia Sting.  Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Muzzin signed with the Los Angeles Kings in January.  He is currently competing with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs in pursuit of a Calder Cup title.

The Max Kaminsky Trophy is awarded each year to the most outstanding defenseman as selected by OHL general managers.  Teams were not permitted to vote for their own nominee.  Players received five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

Muzzin received 73 points in the voting process ahead of runner-up Nick Crawford of the Barrie Colts with 45 points.  Cameron Gaunce of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors finished third for the second straight year receiving 27 points.

Former winners of the award include Al MacInnis (Kitchener 1982-83), Chris Pronger (Peterborough 1992-93), Bryan Berard (Detroit 1994-95 and 1995-96), Marc Staal (Sudbury 2006-07), and Drew Doughty (Guelph 2007-08).  Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires was last year’s recipient

The award is named in recognition of Max Kaminsky, who enjoyed a 10-year professional playing career that included four years in the NHL with Ottawa, Boston, and Montreal.  After he retired from playing, Kaminsky enjoyed a 15-year coaching career that was capped by winning the Memorial Cup with the St. Catherine’s Teepees in 1960.

Muzzin will be formally presented with the award at the 2009-10 OHL Awards Ceremony taking place on Wednesday June 9, 2010, at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.  He will also be the OHL’s nominee for CHL Defens eman of the Year.

- From OHL news release