When considering contenders, the Kitchener Rangers, Owen Sound Attack, and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds shouldn't be counted out.
Memorial Cup Contender Series
In an effort to provide our readers of The Hockey News QMJHL with an early preview of the 2024 Memorial Cup tournament, this ongoing series will review potential participants from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL.
This week we have been examining Memorial Cup contenders from the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. While the London Knights and the Saginaw Spirit have to be considered favorites, there are three teams in the western conference who can be regarded in the honorable mention category.
If you've missed any previous articles from the series, you'll find convenient links below.
Kitchener Rangers (31-17-2-0)
The Rangers are a team in the midst of a long slump that saw them drop from league leaders in many categories to mid-table in the conference. Injuries paired with a lack of goal scoring of late have put the Rangers in a difficult position.
GM Mike McKenzie opted to add reinforcements at the deadline by acquiring Barrie Colts import forward Eduard Sale, a recent first round pick (20th overall) by the Seattle Kraken in the 2023 NHL draft, and veteran defenseman Oliver Savard. Both players have had slow starts while transitioning into the Rangers lineup, but will be key members if the Rangers can right the ship in time to compete with the top dogs of the West.
With the likes of fellow Kraken 2023 NHL draft pick (2nd round, 50th overall) Carson Rehkopf and contender for overage player of the year, Matthew Sop, the lack of goals should not last much longer.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJSYNTqWBQw[/embed]
Owen Sound Attack (24-20-3-2)
Despite a difficult start under new head coach Darren Rumble, a veteran Attack squad played .500 hockey in the first half of the season.
Led by one of the purest goal scoring talents in the OHL, Winnipeg Jets 2023 first round pick (18th overall) Colby Barlow has been limited to 31 games this season due to injury. The 6-foot-1 Orillia, Ontario native has still achieved 25 goals in those games. Look for the rugged left winger to be a big part of the Attack offense in second half.
In net, Owen Sound has arguably one of the brightest young goaltending talents in Canada in 17-year-old Carter George. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native was recently ranked as the number one goalie in North America by NHL Central Scouting. In advance of the 2024 NHL Draft, the sophomore has put up a league leading .914 save percentage (SV%), paired with a top five goals-against average of 3.04 so far this season.
As evident by their deadline acquisitions of Peterborough Petes left-winger Sam McCue and veteran shutdown defensemen Konnor Smith, long-time GM Dale DeGray believes in this core. The Bayshore should be rocking this spring as this squad could make some real noise in the second half and could look to play spoiler in a top heavy Western Conference.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A73_0ZQMRM[/embed]
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (32-14-2-1)
The Greyhounds are another veteran team that believes in their respective core of players who have grown together. Led by New York Rangers 2022 third round (97th overall) pick Bryce McConnell-Barker upfront and veteran backstop Charlie Schenkel in net, the Soo look to continue an impressive first half with a strong push towards a top seed in the West.
This past summer, the Greyhounds managed to snag the Calgary Flames 2021 sixth Round pick (#168 overall) Jack Beck from the Ottawa 67's at a discount and he has not disappointed. The Richmond, Ontario native lead the team with 19 goals, 43 assists and a total of 62 points, all career bests.
At the deadline, Greyhounds GM Kyle Raftis acquired the Chicago Blackhawks 2022 third round pick (66th overall) Gavin Hayes, who is the brother of current Hounds' rookie forward Travis Hayes. In nine short games, the native of Westland, Michigan is already scoring at a goal-a-game pace. The right winger's playoff experience will be counted on as the Soo look to continue to keep pace in the West.
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Additional Content from the Contender Series
