After examining the OHL's Eastern Conference on Thursday, let's breakdown the Western Conference today, courtesy of the OHL's Aaron Bell:


Erie Otters

Key Returnee: Former first overall pick Ryan O'Reilly has been a consistent scoring threat in each of his first two OHL seasons but is looking to step up his production and become a bona-fide OHL star after being a high pick of the Colorado Avalanche in June. He has the skills to be a dominant centre and can help the Otters officially move out of their rebuilding phase.

Forwards: Zack Torquato led the Otters with 29 goals last season and returns this year as an overager with a lot of firepower. Shawn Szydlowski also returns after breaking out with 23 goals as a sophomore last season and Andrew Yogan was on a point-a-game pace after coming over from Windsor last season. The Otters are also impressed with Greg McKegg, their first round pick of a year ago, and this year's first rounder, power forward David Broll.

Defence: The Otters are looking forward to having promising blueliner Mitch Gaulton in the lineup for a full season. Gaulton had most of the past two seasons derailed with an elbow injury that required surgery. The Otters probably won't get a lot of offensive production from the blueline - Tyler Hostetter returns after leading the way with six goals and 23 points - but they have an efficient crew that will keep the shots down in their own end.

Goaltending: Jaroslav Janus made a name for himself at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa last winter. The Slovak netminder was named to the tournament all-star team after putting in some inspirational performances and the Otters are looking for more of the same from the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect this season. Veteran Shane Owen and import pick Ramis Sadikov from Russia are in the mix as backups.


Guelph Storm

Key Returnee: Peter Holland went from being a promising young forward to a game-breaker in a matter of months last season. After a modest eight-goal, 23-point rookie campaign, the big Caledon native broke out with 28 goals and 67 points last season and established himself as a top-flight NHL prospect along the way. The Anaheim Ducks agreed and scooped up Holland in the first round in June.

Forwards: The Storm assembled a group of talented young forwards like Holland and third round Nashville Predators' picks Michael Latta and Taylor Beck. If they can keep that group together, the Storm should have one of the deepest forward lineups in the OHL next season. They added centre Mathew Sisca from the IceDogs and he looks ready to improve upon the 21 goal, 54 point season he enjoyed last year and they are also holding out hope that captain Matt Kennedy will return from the Carolina Hurricanes' camp to play as an overager.

Defence: The Storm return six defenders from last season but are most excited about the off-season acquisition of huge blueliner Adam Comrie from Saginaw. Comrie will log a lot of minutes for the Storm and joins overager Corey Syvret as the veterans of a bunch that also includes Ben Chiarot, Tim Campbell and Evgeny Molotilov, who all played regular minutes last season.

Goaltending: Cody St. Jacques will get the starting role to open the season while Matt Hoyle also joined the team after playing at Harvard last season. Veteran Brandon Foote will be sidelined until late December at best with a hip injury.


Kitchener Rangers

Key Returnee: The Kitchener Rangers threw their rebuilding effort into fast-forward this year and a big part of that has been the emergence of forward Jeff Skinner, the Rangers' first round pick in 2008. Skinner started his OHL career with a bang, scoring two goals and three points in his debut last September and led the team with 27 goals last season, including 10 in a five-game stretch at the beginning of February.

Forwards: Jason Akeson was also a pleasant surprise last season, putting in 20 goals and 64 points in his first full season in the OHL. Third year forward Tyler Randell, a former first round pick of the Belleville Bulls, plays with a good mix of offensive skill and toughness. They also added talented Swedish forward Gabriel Landeskog, who is the youngest player to ever play for the Djurgarden in the Swedish Elite League, and touted American sniper Jeremy Morin, who is expected to be a high pick in the NHL Draft in June.

Defence: Overage captain Dan Kelly returns to anchor the blueline while the Rangers' brass are salivating at the talent that first round pick Ryan Murphy showed in the pre-season. Murphy, the Rangers' first round pick in the OHL Priority Selection, plays a similar style to Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires. The Rangers enjoyed a coup in the off-season when they signed standout defenceman John Moore from the USHL's Chicago Steel in the summer. Moore, a Columbus Blue Jackets' prospect has lots of skill and would help the Rangers' blueline dramatically but because he was drafted out the USHL, the Blue Jackets have the option of sending him to a minor league affiliate instead of the Rangers.

Goaltending: The Rangers also landed highly-touted netminder Brandon Maxwell from the U.S. Under-18 program in Ann Arbor, MI and he will join former teammate Morin to help the Rangers' rebound from missing the playoffs last season. They also brought veteran Mavrick Parks back to Kitchener in a trade with Kingston this week.


London Knights

Key Returnee: London native Nazem Kadri is one of the most consistent point producers in the OHL and he is likely to challenge for the league scoring title this season - assuming he returns to the Knights. Kadri was the seventh overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL draft in June and while the team needs all the offensive help they can get, they don't plan on rushing Kadri's progression.

Forwards: The Knights have a solid group returning up front that includes overager Justin Taylor, who could break the 50-goal plateau this season. St. Louis Blues' prospect Phil McRae, Daniel Erlich, Phil Varone and Jared Knight all return after scoring at least 15 goals last season.

Defence: Michael Del Zotto comes back as the kingpin on the blueline in London this season. Del Zotto has added some defensive chops to his strong offensive game and presents some challenges for the opposition. John Carlson could return to London but they aren't expecting to have him in the lineup this season. Like Moore in Kitchener, Carlson was drafted out of the USHL so the Washington Capitals can send him to a minor league affiliate this season if he doesn't stay in the NHL. The Knights landed promising blueliner Scott Harrington in the Priority Selection but he is out for several weeks after breaking his wrist in the Knights' first pre-season game. They also added veteran Michael D'Orazio from Owen Sound this week.

Goaltending: The Knights landed veteran stopper Michael Hutchinson from the Barrie Colts in the off-season and he settles their question about who will take the bulk of the chores in net this season. Big project Stephen Heming, who played in two games with the Knights last season, and rookie Michael Houser are also in camp.


Owen Sound Attack

Key Returnee: In just two seasons, centre Joey Hishon established himself as the Attack's most dangerous forward. He followed up a 20-goal, 47 point rookie campaign with 37 goals and 81 points to lead the team in scoring last season.

Forwards: The Attack added winger Bobby Mignardi from Kingston in the off-season while Mike Lomas and Marcus Carroll were both 25-goal scorers last season that may have more to contribute up front this year. The club is very high on sophomore Steven Shipley, a former first round pick, who scored 16 goals and 39 points last year and has a lot of upside. Rookie winger Daniel Zweep is difficult to miss at six-foot-four and 227 pounds and loves to play a physical role and skilled Russian Roman Berdnikov is expected to produce once he recovers from a shoulder injury that needed surgery in the off-season.

Defence: David Kolomatis has been a staple on Owen Sound's blueline for the past three seasons and may return as an overager. Kolomatis, who scored 18 goals and 46 points in 63 games last season, was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in June but battled mono during the summer and may not be ready to make the jump to the pro level. The Attack also return Keevin Cutting, Paul Bezzo, Michael McGurk and Czech defender Milan Doczy to the blueline while first round pick Curtis Crombeen will also be worked into the mix.

Goaltending: The Attack moved Tyler Beskerowany to Kingston in the off-season to clear the way for Scott Stajcer to claim the undisputed number one role. Stajcer was very good when splitting time in the crease last season and will look to rebound from a tough playoff appearance with a strong group in front of him this year.


Plymouth Whalers

Key Returnee: The Whalers expect that sensational sophomore Tyler Seguin will help fill the gap with the graduation of the recent Mr. Whaler Chris Terry. It took two months for Seguin to get his first OHL goal last season but by the end of the year, he was finding the net with the consistency of a seasoned veteran. He scored the first goal of this OHL season on Thursday night and a 50-goal, 100-point season is not out of reach.

Forwards: AJ Jenks and Ryan Hayes both had quality offensive production last season and are likely candidates to help fill the void from graduation. Big Joe Gaynor also stepped up his scoring pace and the overager should step up with another increase. The Whalers also added local product Austin Mattson from the USHL and he showed in the pre-season that he will be able to contribute to the Whalers' attack. The club is also hoping for good things from Texas native Stefan Noesen, who played in the Plymouth area last season.

Defence: The Whalers have a deep blueline that is anchored by the no-nonsense play of Leo Jenner. Veterans Michal Jordan and Josh Bemis are also reliable and the talented Michigan native Beau Schmitz is looking to build on a productive rookie season with the Whalers.

Goaltending: Matt Hackett returns as one of the best stoppers in the Western Conference. He racked up 34 wins last season to go along with a pair of shutouts and gives the Whalers a dependable workhorse in the crease. Scott Wedgewood only saw action in six games last season in Plymouth but should get a bit more action this year.


Saginaw Spirit

Key Returnee: When the Saginaw Spirit brought in goaltender Ed Pasquale from the Belleville Bulls in 2007, they hoped that he would solidify their crease for the immediate future. Since then, Pasquale has racked up 40 wins - including 32 during an all-star performance last season - and returns as one of the best goaltenders in the OHL this season.

Forwards: Overagers Chris Chappell and Jack Combs were a huge part of Saginaw's first round OHL playoff win last season but they have a solid core returning up front that includes Jordan Szwarz, Jordan Skellett and Joe Pleckaitis, who all scored in double digits last year and should have more to give this year. The Spirit started last season without a true 16-year-old rookie in the lineup but they have three this season, including promising forwards Anthony Camara and Vincent Trocheck, their first two picks in the OHL Priority Selection in May. The Spirit coaches say that Russian forward Ivan Telegin plays a North American style of game.

Defence: Nick Crawford, Joe Underwood and T.J. Brodie are the blueline veterans among a relatively young group on the back end for the Spirit this season. Cody Sol uses his large frame to play a dominant physical game while Nick Trecapelli and Brad Walch return.

Goaltending: Pasquale is the clear-cut starter and will see lots of action in the Saginaw net while the team added Tadeas Galansky in the Import Draft. Veteran Anthony Peters is also in the mix and will probably be looking for more work than he got last season.


Sarnia Sting

Key Returnee: Overage centre Steve Reese is the top scoring returning player in the Sting lineup despite scoring just nine goals and 32 points last season. The Dorchester native took command at times in the pre-season and the Sting will look to him to lead the way in a rebuilding year.

Forwards: The Sting were shut out twice in the pre-season and will face some growing pains while waiting for some of their young talent to catch up to the OHL pace. The Sting used their first three picks in the OHL Priority Selection in May to pick up forwards and all three - first round pick Brett Ritchie and third rounders Craig Hottot and Brandon Francisco - are in the lineup to start the season along with fifth rounder JC Campagna. Ben O'Quinn was solid in his first full OHL season last year and can contribute offensively.

Defence: It's been a long time since the Sting haven't been able to rely on Marc Katic to log lots of minutes on the blueline but the New York Islanders' prospect has graduated to the pro level so they will look to veterans like Jordan Hill and Brent Sullivan to keep things tidy in their own end. Big defender Ron Soucie came over from Windsor in the off-season and joins returnees Daniel Broussard, Joe Rogalski and talented sophomore Nathan Chiarlitti.

Goaltending: Shayne Campbell played in a handful of games as a rookie last season and may get the chance to run with the starter's job this season. Jesse Raymond was brought in as an insurance policy and to press for playing time.


Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Key Returnee: The Greyhounds breathed a collective sigh of relief when they saw overage defenceman Jake Muzzin return to the team this week. Muzzin was at the Nashville Predators' rookie camp and was making a bid to move on to professional hockey this season but will be back in the Sault where the Greyhounds will rely on him to log a lot of minutes and help their young lineup mature during the season.

Forwards: Veteran winger James Livingston scored back-to-back 20 goal seasons and will be one of the Greyhounds' top snipers this season while helping a young group of promising forwards develop into solid OHLers. The Greyhounds added a pair of dynamic forwards in the OHL Priority Selection in May. They nabbed Daniel Catenacci with the first overall pick and Nick Cousins with the first pick in the second round. Catenacci has all-world skills and loads of speed while Cousins has good offensive talents and loves to play the game with an edge.

Defence: Michael Quesnele will also eat up a lot of quality minutes for the Greyhounds while sophomore Brock Beukeboom was very good in helping the team to a perfect 5-0 record in the pre-season. Dylan King also returns along with sophomores Marshall Fox, Brandon Archibald and David Mead, the nucleus of a good blueline in the making.

Goaltending: Bryce O'Hagan is back in the nets after becoming a starter last season while the Greyhounds also added Swedish netminder Robin Lehner in the Import Draft.


Windsor Spitfires

Key Returnee: As a sophomore last year, Taylor Hall did things that most veterans dream of. He was one of the top scorers in the regular season, won the OHL playoff MVP award in helping the Spitfires win the OHL championship and then won the MVP award at the MasterCard Memorial Cup after keying the Spits' unlikely come-back from a pair of early tournament losses. All eyes in the scouting fraternity will be on Hall again this season as he looks to become the fourth straight OHL player to be selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft.

Forwards: The Spitfires return a deep cast up front that includes Adam Henrique, who stepped up his game in the Memorial Cup, as well as Calgary Flames' prospect Greg Nemisz and veteran Eric Wellwood, who had a penchant for scoring big goals in the playoffs. Youngsters Justin Shugg and Austin Watson will get more opportunities to contribute this season while Czech centre Richard Panik is advertised as an outstanding offensive talent.

Defence: As good as the Spitfires are up front, they may be even better on the blueline. Captain Harry Young returns as a rock solid presence while Nashville Predators' draft pick Ryan Ellis is becoming the prototype for a powerplay quarterback. The Spitfires also added Cam Fowler, who is also projected to be an early pick in the NHL draft in June. Serviceable veterans Mark Cundari Blues Jersey in the HockeyBuzz Store' href='http://shop.hockeybuzz.com/st-louis-blues.php'>Mark Cundari and Jesse Blacker also return.

Goaltending: Josh Unice has played in the last two Memorial Cups. Two years ago he helped the Kitchener Rangers advance to the championship game while last year he was relegated to a spectator role behind starter Andrew Engelage. He is eager to prove that he is the guy to get the Spitfires back to the national championship tournament.


mark.spizzirri@hockeybuzz.com