The Ontario Hockey League commences this evening with the Windsor Spitfires as the defending Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup Champions. Here is a preview of the OHL's Eastern Conference.

A preview of the Western Conference will follow on Friday.

Fine work provided by Aaron Bell of the OHL:

Barrie Colts

Key Returnee: Alex Hutchings has led the Colts in scoring in each of the past two seasons and this year will be the lynchpin in what could be one of the top scoring teams in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning fourth round draft pick also led the Colts with a +27 plus-minus rating and 12 powerplay goals last season.


Forwards: The Colts are in then enviable position of returning virtually all of their main ingredients from last season, including forwards Hutchings, Stefan Della Rovere, Josh Brittain and Michael Sgarbossa and they added veteran scorer Luke Pither from Belleville, who should be one of the top point producers in the Eastern Conference this season. Darren Archibald is also back. He was nice addition to the lineup and equaled Hutchings for the scoring lead in the playoffs.

Defence: The Colts aren't as deep on the blueline but have a workable group that includes steady overager Ryan Gottschalk and veterans Matt Stanisz and Dalton Prout. Sophomore Ryan O'Connor looks like the choice to quarterback the powerplay but if that doesn't work out watch for the Colts to try to make a move to bring one in. Simon Gronvaldt and youngsters Stephen Gaskin and Mitch Bennett are also in the mix.


Goaltending: The Colts moved Michael Hutchinson out to make way for veteran Peter Di Salvo to be the clear cut number one. He ended up being the Colts go-to-guy in the playoffs last season and made 84 saves in their triple overtime loss that ended their opening round series against the St. Michael's Majors. Dalton McGrath is available as the back-up.


Brampton Battalion

Key Returnee: With the expected departure of Brampton's top scoring trio from last season - Cody Hodgson, Evgeny Grachev and third overall NHL pick Matt Duchene - the Troops will look to returning veteran Thomas Stajan to increase his offensive production. Stajan has proven to be a dependable two-way performer with a good scoring touch.


Forwards: In addition to Stajan, the Battalion will need Scott Tanski to continue his upward swing in production while former first round pick Sam Carrick will likely pay big dividends this season. Stephon Thorne and Craig Moore were also serviceable in Brampton's march to the OHL Championship Series last season and will use that experience to become more regular contributors up front. First round pick Barclay Goodrow looked very good in the pre-season. Duchene - who was in Brampton's training camp and suited up in the pre-season before leaving for Colorado, , Grachev and Hodgson are all eligible to return but GM/coach Stan Butler expects all three to get a long look with their NHL clubs.


Defence: Matt Clark emerged last season as a solid two-way threat on the Battalion blueline and the big Campbellville native was rewarded at the NHL Draft when the Anaheim Ducks selected him in the second round in June. The Battalion are also looking for returnees Ken Peroff, Ben Alavie and Kyle Pereira to keep their end tidy.


Goaltending: After losing the number one job to Thomas McCollum last season, big Patrick Killeen is poised to be the top guy in Brampton this season. The 19-year-old Penguins' prospect will be backed up by one of Charlie Millen or Jacob Riley.



Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

Key Returnee: All-star defenceman Cameron Gaunce plays in every situation for the Majors and is one of the best all-around defenders in the Eastern Conference. Gaunce loves to score and his 17 goals last season were third best among all OHL blueliners.


Forwards: The Majors forward brigade is already a handful and will only get better as they mature. Overager Michael Pelech paces the offence for the Majors while youngsters Jordan Mayer, Casey Cizikas and William Wallen - who made an emotional return after suffering a brain aneurysm during a game last year - are difficult to keep under wraps. The Majors picked up former first round pick Gregg Sutch from the Sarnia Sting in the off-season and the talented winger will fit in nicely with the Majors' solid group of young forwards, including last year's first rounder Devante Smith-Pelly.


Defence: The Majors have a wealth of quality blueliners, including Gaunce as well as dependable veterans Tim Billingsley and Brett Flemming and overager Blake Parlett. They also added David Corrente from the Generals last season. They form a playoff-ready crew that are difficult to play against. The Majors used their first round pick in the OHL Priority Selection to select Stuart Percy from the Toronto Marlboros and will throw him into the mix this season as well.


Goaltending: The Majors are in the fortunate position of having an established number one goalie in Chris Carrozzi but also have a youngster that is pressing for playing time in JP Anderson. Either goalie is capable of winning and Anderson didn't show any nerves in his playoff performance last season despite being an OHL rookie.


Niagara IceDogs

Key Returnee: Coming into his third OHL season, feisty forward Andrew Agozzino will be leaned on heavily by the IceDogs to supply the firepower that became his hallmark last season. The 18-year-old led the team with 56 points last season and was second with 27 goals and the coaches don't think he's hit his offensive ceiling yet.


Forwards: Agozzino and veteran Chris DeSousa were the top goal getters for the IceDogs last season and will likely continue to lead the scoring parade this year while Marco Insam was a pleasant surprise with 23 goals. Sophomore Freddie Hamilton will continue his progress after scoring 10 goals and 28 points as a rookie last season and gritty rookie Andrew Shaw relishes making life difficult for the opposition.


Defence: One of the biggest question marks for the IceDogs this season will be if captain and World Junior defender Alex Pietrangelo is in the lineup. He was the fourth overall pick in the NHL Draft in 2008 and could crack the St. Louis Blues' lineup this season. If not, the big blueliner would add a lot to the IceDogs' lineup. Aside from Pietrangelo, the IceDogs back end is an unheralded group that includes returnees Mike Schwindt and Reggie Traccitto as well as first round pick Dougie Hamilton, who will join his older brother in Niagara.


Goaltending: Mark Visentin returns after playing in 23 games last season as a rookie and the IceDogs added huge Finnish netminder Petteri Simila, a seventh round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in June.


Sudbury Wolves

Key Returnee: Veteran forward Eric O'Dell has been a point-a-game producer since arriving in Sudbury in 2007 and will look to step up his production even more this season as he works towards signing with the Atlanta Thrashers after they acquired his rights from the Anaheim Ducks in March. O'Dell is a slippery forward that has the ability to create offensive chances on virtually every shift.


Forwards: After being the first overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection a year ago, John McFarland already looks like he is going to have a dominant season. He is a highly rated NHL draft prospect and was Canada's Captain when they won the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka tournament last month. The Wolves also return John Kurtz, Phoenix Coyotes' prospect Jared Staal and Marcus Foligno, who all scored in double digits last season and will be called upon to raise their production again this season. Big German winger Eddy Rinke and second round pick Kristoff Kontos also looked good in pre-season.


Defence: The Wolves have a relatively young group on the blueline with the likes of Peter Hermenegildo, Daniel Maggio and Jake Cardwell, who all played significant roles last season. They also added Russian blueliner Stefan Stepanov in the Import Draft and first round OHL Priority Selection Justin Sefton, one of the most talented blueliners available in the draft.


Goaltending: The Wolves have some depth in the crease with the return of overager Andrew Loverock, whose next win will be his 70th in the OHL, and Alain Valiquette, who also has the ability to be a number one netminder in the OHL.


Belleville Bulls

Key Returnee: All-star defenceman Shawn Lalonde is back after making it through at least three rounds of playoffs in each of his three OHL seasons with the Bulls. He is possibly the best skater in the Eastern Conference and the Bulls will rely heavily on the Chicago Blackhawks' prospect to carry the load offensively and defensively during a rebuilding year.


Forwards: Up front, the Bulls have just four skaters that are older than 18. Detroit Red Wings' prospect Stephen Johnston and fourth-year winger Matt Tipoff are the only 19-year-olds and will be expected to shoulder a lot of responsibility up front while overagers Tyler Taylor (from Oshawa) and Daniel Lombardi (from Sarnia) were brought in for their veteran presence. The Bulls have a solid group of young forwards that they expect to come to the forefront this season including Andy Bathgate, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL Draft in June, Luke Judson and sophomores Scott Howe and Cody Alcock.

Defence: The Bulls have as solid a top-four as any team in the division with Lalonde leading the way. Veteran stalwart Marc Cantin plays a responsible game while sophomores Stephen Silas and Bjorn Krupp have both stepped up their play considerably in the pre-season. Krupp was invited to the Minnesota Wild's rookie camp and his play earned him a ticket to the main camp. Veteran Rob Stellick also returns along with newcomers Steve Strong, Alex Basso and Julian Luciani.


Goaltending: The Bulls hope that German sophomore Philipp Grubauer will make the transition to starter after backing up Mike Murphy last season. They used their first round pick to tab local product Tyson Teichmann, who will likely apprentice for the immediate future.


Kingston Frontenacs

Key Returnee: Ethan Werek performed like anything but a rookie with the Frontenacs last season, tying for the team lead with 32 goals in 66 games. He was snapped up by the New York Rangers in the NHL Entry Draft in June and should return with another strong season for the Frontenacs.


Forwards: Werek and veteran Nathan Moon, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, are the top returning scorers for the Frontenacs but will also welcome newcomers like Kingston-native Kaine Geldart from the Plymouth Whalers and overager Zach Harnden, who came over from Peterborough in the off-season. Alan Quine also joins the mix after being picked second overall in the OHL Priority Selection in May and sophomore Charles Sarault looks like he could be ready for a breakout season.


Defence: Erik Gudbranson, the Frontenacs' first round pick from a year ago, quickly developed into a dominant blueliner as a rookie last season. He even took a turn wearing the captain's "C" as a freshman and will be a sought-after commodity at the NHL Draft next June. Veteran Taylor Doherty was tabbed by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL draft in June and brings another big body with mobility to the blueline. Veteran captain Brian Lashoff is a stable presence along with Kingston native David McMullen, who came in from Niagara in the off-season.


Goaltending: When the Frontenacs brought in Dallas Stars' prospect Tyler Beskorowany from the Owen Sound Attack, they knew that they would likely part with either Mavric Parks of John Cullen before the season started. Beskorowany provides the Frontenacs with an undisputed starter that is capable of winning games.


Oshawa Generals

Key Returnee: The Generals expect their success to come from the back end out this season and second-year defender Calvin de Haan is going to be counted on to lead that movement. de Haan burst into the Generals' lineup last season with eight goals and 55 points during an all-star campaign that ended with a first round selection by the New York Islanders in June.


Forwards: Up front, Brett Parnham emerged as one of the OHL's top snipers last season with a 50-goal season but he received a free-agent invite from the Senators and may earn a pro job. If he returns for an overage season, Parnham will be one of the league's top scorers again this year. Kory Nagy has put together two good offensive seasons in a row and, as an overager this season, he should be one of the Generals' top scorers. Another bright spot up front is sophomore Christian Thomas. The former first round pick of the Knights was lighting it up in pre-season and appears to be ready for a headlining role.


Defence: Veteran Tony DeHart is the old man of the Generals' blueline group as the only 19-year-old of the bunch while de Haan leads a group of promising young defenders that also includes Scott Valentine, who also came over from London. The Generals added defenders Colin Suellentrop and Kyle Hope with early picks in May and hope that they can make a contribution quickly. Jimmy McDowell also joins the mix after contemplating an NCAA scholarship opportunity.


Goaltending: Michael Zador was another key piece to the Tavares trade and showed through the final weeks of last season that he is capable of being a star in the OHL. He was a standout for Canada at the Under-18's last April and went on to be Tampa's fourth round pick in June. The Generals also have a capable backup in former first round pick Kevin Bailie.


Ottawa 67's

Key Returnee: Veteran forward Anthony Nigro blossomed after coming to Ottawa in an early season trade last year. The Woodbridge native scored at better than a point a game and will be counted on to be an offensive leader again this season. The St. Louis Blues' prospect has scored 54 goals in the past two seasons with Guelph and Ottawa and will reach for 40-50 this season.


Forwards: The 67's have a talented mix of veterans and youth up front with the likes of Nigro, Cody Lindsay and Thomas Nesbitt as well as sophomore Tyler Toffoli (pictured), who looks like he is going to be a scoring star at this level. Corey Cowick, who enjoyed a break-out season with 34 goals last year, was expected to come back as one of the top overagers in the league but suffered a shoulder injury in the pre-season opener that required surgery and is likely out until after Christmas. Overager Andrew Merrett, an Ottawa native, came over in the off-season from Brampton.


Defence: The 67's may boast one of the league's best defencemen in Tyler Cuma. But the 19-year-old first round pick signed with the Minnesota Wild in the summer and could make the team this season. Cuma missed 46 games last year with a knee injury but reports from the Minnesota camp are that he is at 100%. Julien Demers returned from the San Jose Sharks camp for an overage season but he's nursing a knee injury to start the season. Marc Zanetti and first rounder Cody Ceci will also put in time on the 67's blueline.


Goaltending: Phoenix Coyotes' prospect Chris Perugini comes into the season as the 67's starter but Czech rookie Petr Mrazek looked good in the pre-season and is ready to take up some minutes.


Peterborough Petes

Key Returnee: Zack Kassian emerged as a dominant power forward in the OHL during the past two seasons and those skills earned him a first round selection by the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Draft in June. Kassian is strong along the boards and in front of the net and cashed in 13 of his 24 goals with the man-advantage last season.


Forwards: First round pick Ryan Spooner came to the Petes looking to learn the OHL game last season. He did that and a lot more, leading all 16 year olds with 30 goals to go along with 28 assists in 62 games. The Petes added another offensive dynamo in this year's draft in Matt Puempel, who led all Petes' forwards with six points in five pre-season games. He will combine with Spooner to give the Petes a potent one-two punch for the foreseeable future. Pat Daley and Brett Theberge also return as overagers and will provide some scoring depth.


Defence: The Petes have a fairly young - but dependable - group on the blueline this season. They are a year away from being maybe the best defensive corps in the Eastern Conference but for the time being, defenders like Maple Leafs' prospect Barron Smith, Derek Holden and Adam Sedlak will do a good job. Jamie Doornbosch returns as a veteran presence while 2008 pick Jeff Braithwaite played a full time role as a rookie last season.


Goaltending: Jason Missiaen is a big presence in the Petes' net and the Montreal Canadiens' prospect became the Petes' number one after Trevor Cann was dealt to London last season. Missiaen will be backed up this season by 16-year-old netminder Andrew D'Agostini, the Petes third round pick in the OHL Priority Selection in May.


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