The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008. The Mississauga IceDogs relocated to the Gatorade Garden City Complex in downtown St. Catharines after getting approval of the team's sale to Bill Burke by the Board of Governors on June 5, 2007. The team was renamed the Niagara IceDogs .[ 1] The Toronto St. Michael's Majors replaced the IceDogs in the Hershey Centre , renaming themselves, the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors . The Kingston Frontenacs moved late-season from the Kingston Memorial Centre to the new K-Rock Centre , which opened on February 22, 2008. On the afternoon of February 18, 2008, Windsor Spitfires team captain Mickey Renaud died after collapsing at his home, at age 19, of the rare heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy .[ 2] The playoffs began March 20, with the Kitchener Rangers winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. The Rangers were also chosen before the start of the season to host the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament.
Note: DIV = Division; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Conference quarterfinals
edit
(1) Belleville Bulls vs. (8) Peterborough Petes
edit
Belleville wins series 4 – 1
(2) Brampton Battalion vs. (7) Barrie Colts
edit
(3) Oshawa Generals vs. (6) Ottawa 67's
edit
(4) Niagara IceDogs vs. (5) Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
edit
Niagara wins series 4 – 0
* Note: Game 3 was played at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
(1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (8) Plymouth Whalers
edit
Kitchener wins series 4 – 0
(2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (7) Saginaw Spirit
edit
Sault Ste. Marie wins series 4 – 0
(3) Windsor Spitfires vs. (6) Sarnia Sting
edit
(4) London Knights vs. (5) Guelph Storm
edit
Conference semifinals
edit
(1) Belleville Bulls vs. (7) Barrie Colts
edit
Belleville wins series 4 – 0
(3) Oshawa Generals vs. (4) Niagara IceDogs
edit
(1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (6) Sarnia Sting
edit
Kitchener wins series 4 – 0
(2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (5) Guelph Storm
edit
Sault Ste. Marie wins series 4 – 1
(1) Belleville Bulls vs. (3) Oshawa Generals
edit
Belleville wins series 4 – 1
(1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
edit
Kitchener wins series 4 – 1
J. Ross Robertson Cup
edit
(W1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (E1) Belleville Bulls
edit
Kitchener wins series 4 – 3
J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions Roster
edit
2007-08 Kitchener Rangers[ 3]
Goaltenders
Defencemen
Wingers
Centres
Playoff scoring leaders
edit
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Playoff leading goaltenders
edit
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Justin Azevedo , Centre, Kitchener Rangers
Brett MacLean , Left Wing, Oshawa Generals
Matthew Halischuk , Right Wing, Kitchener Rangers
Drew Doughty , Defence, Guelph Storm
Zach Bogosian , Defence, Peterborough Petes
Mike Murphy , Goaltender, Belleville Bulls
Bob Boughner , Coach, Windsor Spitfires
Steven Stamkos , Centre, Sarnia Sting
Luca Caputi , Left Wing, Niagara IceDogs
Stefan Legein , Right Wing, Niagara IceDogs
Bob Sanguinetti , Defence, Brampton Battalion
Yannick Weber , Defence, Kitchener Rangers
Steve Mason , Goaltender, Kitchener Rangers
Peter DeBoer , Coach, Kitchener Rangers
Shawn Matthias , Centre, Belleville Bulls
Matt Beleskey , Left Wing, Belleville Bulls
Wayne Simmonds , Right Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Alex Pietrangelo , Defence, Niagara IceDogs
Ryan Wilson , Defence, Sarnia Sting
Thomas McCollum , Goaltender, Guelph Storm
George Burnett , Coach, Belleville Bulls
The OHL All-Star Classic was played February 6, 2008 at the Steelback Centre in Sault Ste. Marie , won 8–7 in a shootout by the Eastern Conference.[ 4] The skills competition was held the previous night on February 5, with the Eastern Conference winning 19–18.[ 5]
J. Ross Robertson Cup :
Kitchener Rangers
Hamilton Spectator Trophy :
Kitchener Rangers
Bobby Orr Trophy :
Belleville Bulls
Wayne Gretzky Trophy :
Kitchener Rangers
Emms Trophy :
Brampton Battalion
Leyden Trophy :
Belleville Bulls
Holody Trophy :
Kitchener Rangers
Bumbacco Trophy :
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Red Tilson Trophy :
Justin Azevedo , Kitchener Rangers
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy :
Justin Azevedo , Kitchener Rangers
Matt Leyden Trophy :
Bob Boughner , Windsor Spitfires
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy :
John Hughes , Brampton Battalion
Max Kaminsky Trophy :
Drew Doughty , Guelph Storm
OHL Goaltender of the Year :
Mike Murphy , Belleville Bulls
Jack Ferguson Award :
John McFarland , Sudbury Wolves
Dave Pinkney Trophy :
Kyle Gajewski , Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
OHL Executive of the Year :
Denise Burke , Niagara IceDogs
Bill Long Award :
Don Brankley, London Knights & Gil Hughes, Oshawa Generals
Emms Family Award :
Taylor Hall , Windsor Spitfires
F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy :
Josh Unice , Kitchener Rangers
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy :
Pete Stevens , Kingston Frontenacs
William Hanley Trophy :
Nick Spaling , Kitchener Rangers
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy :
Michael Swift , Niagara IceDogs
Bobby Smith Trophy :
Ryan Ellis , Windsor Spitfires
Roger Neilson Memorial Award :
Scott Aarssen , London Knights
Ivan Tennant Memorial Award :
Alex Friesen , Niagara IceDogs
Tim Adams Memorial Trophy :
John McFarland , Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Wayne Gretzky 99 Award :
Justin Azevedo , Kitchener Rangers
2008 OHL Priority Selection
edit
On May 3, 2008, the OHL conducted the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The Sudbury Wolves held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected John McFarland from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. McFarland was awarded the Jack Ferguson Award , awarded to the top pick in the draft.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round of the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.[ 6]
#
Player
Nationality
OHL team
Hometown
Minor team
1
John McFarland (RW )
Canada
Sudbury Wolves
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
2
Greg McKegg (C )
Canada
Erie Otters
St. Thomas, Ontario
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
3
Steven Shipley (C )
Canada
Owen Sound Attack
Ilderton, Ontario
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
4
Erik Gudbranson (D )
Canada
Kingston Frontenacs
Orleans, Ontario
Ottawa Jr. 67's
5
Ryan Spooner (C )
Canada
Peterborough Petes
Kanata, Ontario
Ottawa Jr. Senators
6
Ryan O'Connor (D )
Canada
Barrie Colts
Hamilton, Ontario
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
7
Tyler Toffoli (RW )
Canada
Ottawa 67's
Scarborough, Ontario
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
8
Devante Smith-Pelly (RW )
Canada
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Scarborough, Ontario
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
9
Tyler Seguin (C )
Canada
Plymouth Whalers
Brampton, Ontario
Toronto Nationals
10
Brandon Saad (LW )
United States
Saginaw Spirit
Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Hornets
11
Gregg Sutch (RW )
Canada
Sarnia Sting
Newmarket, Ontario
York-Simcoe Express
12
Cody McNaughton (RW )
Canada
Guelph Storm
Etobicoke, Ontario
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
13
Christian Thomas (LW )
Canada
London Knights
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Marlboros
14
Freddie Hamilton (RW )
Canada
Niagara IceDogs
St. Catharines, Ontario
Toronto Marlboros
15
Sam Carrick (C )
Canada
Brampton Battalion
Goodwood, Ontario
Toronto Red Wings
16
Kevin Bailie (G )
Canada
Oshawa Generals
Belleville, Ontario
Quinte Red Devils
17
Cam Fowler (D )
United States
Windsor Spitfires
Farmington Hills, Michigan
USA U17
18
Brock Beukeboom (D )
Canada
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Port Perry, Ontario
Central Ontario Wolves
19
Stephen Silas (D )
Canada
Belleville Bulls
Georgetown, Ontario
Halton Hills Hurricanes
20
Jeff Skinner (LW )
Canada
Kitchener Rangers
Markham, Ontario
Toronto Nationals
2008 CHL Import Draft
edit
On June 29, 2008, the Canadian Hockey League conducted the 2008 CHL Import Draft, in which teams in all three CHL leagues participate in. The Sudbury Wolves held the first pick in the draft by a team in the OHL, and selected Nikita Filatov from Russia with their selection.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round by Ontario Hockey League teams in the 2008 CHL Import Draft.[ 7]
#
Player
Nationality
OHL team
Hometown
Minor team
1
Nikita Filatov (LW )
Russia
Sudbury Wolves
Moscow , Russia
Moscow HC CSKA-2
4
Edgar Rybakov (C )
Lithuania
Erie Otters
Vilnius , Lithuania
Moscow HC CSKA-2
7
Andrei Loktionov (C )
Russia
Windsor Spitfires
Voskresensk , Russia
Yaroslavl Lokomotiv-2
10
Richard Panik (RW )
Slovakia
Windsor Spitfires
Martin , Slovakia
Trinec HC Zelenzarny Jr.
13
Adam Sedlak (D )
Czech Republic
Peterborough Petes
Ostrava , Czech Republic
Vitkovice Ostrave Jr.
16
William Wallén (RW )
Sweden
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Stockholm , Sweden
Djurgarden IF Jr.
19
Tomas Rachunek (RW )
Czech Republic
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Zlín , Czech Republic
Vsetin Jr.
22
Sergei Sheleg (D )
Belarus
Sudbury Wolves
Minsk , Belarus
Minsk Junost 2
25
Philipp Grubauer (G )
Germany
Belleville Bulls
Rosenheim , Germany
Starbulls Rosenheim Jr.
28
Jakub Svoboda (LW )
Czech Republic
Saginaw Spirit
Přerov , Czech Republic
Brno Kometa Jr.
31
Miroslav Preisinger (C )
Slovakia
Sarnia Sting
Bratislava , Slovakia
Bratislava Slovan Jr.
34
Robert Kousal (LW )
Czech Republic
Oshawa Generals
Pardubice , Czech Republic
Pardubice Jr.
37
Sergei Korostin (RW )
Russia
London Knights
Prokopievsk , Russia
Texas Tornado
40
Evgeny Grachev (LW )
Russia
Brampton Battalion
Yaroslavl , Russia
Yaroslavl Lokomotiv-2
43
Maximilian Englbrecht (G )
Germany
Niagara IceDogs
Landshut , Germany
Landshut EV Jr.
46
Evgeny Molotilov (D )
Russia
Guelph Storm
Moscow , Russia
Moscow Dynamo-2
49
Richard Jarusek (RW )
Czech Republic
Saginaw Spirit
Brno , Czech Republic
Brno Kometa Jr.
52
Kirill Polozov (RW )
Russia
Barrie Colts
Ufa , Russia
Ufa Salavat Yulayev-2
55
Jan Latal (D )
Czech Republic
Plymouth Whalers
Středokluky , Czech Republic
Kladno Jr.
57
Simon Groenvaldt (D )
Denmark
Kitchener Rangers
Rodovre , Denmark
Rodovre Mighty Bulls
2008 NHL Entry Draft
edit
On June 20–21, 2008, the National Hockey League conducted the 2008 NHL Entry Draft held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario . In total, 46 players from the Ontario Hockey League were selected in the draft. Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting was the first player from the OHL to be selected, as he was taken with the first overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning .
Below are the players selected from OHL teams at the NHL Entry Draft.[ 8]
Round
#
Player
Nationality
NHL team
Hometown
OHL team
1
1
Steven Stamkos (C )
Canada
Tampa Bay Lightning
Unionville, Ontario
Sarnia Sting
1
2
Drew Doughty (D )
Canada
Los Angeles Kings
London, Ontario
Guelph Storm
1
3
Zach Bogosian (D )
United States
Atlanta Thrashers
Massena, New York
Peterborough Petes
1
4
Alex Pietrangelo (D )
Canada
St. Louis Blues
King City, Ontario
Niagara IceDogs
1
8
Mikkel Boedker (RW )
Denmark
Phoenix Coyotes
Brondby , Denmark
Kitchener Rangers
1
9
Josh Bailey (C )
Canada
New York Islanders
Bowmanville, Ontario
Windsor Spitfires
1
10
Cody Hodgson (C )
Canada
Vancouver Canucks
Markham, Ontario
Brampton Battalion
1
20
Michael Del Zotto (D )
Canada
New York Rangers
Stouffville, Ontario
Oshawa Generals
1
23
Tyler Cuma (D )
Canada
Minnesota Wild
Bowmanville, Ontario
Ottawa 67's
1
25
Greg Nemisz (RW )
Canada
Calgary Flames
Courtice, Ontario
Windsor Spitfires
1
30
Tom McCollum (G )
United States
Detroit Red Wings
Sanborn, New York
Guelph Storm
2
33
Philip McRae (C )
United States
St. Louis Blues
Chesterfield, Missouri
London Knights
2
39
Eric O'Dell (C )
Canada
Anaheim Ducks
Ottawa, Ontario
Sudbury Wolves
2
49
Jared Staal (RW )
Canada
Phoenix Coyotes
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Sudbury Wolves
2
50
Cameron Gaunce (D )
Canada
Colorado Avalanche
Markham, Ontario
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
2
59
Tyler Beskorowany (G )
Canada
Dallas Stars
Hanmer, Ontario
Owen Sound Attack
3
68
Shawn Lalonde (D )
Canada
Chicago Blackhawks
Orleans, Ontario
Belleville Bulls
3
70
James Livingston (RW )
Canada
St. Louis Blues
Newmarket, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
3
71
Josh Brittain (LW )
Canada
Anaheim Ducks
Milton, Ontario
Kingston Frontenacs
3
74
Andrew Campbell (D )
Canada
Los Angeles Kings
Caledonia, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
3
77
Michael Hutchinson (G )
Canada
Boston Bruins
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie Colts
3
80
Adam Comrie (D )
United States
Florida Panthers
Ashburn, Virginia
Saginaw Spirit
3
82
Adam Henrique (C )
Canada
New Jersey Devils
Burford, Ontario
Windsor Spitfires
4
97
Jamie Arniel (C )
Canada
Boston Bruins
Kingston, Ontario
Sarnia Sting
4
100
A.J. Jenks (LW )
United States
Florida Panthers
Wolverine Lake, Michigan
Plymouth Whalers
4
105
Michal Jordan (D )
Czech Republic
Carolina Hurricanes
Zlín , Czech Republic
Plymouth Whalers
4
114
T.J. Brodie (D )
Canada
Calgary Flames
Dresden, Ontario
Saginaw Spirit
4
116
Jason Missiaen (G )
Canada
Montreal Canadiens
Chatham, Ontario
Peterborough Petes
4
120
Nathan Moon (C )
Canada
Pittsburgh Penguins
Belleville, Ontario
Kingston Frontenacs
5
142
Kory Nagy (LW )
Canada
New Jersey Devils
Walsingham, Ontario
Oshawa Generals
5
146
Julien Demers (D )
Canada
San Jose Sharks
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa 67's
5
147
Kyle DeCoste (RW )
Canada
Tampa Bay Lightning
London, Ontario
Brampton Battalion
5
148
Matt Martin (LW )
Canada
New York Islanders
Windsor, Ontario
Sarnia Sting
6
153
Justin Azevedo (C )
Canada
Los Angeles Kings
West Lorne, Ontario
Kitchener Rangers
6
154
Chris Carrozzi (G )
Canada
Atlanta Thrashers
Nepean, Ontario
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
6
155
Anthony Nigro (C )
Canada
St. Louis Blues
Woodbridge, Ontario
Guelph Storm
6
164
Nick Crawford (D )
Canada
Buffalo Sabres
Caledon, Ontario
Saginaw Spirit
6
165
Mike Murphy (G )
Canada
Carolina Hurricanes
Inverary, Ontario
Belleville Bulls
6
171
Mitch Gaulton (D )
Canada
New York Rangers
Grimsby, Ontario
Erie Otters
6
175
Justin DiBenedetto (LW )
Canada
New York Islanders
Vaughan, Ontario
Sarnia Sting
6
178
Zac Rinaldo (LW )
Canada
Philadelphia Flyers
Hamilton, Ontario
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
6
180
Patrick Killeen (G )
Canada
Pittsburgh Penguins
Carp, Ontario
Brampton Battalion
6
181
Stephen Johnston (C )
Canada
Detroit Red Wings
Guelph, Ontario
Belleville Bulls
7
189
Tim Billingsley (D )
Canada
Phoenix Coyotes
Ottawa, Ontario
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
7
202
Harry Young (D )
Canada
New Jersey Devils
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor Spitfires
7
204
Stefan Della Rovere (LW )
Canada
Washington Capitals
Maple, Ontario
Barrie Colts