2024-2025 season predictions:

[SarniaStingFan]

Sooooo Niagara ….. can they keep it up

The last undefeated team in the O. Just as everyone expected

 

[frontsfan67]

The last undefeated team in the O. Just as everyone expected

Undefeated season on the way

 

[ScoutLife4]

Undefeated season on the way

Just wait until DD starts working his magic.
It's only a matter of time.

 

[OMG67]

Just wait until DD starts working his magic.
It's only a matter of time.

Current thought process in Niagara:

Coach: “We have a Championship contender on our hands here! Even if not this year, our team is young and will continue to grow!”

DD: “I wonder how much of a bag I can get for Kevin He?”

 

[three dog night]

Current thought process in Niagara:

Coach: “We have a Championship contender on our hands here! Even if not this year, our team is young and will continue to grow!”

DD: “I wonder how much of a bag I can get for Kevin He?”

He not being traded

 

[ZinErie]

He not being traded

Dude, it was a joke. He trade in 3,2,1...

 

[ScoutLife4]

Current thought process in Niagara:

Coach: “We have a Championship contender on our hands here! Even if not this year, our team is young and will continue to grow!”

DD: “I wonder how much of a bag I can get for Kevin He?”

3 Different Nhl Scouts over the weekend Thurs-Sun brought up to me that they are positive he will ruin the team again this year.

This is what Hockey Op's around the league think of the Ice Dogs and reputation the owner has built.
What a chance they have to try and repair the culture there. -i honestly just don't think he can help himself though.

 

[OMG67]

3 Different Nhl Scouts over the weekend Thurs-Sun brought up to me that they are positive he will ruin the team again this year.

This is what Hockey Op's around the league think of the Ice Dogs and reputation the owner has built.
What a chance they have to try and repair the culture there. -i honestly just don't think he can help himself though.

It is quite literally why I have the Ice Dogs out of the playoffs. It sure isn’t because of the current roster.

I’m not going to give him the benefit of the doubt but I will give the team a chance. I am holding out hope that this is the start of a turnaround. Great city, great fanbase, nice rink. This is a jewel franchise in the OHL. I hope this is the turnaround season where they can leave all the garbage behind.

 

[ScoutLife4]

It is quite literally why I have the Ice Dogs out of the playoffs. It sure isn’t because of the current roster.

I’m not going to give him the benefit of the doubt but I will give the team a chance. I am holding out hope that this is the start of a turnaround. Great city, great fanbase, nice rink. This is a jewel franchise in the OHL. I hope this is the turnaround season where they can leave all the garbage behind.

I would imagine Boudreau walks if DD puts his stamp on this as well.

 

[dogs777]

I would imagine Boudreau walks if DD puts his stamp on this as well.

We need players to join him then MAYBE the league steps in which is what fans here keep hoping for even though it won’t happen

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

3 Different Nhl Scouts over the weekend Thurs-Sun brought up to me that they are positive he will ruin the team again this year.

This is what Hockey Op's around the league think of the Ice Dogs and reputation the owner has built.
What a chance they have to try and repair the culture there. -i honestly just don't think he can help himself though.

Fantastic. That means everybody is underestimating the Dogs this year.

I think DDs focus is going to be on selling tickets. Kevin He and a winning record will help with that. It might be wishful thinking on my part but I do not expect the crazy amount of trades to happen again this year.

 

[OHLTG]

Fantastic. That means everybody is underestimating the Dogs this year.

I think DDs focus is going to be on selling tickets. Kevin He and a winning record will help with that. It might be wishful thinking on my part but I do not expect the crazy amount of trades to happen again this year.

I haven't jumped into this at all but I wanted to say one thing. I don't think people/teams are underestimating the IceDogs right now; they've done very well and props for that. I think the bigger concern should be what management will do with that. When you're known for "WTF?" trades, fans are more likely to go "we're good, but....... (waits patiently for chaos to break out)." For their fans, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I haven't jumped into this at all but I wanted to say one thing. I don't think people/teams are underestimating the IceDogs right now; they've done very well and props for that. I think the bigger concern should be what management will do with that. When you're known for "WTF?" trades, fans are more likely to go "we're good, but....... (waits patiently for chaos to break out)." For their fans, I hope I'm wrong.

This is exactly it. The team is the team.
It's the Owner that nobody has any level of faith in and unfortunately he drives the bus.

 

[HUSH10]

At Christmas break, how is everyone feeling about their picks so far?

 

[ohloutsider]

Season only halfway there but some surprises brewing for sure.
Kitchener and Windsor are mostly picked to be bottom half but thus far they are 2-3 and been that way from the start. stingupdates has Windsor at 2 and I thought that was never going to happen but here we are. Flint for me is also a surprise. Trades in the off-season and yet they still seem to struggle.
Brampton i felt would run away with the east along with Barrie and Oshawa but so far Barrie and Oshawa are looking like they might. And of course Niagara. Most picked them for last. Who had Niagara to lead the conference at the turn on their dance card?! Nobody.

So the 2 worst teams from last year are at or near the top of their respective conferences. Shows how quickly teams can turn it around year to year in junior hockey.

Now after the trade deadline we head into the next phase of the season and lots can and will change so fun to watch how this turns out. Be safe.

 

[frontsfan67]

At Christmas break, how is everyone feeling about their picks so far?

More confident than I originally was

 

[StingUpdates]

At Christmas break, how is everyone feeling about their picks so far?

I once again underestimated Jusse Ahokas & Kitchener.

Looked past Brampton's lack of depth as it's hurt them badly (as have injuries)

I actually liked Niagara but they are doing even better than I anticipated

Other than that liking my guesses, but half a yr left for it to go off the rails as my predictions usually do

 

[OHLTG]

At Christmas break, how is everyone feeling about their picks so far?

I had a few very wrong, including Windsor. I figured they were 6-8 with home ice being the high-end target. I also figured Saginaw would be much better, which would put the Spitfires down a bit given the Midwest success. I'm glad to be wrong, so far, but it's only halfway done.

 

[lazyboy]

EAST - an arms race in the East this year w/a clear cut top 4 followed by 3 also rans
Brampton
Brantford
Barrie
Oshawa
Kingston
Sudbury
Ottawa
Niagara - really seesaw'd on this pick but ownership troubles trump the positives
North Bay
Peterborough
WEST - its been a long time since the East was this much stronger than the West (could make it more interesting since its wide open)
London - Hunter will plug up the holes on this team but their returning squad is so strong
Saginaw - Normally I think 'sell' after winning it all, but with such a weak division why not go for it again
Erie - Could give the Knights a run
Flint - West division is so weak they will challenge but the Bertucci trade sent mixed signal
Guelph - They have some pieces and again given the conference strength I can see George making moves to go for it
Sarnia
Windsor
Kitchener
SSM
Owen Sound

Brampton over London

Safe to say there will be a new champ this year lol

Way over estimated Brampton on the East. Niagara I could have envisioned a top half showing but like my comment suggests that ownership is to unpredictable to say this is sustainable.

In the West, my apolagies to Wsr and Kit - i simply NEVER saw either of these as even in the rhelm of possibilities. Guelph I could have gone either way on but did not see such a dismal showing