OHL first half review (Part IV)

The first half of the Ontario Hockey League season is in the books.

With the second half of the season set to open up this week, this story is the final installment in a series that takes a look at how the league is shaping up heading into the second half of the season.

Western Conference

West Division

Plymouth Whalers (22-10-1-1, First in Division, Second in Conference)

A veteran-laden roster with quality goaltending has placed the Whalers where they sit heading into the second half. With veteran forwards Evan Borphey, James Neal, Dan Collins, and Tom Sestito leading the way, the Whalers are giving the Saginaw Spirit, a team most picked to win the West Division a solid run.

What makes the Whalers run even more impressive is the fact they have done nothing by way of trades to adjust the roster. Every player on the roster started the season with the team.

Goaltenders Jeremy Smith and Michal Neuvirth have split the goaltending duties and both have played well, giving the Whalers options heading into the second half.

Saginaw Spirit (22-11-0-2, Second in Division, Fourth in Conference)

The team most picked to win the West Division is not quite at the top, but they're very close. The Spirit battled through some adversity when five players were hit with a criminal investigation early in the season. The investigation is still ongoing, but has not phased the team. One player, Zack Torquato, was dealt, but the trade brought in high-scoring forward Ryan O'Marra. Even though he hasn't produced offensively as expected, O'Marra has brought another veteran presence to the team.

With a quality lineup already in place, the Spirit could stay quiet at the trade deadline as they find themselves in place to battle for the Western Conference title.

Sarnia Sting (19-10-2-2, Third in Division, Fifth in Conference)

The Sting have surprised a lot of people this season. After finishing last season with the OHL's worst record, the Sting are entering the second half of the 2006-07 season nine games over .500.

The addition of Steve Stamkos as the top pick in last May's draft as well as the emergence of defenseman Mark Katic and goaltenders Parker VanBuskirk and Sebastien Dahm has given the Sting a strong nucleus to build around.

The additions of Ryan Wilson and Trevor Kell during the summer and Vince Scott early in the season has added to an already strong roster.

The Sting are also the only team in the league to have four players with 40 points after the first half of the season. Stamkos (45), Wilson (44), Tomas Pospisil (41), and Harrison Reed (40) have all hit the mark while Trevor Kell sits on 39 points.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (16-16-0-4, Fourth in Division, Eighth in Conference)

Injuries and scoring have plagued the Greyhounds this season and in some cases, both have come hand-in-hand. The Greyhounds have found themselves generating chances only to be turned aside by solid goaltending from the opposition for just plain bad luck.

The addition of Jiri Tlusty was a welcome one as the Czech Republic native adds a much needed scoring touch to the team, but a high ankle sprain has kept him out of the lineup recently. He is expected back in the lineup early in January.

Also expected back very soon is overage forward Andrew Desjardins who suffered a sprained MCL early in December. The veteran forward took the final weekend before Christmas off to rest the knee, but should be ready to play after the break.

Windsor Spitfires (12-19-1-1, Fifth in Division, Ninth in Conference)

Former NHL players Bob Boughner and Warren Rychel are slowly assembling a young roster as they prepare to move into a new arena. The Spitfires have gone younger this season but have played well despite their youth.

Given the chance to develop, the Spitfires could be an entertaining team to watch in the second half as they have slowly crawled back into the playoff race in the Western Conference.

One hot streak at the right time could really pull the Spitfires back into the hunt.

*** OHL first half review (Part I) OHL first half review (Part II) OHL first half review (Part III)