The Gord Sullivan Story: An EHM Dynasty

[Big Six]

For about a year and a half, I've been enjoying a career as the general manager of a junior hockey team with Eastside Hockey Manager. I've posted my dynasty story on another forum, but there hasn't seemed to be much interest in the story for a while. Maybe that's a result of the fact that I was writing monthly updates; the story moved pretty slowly.

The story's main character is Gord Sullivan, the GM of the St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League.

I enjoy this dynasty very much, and I want to keep it going for a long time. I've therefore decided to move the story to this forum, and I'll take a somewhat different approach. Instead of writing monthly updates, I'll use a format like this:

• a season preview, where I'll describe any moves that were made over the summer and during training camp and post a team roster
• a midseason update, with stats, standings, and highlights from October, November, and December
• an update at the end of the regular season, with stats and highlights from January, February, and March
• a poststeason update, with highlights from the playoffs
• an update on any former
• a draft update in May

Hopefully, this will keep the story moving at a good pace that will hold your interest.

The story begins in 2006, and I'm currently playing the 2011-2012 season. I'll bring the Majors' tale up to date with yearly summaries, and I'll begin the "new" format with the 2012 rookie draft.

I hope you'll enjoy reading about Gord Sullivan and his St. Michael's Majors.

[Travis]

Good stuff, looking forward to it.

[ntndeacon]

Let's Go Majors!!

[Big Six]

Season One: 2006-2007

 
Team            GP  W   L   OL  SL   Pct  GF   GA   PTS
St. Michael's   68  41  23   2   2  .632  239  190   86
Peterborough    68  36  23   2   7  .596  245  226   81
Brampton        68  38  23   2   5  .610  197  188   83
Kingston        68  33  27   2   6  .544  228  209   74
Belleville      68  33  27   5   3  .544  198  206   74
Sudbury         68  30  30   2   6  .500  222  251   68  
Barrie          68  30  31   4   3  .493  179  204   67
Oshawa          68  30  35   3   2  .478  213  248   65
Ottawa          68  26  35   2   5  .434  195  234   59
Mississauga     68  25  39   2   2  .397  170  225   54

Gord Sullivan became the general manager of the St. Michael's Majors before the 2006-2007 season. Sullivan, whose injury-plagued professional career was spent almost entirely in the American Hockey League, was 33 when he took the job. He, his wife Kate, and their children Miles and Jenna moved from their home in Winnipeg to Toronto, and their new lives began.

Sullivan's first off-season was both busy and eventful. During the summer and early autumn, the young GM acquired several players who would form the core of his team--both this season, and beyond. Centres Diarmuid Sutherland and Grant Horcoff, goalie Adam Gingras, defenceman Bud Wieler, and winger Pierre-Olivier Labbe were all signed by Sullivan to free agent deals. Gingras and Labbe were 20-year-old overagers who brought both production and leadership to Sullivan's first team. Sutherland, Horcoff, and Wieler were all sixteen, and Sullivan hoped they'd lead the Majors to dozens of victories before their junior careers were over.

The new acquisitions blended well with the players Sullivan and head coach Bryson Curry inherited from the season before, and by December the Majors had moved into first place in the OHL Eastern Conference. Defenceman Phil Menard, obtained in an October trade with Saginaw, was the final cog in a machine that rolled to the regular season championship.

With sniper Joey Unger firing in a goal a game and goalie Gingras turning away shot after shot, the Majors defeated Oshawa and Sudbury in the first two playoff rounds, winning each time in six games. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Majors fell behind Kingston, three games to none before losing the series, 4-1.

Grant Horcoff, all 127 pounds of him, placed third in the OHL scoring race, while Pierre-Olivier Labbe finished eighth. Joey Unger, who potted 51 goals (counting playoff markers) finished second in goals. Adam Gingras finished fourth in goals-against average and save percentage.

Elmer Caravaggio and Donny Hebert, both big, rough, and tough, starred on the blueline. They joined Bud Wieler and Phil Menard to give the Majors the best "top four" defence corps in the OHL.

Here are the final regular season statistics for the 2006-2007 Majors:

 
PLAYER        GP  G   A  PTS  +/-  PIM  SOG  SH%    TOI   AvR
Horcoff       68  27  52  79   21   42  158  17.1  16:53  7.24
Labbe         62  29  45  74   14   22  146  19.9  18:36  7.55
Unger         65  36  29  65    5   49  204  17.6  16:48  7.02
Weiler        65  13  32  45    9   74  162   8.0  25:07  7.23
Sutherland    68   7  35  42   -2   67  119   5.9  15:28  6.53
Kriz          63  18  23  41   14   63  133  13.5  22:19  6.92
Menard        62  15  25  40   11   44  101  14.9  22:58  7.37
Caravaggio    67  11  14  25    0   36   89  12.4  21:43  6.78
Chartier      65  13  12  25   17   73  131   9.7  11:53  6.94
Hebert        66   6  16  22   17  121   71   8.5  21:47  7.11
Beaudin       52   3  15  18    6   28   46   6.5   8:42  6.63
Forget        25  10   6  16    4   12   53  18.9  16:38  6.60
Koger         57   8   8  16  -16   69   75  10.7   9:39  6.23
Armstrong     59   5   9  14    5   46   62   8.1  13:38  6.41
Harris        59   8   6  14   14   36   39  20.5  17:01  6.92
Walsh         61   6   8  14   15  174   53  11.3  13:15  6.46
MacKenzie     38   2   2   4   -9   36   29   6.9   8:22  6.03
McCormick     25   0   4   4   -1   26   10   0.0  10:37  6.00
MacPherson     7   1   2   3   -3    2    4  25.0  14:18  6.57
Bonner        23   1   1   2   -7   24   13   7.7  14:37  5.70
 
GOALIE        GP  W   L    T   MIN  GAA    SV%  SO EN  AvR
Gingras       53  34  15   2  3136  2.51  .906   3  0  8.11
Potvin        13   7   4   2   780  2.85  .885   0  0  7.62
Judson         4   0   4   0   211  5.69  .829   0  0  6.25
 

In the May rookie draft, the Majors selected defenceman Gerard Robillard in Round 1, winger Lloyd MacGregor in Round 2, and defenceman Dylan Levac in Round 3. Robillard looked like a sure-fire NHL star, while MacGregor projected as a solid utility forward and Levac as a hard-nosed, stay-at-home defenceman.

Majors fans chose Labbe as their Player of the Year, and he also won the Leo Lalonde Trophy, given to the league's top overage player.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Travis

Good stuff, looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by ntndeacon

Let's Go Majors!!

It's great to see that the Majors already have some fans. I hope you'll both keep following the story, and enjoying it.

[Big Six]

Year Two: 2007-2008

 
EASTERN CONF.   GP  W-L-O-S      PCT  GF   GA   PTS
Sudbury         68  45-17-2-4   .706  279  202   96
Kingston        68  40-17-2-9   .669  248  204   91
Peterborough    68  39-22-4-3   .625  248  212   85
St. Michael's   68  38-24-3-3   .603  259  243   82
Oshawa          68  30-34-3-1   .471  207  261   64
Brampton        68  29-33-2-4   .471  218  245   64
Mississauga     68  28-34-2-4   .456  211  270   62
Ottawa          68  26-37-2-3   .419  222  271   57
Belleville      68  23-34-3-8   .419  216  262   57
Barrie          68  22-38-3-5   .382  191  253   52

Coming off a highly successful first season, Gord Sullivan knew the expectations for his second season at the helm of the St. Michael's Majors would be high. He privately wondered if the 2007-2008 Majors would be able to approach the successes of the season before; particularly since he was nervous about the team's lack of a proven goalie.

Adam Gingras was, of course, no longer a possibility; he'd completed his junior eligibility and signed a free agent contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. Sullivan wasn't able to to sign a free agent netminder during the offseason, but he did shore up the team's defense by persuading Edijs Sirokovs, a strong, skilled blueliner, to leave his native Latvia to join the Majors.

Sullivan also negotiated two trades that significantly strengthened his roster. For three youngsters, the Majors acquired forwards Alex Duchesne and Jared Barbour, who brought an exciting combination of skill and toughness. Duchesne, especially, delighted Majors fans with his willingness to mix it up. In early December, Sullivan sent high-scoring winger Joey Unger to Sudbury for Johnny Hince, a more well-rounded player. HInce thrived in Majors blue, and became a fan favorite. The St. Michael's arena rocked to Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" whenever Hince scored, and that happened often.

The newcomers combined with several high-scoring holdovers to make the Majors the highest-scoring team in the OHL, but shaky play in net kept the team mired in third or fourth place all season long. Jordie Judson, the best of the team's goalies, could be magnificent, but he could also be maddeningly inconsistent.

Although the Majors finished the season with only four fewer points than they'd accumulated the year before, they finished in fourth place, and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Oshawa, four games to two. A two-game suspension for Duchesne and an injury to Phil Menard didn't help the Majors' chances for playoff success.

Here are the Majors' final regular season stats for 2007-2008:

PLAYER       GP  G   A   PTS  +/-  PIM  SOG  PCT   TOI    AvR
Hince        36  21  31   52   23   12  126  16.7  20:37  7.69
TOTAL       67  44  56  100   41   32  232  19.0  20:01  7.67
Duchesne     61  32  44   76   43  139  187  17.1  20:15  8.48
TOTAL       65  35  46   81   49  157  195  17.9  19:58  8.46  
Sutherland   67  24  51   75   -9   62  168  14.3  17:34  7.21
Horcoff      68  25  43   68   12   30  157  15.9  16:12  6.99
Plouffe      68  26  29   55    4   61  149  17.4  15:26  6.59
Barbour      56  17  24   41    5  181  110  15.5  18:09  7.00
TOTAL       61  18  30   48   11  183  119  15.1  17:50  7.10
Menard       50  11  32   43    9   24  113   9.7  23:48  7.92
Wieler       60  12  31   43    2   64  126   9.5  27:19  7.33
Unger        25  19  12   31   10   40   82  23.2  17:21  7.36
Sirokovs     64   8  17   25  -10  144   78  10.3  23:36  7.00
Robertson    18   7   9   16   19   15   34  20.6  19:28  7.44
TOTAL       45  12  13   25   22   41   58  20.7  20:47  6.80
Desrochers   33   6  18   24    0   50   58  10.3  14:34  6.64
Gosselin     55   3  13   16  -13   12   68   4.4  13:42  6.56
Hebert       48   7   8   15   10   57   46  15.2  17:49  7.06
Walsh        64   7   8   15   -8  140   72   9.7  15:23  6.33
MacGregor    67   8   5   13    8  111   47   8.5  12:18  6.31
Robillard    51   4   7   11   10   76   41   9.8  15:52  6.80
Brencis      18   4   7   11    3    6   40  10.0  14:36  7.13
Davison      26   1   1    2   -1   17   16   6.3   6:43  6.35
Opsahl       28   0   1    1   -2   30   12   0.0   6:42  5.93
 
GOALIE       GP   W   L  T   MIN   GA   GAA   SV%   AvR  ShO
Judson       45  26  13  4  2626  144  3.29  .860  6.98   2
Acton        11   6   3  1   597   33  3.32  .862  6.91   0
Yeo           8   5   3  0   495   33  4.00  .857  7.00   0
Webb          7   1   5  1   407   30  4.42  .836  6.29   0
 

Hince finished second in the league in scoring, and first in goals. However, as good as Johnny was, it was Duchesne who won the Red Tilson Award as the OHL's Most Valuable Player. A +49 plus-minus rating will do that for you. Duchesne was also voted the Player of the Year by Majors fans.

Sullivan used the Majors' first pick in the June draft to select a smooth centre named Wesley Yanick. The team also was excited about the potential of two-way winger Trevor Nesbitt, selected in Round Three.

In June, three Majors were chosen in the NHL rookie draft. Defenceman Bud Wieler, who served as the Majors' captain, was selected #6 overall by the San Jose Sharks. Enigmatic goalie Jordie Judson was the last player chosen in the first round, going #30 to the Carolina Hurricanes. And Diarmuid Sutherland, whose offensive game began to blossom, was the Montreal Canadiens' fourth-round selection.

[Big Six]

Year Three: 2008-2009

 
EASTERN CONF.   GP  W-L-O-S     PCT   GF   GA  PTS
St. Michael's   68  45-19-1-3  .691  286  215   94
Peterborough    68  44-19-1-4  .684  229  191   93
Sudbury         68  43-19-3-8  .676  288  211   92
Barrie          68  43-19-1-5  .676  237  180   92
Brampton        68  42-22-0-4  .647  242  212   88
Belleville      68  34-31-2-1  .522  205  244   71
Kingston        68  28-31-3-6  .478  178  214   65
Ottawa          68  30-35-2-1  .463  216  222   63
Mississauga     68  23-39-2-4  .382  173  250   52
Oshawa          68  19-39-4-6  .353  203  293   48

Majors GM Gord Sullivan admits he'd be bored during the summer if he didn't spend his time actively making moves to improve the St. Michael's Majors roster. And, after his 2007-2008 team finished fourth and lost in the first round of the playoffs, Sullivan was not about to stand pat.

In July, Sullivan traded two defencemen: promising Gerard Robillard, the team's #1 draft choice in 2007, and Clayton DeFrancesco, to the Barrie Colts for the rights to Derek Pederson, an American blueliner who had been the first player chosen in the 2008 draft. Pederson was, in the opinion of almost everyone, on his way to NHL stardom, and Sullivan knew he'd likely only have him on the roster for two years. Nevertheless, his star power was so luminous that Sullivan was willing to give up two very solid players to acquire him.

The Pederson trade was the first move Sullivan made with the assistance of his new assistant GM, Keith Kessel. Kessel's ability to evaluate the ability and potential of young players was as sharp as that of anyone in the junior hockey world. Sullivan and Kessel also traded for Jean-Benoit Adams, a promising young forward who excelled in his own end, and signed Wendell Webb, an undrafted 16-year-old whom the Majors thought was a true diamond in the rough.

As training camp began, the Majors had an open slot for an overage player. To their delight, they realized that the Kingston Frontenacs had released Lenny Blair, who had scored 33 goals and 78 points in 07-08 and had established a reputation around the league as a ferocious hitter. Sullivan quickly snapped Blair up and added him to the Majors roster.

And, on the eve of the regular season, Sullivan acquired two more talented players. Defenceman Mat MacGregor had been chosen by the Penguins with the #3 pick in the last NHL draft. He was miserable in Sarnia, so Sullivan got him in return for Kiefer Opsahl, who was equally unhappy with the Majors. Opsahl scored 33 goals for the Sting, and as you'll see, MacGregor thrived with St. Mike's too. Sudbury didn't seem to have room for Tyson McMahon, a versatile forward whom the Majors scouts loved, so Sullivan landed him, too.

Here's the roster for the 2008-2009 Majors:

NO  NAME                    POS    AGE  HT     WT  HOME TOWN
1  Angelo Kehoe            G      20  6'0"   183  Parry Sound, ON
2  Taylor Gosselin         D      17  5'11"  163  Sheffield, ON
4  Eddie St. Pierre        D      16  5'10"  165  Hamilton, ON
5  Bud Wieler              D      18  6'4"   187  Alberton, PEI
6  Dylan Levac             D      17  6'4"   211  Millbrook, ON
7  Brett Walsh             RW     18  6'0"   191  Ottawa, ON
8  Edijs Sirokovs          D      19  6'6"   205  Jelgava, Latvia
9  Lloyd MacGregor         LW     17  6'0"   180  Brockville, ON
10  Jean-Benoit Adams       C/RW   17  5'10"  178  Niagara Falls, ON
11  Lenny Blair             LW     20  6'2"   216  Garson, ON
12  Johnny Hince            LW/RW  20  6'0"   180  Ailsa Craig, ON
14  Tyson McMahon           R/L/C  17  5'11"  205  Burk's Falls, ON
16  Spencer Plouffe         LW     17  5'9"   163  Toronto, ON
20  Wendell Webb            RW/LW  16  5'9"   158  Brockville, ON
21  Grant Horcoff           C/RW   18  5'10"  138  Orono, ON
22  Bryon Edwards           RW     16  5'9"   194  St. Catharines, ON
23  Mat MacGregor           D      19  5'11"  183  Toronto, ON
31  Tony Cote               G      19  6'7"   227  Brampton, ON
34  Wesley Yanick           C      16  5'10"  167  Nepean, ON
37  Ryley Dunphy            G      16  5'11"  163  Lunenburg, ON
40  Will Simmons            RW     16  5'9"   147  Etobicoke, ON
68  Trevor Nesbitt          C/LW   16  6'1"   200  Millbrook, ON
77  Derek Pederson          D      16  6'0"   158  Elmira, NY
91  Diarmuid Sutherland     C      18  6'1"   176  Nipigon, ON

The new-look Majors had one lingering problem, however. They couldn't find the dominant goalie they believed they needed to establish themselves as a true powerhouse.

Nevertheless, with outstanding players at every other position, the Majors launched a late surge that propelled them from third place into a tie for the Eastern Conference lead going into the final game of the season. On St. Patrick's night against Oshawa, Diarmuid Sutherland scored with 35 seconds left to tie the score at 5-5 and send it into overtime. Sutherland then scored the game-winning (and title-clinching) goal in a shootout.

Here are the Majors' final regular season statistics for 2008-2009:

PLAYER         GP   G   A  PTS  +/-  PIM  SOG   SH%  ATOI   AvR
Blair          68  38  55   93   34   28  280  13.6  18:27  8.26
Sutherland     68  32  61   93   28   52  197  16.2  18:00  7.71
McMahon        58  28  38   66   30   59  229  12.2  19:42  7.88
 TOTAL        64  31  43   74   34   59  253  12.3  19:36  7.91
Wieler         68  30  32   62   19  132  169  17.8  28:29  7.60
M. MacGregor   62  23  31   54   19   62  180  12.8  30:01  7.47
Hince          68  31  18   49    6   28  140  22.1  15:35  6.85
W. Webb        68  18  31   49    2   42  100  18.0  15:42  6.31
Horcoff        68   9  35   44   -3   44   83  10.8  14:52  6.41
Adams          52  10  17   27   11   60   66  15.2  15:06  6.73
Pederson       65   8  25   33   13   63  123   6.5  18:41  6.82
Sirokovs       64  10  22   32   12  157   75  13.3  22:24  7.27
DeFrancesco    59  10  17   27    7   42   85  11.8  13:09  7.10
Nesbitt        67   4  18   22    5   40   66   6.1  15:08  7.06
Yanick         68   7  14   21    3   50   55  12.7  11:55  6.62
Simmons        56   9   6   15    2   16   57  15.8  11:57  6.16
Levac          56   5   5   10   17   24   39  12.8  15:57  6.98
Plouffe        47   3   5    8    2   32   34   8.8   7:22  6.11
L. MacGregor   48   4   2    6    0   56   30  13.3   8:57  6.27
Caravaggio     27   1   5    6   -4    8   19   5.3   9:34  6.59
St. Pierre     22   4   1    5    3    4   22  18.2  15:20  6.55
Walsh          38   1   4    5   -6   41   20   5.0   8:48  6.32
Gosselin       16   0   1    1    2    5   12   0.0  11:03  6.38
Edwards        18   0   1    1   -3   28   21   0.0   7:50  6.28
 
GOALIE         GP   W   L   T   MIN   GA   GAA   SV%  ShO   AvR
Dunphy         28  18   8   2  1700   82  2.89  .871   1   7.57
Kehoe          22  18   4   0  1328   65  2.94  .882   1   7.55
Judson         13   8   4   1   788   43  3.27  .871   0   7.31
Cote            5   1   2   1   256   15  3.52  .865   0   7.00
 

The Majors were anxious to redeem themselves for last season's early exit from the playoffs, and this emotion carried them to relatively easy series wins over Ottawa (4 games to 1) and Brantford (4 games to 0) in the first two playoff rounds. The Majors figured they'd have a tougher time with the Sudbury Wolves in the Eastern Conference finals. However, led by Lenny Blair, who led all playoff scorers with 34 points, the Majors eliminated the Wolves in five games. For the first time, Gord Sullivan's team was playing for the OHL championship.

The Majors lost the series to the Western Conference champion Saginaw Spirit in seven games. Some fans believed that the Majors might well have won had the NHL teams that held the rights to defencemen Edijs Sirokovs and Mat MacGregor not called them up during the series.

Nevertheless, Majors fans looked back on the season with pride. Blair won the fans' Player of the Year award, making 08-09 the third straight season in which a newly acquired 20-year-old had stolen their hearts. Sutherland, who continued to get better and better, and captain Bud Wieler, the league's top goal scorer among defencemen, finished one-two in the running for the Bobby Smith Trophy, which was awarded to the OHL's top scholastic player. Grant Horcoff continued to prove that there was a place in the OHL for a player who weighed less than 150 pounds, provided he played with the kind of determination Grant displayed.

Majors coach Bryson Curry was honored at the end of the season with the Mat Leyden Trophy as the OHL's Coach of the Year. Gord Sullivan was crowned the league's Executive of the Year.

The Majors wanted to draft a goalie in the 2009 OHL draft, but the best ones were off the board long before their turn came. So, they did the next best thing. They put together a package of players and cash and dangled it in front of the Oshawa Generals, who agreed to part with netminder Pierre-Olivier Desrochers, whom they'd chosen in the first round. St. Michael's used their own first round pick to choose defenceman Kevin Lamoureux, and picked up hard-hitting left wing Kody Lambert and rearguard Ivan Joseph in Rounds 2 and 3.

The Majors took a chance in the Canadian Hockey League import draft. Goalie Josef Vampola of the Czech Republic made the Majors' scouts drool; they compared him to a young Karl Morin. Morin was, of course, often considered the best goalie in the world, and at least one Majors scout believed Vampola might one day be even better. Could the Majors persuade Vampola to come to North America?

The June NHL draft brought good news to several Majors. Jean-Benoit Adams was chosen #24 overall, by the Montreal Canadiens. The Colorado Avalanche selected Tyson McMahon in Round Two, and the Boston Bruins tapped defenceman Dylan Levac in Round Three.

[Big Six]

Year Four: 2009-2010

EASTERN CONF.   GP  W-L-O-S     PCT   GF   GA  PTS
St. Michael's   68  45-20-2-1  .684  288  187   93
Belleville      68  31-24-7-6  .551  220  226   75
Sudbury         68  42-22-1-3  .647  255  223   88
Barrie          68  42-22-2-2  .647  242  229   88
Brampton        68  38-25-3-2  .596  271  232   81
Peterborough    68  34-30-2-2  .529  224  222   72
Ottawa          68  31-28-4-5  .522  237  243   71
Oshawa          68  28-31-2-7  .478  197  225   65
Mississauga     68  26-37-3-2  .419  231  268   57
Kingston        68  24-39-1-4  .390  202  254   53
 

Gord Sullivan believed that, with the addition of Pierre-Olivier Desrochers and Josef Vampola, he was fairly sure to achieve his goal of bringing at least one top-flight goalie to the St. Michael's Majors. Most of the players who had taken the Majors to the OHL championship game were back for 2009-2010. Defenceman Mat MacGregor was almost certainly gone; he would spend the entire season with the Penguins. Edijs Sirokovs and Lenny Blair, both now too old for junior hockey, had also moved on to professional careers. Sirokovs had reached the AHL, and so had Alex Duchesne.

Sullivan signed a rugged young winger named Russ Verret in the off-season. As usual, he signed a 20-year-old forward to fill one of his overage slots; this year's arrival was Troy Pellerin, who took great pride in his defensive ability. Then, in October, Sullivan swung the kind of blockbuster deal that had become his trademark. He acquired Johnathan McCallum, a high-scoring power forward who reminded Majors fans of Lenny Blair. Coach Bryson Curry installed McCallum on a line with Diarmuid Sutherland and Tyson McMahon, and the trio immediately clicked.

Vampola and Desrochers alternated in net, and both played very well. So did captain Bud Wieler, who enjoyed the finest season of his distinguished Majors career. Sutherland emerged as one of the most dynamic playmakers in recent OHL history, and the Majors once again broke the league record for goals scored in a season.

Here are the Majors' regular season stats. For some reason, I never saved a copy of their roster...my bad.

 
PLAYER        GP   G   A  PTS +/-  PIM  SOG    SH%   ATOI   AvR
Sutherland    67  34  76  110  23   80  205   16.6  17:58  8.06
McCallum      66  49  52  101  29   45  264   18.6  18:45  8.35
McMahon       59  42  51   93  26   56  230   18.3  19:35  8.07
Wieler        67  24  40   64  42  103  159   15.1  31:28  7.93
Lambert       67  17  31   48  12  209   96   17.7  14:42  6.72
Webb          66  22  24   46   3   52  118   18.6  14:37  6.42
Joseph        68  12  29   41   3  126  107   11.2  18:11  7.07
Pederson      45  14  24   38  16   37  117   12.0  27:17  7.31
Horcoff       59  11  24   35   2   34   85   12.9  12:44  6.47
Adams         58  11  24   35   2   79   77   14.3  15:58  6.79
Verret        66   8  15   23   6  121   63   12.7  12:00  7.24
St. Pierre    65   4  17   21  -8   66   70    5.7  17:59  6.32
Yanick        55  10  10   20   5   44   54   18.5  10:57  6.71
Nesbitt       61   6  11   17   2   59   62    9.7  14:01  6.92
DeFrancesco   68   6  10   16   5   39   60   10.0  11:38  6.81
Cochrane      54   4  12   16   7    6   24   16.7   6:51  6.74
Pellerin      64   3  11   14  11   25   51    5.9  14:03  6.81
Levac         64   4   8   12  21   39   46    8.7  20:01  6.73
Stella        32   5   3    8   1   38   32   15.6   9:20  6.66
Cunningham    37   3   5    8  -2   27   41    7.3   8:43  6.35
Dalziel        7   1   1    2  -3   15    4   25.0   7:59  6.29
Lamoureux      9   0   2    2  -2    2   11    0.0  17:32  7.11
Desrochers    35   0   1    1   0    0    0    0.0
King           4   0   0    0  -1   11    2    0.0  11:05  7.01
 
GOALIE        GP   W   L   T   MIN   GA   GAA   SV%   AvR  ShO 
Vampola       34  23   9   2  2008   78  2.33  .919  8.44   3
Desrochers    35  22  11   1  2036  106  3.12  .879  7.54   3

The Majors broke apart a tight three-way race with Sudbury and Barrie with a red-hot March, and captured the #1 seed in the OHL Eastern Conference playoffs. Oshawa and Peterborough were dispatched fairly easily by 4-2 and 4-1 margins, respectively. Belleville put up a tough fight in the Eastern Conference final, but stellar defensive work by Pellerin on the Bulls' top scorers gave the Majors the edge they needed to win the series, 4-2. For the second straight year, the Majors played for the OHL championship and the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

This time, the Majors were victorious, sweeping the Kitchener Rangers in four games.

St. Mike's victory earned them a spot in the Memorial Cup tournament, played that year in Seattle. The Majors first beat the host Thunderbirds, and then lost a close game to the Quebec League champions, the Rimouski Oceanic. A victory over the Kamloops Blazers of the Western League set up a rematch with the Oceanic in the championship game, and the Majors earned their revenge with a 5-2 victory that made them Memorial Cup champions.

For their efforts, coach Bryson Curry and GM Gord Sullivan were honored as the best at their jobs in the OHL. Both won their award for the second consecutive year. Oddly, however, no Majors player received post-season honors. Sutherland set a new league record for assists, and McCallum established a new goal-scoring standard. And, most importantly, all the Majors earned the most coveted prize in Canadian junior hockey.

In June, defenceman Derek Pederson was the third player selected in the NHL draft. Despite an injury-plagued second season with the Majors, Pederson was clearly delivering on his immense potential. Now the property of the San Jose Sharks, Derek looked forward to one day teaming with Majors teammate and partner Bud Wieler, also a Sharks farmhand.

Left wing Wendell Webb and defenceman Eddie St. Pierre, both undrafted free agents as sixteen-year-olds, were now NHL draft choices. Webb was chosen by the hometown Maple Leafs in Round 2, while St. Pierre was tapped by the Buffalo Sabres. Trevor Nesbitt gave the Majors four NHL draftees when he was chosen by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round.

[Big Six]

Year Five: 2010-2011

EASTERN CONF.  GP  W-L-O-S     PCT   GF   GA  PTS
Mississauga    68  50-14-2-2  .765  263  186  104
Ottawa         68  40-19-2-7  .654  232  188   89
St. Michael's  68  47-17-1-3  .721  262  159   98
Sudbury        68  39-24-2-3  .610  257  210   83
Barrie         68  37-28-1-2  .566  215  195   77
Oshawa         68  35-26-2-5  .566  223  214   77
Brampton       68  37-31-0-0  .544  217  217   74
Belleville     68  28-30-6-4  .485  197  232   66
Kingston       68  27-32-5-4  .463  229  248   63
Peterborough   68  23-41-0-4  .368  196  273   50
 

Gord Sullivan didn't tinker much with his St. Michael's Majors during the summer following the Majors' Memorial Cup-winning season. By the time the season began, he learned that long-time Majors favorites Diarmuid Sutherland and Bud Wieler would be returning for a fifth season, and that gave Sullivan and the rest of Majors Nation hope that 2011 would bring another championship their way.

The Majors were thrilled with several of the players they drafted back in May. Left wing Jordan Bell looked like he'd develop into a hard-nosed, high-scoring forward in the Alex Duchesne/Lenny Blair tradition. Centre Miles Boyd played with crowd-pleasing flair. Defenceman Marc-Alexandre Weber had the potential for a pro career. Sullivan had every reason to believe that the Majors would be in the running for a second straight OHL title, and another shot at the Memorial Cup.

Three early-season trades brought in more exciting new players, while several other players who had become unhappy with the Majors were sent on their way. Disgruntled centre Wesley Yanick was traded to Sarnia for Dwight Milette, who quickly made his presence felt with the Majors. When Pierre-Olivier Desrochers began to allow too many goals and then complained about sharing his position with Josef Vampola, Sullvan packaged him with forward Kody Lambert and sent him to Saginaw in return for centre Cullen Desjardins and winger Tavis Gainey. The trades improved the Majors' morale, and every player involved played well for his new team.

Here's the Majors' mid-season roster:

 
NO  PLAYER                POS      AGE    HT     WT  HOME TOWN
1  Damian Potvin         G         17   5'10"  147  Port Colborne, ON
2  Marc-Alexandre Weber  D         16   6'0"   194  Thorold, ON
3  Kevin Lamoureux       D         17   6'1"   200  Detroit, MI
4  Dylan Levac           D         19   6'5"   213  Millbrook, ON
5  Bud Wieler            D         20   6'4"   189  Alberton, PEI
6  Brenden Baker         D/C       18   5'10"  165  Barry's Bay, ON 
7  Brent Boyd            D         18   6'1"   176  Scarborough, ON
8  Jeff Pryor            D         18   6'0"   187  Hackensack, NJ
9  Troy Pellerin         LW        20   6'1"   207  Wabigoon, ON
10  Dwight Milette        RW/C      18   6'1"   169  Etobicoke, ON
11  Eddie St. Pierre      D         18   6'0"   167  Hamilton, ON
12  Bryce Davies          C         18   6'0"   174  Whitby, ON
13  Russ Verret           LW/RW     17   6'2"   207  Oshawa, ON
14  Miles Boyd            C         17   6'1"   194  Mississauga, ON
15  Jordan Bell           LW        16   6'1"   176  Plymouth, MI
16  Jean-Benoit Adams     C/LW      19   6'0"   180  Niagara Falls, ON
18  Tavis Gainey          LW        17   6'1"   178  Kanata, ON
19  Tyson Dalziel         RW/LW     17   5'10"  174  Port Stanley, ON
20  Wendell Webb          RW/LW     18   5'10"  163  Brockville, ON
22  Bryon Edwards         RW        18   5'10"  196  St. Catharines, ON
24  Darric Craig          LW        17   6'1"   205  Spragge, ON
25  Tyson McMahon         RW/LW/C   19   6'0"   205  Burk's Falls, ON
28  Cullen Desjardins     C         18   5'10"  171  St. Thomas, ON
31  Josef Vampola         G         18   5'11"  163  Palhrimov, CZE
35  Giffen Howard         G         16   5'9"   167  Etobicoke, ON
55  Igor Joseph           D         17   6'2"   169  Millbrook, ON
68  Trevor Nesbitt        C/LW      18   6'2"   200  Windsor, ON
81  Perry Leonard         C/RW      16   5'8"   154  Milton, ON
91  Diarmuid Sutherland   C         20   6'1"   180  Nipigon, ON
CAPTAIN:  Bud Wieler
ALTERNATE CAPTAINS:  Diarmuid Sutherland and Tyson McMahon

The Majors' attack was more balanced than ever; while no Major scored more than 69 points, ten scored at least 36. Tyson McMahon continued to put pucks in the goal with regularity, while Milette, Desjardins, and Bell gave the team three productive new players.

St. Michael's battled cross-town rival Mississauga for the OHL Eastern Conference lead all season long, until the IceDogs got hot, pulled away, and set a new OHL record for points in a single season. The Majors, seeded #2, faced the Oshawa Generals in the first round of the playoffs. With captain Bud Wieler out with a partially torn ACL, the Generals won the series, 4-2.

Here are the Majors' statistics for the 2010-2011 season:

PLAYER        GP  G   A  PTS  +/-  PIM  SOG   PCT   ATOI  AvR
Sutherland    64  24  45  69   8   62  177  13.6  16:29  7.80
McMahon       66  34  28  62  24   38  193  17.6  17:44  7.65
Milette       51  26  25  51  22   53  156  16.7  17:59  6.96
Desjardins    63  15  35  50   8   75  125  12.0  15:15  7.13
Wieler        67  20  26  46  24  106  142  14.1  29:26  7.46
Bell          68  16  28  44  12  245  105  15.2  14:16  6.99
Webb          58  15  24  39  10   26  105  14.3  15:53  6.43
M. Boyd       65   9  29  38  21   93   44  20.5  14:36  7.46
Joseph        64  10  27  37  23  169  129   7.8  22:17  7.08  
Adams         68   7  29  36  15   40   94   7.4  15:32  7.00
St. Pierre    67   8  16  24  20   35   73  11.0  15:49  6.60  
Pellerin      53  12  11  23  16   35   71  16.9  15:29  7.02
Weber         60   8  14  22  14   51   82   9.8  18:34  7.10
Lamoureux     53   8  11  19  17   32   63  12.7  17:13  6.81
Nesbitt       55   4  13  17  15   30   41   9.8   7:49  6.96
Edwards       43   7   7  14  13  150   58  12.1   8:20  7.05
Levac         62   3  11  14  22   18   51   5.9  20:13  6.77
Verret        48   8   5  13   4   77   49  16.3   9:09  6.98
Leonard       51   5   7  12  12   63   42  11.9  14:13  6.33
Baker          7   0   2   2   3    0    7   0.0  16:38  6.57
B. Boyd       11   0   2   2   1   17   11   0.0  14:55  6.82
Howard        15   0   1   1   0    0    0   0.0  61:18  8.80
 
GOALIE        GP   W   L   T   MIN   GAA   SV%  ShO  AvR
Vampola       43  32   8   3  2609  2.05  .925   6  8.47
Howard        15   9   5   1   919  2.15  .926   4  8.80
Potvin         3   2   1   0   184  3.26  .868   0  7.33
 
 

Several former Majors were achieving success as professional players. Defencemen Derek Pederson and Mat MacGregor were playing in the NHL; Pederson with the San Jose Sharks and MacGregor with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Neither was seeing much ice time, however. Alex Duchesne and Edijs Sirokovs were one step away from the NHL, playing regularly for their AHL teams.

Adam Gingras (Kazakhstan), Phil Menard (Denmark), and Donny Hebert (Germany) were all enjoying success in overseas leagues, while Pierre-Oliver Labbe and Johnathan McCallum were playing in the ECHL.

[Big Six]

Two All-Time Greats: Diarmuid Sutherland and Bud Wieler

At the end of the 2010-2011 season, Majors fans said farewell to two of the most beloved players in the team's history: Diarmuid Sutherland and Bud Wieler. Both signed as free agents in the summer of 2006, soon after Gord Sullivan became the Majors' GM.

Sutherland ended his career as the OHL's all-time leader in games played, assists, and points. He also holds the single season records for assists and points, set in 2009-2010. Here are the stats for his Majors career:

 
YEAR    GP    G    A  PTS  +/-  PIM   SOG    SH%    AvR
06-07   67    7   35   42   -2   67   119    5.9   6.53
07-08   67   24   51   75   -9   62   168   14.3   7.21
08-09   66   32   61   93   28   52   197   16.2   7.71
09-10   67   34   76  110   23   80   205   16.6   8.06
MemC     4    2    3    5    3    4    10   20.0   8.25
10-11   64   24   45   69    8   62   177   13.6   7.80
TOTAL  336  123  271  394   51  327   876   14.0   7.46

Bud Wieler's Majors career ended late in the third period of Game Three of the 2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinal, when he suffered a partially-torn ACL. It was a shame that the last time Majors fans saw their team's captain on the ice, he was being helped to the bench in pain.

Wieler did everything he was asked to do as a Major. When the team needed him to pass, he passed. When it needed him to score, he scored. When it needed him to fight, he fought. He always provided the Majors with solid, responsible play in his own end; he skated with the team's top defence pair every season, and appeared on both special teams.

I'm not sure if these records are kept anywhere in EHM, but I'm almost sure Wieler is the OHL's career leader in games played, goals, and points for defencemen. He was also the league's most durable player, logging more ice time than any other player during much of his career.

Here are Wieler's stats with the Majors:

YEAR    GP    G    A  PTS  +/-  PIM   SOG    SH%    AvR
06-07   65   13   32   45    9   74   162    8.0   7.23
07-08   60   12   31   43    2   64   126    9.5   7.33
08-09   68   30   32   63   19  132   169   17.8   7.60
09-10   67   24   40   62   42  103   159   15.1   7.93
MemC     4    2    3    5    4    2     9   22.2   8.00
10-11   67   20   26   46   24  106   142   14.1   7.46
TOTAL  331  101  164  265  100  481   767   13.2   7.53
 

Both Sutherland and Wieler will begin the 2011-2012 season in the American Hockey League, and both men will possibly enjoy long, productive NHL careers. Regardless of whatever happens, they will be long remembered as two of the greatest players ever to wear Majors blue.

[Big Six]

The 2011 OHL Draft

The trades Gord Sullivan made during the 2010-2011 season enabled him to acquire not only some valuable players, but six of the first 60 picks in the May 2011 draft.

The Majors chose defenceman Dorian Stepp, a 6'1", 222-pound powerhouse in Round One. Stepp was strong and mobile, adept in his own end and a point-a-game scorer at the Junior A level. Sullivan chose a possible partner for Stepp with the first of the Majors' second round picks: rugged stay-at-home blueliner Stewart Muench.

The other Round Two selection was Joseph Messier, a centre who seemed to Sullivan to be a cross between Grant Horcoff and Diarmuid Sutherland--Horcoff's slender frame, and Sutherland's deft playmaking. A third defenceman--Tanner Doran--and two more forwards--Kellen Charbonneau and Brent McLellan-- were acquired with the Majors' three picks in Round Three.

Sullivan took a chance and drafted LW Sterling Power in Round 14. Power had indicated a strong desire to play college hockey in the United States. If Sullivan could persuade him to play for the Majors instead, he might give the team another future star.

In the weeks following the draft, Sullivan swung a deal that brought two other youngsters to the Majors. In June, he swapped defencemen Marc-Alexandre Weber and Eddie St. Pierre for the rights to defenceman Grant Carthas and RW Ashlee Scott, both of whom had recently been drafted by Erie. Carthas was a rangy defensive blueliner with the kind of character that would make him a fine captain one day, and Scott was a potentially productive scorer.

In the CHL Import Draft, Sullivan chose a centre from Belarus named Marat Gavrilenok, who was considered among the most promising players in the draft. Gavrilenok was a particularly good skater; in fact, the one quality that every one of the newest Majors possessed was an exceptional set of wheels.

[Big Six]

2011 Season Preview

With no fewer than six players away at NHL training camps, the Majors wondered what kind of team they'd send to the ice when the OHL season began in October. Fortunately for Gord Sullivan, the Majors, and their fans, all six NHL prospects were back with St. Michael's by the time the first puck dropped.

That meant overager Tyson McMahon and prospects Dwight Milette (Devils) and Cullen Desjardins (Thrashers) would give the Majors a dangerous first line. Sterling Power pleasantly surprised Majors Nation by passing up US college hockey, and brought his impressive skill set to the Majors. Power, Wendell Webb, Jordan Bell, and Ashlee Scott, who led the team in scoring during the preseason, gave the Majors a number of options for their second scoring line.

Jean-Benoit Adams, Miles Boyd, and Perry Leonard were the leading candidates for the Majors' checking line, with Bryce Davies and Marat Gavrilenok also on hand. Sullivan signed 20-year-old Vivien Laliberté, who'd spent the last three years on a good Rouyn-Noranda team in the Quebec League. Laliberté was a flashy forward whom Rouyn-Noranda only let go because they were out of room for overage players.

The Majors' defence would be young, and coach Bryson Curry hoped they'd begin to realize their formidable potential soon. Dylan Levac, back for his fifth season with the Majors, provided the defence corps with a sturdy anchor, and Igor Joseph was also a proven commodity. However, the other players who secured regular spots on the Majors blueline were unproven rookies. Stewart Muench, Tanner Doran, Dorian Stepp, and Grant Carthas all made the team out of camp, which left little room for former Round One pick Kevin Lamoureux.

When the New Jersey Devils sent Josef Vampola back to the Majors, St. Michael's fans rejoiced. Giffen Howard had developed into the kind of goalie whom Sullivan and coach Bryson Curry could count on to carry a team, and now, with Vampola back, the Majors had two franchise goalies.

If the team's youngsters, especially their 16-year-old defencemen, were ready for OHL action, the Majors' chance for success looked good. If they weren't, it could possibly be a middle-of-the-pack kind of year, as the goalies faced barrages of pucks and hoped their high-scoring teammates fired off even more frightening barrages of their own.

[Big Six]

Since I played clear through January without stopping to make note of the standings or compile the stats (oops!), the 2011-2012 midseason update won't include anything other than a Majors roster.

I forgot to mention that three Majors were selected in the 2011 NHL draft. To nobody's surprise, goaltender Josef Vampola was among the first players selected. The New Jersey Devils chose "Czechmate" with the second overall pick. That's the earliest a Major has been chosen in the Sullivan era; Derek Pederson went #3 overall in '10.

Defenceman Igor Joseph was selected by the St. Louis Blues in Round Two, and centre Cullen Desjardins went to the Minnesota Wild in Round Three.

They, and all the other Majors whose rights were held by an NHL team, were sent back to juniors, so Gord Sullivan's roster was at full strength all year long. Plus, Tyson McMahon's rights were released by the Philadelphia Flyers, so the Majors were much more likely to enjoy their new captain's services all year.

Here are your 2011-2012 Toronto St. Michael's Majors!

NO  NAME                POS    AGE   HT    WT   HOME TOWN 
1  Ljubo Krajnc         G      19  6'0"   183  Prevalje, Slovenia
2  Igor Joseph          D      19  5'11"  169  Millbrook
3  Kevin Lamoureux      D      17  6'1"   200  Detroit, Michigan
4  Dylan Levac          D      20  6'5"   216  Millbrook
6  Tanner Doran         D      16  5'11"  176  Toronto
7  Sterling Power       LW     16  5'9"   156  Collingwood
8  Dorian Stepp         D      16  6'1"   222  Etobicoke
9  Marat Gavrilenok     LW     18  5'11"  160  Brest, Belarus
10  Dwight Milette       RW/C   19  6'1"   176  Etobicoke
11  Vivien Laliberté     LW     20  6'1"   202  Gatineau, Quebec
12  Bryce Davies         C      19  6'0"   176  Whitby
13  Grant Carthas        D      16  6'6"   185  Lake Placid, New York
14  Miles Boyd           C/RW   17  6'1"   194  Mississauga
15  Jordan Bell          LW     17  6'2"   183  Plymouth, Michigan
16  Jean-Benoit Adams    C/LW   20  6'0"   183  Niagara Falls
17  Cullen Desjardins    C      18  5'10"  171  St. Thomas
18  Tavis Gainey         LW     18  6'2"   185  Kanata
19  Tyson Dalziel        RW/LW  18  5'10"  178  Port Stanley
20  Wendell Webb         RW/LW  19  5'11"  169  Brockville
21  Perry Leonard        C/RW   17  5'9"   158  Milton
22  Ashlee Scott         C/RW   16  5'11"  205  Thunder Bay
24  Dylan Perry          C/LW   18  6'0"   167  Toronto   
25  Tyson McMahon        W/C    20  6'0"   205  Burk's Falls
27  Eldon Ulmer          C      17  6'0"   152  Pembroke
29  Stewart Muench       D      16  6'2"   187  Scarborough
31  Josef Vampola        G      18  5'11"  169  Pelhrimov, Czech Rep.
35  Giffen Howard        G      17  5'9"   169  Etobicoke
 
All home towns are in Ontario, unless otherwise indicated.
 
CAPTAIN:  Tyson McMahon
ALTERNATE CAPTAINS:  Bryce Davies and Vivien Laliberté
 

[Big Six]

 
EASTERN CONF.   GP   W-L-O-S      PCT   GF    GA    PTS
St. Michael's   68   47-16-1-4   .728   249   150    99
Ottawa          68   41-18-2-7   .669   235   176    91
Mississauga     68   43-19-2-4   .676   245   179    92
Oshawa          68   40-23-2-3   .625   216   184    85
Kingston        68   34-29-3-2   .537   211   225    73
Belleville      68   31-32-2-3   .493   179   200    67
Peterborough    68   29-33-1-5   .471   186   203    64
Brampton        68   28-33-1-6   .463   190   238    63
Barrie          68   25-35-2-6   .426   168   226    58
Sudbury         68   26-38-1-3   .412   214   240    56

Combining the league's most productive offense with the tightest defense and goaltending the OHL had seen in years, the St. Michael's Majors won another Eastern Conference title in 2011-2012.

"We depended heavily on younger players," said GM Gord Sullivan, "and they came through for us."

One rookie forward , Sterling Power, fired in 40 goals, second most in the league. Another newcomer, Ashlee Scott, emerged as one of the best all-around forwards in junior hockey, averaging nearly a point a game and posting a gaudy plus-40 rating.

Dorian Stepp, Tanner Doran, Stewart Muench, and Grant Carthas often gave the Majors four first-year players on their blueline. All were up to the challenge. Stepp and Doran were particuarly potent offensively; one late February night at St. Michael's College School Arena, Doran scored a natural hat trick and added two assists. Muench was among the league's toughest enforcers, dropping the gloves 31 (!) times and winning 18 bouts---both league highs. Carthas finished third in the league in takeaways.

Tyson McMahon, the OHL's all-time leader in goals, struggled somewhat in his final junior season, but still lit the lamp 26 times and provided strong leadership. Centre Cullen Desjardins and wing Dwight Milette played well all year, and Milette won a gold medal with the Canadian national side in the World Junior Championships. The Majors didn't place a single player among the league's 15 top scorers, but their balance made them a very difficult team to stop.

The biggest stars of all, however, were the team's goalies. Josef Vampola and Giffen Howard finished 1-2 in the league in goals against average and save percentage. "It didn't matter which one of them was in net," said coach Bryson Curry. "We had a chance to win every single game." Sullivan had vowed to make sure the Majors were always strong in goal, and this year's Majors set the gold standard for goaltending excellence.

With the regular season championship in hand, Sullivan and Curry decided to give some of the team's prospects and reserves a chance to demonstrate their skills against OHL competition. Several of them looked very good, including centre Eldon Ulmer, wingers Darric Craig and Mateas Harrington, and defenceman Jay Hamm.

Leaders of the OHL Eastern Conference race from wire to wire, the Majors rolled into the playoffs in good health and with high spirits.

Here are the Majors' regular season statistics for 2011-2012:

 
PLAYER         GP    G    A  PTS  +/-   PIM   SOG   SH%     ATOI    AvR
Power          64   40   26   66   13    43   183   21.9   16:14   7.11
Milette        57   19   36   55   35    36   147   12.9   18:42   7.30   
Desjardins     61   18   34   54    6    69   173   10.4   17:38   7.28
Scott          64   21   29   50   40    72   127   16.5   13:24   7.84
McMahon        62   23   26   49   16    64   138   16.7   16:11   7.27
Webb           57   14   28   42    7    18   118   11.9   17:12   6.74
Stepp          64   16   16   32   38    89   119   13.4   23:08   7.52
Doran          64    9   21   30    5    20    86   10.5   20:54   6.92
Muench         63    7   22   29   30   293    80    8.8   22:39   7.49
Joseph         56    5   23   28   13    95   136    3.7   24:24   7.05
Davies         52   11   14   25    0    20    82   13.4   12:28   6.73
Laliberté      45    7   16   23   18     8    51   13.7   14:09   7.36
Boyd           61    6   16   22   22   126    50   12.0   14:05   6.98
Bell           55    6   13   19    2   116    39   15.4    9:52   6.53
Leonard        46    8   10   18   12    93    43   18.6   19:32   6.35
Adams          32    2   10   12   11    49    33    6.1   12:41   7.00
Gavrilenok     54    3    6    9    1    30    27   11.1    8:26   6.22
Carthas        46    2    6    8   10    18    21    9.5   15:54   6.61
Ulmer           9    5    3    8    9    14    21   23.8   14:50   7.44
Craig           6    4    3    7    5     9    22   18.2   14:34   8.33
Lamoureux      37    3    4    7   20    15    42    7.1   14:00   6.86
Perry          30    5    2    7   -1    24    24   20.8   10:09   6.13
Gainey         20    2    4    6    6    27    23    8.7    8:49   6.75
Harrington      9    1    4    5    1    25     8   12.5   10:31   6.44
Levac          50    3    2    5   11    32    33    9.1   17:51   6.60
Carroll         4    0    3    3   -1     0     3    0.0   12:50   7.00
Hamm            3    1    1    2    0     6     8   12.5   21:28   7.20
Jackson         3    0    2    2    5     4     4    0.0   14:30   7.33
Larson          3    0    2    2    2     0     4    0.0   18:33   7.33
 
GOALIE         GP    W   L   T    MIN    GAA    SV%  ShO   AvR
Vampola        37   27   9   1   2255   1.97   .925   5   8.59
Howard         24   16   4   4   1454   2.06   .921   2   8.46
Krajnc          5    3   1   0    246   2.68   .882   0   7.40
Lamontagne      3    1   2   0    184   3.59   .888   0   8.00

[Big Six]

2011-2012 Postseason

In 2011, the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, defending champions of the Ontario Hockey League, were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.

A year later, the Majors avenged that defeat by rolling through four consecutive OHL foes and regaining the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

The Majors, seeded #1, easily dispatched the #8 seed Brampton Battalion in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal, sweeping them 4-0. Dwight Milette led the Majors with four goals and six points, while his linemate Tyson McMahon dished out five assists. Rookie defenceman Stewart Muench also played extremely well (2-3-5, 9.00 average rating), as did goalies Josef Vampola and Giffen Howard.

The Majors were admittedly happy to learn they would have a rematch with the Oshawa Generals in the conference semifinal. This time, the Majors, behind the scoring of Wendell Webb (3-3-6), eliminated the Generals, 4 games to 1.

Next, the Majors faced their crosstown rivals, the Mississauga IceDogs, with the Eastern Conference championship at stake. The IceDogs, seeded third, were a formidable squad who had actually finished the regular season with the second-highest number of points; the division champions automatically received the #1 and #2 seeds, and Mississauga was in the same division as the Majors.

High-scoring rookie left wing Sterling Power erupted for four goals, while linemate Cullen Desjardins added three more; both recorded five points. Vampola and Howard remained rock-solid; both maintained goals-against averages in the ones. Behind their efforts and those of their teammates, the Majors beat the IceDogs, 4-1, and captured the conference title.

In the J. Ross Robertson Cup final, the Majors took on the Saginaw Spirit, champions of the West. The Spirit's potent offence was led by high-scoring winger Bill Guay, who lit the lamp 47 times during the regular season. Centre Solomon Lamoureux and defenceman Dale Bruce were also top-flight players. And, the Spirit's goalie was none other than former Major Pierre-Olivier Desrochers, who had, to nobody's surprised, turned into one of the best netminders in junior hockey.

Coach Bryson Curry assigned Jean-Benoit Adams, the team's best defensive forward, to shadow Guay. This tactic had worked against other dangerous scorers in the past and, while Guay scored four goals in six games, most of them proved to be decisive. Howard and Vampola each recorded a shutout, and the Majors beat the Spirit in six games to capture the OHL championship.

Cullen Desjardins led all playoff scorers with 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists). Sterling Power's ability to put pucks in the net was even more apparent in the postseason; his 12 goals in 20 playoff games were also best in the OHL. Stewart Muench scored 10 points and finished +10; Tyson McMahon (4-12-16, +9) and Dwight Milette (8-6-14, +9) played like a team's veteran stars should play.

Perhaps best of all, goalies Josef Vampola (11-4-0, 1.62, .936) and Giffen Howard (5-0-0, 1.61, .936) were almost unbeatable at a point in the season when a goalie could carry his team to victory nearly by himself.

With their victory, the Majors earned a spot in the Memorial Cup field. Their season would, once again, last well into the Canadian springtime.

[dunkie23]

I'm following along -- I'm by default a Stewart Muench fan having grown up and played hockey in Scarborough as a kid. I take my son to Generals games now though, living just outside of Oshawa.

Keep the updates coming!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by dunkie23

I'm following along -- I'm by default a Stewart Muench fan having grown up and played hockey in Scarborough as a kid. I take my son to Generals games now though, living just outside of Oshawa.

Keep the updates coming!

Muench is a lot of fun. When I drafted him for the Majors, I figured he'd be a hard-nosed player, but I didn't see him developing into the OHL's most fearsome enforcer. He's far from a goon, however; he was a top-four defenceman who also saw duty on both special teams for a league championship team.

I've seen the Generals play a few times, too. My grandparents grew up in Lindsay, and I still have family in the area.

Thanks for the comment, dunkie23.

[Big Six]

The 2012 Draft

Gord Sullivan liked to draft players who demonstrate certain qualities, on and off the ice. "We look for players who can skate," the Majors GM explained. "We miss out on a lot of the most polished players in the draft because we usually finish well enough to be well down in the draft order. So, we like to bring in guys with good tools and work with them to develop their skills. We also look closely at a player's work ethic, his determination, and his ability to work well with his teammates."

The Majors' first pick in the 2012 draft was a typical Major draft pick. Center Harry Todd was fast and surprisingly strong for a kid with a lanky 6'0", 149-pound frame. His coaches with the Kitchener Junior Rangers called him a "consummate teammate."

In Round Two, Sullivan chose a goalie, Ron Campbell of the Toronto Young Nationals. Campbell's reflexes weren't as quick as one might like, but otherwise his skills were solid, and Sullivan believed he could continue the Majors' tradition of superlative play between the pipes.

Another local player, right wing Emery McMillan of the Toronto Junior Marlboros, was the Majors' pick in Round Three. A budding power forward, McMillan was mobile and strong, and was already a deft puckhandler.

When asked about later-round picks who might make a difference, Sullivan mentioned Donovan Biedermann, a forward from Brampton whom the Majors chose in Round Six, and Peter Albertini, a defenceman drafted in Round 14.

[Big Six]

The 2012 Memorial Cup

As OHL champions, the St. Michael's Majors earned the opportunity to contend for Canadian junior hockey's most coveted prize: the Memorial Cup. The tournament was hosted by the Rouyn-Noranda club of the Quebec League, which meant Majors forward Vivien Laliberté would be eturning to the town where he played for three years.

Laliberté and his teammates first took on the Lewiston MAINEiacs, the QMJHL champions, and beat them 3-1. Next, the Majors beat the host Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 5-1, as Laliberte scored a goal and assisted on another.

The WHL champion Kelowna Rockets were the first team to beat a Majors goalie twice in a game, but they didn't have enough to defeat the Majors, who won 4-2 to clinch a spot in the championship game.

The Huskies delighted their home crowd by earning the other berth in the championship contest. A capacity crowd of 3,500 fans enjoyed a thrilling game; with three minutes left in regulation, the score was tied 2-2. Then, Majors centre Bryce Davies, who had shrugged off the effects of injuries that plagued him during the OHL playoffs, rifled home a shot from the right point to give the Majors a lead they would not relinquish. As they had done two years earlier, the Majors brought home the Memorial Cup!

Davies, who scored five goals in four games and added two assists, was the MVP of the Memorial Cup series. Dwight Milette (3-2-5), Igor Joseph (1-3-4), and Darric Craig (2-2-4) were also bright spots for the champions' offense, while Joseph (+6), Dorian Stepp (+5), and goalie Josef Vampola (1.33 GAA) were the team's top defensive players.

Captain Tyson McMahon proudly lifted the Cup over his head, grinning ear to ear. It was his final appearance as a Major, and he could think of no better way to go out. "I've had a great time here," said the OHL's leading goal-scorer of all time. "I hope I play hockey for a long time, and if I do, I'll always remember how good this feels."

[Big Six]

The 2012 NHL Draft

The annual NHL Draft was often a bittersweet experience for Majors fans. One of the biggest supporters the team had, Evelyn Arnold, explained it this way.

"We know that the Majors players probably all dream about a career in the NHL. So we're naturally excited when they get drafted. At the same time, it means they might not be around as long--they might be in the NHL the very next year, and we'll miss them."

One player who might be on his way out sooner rather than later was goalie Giffen Howard, who was the first round choice of the Boston Bruins and the 14th overall pick. Losing Howard to the NHL this coming year could be especially problematic; with Josef Vampola almost certain to be a Phoenix Coyote this fall, Howard's departure would leave the Majors without a proven goaltender.

Another Major, centre Miles Boyd, was a first round pick as well; he went to the Pittsburgh Penguins at #30 overall. Miles would undoubtedly meet St. Michael's alumnus Mat MacGregor when he reported to the Penguins' camp in September.

Left wing Jordan Bell and versatile forward Perry Leonard were both chosen in Round Two. Bell went to the Calgary Flames, while Leonard was tapped by the Montreal Canadiens. Leonard was particuarly happy with his new situation, since he considered fellow Canadiens prospect Diarmuid Sutherland one of his closest friends.

And, although it took a while, defenceman Kevin Lamoureux was excited to learn he'd been selected by the Buffalo Sabres in Round Six.

The five Majors' draftees were a new record for the Sullivan era. Never before had more than three of his players been selected in a single NHL draft.

[Big Six]

2012-2013 Season Preview

Partly by necessity and partly by design, the St. Michael's Majors team that prepared to take the ice for the 2012-2013 season would be much different than the squad that captured the Memorial Cup in May.

Tyson McMahon, Jean-Benoit Adams, Vivien Laliberte, and Dylan Levac completed their junior eligibility, and all were off to pursue their professional careers. Josef Vampola, Wendell Webb, and Dwight Milette, all of whom would have been overage juniors in '12, were also skating with professional teams. Vampola, to nobody's surprise, made the Phoenix Coyotes roster as a backup goalie.

Even without "Czechmate," the Majors figured they'd be set in goal with Giffen Howard still on the scene. Then, in September, the Boston Bruins announced Howard had made their Opening Night roster.

Fortunately, Gord Sullivan was prepared for this turn of events. He made a number of moves over the summer, and one of them brought another gifted goaltender to the Majors.

In the next three posts, we'll take a position-by-position look at the Majors, as they prepare to open the new season.


GOALIES
Sullivan engineered one of the biggest trades in recent junior hockey history in early August, a six-player swap with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Among the centerpieces of the deal was goalie Turner Ewasiuk, who posted 91 wins in three seasons as the Greyhounds' #1 netminder. Like Giffen Howard, Ewasiuk was a first round pick in the recent NHL draft, but the Atlanta Thrashers elected to let him remain in juniors. Majors fans are overjoyed at this decision; they're looking forward to watching Ewasiuk, a hybrid goalie with a lightning-fast glove hand.

Len Morris, whom the Majors signed as a free agent in July, will be Ewasiuk's backup. Top prospect Ron Campbell will begin the season with the St. Michael's Buzzers, the Majors' OPJHL affiliate.

[Big Six]

DEFENCEMEN

Last year, the Majors took a chance with a defence corps filled with talented rookies. The newcomers were even better than advertised, and this time around the Majors know exactly what they can expect from them--some of the best blueline play in major junior hockey.

Stewart Muench and Dorian Stepp will form the Majors' top defence pair. Both were rookie stars for the 2012 Majors. Stepp led the team's blueliners with 16 goals last season. Muench is not only one of the league's toughest fighters, but he's also a solid player at both ends of the ice. Stepp finished the season +38, Muench +30.

Coach Bryson Curry believes Kevin Lamoureux is ready for a breakout season at age 18. He'll be paired with Marc-Alexandre Weber, back for his second tour of duty with the Majors.

Two more second-year players, Tanner Doran and Grant Carthas, will form the third pairing. Carthas is an old-school, stay-at-home defenceman, while Doran is a budding offensive threat.

The team's depth on defence enabled Gord Sullivan to trade veteran Igor Joseph to the Erie Otters for the rights to Gabriel Jancovic, a dynamic Slovakian winger.

[Big Six]

FORWARDS

The Majors' forward lines underwent an extreme makeover during the offseason. GM Gord Sullivan needed to replace departed stars like Tyson McMahon, Dwight Milette, Wendell Webb, and Jean-Benoit Adams . "Several of our players will need to step up and fill new roles," said Sullivan. "We also acquired some talented players in trades. We think our fans are going to enjoy watching them play."

Left wing Sterling Power, who emerged as one of the most dangerous snipers in junior hockey last year, will anchor the team's first line. He'll be joined by Jacques Brisson, an overager whom Sullivan signed after Mississauga released him in June. Brisson scored 38 goals and 80 points in 2011-2012, and 81 points the season before.

One of two exciting newcomers who arrived in the blockbuster trade with Sault Ste. Marie will complete the first line. Graham Hogue features eye-popping speed, and dished out 52 assists as a rookie last year. Flashy Finn Juha Kontturi, who showed enough talent in his first year in North America that the Boston Bruins drafted him in the second round in June, is another possibility.

Either Hogue or Kontturi will center a second productive scoring line. and he'll be able to set up a number of wingers who can put the puck in the net. Jordan Bell and Ashlee Scott have both shown signs of offensive potential. Miles Boyd could be ready for an expanded role. Trevor Nesbitt brings his polished all-around game back to St. Michael's; he was acquired from Owen Sound in exchange for centre Cullen Desjardins. Coach Bryson Curry believes Nesbitt can provide more scoring than he did in his first tour of duty with the Majors.

Nesbitt would also be a good fit on a checking line, where he could be teamed with Boyd, Perry Leonard, or last year's late-season surprise, Darric Craig. Also on hand are Bryce Davies, who will serve as the Majors' captain; Dylan Perry, a versatile utility forward; and youngsters Kellen Charbonneau and Harry Todd. Charbonneau and Todd will probably begin the season with the Buzzers.

Sullivan traded away some talented forwards during the offseason, players like Desjardins, Marat Gavrilenok, and Eldon Ulmer. However, the Majors' staff believes the new additions have made the team stronger.

[Big Six]

SPECIAL TEAMS

For years, the Majors have been known for the solid play of their power play and penalty killing units, and there's no reason to believe they'll be any less adept this season.

Jacques Brisson led the OHL with 28 power play goals last year, and now he's brought his deadly marksmanship to St. Michael's. He'll team with Sterling Power, who scored 15 PPG for the '12 Majors, and either Graham Hogue or Juha Kontturi. Ashlee Scott, Jordan Bell, and Trevor Nesbitt will also be available for power play duty.

Dorian Stepp and Marc-Alexandre Weber are proven point men, and Kevin Lamoureux and Tanner Doran will see some secondary power play time.

Youngster Kellen Charbonneau's talent for killing penalties might enable him to make the team. "Kellen could be the best defensive forward I've seen here," says Gord Sullivan. Nesbitt, who was known for his ability to shadow opposing scorers in his first run with the Majors, is also a fine penalty killer. Miles Boyd and Juha Kontturi have the ability to turn shorthanded situations into scoring opportunities. If the Majors want an even more aggressive penalty killer, they can go with swasbuckling Jacques Brisson.

Stepp will team with Grant Carthas on the team's first penalty killing unit. Carthas takes great pride in the quality of his defensive play; his trademark move is a deft pokecheck. Stewart Muench and Kevin Lamoureux can also kill penalties.

[Big Six]

December 14, 2012

Gord Sullivan lay in his bed, long after he should have been asleep. His wife, Kate, was curled up beside him; their son, MIles, and their daughter, Jenna, were asleep in their bedrooms. The house was quiet, and Gord watched the moonlight cast a soft glow on the snow-covered backyard.

The general manager of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors was no stranger to late-night conversations with himself. He often pondered roster moves, trades, draft picks, and other details that were part of his job at such an hour. This time, however, the thoughts that occupied him were far different.

For the first time in six years, he was seriously considering a job offer.

The Chicago Blackhawks had hoisted the Stanley Cup as recently as the spring of 2011. Then, their GM, Chandeep Ostrow, was the talk of the hockey world. Suddenly, however, the Blackhawks' fortunes turned for the worst, and the team plunged all the way to tenth place in the NHL Western Conference, out of the playoffs completely. As the Blackhawks showed no signs of improvement this season, chairman Dillon Parker and president Graham Peeters decided it was time for a change. They canned Ostrow and began to search for a replacement.

Parker and Peeters had taken a chance on a GM from the Ontario League before. They hired Bobby Seymour out of Ottawa a few years ago--but they fired him a year later when the team didn't win. Seymour went back to the O, running the Soo Greyhounds for a while, and had recently been hired by the Atlanta Thrashers.

"We think you're ready for the job, Gord," Peeters had told him over the phone that afternoon.

Even if I am, do I want the job? Gord asked himself. Look at Bobby. He's bounced all over the place--Ottawa, the Canadian national team, Chicago, Sault Ste. Marie, Atlanta. Bobby's older; his kids are grown; he might not mind that kind of life. My kids are teenagers. Miles will be playing juniors next year. They're happy in Toronto, and so is Kate.

But this is the NHL...

The Blackhawks job would not be easy. The roster was full of discontented players who believed--perhaps accurately--that the team was underachieving. The team's biggest stars--stalwart German goaltender Andre Arendt and high-scoring Czech winger Marcel Pazourek--were aging. So was Sean Tuzzolino, a gritty winger who was a fan favorite. The team lacked young talent, and there wasn't much money available to turn things around.

Perhaps most alarming of all was the fact that the Blackhawks' first-year head coach, Brian Schaefer, didn't appear to be anywhere as good a coach as Bryson Curry, or almost any member of the Majors' coaching staff! I'll want to clean house, and I'm not sure how well that will go over. I've got a better staff here than I would in Chicago.

Still, it's the NHL...

Gord turned over as quietly as he could, not wanting to wake Kate. She had been wonderful; she'd told him that she knew she was marrying a hockey player when she said "yes" to him back in Winnipeg, and that she'd always figured he'd make the game his career long after his playing days were done. She loved Toronto, but she'd loved Winnipeg, too, and she'd even enjoyed Springfield.

"I'll support you in whatever decision you make, honey," Kate told him.

The Blackhawks wanted their decision ASAP, and Gord understood that.

He wouldn't get much sleep that night.

[Big Six]

Stepping out of character here--

I'm not sure if I'm going to have Gord take the job or not. I'm enjoying managing a junior hockey team, and I have very little experience running an NHL franchise in EHM. I've always enjoyed concentrating on managing the on-the-field/ice talent when I've played sports management sims, rather than spending lots of time managing money. At the junior level, everybody signs basically the same standard contract, so the finances are very easy to handle. Financial management at the NHL level, on the other hand, will present a MUCH greater challenge.

At the same time, it's cool to see Gord's success with the Majors attracting some notice. I always wondered if he'd ever get an offer to run a team at another level, and it appears that he's getting the opportunity to test his skills at the highest level of all.

I'm torn. Should I go for it, or stick with the Majors? Another opportunity might come along...or it might not.

[Big Six]

Just stopping by to say that (1) I haven't abandoned this dynasty and (2) I'm going to stick with the Majors. I'm having too much fun in the world of junior hockey right now to leave it from something else. If the opportunity presents itself again, maybe I'll make a move, but for now it just doesn't feel right to me.

Stay tuned for more from the Majors soon.