The number two CHL team overall and the top-ranked team in the OHL: that’s how the IceDogs faired when the CHL’s preseason power rankings were released.  This ranking comes after the IceDogs were the only team in the CHL to have two players selected in the top ten of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

While the ranking is exciting, a strong team does not come without its issues early.  The IceDogs started the season with a tough 7-1 loss to the Peterborough Petes, but it was not completely shocking as Niagara was without six of their top players who were taking part in the NHL camps of the teams that drafted them. Their starting goaltender Mark Visentin, top point-getter Ryan Strome and number one defender Dougie Hamilton all missed the IceDogs’ opener. In addition, newly-acquired defenseman Brock Beukeboom, veteran forward Alex Friesen and Mitchell Theoret, were also out of the lineup participating in an NHL camp.  However things are once again looking up as all but two of the players (Friesen & Strome) have since been returned by their NHL clubs.

With the season underway, we take a quick look at how the IceDogs roster is shaping up this year.

Forwards
A strong group of forwards will be a key for the IceDogs this year, with six NHL drafted forwards on the IceDogs roster.

Still away at NHL camp, the IceDogs will be hoping to see Ryan Strome return after picking up 106 points a season ago to finish third in league scoring.  In his second year in the OHL Strome recorded almost four times as many points as he did in his rookie year and since his arrival in Niagara from Barrie, he has improved in every category.  His exceptional season saw him catapult all the way to the fifth-overall NHL Entry Draft selection by the New York Islanders.  While anything can happen there is still a good chance the Islanders will send Strome back to the IceDogs and with the incredible show he put on during the Islanders’ training camp, an incredible OHL season is practically a guarantee if returned.

Another key for the IceDogs offensively is fourth year forward Freddie Hamilton.  Hamilton has flown under the radar somewhat, despite a wonderful season a year ago in which he totaled 83 points in 68 games. It was his third consecutive season in which he played at least 64 games, and he has increased his point total 27 and 28 points from year to year since entering the OHL in 2008. One of the IceDogs’ most popular players, Freddie was named the IceDogs’ Humanitarian of the Year last season after leading the team in community appearances.

Also up front, the IceDogs will be hoping to reunite their first line from a year ago by forming a top line full of overagers in Andrew Agozzino, Alex Friesen and David Pacan.  The trio is currently missing Friesen at Chicago Wolves camp, but are hoping to get him back to complete a line that combined for 202 points a year ago.

On top of those returning forwards, the IceDogs return two more NHL drafted forwards in Steven Shipley and Mitchell Theoret.

Shipley, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, enters his fourth year in the league and second with the IceDogs and will be counted on to provide the kind of secondary scoring he has been able to contribute in the past.  Coming off a season in which he put up 50 points, playing on the third line, Shipley is a key part of a deep IceDogs forward core.

After being a seventh round pick of the New York Islanders in this past year’s NHL Entry Draft, the IceDogs will be looking for big things out of Theoret.  Coming off a season where he put up 20 points while adding some grit playing predominately on the 4^th line last season, Niagara will be looking to Theoret to help replace the lost of production from the departure of forwards Darren Archibald and Jason Wilson.

Combine these players with returnees Johnson Andrews, Myles Doan, Billy Jenkins, and Joel Wigle, and newcomers Carter Verhaege, Mitch Bennett, Adam Desautels and Trevor Petersen, and the IceDogs look to be one of the strongest teams in the league up front.

Defence
The IceDogs defence this year will be led by third year defenceman Dougie Hamilton.

The younger Hamilton, Dougie has been in the spotlight nonstop since the defending Stanley Cup champions selected him 9^th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In a breakout season for the St. Catharines resident, the third-year defenseman ended last season with the fourth-most goals from a defenseman in the OHL and led the IceDogs with a +35 rating. He impressed during the Boston’s training camp and in his first preseason game in a Bruins sweater, Dougie logged more time on the powerplay than any other Bruin.  Just returned to the IceDogs over the first weekend of OHL play, Dougie is predicted to have another outstanding season.

Along with the return of Hamilton, the IceDogs will be hoping for a big season out of recent addition Brock Beukeboom who was added in the offseason from Sault Ste. Marie.  A St. Louis Blues prospect, the former Greyhound captain struggled with injuries a year ago and will be looking to bounce back and show why he is a third round NHL pick.

Along with Hamilton and Beukeboom, the IceDogs will be counting on contributions from a variety of other players on the backend.  2010 first round picks Jesse Graham and Luke Mercer will both be looking to build upon their rookie campaigns and be key contributors heading into their draft year.  Milan Doudera will be looking to stay healthy and contribute in his sophomore campaign and along with fellow returnee Shayne Rover, they will be counted on to help stabilize the back end for Niagara.

Goaltending
Goaltending will be a strength once again this season with reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year, Mark Visentin, returning to the IceDogs crease.  Visentin gained national notoriety during the World Junior Championships when he was Canada’s starting goaltender for Team Canada as the captured the Silver Medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships. The first-round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010, Visentin’s goals against average and save percentage have improved in each of his three seasons with the IceDogs.  Last season, despite playing nine games less than he did the previous year, Visentin won six more games and lost just nine games in regulation.

Visentin will be backed up by second-year goaltender Mike Gallardi, and rookie import Jaroslav Pavelka (former Czech U18 goaltender), who will be counted on to hold down the fort if Visentin misses some time this winter due to a stint with Team Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championships.

With nine NHL draft picks and some solid pieces around them, this is shaping up to be the best year yet of Niagara IceDogs hockey.  With an exciting team looking to compete for a league title combined with the excitement of a final push being made for a new spectator facility, things are certainly looking great for the 2011/12 IceDogs season!