It is expected that second-year forward, Sebastian Uvira, will benefit from the graduation of Christian Thomas.

PHOTO CREDIT - OshawaGenerals.com

Whitby - September 20, 2012 - The journey begins in mere hours for the 2012-13 version of the Oshawa Generals. The Generals faceoff against East Division rivals, the Peterborough Petes at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night to open up the regular season campaign. With a new season comes a sense of renewed energy, excitement, hope and anticipation for a team that largely under-achieved only one season prior.

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) has this revamped junior hockey team ranked tenth in CHL pre-season rankings. The Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) and London Knights (OHL), were ranked as the top three teams in the CHL, respectively. As Gennies fans realize, these pre-season rankings virtually mean nothing. It was only one year ago that the Generals were ranked fourth overall in pre-season rankings to begin the 2011-12 CHL season.

Generals fans supported a largely potently offensive team in 2011-12 that often played as individuals, resulting in a sub-par season. As a result, Generals’ General Manager Jeff Twohey was brought in to right a sinking ship. GM Twohey was then faced with the tumultuous task of hiring the ‘right’ coach to lead the 2012-13 version of the Oshawa Generals to greener pastures. Former Windsor Spitfires Assistant Coach, D.J. Smith was selected to bring success to the Generals organization. Head Coach Smith is a knowledgeable, passionate young coach that will demand the best from his players by creating a positive, winning style.

Many spectators will pay close attention to Head Coach Smith’s ability to develop the skills and winning attitude of both his first-year, and veteran players this season in Oshawa.

Speaking of the spectator perspective, one major improvement observed throughout this season’s training camp and pre-season exhibition contests was the collective increase in overall size, strength, grit and competitiveness of each of the players.

One can safely say that this year’s rendition of the Oshawa Generals will not be intimidated or pushed around as easily as they were last year by opposing teams.

Fans of the Generals will see a restructured defence corps lined up on the team’s blueline to start the 2012 – 13 OHL season.

Of the defenders, first-year players, Will Petschenig and Pat Hamilton were pleasant surprises in the pre-season exhibition games. Petschenig has been physical at times and has proven to make a good first pass out of the defensive end. Hamilton has brought some grit to a team that has sorely missed this element over the last couple of seasons.

Josh Brown, Zdeno Chara-like in stature and physicality, needs to take the next step in his game. More will be expected of him this season, game in, game out. Colin Suellentrop is expected to continue being a solid two-way defender for his club.

Christian Thomas and Andy Andreoff have graduated from the OHL, while Nicklas Jensen has decided to play in Europe this season. With the departure of the three goal-scoring musketeers, a large goal-scoring void has been created. Look for veteran forwards Lucas Lessio, Scott Laughton and team captain Boone Jenner to each have a breakout season. Head Coach D.J. Smith will most likely be promoting a defensive-minded club, so watch second-year centreman Cole Cassels and overager Scott Sabourin to be relied upon on the penalty kill.

Overage forwards, Emerson Clark and J.P. Labardo have recently been traded to Windsor and Eerie, respectively. Newly acquired, former Windsor Spitfire, sophomore forward Hunter Smith will continue to develop his skating and hockey craft under the guise of Head Coach Smith. Like defenseman Green, it is hard not to compare the height of Hunter (6’7?, 218 pounds) to that of Chara.

Acquired in the off-season from Kingston, left winger Adam Lloyd is expected to bring speed, grit and offense to his game.

First year players Matt Hore and 2012 first round OHL draft choice, Michael Dal Colle will compliment the rest of the forward corps with raw offensive talent and size.

Don’t look for either rookie to make an immediate impact, but do expect these young men to become quick studies of the junior game and should be welcome additions to the Oshawa Generals’ organization for years to come.

Let us be honest. Oshawa has not been blessed with consistently solid goaltending for as long as I can remember. Generals’ goaltending has been the team’s Achilles’ heel year-after-year in addition to other gaping holes in the team’s makeup.

This writer is going to go out on a limb and publicly state that the 2012-13 OHL season will bring happier times for Generals fans as the goaltending situation has vastly improved. Altshuller worked hard in the off-season on his conditioning. Even though the Gennies bowed out in the first round of the playoffs last season against the Niagara Ice Dogs, Altshuller played consistently well. He appeared in 30 games for Oshawa, registering a 11-17-3 record with a .900 save percentage.

GM Twohey believes that Daniel Altshuller is ready to carry the load for the team. “I think it’s his time,” said Smith. “He’s our number one guy, he got drafted this summer (by the Carolina Hurricanes) and it’s up to him to validate that. He is going to get the majority of the starts here this year.” Ken Appleby played well enough throughout training camp to earn the Generals’ backup netminding role.

Based on the turnover of hockey staff and players this past summer, one can fully expect the Oshawa Generals to experience some growing pains over the first eight weeks of the 2012-13 OHL season. Hiring General Manager Jeff Twohey was an important first step in the right direction for this storied franchise.

The second step was just as important and I have become excited with the game plan that Head Coach D.J. Smith has laid out for his team.

Prepare yourselves for a gritty and goal-scoring season in Oshawa. It is an exciting time of year.

For the love of the game, I remain, Dean Eastman.