The
2021 OHL Priority Selection is set for the weekend of June 4th
and 5th, with the first round going on Friday and other
rounds on Saturday. Obviously, this is like no other OHL Priority
Selection in history. The majority of the players eligible played
very little this season, forcing scouts to trust U15 viewings and
hours of videos from practices and scrimmages to help them make their
decisions. Additionally, due to the lockdown and the cancelled OHL
season, OHL teams have no idea how their prospects from the 2020
Priority Selection have progressed, complicating potential teams
needs and wants.
It should be noted that
this mock draft was started over a week ago, before the US NTDP final
roster was announced and before some of the information on team
preferences started to leak. At the end of the day, just like last
year's endeavour, it may not be extremely accurate as a prediction,
but it does serve as an informative piece on the best players
available.
This
is the third year that we are doing the OHL Collaborative Mock Draft.
In a normal year, I don't see as much minor midget action as I would
like to, let alone this year, so yet again I have brought in some
great minds who have seen these draft prospects play a ton.
Helping
out with this mock draft are:
Steven
Ellis
– Web Editor & Writer/Digital
Content Producer for The Hockey News (@StevenEllisTHN)
If
you're hungry for more content on the upcoming OHL Draft, be sure to
check out the websites linked above, as they all provide great
content.
Without
further ado, here is our two round mock with many honorable mentions:
1.
Sudbury Wolves (Brock) - Quentin Musty - Forward - North Jersey
Avalanche U16 (AYHL)
The
Sudbury Wolves hit the jackpot by winning this year’s randomized
lottery, seeing as they would have likely been drafting in the back
quarter of the first round had an OHL season occurred. A later
developing story is that one of the top American 05’s, Quentin
Musty, turned down an offer to join the NTDP, which has made him a
top candidate to go first overall. Fresh off winning a National
Championship with North Jersey, the 6’3 forward is an absolutely
dynamic offensive forward who blends both power and skill. He would
be an immediate impact player for the Wolves and set them up to
continue their run of contention in the East. Of course, the Wolves
could also still look at a top two-way center like Oakville’s Calum
Ritchie, but Musty is both the rumoured selection and the one that
makes sense. The last star to come out of Buffalo and to play in the
OHL turned out alright, am I right?
2.
Oshawa
Generals (Ethan) - Calum Ritchie - C - Oakville Rangers (SCTA)
The
Oshawa Generals receive a large boost to their roster with Canadian
talent Calum Ritchie from the Oakville Rangers. After a successful
season of showing he can be one of Ontario’s top 2005 players, he
has earned enough consideration as one of the top players in the
draft class. Ritchie possesses a strong two-way forward like presence
with the skillset to show-off his creative talents. His puck-handling
and hockey IQ can be displayed through his decision making on the ice
as well as his contributions to his teammates through his leadership.
To add to his toolbox of skills is his shooting ability with his
quick snapshot. His shooting accuracy is very precise and he doesn't
waste time getting a good shot off his stick. Ritchie would be a
solid addition to the talent generated within the Oshawa system and
could easily find success with last year's draft pick Aidan Castle
(should he sign). Both would pair their speed and playstyle to create
another dynamic Oshawa duo.
3.
Guelph
Storm (Connor) - Cameron Allen D - Toronto Young Nationals (GTHL)
Back
in 2016 the Guelph Storm had the opportunity to select an offensive
defenceman with the 1st overall pick in Ryan Merkley, and with the
3rd pick the Storm have the chance to select another high-end
talented defenseman with offensive abilities that can bring you out
of your seat. Not only would Guelph be getting the best player
available, but also a player that would fill a need on the back end.
With a fairly deep forward group, that includes returning 2003 born
Danny Zhilkin, the Storm also have several prospects who they
selected in the 2020 OHL Draft to look forward to, in Matthew
Poitras, Jake Karabela, and Ryan McGuire. Allen is a high-end
defenceman with tons of skill, to go with his mobility and puck
moving ability. He loves to control the play from the back end and
carry the puck up ice. He is a player, who despite having tons of
skill, plays with an edge, unafraid to use his body and bring a
physical presence to opposing forwards.
4.
Windsor
Spitfires (Steven) - Noah Cochrane, D - Barrie Jr. Colts (SCTA)
Cochrane
has been a standout defenseman for a few years now. Cochrane played a
year up with the Barrie Colts’ minor midget program and was the
team’s best player on many nights, trailing Charlie Fowler for the
team lead in points by a defenseman. Cochrane loves to engage himself
in offensive rushes and there are a few clips out there of him
stealing the puck for a breakaway chance. Physically, Cochrane can
hold his own, but his true strength lies in how he handles the puck –
whether it be shooting with his quick, dangerous wrist shot on the
power play or the way he sets up forwards at a high pace.
5.
Kingston
Frontenacs (Raine) - Colby Barlow - C - Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
For
the second consecutive season, the Kingston Frontenacs take the best
player available, coming from the Toronto Marlboros; Colby Barlow. In
what will certainly be Shane Wright’s final season in Kingston, a
potential run to the Memorial Cup will be on the line, a run in which
Barlow can easily slide into and contribute right away as a secondary
scorer. Once Wright becomes the first overall pick and leaves for the
NHL, Kingston will do just fine with their future in place with Paul
Ludwinski and Barlow.
6.
Peterborough
Petes (Ryan) - Nicholas Sima, C/RW, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
After
selecting defenceman Donovan McCoy in the first round of 2020, the
Petes land a top power forward prospect from the JRC in 2021.
Nicholas Sima has a powerful motor, and skates like the wind with
incredible acceleration and top speed. His balance on his skates and
tremendous strength make him a formidable presence on the ice
physically. Sima throws punishing body checks regularly and has a
consistent complete level each shift. That ability to pressure
defenders with his relentless forecheck creates an abundance of
turnovers, and causes dangerous disruptions to the oppositions’
flow on the breakout. Nicholas has excellent hands in tight areas and
can dangle. His ability to cut middle on the rush and snipe with a
quick snapshot is special. He’s improved a ton over the last year
or so, and he’s established himself as one of the elite players in
the 2021 draft class. Sima also has off-the-charts hockey
intelligence, natural leadership skills, and many other intangible
qualities that should lead to success at the next level.
7.
Flint Firebirds (Garnet) - Carson Rehkopf - F - Toronto Jr. Canadiens
(GTHL)
Carson
is tendered with Muskegon; however, I am confident he will end up in
the OHL as he is a prospect with NHL Draft upside. Before making this
selection, I would have spoken to the player and agent and saw if we
could come to a deal for his 16-year-old year or join us as a
17-year-old after one year in the USHL. If this deal were a no-go, I
would have selected Luke McNamara or Carey Terrance at this spot,
depending on which one of the two interviewed best. Carson is long,
lean, athletic, projectable, and possesses the skill sets to be a top
two-line impact in the Canadian Hockey league. He plays with pace,
moves his feet very well for a big man, and penetrates the scoring
areas of the ice very nicely. Carson has the size to drive the net
and is a willing combatant in the battle strike areas of the ice. His
best asset is his ability to take the puck to the net, and he likes
to take it wide and deep on defenders. He competes well, can play
heavy minutes, projectable body, pro-style frame, and possesses
intangibles - checks off all the boxes.
8.
Owen Sound Attack (Josh) - Tristan Bertucci, D, Toronto Malboros
(GTHL)
With
their only pick in the first two rounds, the Attack opt for one of
the most offensively-gifted defensemen in this class. Bertucci is a
smooth-skating defender with excellent hands and great vision. His
four-way mobility stands out on the ice, with the ability to dance
along the blue line as he creates space for himself. He already has a
knack for carrying the puck into the house for a high-danger chance,
versus a low-percentage shot from the point. Already six-foot-one,
the defender has a good posture with a long reach and while there are
some improvements to make on the defensive side of the puck, his
offensive game should excel at the next level. With the Attack
selecting skilled forwards Cedrick Guidon and Gavin Bryant in the
2020 Priority Selection, looking to the backend makes sense for the
team with their first selection in 2021.
9.
Mississauga Steelheads (Ethan) - Luke McNamara, C, Bishop Kearny
Selects 15U/ JRC (GTHL)
Coming
down to the wire, the Mississauga Steelheads would have liked to have
seen one of the defencemen drop down to their hands. But don’t get
me wrong, they would be super excited to see one of the stronger
snipers in this draft class with Luke McNamara still remaining. After
drafting many right handed shots at last year’s priority selection,
the Steelheads will be looking thin with left handed talent. McNamara
can bring a puck control aspect to the game and he is one to
communicate well on the ice. His smooth skating stride paired with a
snipers mentality can easily be mistaken by opposing goaltenders
leaving him a good scoring opportunity. He also adds a good size
element to his game and has learned to find a balance of protecting
the puck and driving the play. Overall, this adds to Mississauga's
deep pool of talent with recent draftees Lavoie, Beck and Christy.
10.
Erie Otters (Benjamin) - Chris Barlas - F - Navan Grads (HEO)
Chris
can develop in time to be a top 6 scoring forward in the OHL and
should have a solid career as a point-producing forward. He showed
advanced maturity and was a dominant player in his U18 league this
season as a 15/16 year old. Chris is an offensive driver for his team
– he plays an intelligent game and knows exactly what to do with
the puck on his stick. A very organized player that analyses the game
at a first-round level. When the puck is on his stick, he is astute!
He shows consistent play management skills and keeps turnovers to a
minimum, making him an effective player coaches will want to reward
with his ice time. Generates scoring opportunities out of nothing and
creates a lot with his pace on zone entries. Good down low on the
wall, cycles the puck well, exhibits good puck protection skills, and
has the natural intuition you need to put up points at the OHL level
of performance. Poise and patience with the puck are prime assets
Chris brings to the table. He can feed his teammates surging into the
holes and lanes.
Chris's overall delay tactics are solid, and he is
able to think a step ahead of the opponent at the U18 level. Chris
gains speed with his quick elliptical crossovers and fools defenders
with his deceptive pace. High level defenders are experts at
detecting rhythm, patterns, and offensive trends – for example,
former #1 NHL Draft selection Alexander Daigle had 2 or 3 fantastic
set moves in the QMJHL that transitioned over wonderfully into the
NHL out of Junior's when he was 18 years old. In his first 8 games
with Ottawa, he was one of the leading scorers in the league and
looked well on his way to being an NHL superstar; however, D-men
figured out his patterns and shut it all down. Variance is the key to
delivering offense at the higher levels and I want to see Chris
continue to work on his attacking setups. Right now - he has OHL
level skill-sets, and variability - unpredictability is a big element
of being a successful player at high performance hockey and a player
always has to find new ways to mix it up. Chris is projectable
because he is not a one-trick pony! He varies it up, and he is
athletic enough to accelerate/decelerate - in other words, this
player forces D-men into a state of good confusion where they are
constantly guessing, overthinking, and over-analyzing.
I like Chris's
ability to gain speed on crossovers - big improvement with his
elliptical movement in the past 12 months - this is an essential
element in scouting/projecting who will and who won't achieve
high-level success. Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid are world
class players in large part thanks to their rate of turnover in
crossovers, small muscle initiations and rate of force speed
production which comes as a result. In these critical athletic area's
Chris has a solid base, and with continued good fundamental coaching,
this player is projectable. Clearly, his coaches who have worked with
him 1 on 1 in his career know what they are doing, and most
importantly, they have had an excellent student that grasps it. OHL
game reps, daily practice against older and more experienced players,
patience, sleep, and nutrition will take this player to the next
level. Chris excels in creating plays out of nothing and uses his low
center of gravity to get into scoring areas. He is dangerous between
the dots, shoots the puck with a quick release, and is equally able
to dish to both sides of the ice on the forehand and backhand.
Chris
is a slippery attacker that makes his line-mates better with his
heads-up play. His ability to counter-react is at the OHL performance
level, and I like his split-second decision-making under pressure.
These two positive aspects to his game will ensure durability in the
OHL, where scoring forwards have less time and space to generate on
the attack and need to avoid heavy contact that creates wear and tear
on the body. It's why Gretzky practiced with pylons - increasing
reaction time, which in turn results in durability, extra time/space
and elite creative performance results. Coaches need players that are
good to go every night! Chris' collected mannerisms on the ice, solid
mental game, and self-confidence are three crucial key assets he
brings to the table that will ensure gradual improvement over a four
to five-year period. Gradual small incremental improvements and
focused work day in and day out are the keys to success in life and
in hockey, and Chris has done a solid job over the past 10 years of
his development getting better and better with each day.
11.
North Bay Battalion (Steven) - Nick Lardis, F, Oakville Rangers
(SCTA)
First
thing you'll see when watching Lardis is his feet are his biggest
assets. He's not only quick, but he's technically talented when it
comes to starts and stops and keeping balance under pressure. It's a
good thing his hands can keep up with the pace because everything
about his game is built around being energetic. Not the most physical
kid, but as the game continues to be dominated by skilled, speedy
forwards, Lardis really finds a way to shine.
12.
Ottawa 67’s (Josh) - Cole Brown, C, York Simcoe Express (ETAHL)
The
67’s are facing a changing of the guard, with top players Marco
Rossi, Jack Quinn, Graeme Clarke, Noel Hoefenmayer, likely Kevin
Bahl, and more, all moving on to higher levels. With that, the team
is unlikely to be as successful as they have been in recent years and
some retooling is in order. With their first selection, picking Cole
Brown might just turn out to be a big steal of this draft. Brown is
an extremely intelligent centerman with strong skating mechanics and
impressive vision. He has a long, wide stride, and mixes lateral
crossovers into his movements to constantly change his direction of
attack. He opens his hips well, allowing him to quickly pivot and
when combined with his edges, makes him a deceptive player.
Especially for his age, he’s extremely calm and poised under
pressure and displays the ability to draw defenders in while creating
space for his teammates. He could very well be a top-line, playmaking
centerman in the OHL and a key piece of the 67’s moving forward.
With many high-end players leaving the team, Brown could very much
help to fill that void.
13.
Sarnia Sting (Ryan) - Ethan Miedema, LW, Quinte Red Devils (OMHA ETA)
Sarnia
rushes to the podium to select Ethan Miedema, who brings a rare blend
of size and skill to the table. Once he fills into his 6-foot-4 frame
and builds up his strength a bit more, he could become an unstoppable
winger in the latter stages of his OHL career. Players with his size
rarely have the elite skill level in their hands and quiet feet like
Miedema. He is also lightning quick and has excellent edges, which
help him utilize drastic changes of pace and/or direction. Ethan’s
elite skating affords him extra time and space with the puck to
operate in the offensive zone, and helps create clear passing lanes.
The timing and precision of his passes off either the forehand or
backhand shows elite touch and playmaking vision. Miedema is a
high-end finisher and natural goal scorer too. The full package he
brings to the table when you add his infectious personality is
another factor that makes him too difficult for Sarnia to pass on.
14.
Hamilton Bulldogs (Brock) - Luke Misa, C, Oakville Rangers (SCTA)
One
thing I believe that the Bulldogs will aim to accomplish in this
draft is to become quicker and they do that by adding Luke Misa from
the powerhouse Oakville Rangers. Misa also adds a dynamic goal
scoring ability to a team that is losing Arthur Kaliyev the next time
the OHL takes the ice. Another positive to Misa is that he has
apparently grown significantly since his bantam season and is now
6’0. You would be hard pressed to find a forward with more upside
than Misa at this point in the draft. That said, I could also see
Misa’s teammate Owen Outwater as an option here, who would add size
and goal scoring ability to the wing and whose raw, natural athletic
abilities also would make him a high upside selection. It should be
noted that the Bulldogs have targeted OMHA players four of the last
five years in the first round.
15.
Niagara IceDogs
-
PICK
FORFEITED
16.
Saginaw Spirit (Benjamin) - Marco Mignosa - F - Toronto Nationals
(GTHL)
Very
thrilled to get Marco Mignosa at this slot in the draft. Unless he is
looking at the college route and is not 100 percent firm in his
commitment, I cannot see him slipping down this low in the draft
process. How good is this player? I loved this young man's play two
years ago playing a year up, and you'd never have guessed he was
underage. In fact, one scouting service had him ranked top 80 for the
2020 draft – and who can blame them as the kid was super mature,
listed as 2004 in the programs, and a key player playing up a year as
an underage! Marco is a very solid hockey player, looks the part and
delivers in the big moments. He will fit in nicely as a 16 year old
and find a way to convince the coach to trust him in all situations I
am sure with his reliable all around game.
So what makes this kid a
prospect, you might ask? A fascinating book I read recently
“Triphasic Training (Cal Dietz)” - this book pretty much uses the
scientific evidence compiled 50 years ago by the Russian sports
scientist and the godfather of plyometrics and depth jumps, Doctor
Yuri Verkhoshansky. The Russian's developed several methods of
improving eccentrics (an area Marco excels in) - and it quickly
improved their athlete's full-body strength. At first, they were
doing crazy things like literally throwing athletes against a wall in
a hammock and doing depth jumps that bordered on pure insanity. As
you can imagine, a few injuries from their careless drive to achieve
more and more too fast and too quick. In training you have to focus
on small gains over years and years of proper work/rest/nutrition,
and never get greedy, or it will always backfire on you. Eventually,
the Russian's invented the plyo-swing, where you could force a safer
overspeed eccentric through bands/weight (although I would not do the
weight with Marco at this stage of his development) and it did not
injure the athletes. Want to get stronger? Do depth jumps and
over-speed eccentric work, and you will get stronger! We are always
concerned with rock star instagram NFL combine vertical jumps of
beauty - but, as a sports scientist, I want to see a depth jump and
then a vertical jump, and/or I want to evaluate the athlete's ability
to come out of a leap - remain engaged for a second jump. How well
does the athlete use energy off a depth jump and how do they land
after a big vertical jump? You see some NBA careers for instance end
early because of poor eccentrics. Landing/rebounding/generating force
off the ground and being able to load the hips with speed tells me
all I need to know about an athlete's potential.
You won't be a
successful OHL/NHL player if you cannot absorb force, and drop the
hips quickly to a contact position. I believe Rogue fitness has this
machine (plyo-swing) in stock as they have taken over building
machines for renowned strength coach Louie Simmons who has developed
world record powerlifters as well as NFL/NBA/MMA athletes. Use it two
times a week, you will swear by it. I built my own model with a
bigger platform and more ways to attach bands to provide variance.
The Russian model got a 14% increase with their volleyball players
(which is unheard of in this business) back in the 1960s. So, what I
technically like so much about Marco is his ability to drop his hips
and load power. If you have eccentric control (which is Marco’s
best asset) coaches will be able to develop you VERY QUICKLY. If you
overlook this aspect you will end up not being a durable athlete.
Some athletes have control - and, in others you need to put the work
in to get it optimal so they can withstand the physical play and
force generated at the next level of hockey. Generally I find some
athletes a bit weaker these days because they are not jumping out of
trees, playing multiple sports and skipping ETC ETC. Now I am not
sure if Marco is a great student that had a superb teacher or it's
something that he normally does – but it is intriguing! As a scout,
you are always looking for a functional athlete, and you are always
praying after the draft, your sports science team can improve your
players, or they have an agent that has been to the rodeo a few times
in his career and has the knowledge and connections to get the
athlete to the right people. I have seen many first rounder players
ruined over the years by poor training, overusing gross muscles, lack
of glute/ham strength, weak hips, not focusing on small muscle work
and messing up in the nutrition/resting/sleep areas of performance.
An excellent training staff working with players in these areas makes
a great scout, and a team investing in sports science gets the most
value out of their draft picks and maximizes organizational depth.
Hockey is really a team game, and if you are a Skill Performance
Coach, Head Coach or Assistant Coach, your job can be made much
easier if you have the right sport science team connecting the dots
in the gym and putting in place the activations that will make a
player successful in drill sets your coaches teach that will
transition well to game situations where vast amounts of force are
thrown upon the athlete. It's no coincidence some NHL agencies are
running their own gyms, and talking developmental matters into their
own hands with specific in-house experts. It's all about connecting
the dots - and, the best in the world figure out a way to do it one
way or another! I see this player has done a lot of the right things,
so for me he is scientifically projectable.
Marco does an excellent
job of getting pucks to the net, and he displays perfect continuity
of momentum and flow to his game. Maintaining speed is vital for
playing success in pro/OHL hockey - if you do not have a sound
glide/posture and flow like water (as Bruce Lee used to say), your
energy systems will be overworked and cause career backward trending
breakdowns and stock devaluation of the your performance assets. If
you are not durable - you won’t be around long. The OHL schedule
and demands on the body are no joke! Marco time and time again builds
speed, takes it to the net, and never loses much pace through heavy
or incidental contact. His rock solid athletic ability results in
confidence and fearlessness when he is driving to the net and zero
performance anxiety. Very thrilled to get this player at this spot in
the draft – scientifically speaking this player is exciting in
terms of what you can do with development. He’s the epitome of what
we call “highly projectable!”
17.
London Knights (Garnet) - Aram Minnetian - D - Mid Fairfield Rangers
(15U AAA)
As
the GM of the London Knights I would have offered Aram the first
round slot. This draft started before the NTDP team was selected, so
he’d be my number 1 option on the table to try and come to an
agreement on. If the answer was no I likely would have selected
either Carey Terrance or big Owen Outwater in this position. Aram is
a high-end player that shows the ability to defend and kill plays in
the defensive end, and versus the rush. He is safe and can break up
plays and move the puck forward quickly. Potential to be a top 2
D-man in his prime years of OHL NTDP, USHL and NCAA. Solid pro-style
defender, an athletic player, controlled center of gravity, skates
well in all four directions and will one day be a D-man that plays
25-30 minutes. Shows the potential to help run a PP at the elite
levels. Moves nicely in all three zones, walks the line well on the
offensive end and can use his movement defensively to cover elite
level 16/17/18/19/20 year old forwards. Plays a mature game, gets
pucks to the right man on the power play, and is capable of jumping
up into the play as the number four man on the attack. Transitions
the puck nicely, exits his zone cleanly, holds gap position nicely
for a 16-year-old, and has good overall instincts for the game. Plays
hard, and has always been able to take his game to the next level
when the money is on the line in a national championship game.
18.
Kitchener Rangers (Raine) - Luca Pinelli, F, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Third
time's the charm, right? With veterans like Riley Damiani and Jon
Yantsis gone from the team, it is time for the Rangers to reload and
build around their new face of the franchise, Francesco Pinelli, and
what better way to do that than to pair alongside his younger brother
Luca.
19.
Sault
Ste. Marie Greyhounds (Connor) - Owen Outwater, Wing, Oakville
Rangers (SCTA)
Another
forward from the 2005 born Oakville Rangers squad gets taken in the
1st round, with Owen Outwater surprisingly still available for Sault
Ste. Marie to select with the 19th pick. After selecting a high-end
prospect in Bryce McConnell-Barker, the Greyhounds have a chance to
give him a high hockey IQ winger, who has consistently shown that he
can play alongside top players, being a key piece on what could be
called Oakville’s top line alongside Calum Ritchie and Nick Lardis.
Outwater knows how to get his teammates the puck on the breakout in
transition, while also understanding where he needs to be to get the
puck, putting himself in a scoring position at the right times.
Outwater brings a net front presence, while possessing great hands in
tight, contributing to his high-end finishing ability. Ultimately,
Ouwater would be a steal if he is still available for the Greyhounds
to pick, and I fully expect him to be gone much sooner.
20.
Barrie
Colts (Ryan) - Declan Waddick, C, Waterloo Wolves (ALLIANCE)
The
Barrie Colts are pleasantly surprised to see Declan Waddick (the top
player from the ALLIANCE) available at the end of the first round.
Waddick led the ALLIANCE in goals for the last two seasons (U14 and
U15) with the Sun County Panthers. His transfer to the Waterloo
Wolves program for his draft year bolstered a formidable Waterloo
squad into a legitimate OHL Cup contender, had there been a season.
Waddick creates an abundance of scoring opportunities due his
elusiveness, high-end skill, and sharp offensive instincts. He’s a
very slippery player and is tough to contain with his quickness and
shifty lateral movement. Declan is a natural goal scorer with upside
that Barrie can’t pass on at this point in the draft. Barrie has
placed a premium on speed, skill, and puck possession capabilities in
recent years. They have also signed their top three draft picks from
2020, which are forwards with similar skill sets (Hunter Haight, Beau
Jelsma & Cooper Matthews). Waddick would fit into their system
perfectly and is expected to produce at an elite level during his OHL
rookie year. The Colts will place significant value on this,
especially since they’re expected to be one of the top teams in the
OHL’s Eastern Conference during the upcoming season.
SECOND
ROUND
21.
Windsor Spitfires (via Barrie Colts) (Steven) - Cam Mercer - F -
Barrie Colts (SCTA)
With
most players missing out on the 2020-21 season, the nice thing with
Mercer is that he got a full year with the U-16 Barrie Colts a year
ago. His biggest asset is his wrist shot: just quick, accurate and
without much of a windup. Just watching his highlights, there's more
than a few clips where he's gotten the shot in the net before the
goaltender could tell a shot was about to take place. Despite his
great shot, he's not a high-volume goal-scorer and will need to
figure out the consistency portion of that, but he's at a good spot
in his development right now. Mercer doesn't make many mistakes
finding teammates with the puck and creating his own space is a
positive of his game.
22.
Erie Otters (via Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) (Benjamin) - Mathieu
Paris - F - Navan Grads (HEO)
I
wanted two players at this stage of the draft – Mathieu Paris and
Carey Terrance. I decided only to select Canadians with my high
picks, and unfortunately, we are not allowed to trade, swap picks,
etc (in this mock draft)., but if I were on the draft floor, I would have paid a
significant premium to get New York born Carey, as I think he is a
hell of a player. Well done, Sir Ryan McArthur, on getting the steal
of the draft! And on that note, congrats on your success with the U16
podcast - a fantastic job you and Connor are doing with that
and a must listen for all OHL Draft fans, coaches, scouts, parents,
and followers! The OHL Draft tends to be a predictable affair, so I
would have done what I had to do to move into a position where I
could get both of these players if the price were within reason, of
course. Mathieu Paris will be the player I am selecting here, and for
me, he is VERY INTERESTING, and I think with the right sports science
team, he could exceed expectations!
An essential factor you are
looking for in athletes is Stretch Reflex – and Mathieu is
excellent in this area! Essential areas I am looking at in an athlete
are the ankle neurology, achilles tendon, and the spinal column
functionality. If you got that going for you (which Mathieu does in
spades), you are off to the races. I met an accomplished MMA coach once and observed her training sessions for a week - every new
kid that would come to her; she'd take off their shoes/socks/and do
7-8 things to see where they were at with their feet. Evaluating the
foot was her scouting system! She wasn't the greatest coach either –
but she developed a lot of national champions with this simple
methodology – and she was always doing what she could to make that
support structure (the foot) the best she could! Her kids always got
better, and she did an excellent job with talent identification in
her program model. The worst training programs are the ones that
don't put a HUGE MAJOR emphasis on the good old foot and spine! The
foot is the perfect machine – it is the only part of your body that
is in contact with the ground, and as veteran NBA players say, “if
your dawgs are not 100%, it's all over!” I have yet to see an
athlete increase his myelin (a substance that is surrounding the
nerve cell axons that determines technical skill output in elite
athletes) if they are not great in the ankle/spine area by this stage
of their career. Sooner or later, you see potential/athletes max out
if these two areas are not optimal. I hope moving forward, Mathieu
continues to put a significant emphasis on this area as that is what
will drive success for him. Balance and proprioception are the two
reasons he is a very good player that could transition into a great
one if he is doing the right things off the ice.
I like Mathieu's
skill a ton – talented player, good movement to his game, ease of
motion few have in this age group possess, and a very high level of
creativity. The team drafting this player will be picking a player
that will get better and better as he has the right proportions,
natural quickness, and ability to relax under pressure. Good
underlying athletic mechanics and posture, mindfulness and awareness
tend to project well for OHL hockey, where the rate of speed/force
can be overwhelming for the neurological and energy systems of 16 and
17 years old. You better have trained hard in the summer and done the
right things if you want to survive in the jungle with the best of
the best. 19/20 years olds in the OHL who all have Harvard sports
science degrees so to speak, a NHL camp or two behind their belts etc
- they tend to figure out the young lions very quickly. Remember that
all summer draft prospects, and educate yourself, read books and
really watch what is really happening in all pro sports - not just
hockey. Mathieu is a good candidate to succeed, I think!
With that
said, there are a few things I do not like about his game - but,
veteran OHL coaches will quickly fix them if Mathieu is a quick study
and buys into what the experts and 20 years old vets tell him to do!
The key thing for any young player entering the league - keep your
eyes/ears open, watch and learn very quickly. The players that end up
being the best use every resource provided 110%, ask the best
technical questions and put themselves in a position to have a
winning outcome at the end of the day. Mathieu can go a long way - a
very interesting prospect with potential. However, in the OHL you
need to go from potential to pro reality very quickly! Production
matters now.
23.
Niagara IceDogs (via Kitchener Rangers) (Raine) - Grayson
Tiller - D - Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs (SCTA)
Despite
not having a first round pick this season, the IceDogs are set to
bring in a great group of talent next season highlighted by Pano
Fimis, and potentially San Jose Sharks second-round pick Daniil
Guschin. That said, Grayson Tiller was such an important piece on the
back-end for the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, and will be a great piece
alongside the likes of Landon Cato and Giancarlo Chanton.
24.
Niagara
IceDogs (via London Knights) (Connor) - Matthew Soto, Wing, Oakville
Rangers (SCTA)
The
IceDogs don’t have to travel too far to make their second of back
to back picks in the second round, taking a short trip up the 403 to
select a dynamic winger in Matthew Soto, a dominant player in the
South Central AAA league with the Oakville Rangers. With his speed
and agility, he is able to push the pace, but also slow the game down
with his edges when he needs to. Soto controls the puck really well
using his poise and skating to protect the puck effectively, drawing
players in and then setting up his teammates. With Soto’s quick
snap shot and ability to create in transition, he would be a welcome
addition to a roster that is adding 2020 draft picks in Pano Fimis,
Brice Cooke, Alec Leonard, Dylan Roobroeck, and Ryan Struthers.
25.
Barrie
Colts (via Saginaw Spirit) (Ryan) - Angus MacDonell, C, Toronto
Marlboros (GTHL)
The
Colts use their next selection on Toronto Marlboros captain Angus
MacDonell. MacDonell is a complete, 200-foot forward that does
everything well. As an elite lacrosse player, Angus has excellent
hand-eye coordination and balance. He is very firm on his skates and
does well working in small areas with elite puck skills and fast
hands. MacDonell’s skating is something to behold with his elite
top cruising speed and shiftiness. He attacks open ice like a dart
with his quickness and accelerates in a hurry. Angus can be relied on
in any game situation and steps up for his team when the pressure is
on during crucial moments. Barrie is excited to nab two elite
forwards with their first two selections in the 2021 draft.
26.
Barrie
Colts (via Niagara IceDogs) (Ryan) - Beau Akey, D, Waterloo Wolves
(ALLIANCE)
Barrie
steps up with the second of back to back picks and takes right shot
defender Beau Akey from the Waterloo Wolves program. Akey is a
tremendous overall skater with elite speed going both forwards and
backwards. Players that are gifted with natural skating abilities
like this are very rare and Beau’s explosiveness is special. He’s
also very shifty and good at moving laterally. This makes him
dangerous off the rush and his offensive instincts are top notch.
Akey is a beast quarterbacking the power play and he finds the seams
well when distributing the puck. He doesn’t have tunnel vision and
instinctively works through the progressions with his reads on the PP
quite effectively. Akey is an excellent pick for the Colts here as a
successor to take over the power play one day from stud Barrie dman
Brandt Clarke. Beau also possesses excellent leadership abilities and
he wore the ‘C’ for Waterloo in their U15 season.
27.
London Knights (via Hamilton Bulldogs) (Garnet) - Ryan Fine - Mid
Fairfield Rangers (15U AAA)
When
I made this selection it was before the NTDP camp and Ryan was still
on the uncommitted marketplace. This is my choice at this spot, and
if I was unable to commit to London I would have drafted Carey
Terrance or Mitchell Brooks at this spot. Ryan has the upside to be
an excellent scoring line forward in the Ontario Hockey League if he
can eventually be signed. Intelligent hockey player that plays with a
ton of pace and gets into the holes offensively. He finds the right
lanes and shows a high level of hockey IQ. Ryan reads the ice very
well, knows what to do on the PP, and uses his combination of
movement, speed, quickness, and agility to create dynamic offense.
One of the best 2005 DOB first strike offensive forwards in North
America.
28.
North Bay Battalion (via Sarnia Sting) (Steven) - Anthony Romani - F
- Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
Romani
is a dangerous two-way forward who seems willing to take abuse in
front of the net to help his team and likes to chip in rebounds from
in close. Romani does a nice job of picking angles with an
above-average wrist shot and is one of the better passers on the Jr.
Canadiens. He isn’t a great skater, but he’s good enough to put
himself in scoring areas and grabs a lot of points as a result. It’s
worth noting that just three players outscored Romani at the U-13
World Selects Invitational three years ago, and one of them was
Connor Bedard.
29.
Ottawa 67’s (Josh) - Alex Assadourian, F, York Simcoe Express
(ETAHL)
A
smaller centerman with great speed and a high motor? That just
screams 67’s pick. While Assadorian might not be at the level of
Marco Rossi, he does fit that mould as a player. His lighting quick
on the ice, in both his foot speed and hands. His skating is very
fluid and should only improve as he grows and builds strength. He’s
fearless on the ice, jumping into board battles at both ends of the
ice, diving in front of shots, and taking on bigger opponents. He
battles hard, always working to get the puck back to his team. With
the puck he’s just as impressive, maintaining good possession,
changing direction and pace as he enters the zone, and showing off
some impressive creativity at times. After selecting Brown with their
first pick, the 67’s add two highly-skilled offensive players that
know how to contribute in their own end as well. With these two
picks, the 67’s are well on their way to get back to the top of the
league.
30.
North Bay Battalion (Steven) - Mitchell Brooks - F - Toronto Titans
(GTHL)
A
former member of the Burlington Eagles, Brooks made the move to the
Titans for his U-15 season and didn’t disappoint. At first glance,
Brooks plays like a pure offensive-minded forward, but he’s trusted
to play the penalty kill and can handle himself admirably in his own
zone. Much of his game is still raw, and there’s still work needed
to manage his consistency, but there’s a reason scouts have
followed his game closely for a while now: he makes everyone around
him better.
31.
Sarnia
Sting (via Erie Otters) (Ryan) - Carey Terrance, C, Kemptville 73’s
(HEO)
Sarnia
management are pleased to see Carey Terrance still on the board at
the 31 spot and are excited to see how his game breaking speed will
translate at the next level. Darrell Woodley, Director of Central
Scouting for the OHL, said in Terrance’s prospect profile that he
is “arguably
the best skating forward in this years’ draft.” I couldn’t
agree more with this statement and speed is a major component of the
modern game. Terrance garners a lot of respect off the rush and
defenders keep backing in because they don’t want to get beat. This
affords him so much time and room to operate in the offensive zone.
His speed and quickness also help him play a complete game and his
effort on the back check to close gaps quickly is divine. This kid is
a gem and the Sting are happy to land him here to team up with
Miedema, who also has exceptional speed.
32.
Guelph
Storm (via Mississauga Steelheads) (Connor) - Charlie Paquette. Wing,
Windsor Jr. Spitfires (Alliance)
After
selecting Cameron Allen with the 3rd pick in the draft, the Storm
decide to not only give Allen a breakout option, but also give one of
their 4 centres they selected last year, a winger. Paquette is a
dynamic offensive player who is great in transition, where he can use
his speed to separate and create space from the opposition. With his
quick hands, he combines them with his quick feet and strong edges
where he utilizes quick cuts to maneuver through traffic while
navigating the puck through sticks and pressure from the defence.
With his puck skills, Paquette can consistently put the puck in the
net with his strong finishing ability tight to the crease.
33.
Ottawa 67’s (via Owen Sound Attack) (Josh) - Lucas Moore, D,
Peterborough Petes (ETAHL)
With
their third selection in the first two rounds, the 67’s now turn
their sights to the backend to help to fill the void of the departing
veteran defenders. By selecting Lucas Moore, Ottawa lands a two-way
defenseman that is extremely hard to play against. He’s a very
well-rounded prospect but shows flashes of brilliance on the ice. In
his own end, he shows off his strength and willingness to play a
physical game, already 185 pounds at just five-foot-10. But he’s
also very smart in his end, positioned well and very aware of his
surroundings thanks to consistent head checks. He maintains gaps
well, using his edges to stick like glue on his opponents. His
athleticism is also a strength with the puck, as he carries it well
through transition thanks to his speed and impressive puck handling.
He can dish it out too, making crisp passes in the attacking zone or
through the neutral zone. He’s very adaptable, being able to be the
defensively-conscious d-man, or acting as a fourth forward in the
offensive zone. Being selected this low might be a steal to nab the
young defender, who could be a strong option in the first round.
There’s star potential in this young player.
34.
Flint Firebirds (Garnet) - Bronson Ride - D - Oakville Rangers (SCTA)
Bronson
is a projectable 6'6 defender with intriguing potential. His older
brother Declan is an NCAA D1 commit and ranked by NHL central
scouting for the 2021 NHL Draft. So, with that said before I make
this pick I speak with the family/agent and see if there is interest
in the league. If there is no interest in the league - I will likely
draft Oliver Bonk at this position as he is a projectable talent that
got better and better as the season went forward. Back to Bronson - I
think with the right coaching, mentorship, training and team behind
him the sky's the limit. Tough to fairly evaluate and break down this
player's game based on the quarantine in 2021 and limited action. In
my opinion, a big man like this needs many reps, games, and
competition to get into a rhythm, and this was not in the cards for
Ride in 2021 due to the pandemic and quarantines. I liked him a lot
as a bantam with Oakville in 2020. Lots of tools here!
35.
Kingston Frontenacs (via Peterborough Petes) (Raine) - James
Petrovski - D - Toronto Titans (GTHL)
The
Barlow selection makes Kingston even more loaded offensively, meaning
these next two picks need to come from a different area of need. With
the losses of Emmett Gordon, Jakob Brahaney, and Nick King, there
will be plenty of opportunities for rookies to play an important role
for this Frontenacs team. That said, James Petrovski brings a very
interesting skillset with tremendous instincts, and was trusted by
head coach Darcy Tucker in all situations, not to mention the ability
to quarterback a powerplay unit right from the get-go.
36.
Kingston Frontenacs (Raine) - Christopher Brydges - D - Quinte Red
Devils (ETAHL)
With
back-to-back picks, the Frontenacs continue to bolster their
back-end, selecting Quinte’s Christopher Brydges. The Red Devil is
a dynamic player that is very strong at both ends of the ice, and
with his great skating ability, is terrific in transition and setting
up breakouts.
37.
Sault
Ste. Marie Greyhounds (via Windsor Spitfires) (Connor) - Cooper
Foster, Forward, Soo Jr. Greyhounds U18 (GNML)
Sault
Ste. Marie will not have to look too far to pick this player, Foster
is not just a homegrown talent, but also one of the top forwards in
the draft. A smooth skating, elusive forward, he loves to have the
puck on his stick, controlling the play with his maneuverability and
vision, to create chances for himself and his teammates. While also
being an offensive threat, Foster brings a 200-foot game with slick
stick work to steal the puck off opposing players. In the end, the
Greyhounds have multiple options with the choice of adding a
defencemen, but certainly they can’t go wrong with the addition of
Foster.
38.
Sudbury Wolves (via Guelph Storm) (Brock) - Alex Pharand - Forward -
Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves (GNML)
Sudury
has to be ecstatic that the top local talent available this year,
Pharand, is still available when they pick in this situation. A
competitive, goal scoring forward with size, Pharand is oozing with
athletic potential due to a late growth spurt (now close to 6’3)
and improving skating abilities. Of course, there is always a chance
that they take one of the top defenders still available, since they
have used their previous five top two round selections on forwards
(six if you include Musty in this mock). But, Pharand is just too
interesting to pass up on here.
39.
Oshawa Generals (Ethan) - Conor Thacker - Left Defence -
Oakville Rangers (SCTA)
Oshawa
receives a physical big body through the selection of Oakville
Rangers defenceman Conor Thacker. He brings a booming presence from
the point where he displays his great shooting ability and heads up
decision making. He has a smart shot selection moving across the
blueline to find an open lane to fire upon. Thacker does an excellent
job of moving to different positions of the offensive zone and
setting up for his big one-timer slap shot. Defensively, Thacker’s
long reach and physical play allows for him to contain and control
the play more. He utilizes his size to his advantage and has a
commanding presence defensively.
40.
Mississauga Steelheads (via Sudbury Wolves) (Ethan) - Jacob Crisp -
Defence - Oakville Rangers (SCTA)
After
losing out on a strong defenceman in the first round the Steelheads
would elect to select a defenceman in the 2nd round. Following the
Oshawa pick, Mississauga would elect to take another Oakville
counterpart in defenceman Jacob Crisp. A close to home pick, Crisp is
a sleek and smart puck moving defenceman who establishes a strong
two-way presence in whatever game he steps into. His decision-making
and puck possession skills are one of his strongest attributes and
pairing those with his great skating ability, he could be one to
quarterback a puck-moving power play from the point. Crisp has a good
eye for detail in his playstyle as he likes to do things to a
perfectionate standard. If he makes a mistake on his part, he will do
everything possible to prevent an unfortunate turn of events by
trying to win back the mistake. This selection by Mississauga would
allow the Steelheads to bolster that defensive prospect pool and have
a young core to replace some of the graduating players.
Contributors
Honorable Mentions:
Brock
Otten
Gabriel
Perreault - Forward - Chicago Mission (HPHL)
Initially
the thought was...Gabriel has to be committed to playing in the OHL
because his brother Jacob did right? But, he has accepted an
invitation to play with the NTDP next year. Of course, there’s
always a chance that we see him in a couple years after he gets
drafted into the NHL, but the future path is murky at best. Gabriel
is a player who is similar to his brother Jacob, a potentially elite
level goalscorer who is dynamic with the puck in transition.
Brandon
Svoboda - Center - Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U (15U AAA)
A
candidate for the NTDP roster, but the OHL has had a lot of success
recruiting out of the Pittsburgh Penguins program in recent years (Ty
Voit, Teddy Sawyer, Evan Konyen and Colby Saganiuk) and Svoboda is
the top player on that roster this year. A dynamic and complete
offensive player, Svoboda could easily be a top two round candidate
if he makes it known that he would report to the OHL.
Owen
Davy - Goaltender - Elgin Middlesex Chiefs (Alliance)
Predicting
the first goaltender off the board this year is extremely difficult.
Without actual game and tournament action, it was likely tough to get
a read on the position. However, Davy was one of the top bantam
goaltenders from a year ago and has to be considered one of the best
available from the position at the draft. He has that combination of
size, athleticism, and technical procision that all scouts look for
in the position.
Ryan
McArthur
Zack
Sandhu - Defenceman - Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
Sandhu
is a rearguard that did an excellent job shutting down top ‘04
attackers in the G, while playing up with the Marlies last season.
What made this feat more impressive was the fact that he’s a
December 2005 birthday, and was therefore facing players almost two
full years older than him. Zack has developed tremendously over the
last few seasons, and the trajectory of his progression bodes well
for him at the next level. He’s a big body that enjoys the physical
aspect of the game, and he uses his superior strength to his
advantage as the foundation of his overall lockdown game. Sandhu has
a heavy shot from the point as well, especially when he blasts
booming one-timers on net. Don’t sleep on this stud defender at the
2021 draft!
Chase
Coughlan - Forward - Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
Coughlan
has been a big riser on draft boards from his U15 to U16 seasons, due
to his much improved skating. He can flat out fly at top speed, and
has improved his acceleration and edges a lot in a short period of
time. This makes him a hidden gem for the upcoming draft. Chase has a
solid body and has an extremely formidable presence on the ice. He
finishes his checks regularly and can dish out devastating hits.
Coughlan has a cannon of a shot and can rip it quickly with a nice
shot release. Fun to watch him play and an OHL team looking for a
physical presence that can produce offensively are likely to find
themselves happy with this pick down the road.
Juan
Copeland - Forward - Detroit Honeybaked 15U (USA)
Copeland
is an intriguing prospect from the States that surprisingly didn’t
get an invite to the USNTDP development camp tryouts. He has been
rumoured to be favouring the OHL path for a while now, and that very
likely factored into his omission from the camp by USA Hockey. Juan
has game breaking speed and is a swift, shifty forward. His puck
skills are also high-end, and he has the puck on a string at top
speed. Plenty to like about the American speedster, and OHL fans are
in for a treat if he chooses the league for his development path.
Connor
Williams
Cal
Uens - Forward/Defence - Quinte Red Devils (ETA)
One
of the most versatile players in the draft, in part due to his high
hockey IQ, Uens has been a player who his coach, Tyler Longo, could
put back on defence when needed. This ability to transition from
forward to defence quite seamlessly is evident in his 2-way game as a
centreman, putting himself in the right position on the defensive
end. With his fluid skating, smooth hands, and strong shot, Uens also
poses as an offensive threat in addition to his strong defensive
game. Ultimately, whichever team gets the chance to pick Uens, will
certainly have options for where they want him to play, but with his
knowledge and flexibility the transition likely will be a bit
smoother.
Brayden
Degelas - Centre - Chatham-Kent Cyclones (Alliance)
After
leading the Alliance in assists while putting up a staggering 53
points in just 32 games in his Major Bantam season, Degelas showed to
be a catalyst on offence for Chatham-Kent. Owing to his vision and
anticipation, Degelas can put himself in positions on the ice to not
only receive the puck but also use his vision and distribute the
puck. While he can see the ice and distribute the puck, Degelas uses
quick hands to maintain control of the puck, as well as use a heavy
shot to beat goaltenders.
Noah
VandenBrink - Forward - Elgin Middlesex Chiefs (Alliance)
Last
year saw a couple players go early from the Chiefs in Hunter Haight
and Brady Stonehouse to Barrie and Ottawa respectively. This year
they have another talented forward in Noah VandenBrink. With his
quickness, speed and puck skills, VandenBrink is constantly creating
chances on the ice, not only for himself, but also setting his
teammates up as well. While VandenBrink can distribute the puck well,
he also has a quick shot he gets off from multiple angles, which is a
big reason he was ultimately able to put up 26 goals and 58 points in
Major Bantam.
Steven
Ellis
Jack
Ziliotto, F - Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs U16/Burlington Eagles U15 (SCTA)
Good
size with the potential to develop into a power forward role.
Ziliotto has good speed, and while he'll never be the fastest guy in
a game, high-tempo games fit his style well. The puck always seems to
find him in open space.
Cameron
Briere, F - Nashville Jr. Predators (USA)
With
the GTHL season off the table for 2021, Briere made the move to the
Nashville Jr. Predators U-16 team down south and had a solid 19-goal,
33-point season. Briere was invited to the USNTDP camp but didn't
ultimately make the team, which isn't a bad thing in his case. Briere
still needs to pick up the pace, but when you give him space, his
decision-making is off the charts.
Joseph
Macchione, F - Markham Majors (GTHL)
Some
real sleeper potential here. Not always the most engaged physically,
but he's got the raw talent with the puck that you can't ignore.
Loves the puck on his stick and has a release that's hard to read as
a goaltender.
Raine
Hernandez
Corson
Maguire - Forward - Selects Academy 15U (15U AAA)
One
of the most OHL-ready prospects in the entire draft class, Maguire
brings a nasty element to his game that OHL coaches will love the
moment he steps into camp.
Braxton
Ross - Forward - Ottawa Senators 15U (HEO)
One
of the most offensively gifted players from the HEO area, Ross always
plays a great all-around game, being able to play in every situation.
Stephen
Campbell - Forward - Mississauga Reps (GTHL)
A
big part of the Reps team last season, at 6’2, 200lbs Campbell’s
big frame and skill from the middle of the ice puts him in a position
to make an impact right away at the junior level.
Ethan
Wong
Ben
Rossi - Goaltender, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs (SCTA)
Rossi
is a phenomenal goaltender that has one supportive team in front of
him. He has shown that he has the skill to stand on his head for his
team with good timing saves. He has a good build to his size being
able to stretch across the crease and cover a majority of the net.
Rossi has a quick post to post movement and very nimble feet to
adjust into position.
Mason
Vaccari - Goaltender, Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
Vaccari
has been noted to be one of the toughest goaltenders to face by some
of the top prospects in this year's upcoming draft. Although he is
not the biggest, he is a very quick goaltender and has the unique
ability to make recovery saves. He has a good vision when it comes to
seeing through traffic, as well as finding and tracking the opposing
shooters.
Zach
Losier - Centre/ Left Wing, Oakville Rangers (SCTA)
Losier
is a player that has seen his game develop from a consistent power
forward to a reliable two way scoring player. He has added a good
scoring touch to his game and has developed a better sense for puck
protection. Playing in the SCTA division, Losier can be seen to
match-up with many of the opposition's top scorers. He has a prolific
skating ability and his stride has developed, where he can protect
the puck and maintain a good speed to attack the net.
Josh
Bell
Jack
Dever, RW, Quinte Red Devils (ETAHL)
If
you like players that can score goals and show commitment in their
own end, Jack Dever might just be your guy. The Belleville native has
a nose for the net and a finishing ability to produce. He finds the
lanes well thanks to his high hockey IQ and can dish it out as well,
making him a threat whenever he has the puck. Without the puck, he’s
just as good. He shows a willingness to get physical, the ability to
strip pucks, and a competitiveness to fight for the puck in all three
zones. I’d expect him to be selected in the first two rounds.
Ben
Lalkin, F, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
You’ve
likely already seen Lalkin without realizing it was him. In a viral
video, Lalkin undressed a defender with three impressive, consecutive
dekes before potting the goal – shorthanded. He has excellent hands
and the ability to work them well in tight spaces. He oozes
confidence with the puck, has an impressive release and has good
patience. While there’s room to improve defensively, Lalkin is a
very intriguing offensive talent.
Oliver
Bonk, D, Carleton Place Canadians (HEO)
Bonk
could be a name that surprises on draft day, going higher than many
think. He’s one of the strongest defenders in this class in his own
end, but shows the ability and the urge to jump up into the play when
called upon. He under handles the puck, but dishes it around well,
his backwards skating is excellent, and his simply well-rounded
overall. There won’t be a ton of flash to his game, but he could be
a very attractive option for a team looking for a steady rearguard.
He’s a very smart, reliable defender with leadership qualities that
OHL teams will covet.
Benjamin
Bennett
Matthew
Mania - Defense - North Jersey Avalanche 16U (AYHL)
Amazingly,
this player was not picked for the USA NTDP team. Developed a ton in
the past 12 months - and is a pro prospect. Not surprised he was one
of the most heavily sought after players for a USHL early tender.
Charlie
Cerrato - Forward - Honeybaked 15U (HPHL)
Charlie
is a high end two way character forward that was signed by the USA
NTDP team - you can move him up and down your lineup no problems! He
can play with anyone and is a legit Swiss Army knife! These are the
guys you need on your team to win!
Tanner
Adams - Center - Mount Charles Academy 15U (15U AAA)
Team
speed is very important at the OHL level of play, and Tanner brings
that to the table!
Now
obviously some of those players would have said no due to the
NCAA/NTDP/USHL factor - so, the three I would have gone to
alternatively if I got a no would have been Oliver
Bonk
(a
big time heads up pick by Josh Bell who did his research on that
one), Cal
Uens
(skill
level is very interesting and watch out when the rest comes together)
and Stefan
Forgione
(safe
bet to play due to his solid intangibles, work ethic and leadership
capabilities).
Garnet
Kazuik
Matt
Buckley - Forward - Navan Grads U18 (HEO)/Oakville Rangers U15 (SCTA)
Matt
Buckley has exciting tools, and when he puts it all together, he
could be VERY INTERESTING! Matt shows a good first step, athletic
ability, smarts, high hockey IQ and is always around the puck. He is
an opportunistic forward with an intriguing skill set that is a solid
value at this stage of the draft process.
Stefan
Forgione - Forward - Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
Very
thrilled to mention Stefan! I think he is a great character player,
and you win championships with players like this in your lineup. A
hard working kid that puts in the time and effort to be the best
player he can be. Stefan plays well in all three zones of the ice,
works hard, solid down low, gets into the greasy areas of the ice and
makes his line-mates better with his hard work and second effort.
Always keeps his feet moving, completes his checks, and will be
captain/assistant captain material in his 19/20-year-old season.
Chris
Grisolia - Forward - Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
I
think Christopher Grisolia has the potential to be a solid OHL hockey
player. He gets up/down the ice very well, and has the hip
mobility/athletic range to be effective in the league. Christopher
makes a ton of solid high IQ plays, shows good hand skills in the
offensive zone, forces defenders wide, plays all three forward
positions, and works well anywhere up and down a team's top three
units.
Other
U.S. Prospects to Watch
Brandon Hilton –
Forward – Honeybaked 15U
Undersized (5'9,
160lbs), but competitive and skilled center who helped Honeybaked win
the 15U National title this year. Had 2 goals in 6 games over the
course of Nationals. Was a standout with the Belle Tire program last
year in U14, but made the switch to Honeybaked this year. Has the
quickness you like to see, given his stature and playing style.
Brian Nicholas –
Forward – Mid Fairfield Rangers 15U
6'1 forward from New
York who was an absolute standout for a very strong Mid Fairfield
squad at the U15 Nationals. Led the team in scoring at the event, and
four of his teammates made the recently announced U17 team. Nicholas
was at the NTDP evaluation camp, but apparently had an average
showing and did not make the team. However, Nicholas is a kid who
blends size with skill and is dynamite in transition.
Chase Pirtle –
Forward – North Jersey Avalanche 16U
Big and skilled winger
(6'2, 180lbs already) who apparently has among the highest upside of
any '05 forward from the U.S. Was part of the NJ Avalanche team that
won Nationals at the U16 level this year, along with Quentin Musty
and Ottawa 67's first round pick Nicholas Moldenhauer. Was at the US
NTDP Evaluation Camp, but did not make the final roster.
Nathan Murray –
Forward – Honeybaked 15U
Another standout member
of the National champion Honeybaked U15's, Murray actually was second
behind Charles Cerrato (recently named to the NTDP roster) in team
scoring at the event. In fact, he had a hat trick in the National
title game against Florida Alliance. Murray is lightning quick and
has a dynamite release which profiles him as a high end goal scorer.
He too, was at the NTDP Evaluation camp but failed to make the final
roster.
Ian Emery –
Forward – Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U
Quick and skilled
playmaking winger who was the running mate of Brandon Svoboda with
the Penguins this year. Really dynamic player in transition who also
has a bit of bite to his game. Again, the OHL has recruited well out
of this program in recent years.
Chris Pelosi –
Forward – Mount St. Charles Academy 15U
Good sized forward from
New Jersey who loves to shoot the puck and is difficult to contain in
traffic. Played out of Rhode Island this year with Mount St. Charles
along with Tanner Adams, listed as an HM on this list.
Ryan Smith –
Forward – Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U
Undersized (5'9), but
highly competitive forward out of Buffalo who is a bit of a jack of
all trades kind of player. Probably not a high OHL draft selection,
but someone who could definitely play several years in the league and
be an impactful player.
Dylan McFadden –
Forward – Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U
A dual citizen who used
to play with the Niagara North Stars before switching to the Buffalo
Jr. Sabres program a few years ago. McFadden is quite small (last
listed at 5'6), but he is highly skilled and led the Jr. Sabres in
scoring this season.
Tyler Borgula –
Forward – Honeybaked 15U
Another undersized, but
skilled forward (last listed at 5'6), Borgula came into the year as
one of the more highly touted US former Bantam aged players. But with
the additions Honeybaked made this year to their roster, Borgula was
pushed down the depth chart a bit (removed from the top powerplay
unit). Borgula is really strong on his edges and it makes him highly
effective East/West for a smaller player. Did score a goal in the
National Championship game.
Thomas Neu –
Forward – Compuware 15U
Neu is a power forward
with a real well rounded skill set who also wears a letter for
Compuware, who had an early exit at the National Championships after
a shootout loss to the eventual runners up, Florida Alliance. Neu
plays a game that is tailored perfectly to the OHL and could be
someone who hears his name called relatively early.
Chris O'Flaherty –
Forward – CYA 15U
Chicago Mission get all
the attention out of Illinois usually, but CYA (Chicago Young
Americans) had a terrific season and O'Flaherty was the straw that
stirred the drink for them. Had a breakout performance at Nationals,
where his 5 goals led the tournament and CYA lost in a shootout to
eventual champions Honeybaked. This kid is one of the better goal
scorers available from the United States this year.
Michael Burchill –
Forward – Compuware 15U
Highly quick center was
one of the top players for Compuware this year along with the
previously mentioned Thomas Neu. Burchill's first step quickness is a
real asset and it makes him extremely dangerous leading the attack.
This is definitely a potential top two line player in the OHL should
he commit.
Connor Brown –
Forward – Florida Alliance 15U
Quickly becoming a
powerhouse program in the U.S., Florida Alliance was runner up at
this year's National Championships and Brown was the star of that
team. A highly intelligent center, Brown is probably not the kind of
dynamic skater you like to see from a 5'9 forward, but you can't
argue with his results. He was a star in the shootout at Nationals.
Trey Wandall - Forward - Florida Alliance 15U
Wandall, a strong playmaking winger, was Brown's running mate in Florida this year and is someone who is terrific in puck protection situations. Only 5'10, but he's already strong on the puck and shows the kind of tenacity and energy you like to see from a strong supporting character. Shockingly not drafted in Phase I of the USHL Draft, so perhaps he has his eyes set on the OHL.
Nicholas Fascia –
Defense – North Jersey Avalanche 16U
If he commits to the
OHL, Fascia would likely be considered one of the better defense
prospects available this year. Strong two-way defender with good
mobility and no glaring weaknesses. Was at the NTDP evaluation camp
but did not make the final roster. Won a National championship
alongside Musty at the U16 level, consistently standing out against
many players a year older.
Sean Smith –
Defense – Honeybaked 15U
Big (6'1, 180lbs),
physical stay at home defender was an anchor for the Honeybaked
program this year. His skating will need to improve, but he really
defends well down low and is a difficult player to match up against.
One of the main reasons that Honeybaked was able to take home a
National Championship.
Jack Willson –
Defense – Honeybaked 15U
Smaller, but
competitive defender who was the anchor of Honeybaked's powerplay.
Willson is a terrific skater who often carves up open ice and has the
skill and vision to be a top notch facillitator. Wilson was one of
the highest scoring blueliners at the National Championships this
year.
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