Thoughts on Niagara and Mississauga from October 16

Went down to the Hershey Centre last night to check out the Dogs and Majors. Once bitter rivals, the bite between these two Central Division teams has left the building. When the Majors first moved to the Hershey Centre and the Dogs left for Niagara, you'd be hard pressed to find a more intense match up. But as one reader pointed out in comments not long ago, the bitterness among these two teams has long since dissipated. With only a handful of players still around from before the switch, the rivalry seems long forgotten.

This game was a real testament to that, for the majority. Definitely not the prettiest game to watch. Lacked any real energy for the first half of the game, especially from the IceDogs. There were some fisticuffs at the end of the game, but that was more to do with a cheap shot by Johnson Andrews than anything else. Possibly a little frustration from what appeared to be a lifeless IceDog team.

Perhaps the Dogs were tired after their longwinded shootout victory over Owen Sound the night before, because only a handful of their players showed any giddy-up at all. The lack of energy from their end really allowed the Majors to dictate the pace of play for the majority of the game. Of note, the IceDogs powerplay is particularly atrocious and almost frustrating to watch. They really miss Alex Pietrangelo and Drew Schiestel on the back end. Not one of the many different powerplay combinations could generate much of anything for the Dogs, including the ol' fashioned five forward powerplay unit (which I'm completely against using). This team is sitting at under 6 percent right now for their powerplay unit, that's by far the lowest in the league. With only 3 powerplay goals all year, the Dogs are close to giving up as many shorthanded markers (2) as they've scored powerplay goals. That right there is the definition of a struggling unit. It's almost as if the Dogs would prefer other teams didn't take penalties against them so that play could remain five on five. The other thing I've noticed as far as the Dogs go is the breaking up of the DeSousa/Friesen/Agozzino line in order to try and spread the wealth offensively. That line was performing so well and really dictating the pace of play. While spreading the wealth and getting production from your other lines is important, so is scoring goals. I'd much prefer the Dogs keeping that line together and pressure the secondary units to step up their game. One line working well together is better than 4 lines working averagely. Plus that aforementioned "mini" forward line really set the pace of games. They tired out opposing defenses and really brought energy to the ice and this is something the Dogs lacked tonight. It'll be interesting to see how the Dogs handle the struggling Sudbury Wolves (losers of 6 in a row) today at home.

As for the Majors, they played a really strong game. Defensively, the effort was tremendous. Chris Carrozzi didn't have to do a whole heck of a lot tonight, as the Dogs were kept to the outside for the majority of the game. I really think this team is one really solid offensive forward away from being a serious OHL contender. Getting Gregg Sutch back in a week or two shoudln't hurt.

Here are some thoughts on individual players...

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors




Tim Billingsley (PHX)
I think Billingsley is really starting to come around again. This is the third time I've seen him this season and he's gotten better each time. I think the background of my disappointment with Billingsley is that I remember how promising he looked in his first two years in the league, as a somewhat hard-nosed two way rearguard. Last year was a huge step backward for him, but he seems to be slowly putting it back together. I think the key for him is keeping things simple with the puck, like he did tonight. He's not a blessed puck mover so as long as he can make smart decisions with the puck and not rush movement up ice, he can limit his turnovers. Last night he actually laid a few nice hits too, which is an element that has been absent in Billingsley's game of recent times. He needs to play that way in order to be successful defensively. I think Dave Cameron has to be happy with Billingsley's progression this year too since he actually received some powerplay time tonight and didn't look out of place either.

Brett Flemming (WSH)
Good to see Brett back on defense after he was up at forward the last time I saw him play. Glad to see that experiment over. He's back paired with Cameron Gaunce on the Majors top defensive unit and I continue to be impressed with his play. His best asset is his mobility which he uses to play both ends of the ice. Made several nice rushes up ice tonight. He also used his speed to make a solid play at the defensive end. Turnover at the blueline led to a breakaway by Andrew Shaw, but Flemming caught up to him and forced him to a somewhat weak backhand attempt. It was good on him to not take a penalty on the play, but to play Shaw clean (although how much damage would an IceDog powerplay do anyway?) Was somewhat disappointed by the fact that he saw little powerplay time though. He finished the game a solid +2.

Casey Cizikas (NYI)
Thought he played a pretty solid game. As always, he was active on the penalty kill and I like the fact that he's starting to show a bit of grit to his game (saw his fight against Matt Clark recently). He's been more consistent this year in playing active and going to the net with and without the puck. He scored on a very nice tip in of William Wallen's point shot. Cizikas finished with a goal and an assist.

Jordan Mayer (2010, but 1991 born)
I'm always impressed by Jordan Mayer. He's definitely one of the elite skating forwards in the OHL. He can turn on the jets and really blow by an opposing defense. I like his fearless attitude too. Not the biggest, but he works hard in the corners and is active near the crease. Corey Bureau's third period goal was all Mayer. He drove hard into the offensive zone, came up with the puck, kept possession and found Bureau at the side of the net for the nice finish. His speed and work ethic really do wonders to confuse opposing teams defenses. As one of the youngest players eligible for the draft last year, here's hoping NHL teams have taken note of his progression this season.

Devante Smith-Pelly (2010)
Even though he was held off the scoresheet, I thought Smith-Pelly was the most impressive Majors forward on the night. Not always a consistent point producer, I don't think it's long before he starts hitting the stat line consistently. I really liked the newly formed Smith-Pelly/Cizikas/Wallen line. The thing I like about Smith-Pelly is that he plays bigger than he actually is. Only average sized, he generates a lot of power in his skating stride and it makes him very hard to contain on the rush. At times I've questioned his offensive ceiling and overall skill set, but I'm starting to believe it's more a matter of confidence with the puck on his stick. He showed a couple highlight reel moves tonight, one as he got past the Dogs defenseman with some nifty puckhandling, but couldn't get a serious scoring chance out of it. I think we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg with Smith-Pelly.

Cameron Gaunce (COL)
Cameron Gaunce was typical Cameron Gaunce tonight. Steady as he goes. Gaunce is almost always a solid two way defender who makes smart decisions with the puck. Sometimes he gets himself in trouble when he tries to do too much, like one turnover he had at the blueline that nearly led to an odd man rush. Not the most blessed stick handler you'll see, he's better when he relies on his on ice vision to make quick plays, rather than trying to play the puck possession game (part of the reason why the Gaunce/Flemming pairing works so well IMO). Gaunce can absolutely wire it from the back end too, scoring on a nice hard point shot in the first period. I also like the added physicality to his game this year. Always a criticism against Gaunce, it appears hes working on becoming more of a physical threat.

Chris Carrozzi (ATL)
Carrozzi was solid when he had to be tonight. Wasn't really tested a whole lot, but when he was he was up to the occasion. Made a nice save by sliding over to hug the post on the Andrew Shaw breakaway attempt. Made a couple second chance saves on goal mouth scrambles by standing his ground. One such occurrence happened because of Carrozzi's poor clear of the puck which led directly to a turnover and a couple scoring chances, but none of Niagara's forwards were able to get the puck over his pads. Carrozzi has always been a really steady goalie who doesn't necessarily wow you, but who won't lose the game for you either. It'll be interesting to see what happens as the season goes on. Whether the Majors keep Carrozzi to continue to split time with J.P. Anderson, or whether they trade him to one of the teams looking for a starting goaltender (ala Windsor). He made 22 saves for the shutout victory.

Niagara IceDogs





Alex Friesen (2010 but 1991 born)
Friesen has really taken steps forward this year. He's learned to use his speed to generate offensive opportunities and has a lot more confidence in carrying the puck into the zone. In a way, he's a very similar player to Mississauga's Jordan Mayer. Friesen was one of the few IceDogs who looked like they were actually tying tonight, but he often got swallowed by the Majors defense as he entered the zone. It'll be interesting to see if his steps forward this season earn him NHL draft attention.

Chris DeSousa (2010, but 1990 born)
This year is DeSousa's last chance at being drafted and he's playing like he wants it. I thought he was Niagara's best forward tonight. Not the greatest skater in the world (which can spell trouble for smaller players at the next level), DeSousa uses solid strength and positioning to get by defenders. It almost felt like he was all by himself out there, as he'd do well to get puck possession in the offensive zone, but receive no support from it. I think he's got a real nose for the puck too and has a pretty high level of hockey sense. Once the Alex Pietrangelo situation is cleared up, I'd be surprised if DeSousa wasn't the next IceDog captain (should Petro not return).

Matt Petgrave (2010)
I continue to see a lot of potential in this kid. He's not really putting up points right now, but I think it'll be really interesting to see what he does at the end of the year. An OHL rookie who played AAA last year, Petgrave is still going through some growing pains. He still turns the puck over in the offensive zone by making poor decisions. He still takes himself out of position going for the big hit. But, you can see the potential in him. The way he skates the puck up ice. The way he reads plays offensively. I'd love to see him get more playing time on the powerplay. It's pretty obvious that the PP isn't working as it is, so why not give Petgrave a chance on the first unit, so that he can develop his skills and get some experience.

Petteri Simila (MTL)
I thought Simila was outstanding tonight. The Dogs have been really blessed to get the quality of goaltending they have been getting so far this season. If not for Simila, this game could have been 6 or 7 nothing. You'd be blind to not notice his size on the ice, at 6'6 he's a behemoth goaltender. But I like the way he challenges shooters and makes himself even bigger. Often times you'll see big goaltenders stay deep in their net, but I like to see them stay aggressive and come right out to the top of the blue ice. He takes away the bottom of the net really well and controls the rebounds from his pads, directing them to the corner. Like some big goaltenders, I do think he needs to work on his lateral mobility. On two of the goals tonight he got beat going side to side (the Lopes SH goal, and the Corey Bureau goal). A skating and strength coach should help him improve his overall agility. He made 38 of 42 saves and took the loss.

Anyone else see the game?

Thoughts on Niagara and Mississauga from October 1

The first game of the year from my "10 Games You've Got to Watch." Tonight the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors came to the small ice in St. Catharines to play the Niagara IceDogs. These two teams have long been bitter rivals, with the rivalry increasing when the Majors moved to the Hershey Centre a few years back.

Amazingly enough, this game didn't have a single fighting major. But that doesn't mean it was without penalties! There were a grand total of 16 powerplays tonight, the Majors receiving 10 of them. However, it was not enough to beat the Dogs who overcame a shot disadvantage of 52-24 to beat the Majors by a score of 4 to 2.

It's been a tough week so far for the Majors. First they got bumped from the CHL Mastercard Top 10 Rankings. Today they learned that Overager and Los Angeles Kings draft selection Michael Pelech would not be returning to the club this season (confirmation here). And finally tonight they got beat by the Dogs, despite heavily outshooting them.

Despite the heavily inflated shot totals, I felt that the Dogs outplayed the Majors tonight. The vast majority of the Majors' shots came from outside. A lot of weak shots and attempts to just put the puck on net. As solid as Ice Dogs goaltender Mark Visentin was tonight, he really only had to make a few difficult saves. It's not that the Majors weren't getting into traffic areas and creating offense, it's just that they had a hard time manufacturing serious scoring chances. The Dogs on the other hand made the most out of their scoring opportunities and did a good job on the cycle to give themselves room to shoot. It was generally a solid effort for the Dogs tonight, who are likely a better team than their 1-2-1 record heading into the game would indicate.

One thing that confused me for the Majors was the movement of defenseman Brett Flemming to forward. Originally I thought the Majors were playing with 7 defenseman and 11 forwards, but then I realized Flemming was indeed skating as a winger (mostly on a line with William Wallen and Jordan Mayer). Flemming is usually a player who impresses me with his speed and puck rushing ability from the back end, and I felt like the life was sucked out of him tonight. He just wasn't visible or effective as a forward and I don't understand why he was moved there. I also thought that they missed his speed and puck rushing ability from the back end. The Majors are usually a deadly team off the rush and in the transition game, but they struggled in that aspect tonight. Most of their scoring opportunities came from winning battles through cycling. If he was moved due to a logjam on the blueline, it's still a bit of a head scratcher for me, considering that guys like Josh McFadden and David Corrente are nowhere near the talent Flemming is.

Anyway, here are some of my general thoughts on player performances...

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors






Tim Billingsley (PHX)
Last time I reported on the Majors, I was pretty hard on Billingsley. He played a solid game tonight though. Billingsley played a simple and smart game and didn't try to do anything outside of his skill set. He took the body well and did a solid job off the rush in staying with his man and keeping him to the outside. I'd still like to see him play more physical, because I've seen him with a bit of a mean streak before, but as long as he can play a strong positional game defensively, he's fine. On the negative side, I'm still not quite sure he has the composure with the puck to advance to an NHL career.

Brett Flemming (WSH)
As I mentioned, he skated as a forward 5 on 5 tonight. He played the point on the powerplay though. Not much to say that wasn't said above. As a forward he wasn't very effective.

Casey Cizikas (NYI)
Cizikas didn't have the greatest of games. He had a couple nice moments in the offensive zone and still did a good job on the penalty kill, but he didn't play as aggressive as a style as he usually does. He usually skates hard and puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team, but he was fairly invisible tonight. Considering the solid start Cizikas has had to the season, tonight's performance was an anomaly for Cizikas (and likely most of the Majors players). He finished with an assist.

Joseph Cramarossa (2011)
Late 1992 birthday, Cramarossa was flying tonight. He hit everything in sight. He laid one really nice check on Reggie Traccitto as he tried to carry the puck over the red line. He did a good job by putting pressure on the Niagara puck carrier and looks to have some offensive potential. I can't help but think that Cramarossa will develop into a fan favourite in Mississauga.

Jordan Mayer (2010, but 1991 born)
The more I watch the Majors (and Mayer), the more I think I'm realizing that the Majors offense runs through the speedy Mayer. He was one of the only Majors players who generated serious scoring chances tonight. He's got great wheels and he's really elusive on the ice. Despite being undersized, he doesn;t get pushed around. For his first goal, he showcased great hands in close by tipping the point shot beautifully and chipping his rebound over Visentin's pads. On his second goal he eluded the Niagara defenseman and took it to the net, shoveling it in between Visentin's pads and the post. Using his skating ability and fearless attitude, Mayer is not only one to watch for the Majors this year, but for June's NHL draft too. He finished with 2 goals.

Cameron Gaunce (COL)
Gaunce was solid tonight. As usual, he played a very quietly effective game. He doesn't make any plays that make you say "WOW," but he doesn't have to because he makes the smart choices at both ends of the ice. He runs the powerplay very effectively (and often plays the full two minutes), using his hard, low point shot to create scoring chances off his rebounds. Gaunce also picks his times to pinch in and/or rush the puck into the offensive zone very well. He increased the amount he was rushing as the game went on and as his team needed to gain entry into the offensive zone. Defensively he's generally a rock, although you'd always like to see him use his size to push people around. I'm pulling for him to get an invite to the Canadian WJC camp. He finished the game with 2 assists.

J.P. Anderson (2010)
Anderson didn't have the greatest of games. But he didn't have a lot of help either, with Niagara's goals coming off some nice individual skill efforts. The only goal I'm sure he'd love to have back was Niagara's first by Alex Friesen, which was a slapper that squeezed between his arm and body. He got pulled entering the third period after giving up 4 goals on 17 shots. His exit from the game was more a tactic to try and jump start the team by Dave Cameron, than it was punishment for poor play (at least in my opinion). Another performance you have to consider an anomaly.

Niagara IceDogs






Alex Friesen (2010, but 1991 born)
Where is the Alex Friesen from last season? The one who could use his speed to create scoring chances, but who couldn't finish them off. To his credit, he was fairly snake bitten too. I've never seen a player hit as many posts or get robbed by a nice save as many times as Friesen did last season. This year, he's capitalizing on his scoring chances and he's using his speed to create scoring chances for his teammates. He's also doing a lot more of the dirty work on the ice and is much more active on the cycle. This added aggressive aspect to his game has really elevated it to the next level. I hope he can continue to be as dynamic of a player as the season goes on. He finished the game with 2 goals and 2 assists.

Freddie Hamilton (2010)
Hamilton is a solid two way center. I really like the effort he gives defensively. He's also a good skater and does a good job of leading the rush into the zone as the center of the team's second line. Obviously you'd like to see him hit the score sheet more than he has, but if he continues to play a solidly efficient game, the points will come.

Chris DeSousa (2010, but 1990 born)
Like Friesen, DeSousa is off to a great start this season. Unlike Friesen, DeSousa is simply carrying over his solid play from last season when he scored 33 goals. Undersized, but not lacking heart. DeSousa grinds it out on the ice, outworking his opposition for the puck. He's got a really good head for the game too. He's a guy who can play in any situation and who really seems to find himself magnetically attracted to the puck. I only wish he was a slightly better skater, otherwise he'd be a shoe in for a professional career. He finished the game with 1 goal and 2 assists.

Andrew Agozzino (2010, but 1991 born)
We really need to come up with a solid nickname for the Dogs first line of Friesen, DeSousa and Agozzino. All of them are undersized, but they make up for it with hard work and a fair amount of skill. Agozzino was the quietest of the three tonight, but scored an absolute beauty of a goal. Friesen, from behind the net, passed the puck to him at the corner of the net near the circle and he absolutely roofed it short side on Anderson. Agozzino had a tiny hole to get it through with Anderson playing it more standing, and he just buried it. Great goal. It was his only point of the night.

Dougie Hamilton (2011)
The brother of Freddie, Dougie is a very solid defenseman. The Dogs 2nd rounder of this year, Hamilton is incredibly talented and looks to be one of the better OHL defenseman of the 1993 birth crop. He's got great size at 6'3 (and likely still growing) and is already playing a top 4 role for the Dogs. He controls the point on the powerplay, he makes good decisions with the puck and he's quietly effective defensively. Definitely an early player to watch for the 2011 NHL Draft. He finished with an assist.

Mark Visentin (2010)
What a difference a year makes. Visentin looked absolutely over matched in the OHL last season as an OHL rookie, but this year he's emerged as the team's number one netminder. A lot more composed in net, Visentin used to be prone to stretches of poor concentration. He'd play solid, then give up two real stinkers in a short period of time. This year, he seems to be a lot more confident in net. He's doing a way better job of controlling his rebounds too. A very impressive performance for him tonight, stopping 50 of 52 shots for the win. On the downside, he still needs to work on his glove. Nearly any goal that beats him, are ones glove side and he still seems to have a hard time holding on to pucks that enter his mitt. Maybe the Dogs should get him playing baseball.

That's it folks. Anyone else at the game with thoughts on either side?

Thoughts on Mississauga and Brampton from September 18

I TiVo'd this one on the weekend and was recently able to watch it. Nothing like a good ol' fashioned battle of Peel (the district that both teams lie in). It was a chippy game that saw a lot of back and forth action. There weren't an abundance of scoring chances for either side, but it was still an exiting game due to the high tempo of play. The Majors ended up taking it by a score of 3-2. Brampton looked a lot better than I figured they would against the Majors. As the season goes on and their young players get better and more comfortable, they could end up making more of a playoff push than people imagine.

Thoughts on both sides...

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors






Tim Billingsley (PHX)
He's going to have to play a lot better than that if he wants to earn a contract from Phoenix. All last year, Billingsley struggled, failing to show the level of potential he did in his first two seasons. I'm sure the Majors expected him to right his ship, but if this game is any indication, he's going to have another long year. Not the biggest defender, Billingsley was once a physical defender. Now, he seems passive and unwilling to engage physically. I saw him win maybe one or two battles along the boards the entire night. He's also careless with the puck, giving it away on several occasions due to poor reads. He's a good skater and he shows glimpses of a greater capability, but he really needs to get his act together. The pairing of he and David Corrente (who was even worse than Billingsley) was a disaster for the Majors tonight. Me thinks that Dave Cameron won't be keeping that one together much longer.

Brett Flemming (WSH)
Flemming was probably the Majors best defenseman tonight. He's an elite skater who uses that ability to play a solid two way game. He can rush the puck up ice and does a good job of establishing his teams offensive tempo. He also uses his closing speed to break up plays defensively, and does a good job on man to man coverage. On the downside tonight, he did have a couple of bad turnovers due to poor decisions on when to rush the puck. If he's able to pick his spots better, he'll obviously limit those mistakes. The first pairing of he and Cameron Gaunce are going to see a lot of ice time for the Majors this year.

Casey Cizikas (NYI)
Cizikas is looking to turn over a new leaf this year after a forgetful 2008-09 season. He and Jordan Mayer were the two best Majors forwards tonight. Cizikas is especially effective on the penalty kill where he uses his great speed to forecheck the opposition. Kept the puck in the Battalion end for around 20 seconds on one PK occasion. He also forced a turnover that lead to a 2 on 1 (and a poor finish by Dustin Ekelman on a great pass from Cizikas). Five on five he was a factor as well. His 2nd period goal ended up being the game winner, after he took a pass from Blake Parlett in the slot, made a defender miss and roofed it top shelf on Patrick Killeen. His ability to make plays at top speed is definitely impressive. I think he really establishes himself as solid OHL player and NHL prospect this season. Cizikas finished the game with a goal.

Jordan Mayer (2010, 1991 born)
Jordan Mayer would have definitely been the most impressive player on the ice, had he not faded a bit into the third period. But he brought a ton of energy tonight through the first two periods, crashing, banging, dangling, and scoring. He's an excellent skater with explosive acceleration and flew by Brampton defenders on a few occasions. He was active on the forecheck, won battles in the corners and laid a few really nice hits. On top of this, he created several solid scoring chances off his speed and ability to stickhandle through the defense, finishing one of these off by going five hole on Patrick Killeen for the Majors second goal of the game. While undersized, if Mayer can develop into a sandpaper type offensive spark plug, he could eventually get NHL consideration down the line. Mayer finished with a goal.

William Wallen (2010, 1991 born)
Wallen didn't have a very good game. The only times he was really visible was when he coughed the puck up in the offensive zone. He tried to do too much with it himself on a few occasions and this led to odd man rushes for the Battalion. The Majors are going to need him to step up offensively this year, especially if they continue to play him on the top line with Casey Cizikas.

Devante Smith-Pelly (2010)
Smith-Pelly is a solid crash and bang forward. He was very active on the forecheck and is exceptional along the boards. While he's not overly big, he is strong and rarely fails to win a loose puck battle in the corner. Because of this, he's a very valuable player on the cycle. He's also a fairly good skater who seems to like creating offensive off the rush, putting the puck on net with a hard slapper down the wing on several occasions. I think it's a bit up in the air as to how high his offensive ceiling is, but he's a player who should get drafted come June.

Cameron Gaunce (COL)
Gaunce did not have his best game tonight. He seemed to have a lot of trouble out there, especially with the puck, which is highly uncommon for him. The puck was bouncing on him a lot and he gave it a way on a couple of occasions. Just not sure his head was in this one. On the positive, he does appear to be playing more physical, which is a plus. However, some of that could have been frustration due to his lackluster play tonight. Take this performance as worth a grain of salt.

J.P. Anderson (2010)
He was solid between the pipes for the Majors tonight. Big things are expected of Anderson this year after his incredible playoff performance last year. He's an undersized goaltender, but he plays a lot bigger than he is. He always get square to the shooter and he's aggressive on challenging and cutting down the angles. He controls his rebounds well too. One thing I really like about Anderson is the somewhat hybrid style that he plays. As a small goaltender, going fully towards the butterfly can be dangerous as you expose the top half of the net and make it harder for you to control the rebounds off high shots. Anderson will sometimes stand up for high shots, rather than drop to the butterfly, making it easier for him to trap the rebound, and to take away more of the net. He's got a real handle on his position, and lack of size be darned, I'd say he deserves first round consideration in June. Anderson stopped 27 of 29 for the win, and he had little chance on either of the two goals against.

Brampton Battalion







Cameron Wind (2010)
Really liked what I saw of Wind tonight. He saw little ice and game time as a rookie last season, but he's got a much larger role this season. He has good size at 6'1, 200lbs, but he moves well for a big defenseman. He seemed calm and composed with the puck, usually opting to make the safe play. I say usually because he turned the puck over twice when he tried to force plays up ice. When he made the simple play, or when he carried it up himself, he was a lot more effective. He was also impressive in getting his hard, low point show through to the net. Looks like Stan Butler has some confidence in him too, as with the Battalion trailing in the last minute, Wind was on the point following a time out. Defensively he was solid too. Hard to get around one on one, won the battles in the corners, was physical. Seems to be a player who could have NHL draft potential. Wind finished the night +2.

Philip Lane (2010)
Held off the scoresheet, but not because of poor play. Lane was a factor all night. He seems like a really complete offensive player. Solid skater (although not tremendous), who was active on the forecheck and forced several turnovers (one off Brett Flemming). He was physical and laid a huge hit on Majors rookie Joseph Cramarossa. He drives hard to the net with the puck on his stick. Lane just couldn't finish off any of his offensive opportunities. If he keeps playing like this, the offense will come for the somewhat under the radar Rochester native.

Sam Carrick (2010)
Carrick had a solid game. He's not a flashy player but he's a hard working centerman who contributes at both ends of the ice. Offensively, Carrick was excellent on the cycle and the forecheck and showed some good bursts of speed as he closed in on the puck carrier. Defensively he was solid and was often the first forward back for Brampton. He played very well on the penalty kill and also had a good game in the face off circle. Seems like a really solid two-way center, who despite not having great size, could be an effective NHL'er down the line. Carrick finished with an assist.

Dominic Alberga (2010)
Another of the Battalion rookies, Alberga played a solid game. He was aggressive and showed a desire to drive to the net. He was physical and active in the corners for loose pucks. He also showed some solid glimpses of offensive ability, especially while on a line with Philip Lane. We'll see how he progresses as the season goes along.

Barclay Goodrow (2011)
The Battalion 2009 first rounder and there preseason leading scorer, Goodrow was impressive. He's a really big kid who's stronger than your average 16 year old rookie. He was constantly in the crease trying to disrupt J.P. Anderson and he showed some grit in getting into a few after the whistle altercations. His skating looks like it could use some work, in particular his acceleration. But it's always tough to determine skating ability on t.v. He looks like he'll be a factor for the Battalion this year offensively and could end up having a really solid rookie campaign.

Patrick Killeen (PIT)
Much like Tim Billingsley, Killeen needs to have a good year in order to earn a contract from the Penguins. With Thomas McCollum gone, the starting position is Killeen's to lose. He played a really solid game against the Majors. Already a big goalie, Killeen makes himself even bigger by challenging shooters and cutting off angles. He has pretty good mobility for a goaltender of his size too. He did a great job of keeping the Battalion in the game in the third period by closing the door. He still needs to work on his rebound control though as he can tend to give up some juicy ones, in particular on low shots. He made 25 of 28 shots and took the loss.

That's it for that game and wraps up my thoughts on the first weekend of the season. Comments? Questions?

Sunday Top 10 - Performers of the Preseason

With the OHL Preseason concluding today, only two games lie in the way of the start of the 2009-10 season. While the preseason itself can often be misleading in terms of predicting success (due to various reasons), that doesn't mean that strong performances from players and teams should go without notice.

First let's take a look at the nearly final preseason standings for 2009-10 (minus the 2 games today)...

EAST
1. Barrie Colts 5-0
2. Peterborough Petes 3-2
3. Niagara IceDogs 2-0-2
4. Mississauga Majors 3-1-1
5. Ottawa 67's 2-2-1
6. Kingston Frontenacs 2-2
7. Oshawa Generals 2-2
8. Brampton Battalion 2-3
9. Belleville Bulls 1-2
10. Sudbury Wolves 0-6

WEST
1. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-0
2. Kitchener Rangers 4-1
3. Windsor Spitfires 3-2
4. London Knights 3-2
5. Erie Otters 1-1-2
6. Guelph Storm 2-3
7. Plymouth Whalers 2-3
8. Saginaw Spirit 1-3
9. Sarnia Sting 1-4
10. Owen Sound Attack 0-4-1

It's great to see Barrie and Sault Ste. Marie playing so well. Barrie absolutely demolished opponents in the preseason, outscoring them 33-13. That's 6.6 goals per game. I mean, I knew Barrie was going to have an explosive offense this year, but that's outrageous. Sault Ste. Marie got it done at the other end, keeping teams to 11 goals against. The Hounds have a really great defense this year and could really surprise some people. On the negative side, you have to wonder what's going on in Sudbury and Owen Sound; the only teams to go winless in the preseason. Bigger things are expected of them this year so they've got to get their act together.

Now on to today's top 10. If you hadn't guessed already, I'll be profiling the top 10 performers of the 2009 Preseason. There were A LOT to choose from. Many players stepped up their game, including a lot of younger players in larger roles.

One thing I would like to mention is how difficult it was to gather all the stats of the preseason. The QMJHL keeps up to date stats for the preseason, just as they would the regular season. I fail to see why the OHL can not do the same. Checking game recaps on team sites can be quite time consuming, especially considering some teams do a better job of reporting (Mississauga) than others (Barrie). So with that, please keep in mind that the stats I'm going to give you are completely unofficial.

Let's see em...

10. Taylor Carnevale and Michael Sgarbossa - Barrie Colts
As previously mentioned, Barrie's offense was firing on all cylinders this preseason. These two were right in the thick of it. Both finished with 4 goals and at least 1 assist. Carnevale was very solid after coming over from Oshawa last year, while Sgarbossa put in an even better rookie season after being selected in the third round of the 2008 Priority Draft. Barrie's offense is already stacked, and if these two can continue their strong play into the regular season, Barrie is going to be able to ice three lethal scoring lines every night. Nevermind the question marks about the team's defense. If they score 6.6 per game, it's lights out.

9. Thomas Nesbitt - Ottawa 67's
With Logan Couture and Thomas Kiriakou gone, and Corey Cowick injured (and possibly gone), the 67's badly need a secondary scorer to step up this season. Nesbitt, a 20 goal scorer last year, did that in the preseason. He lead the team with 5 goals and 1 assist and looks poised for an even bigger break out season than he had last year when he increased his goal production from 9 to 23. Nesbitt also happens to be one of the teams best defensive forwards, thus with increased offensive production, he should have no trouble filling the shoes of a guy like Thomas Kiriakou.

8. Nick Esposto - Oshawa Generals
As a rookie last season, this 1991 born winger had an unspectacular year. The former 4th round pick finished the year with 7 goals and 14 points. This preseason, Esposto has nearly surpassed that mark in only 4 games. With 5 goals, Esposto has paced the Generals offense and looks poised to have a serious breakout season. With the return of goal scorer Brett Parnham (either to pro or another OHL team) in doubt, having a sophomore like Esposto step up will be essential to the Generals getting back to the playoffs.

7. Barclay Goodrow - Brampton Battalion
The 17th overall selection of the 2009 OHL Priority Draft, Goodrow has quite possibly been Brampton's best forward this preseason. He leads the team with 5 goals and is showing no effects of transition troubles from the York Simcoe Express to the OHL. The 6'3, 210lbs winger certainly has the size for the league. If Brampton is going to compete for a playoff spot without Hodgson, Grachev, and Duchene, they are going to need young players like Goodrow to step up.

6. Jordan Mayer and Devante Smith-Pelly - Mississauga Majors
Don't you hate when I cheat like this? Now it's a top 12, not a top 10! And in case you didn't notice, the Mississauga Majors are currently the 5th ranked team in the CHL according to the Mastercard CHL Top 10 for Week 1. Mayer and Smith-Pelly were both solid players for the Majors last season, however they were never consistently involved offensively. The 1991 born Mayer and 1992 born Smith-Pelly are both former first round selections in the Priority Draft and will need to become consistent offensive producers this season. And they have done just that in the preseason, with 3 goals and 3 assists each.

5. Bryce O'Hagan - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
When the Greyhounds drafted Robin Lehner in the Import draft this year, I think it raised a lot of red flags to people regarding what they thought of Bryce O'Hagan. Not without talent, O'Hagan did not have a good season last year. The still highly thought of prospect was vastly inconsistent, even if he did get blistered with shots night in and night out. This preseason, O'Hagan looked to prove to the team that he is a number one netminder. With Lehner away at the Senators camp, O'Hagan took over earning the teams final 4 victories. This includes a shutout of the Sudbury Wolves in the Hounds final preseason game. With a solid defense and great goaltending, the Hounds could be a team to watch out for this season.

4. Michael Whaley - Windsor Spitfires
I implore you to tell me where the Spits keep finding these guys. Whaley, the clubs 13th round selection in the 2009 Priority Draft, has been the most impressive 1993 born player in the preseason. He's done it all for Windsor, scoring, playmaking, blocking shots, playing both ways, fighting. The diminutive winger from London (ironic eh?) has scored 3 goals and added 4 assists in the preseason and has forced himself on to the Spits roster for the coming season. Even if he's not likely to continue this pace in the regular season, you have to commend him for his efforts and remember him as a name to watch.

3. Tim Campbell - Guelph Storm
An OHL rookie last season, this 1991 born defenseman played a relatively small role for the Storm. This season he's looking for a bigger role and I think he's earned it. With 3 goals and 6 assists in the preseason, Campbell has led the Storm in scoring and looks poised for a mega breakout season. He may be the smallest guy on their mammoth blueline, but he's got a chance to make the biggest impact.

2. Richard Panik - Windsor Spitfires
Every bit as advertised thus far, Panik has been a beast for the Spitfires. He's paced the team with 3 goals and 5 assists and looks to be an impact OHL player in similar fashion to the way Evgeni Grachev was last year. The Slovakian winger will step right into a top 6 role on the Spits and at this point, has to be considered a front runner for the Emms Family Award (Top Rookie). Check out this beauty of a goal he scored the other night against Sarnia. Shades of Rick Nash.


1. Jeff Skinner - Kitchener Rangers
He has absolutely destroyed the preseason thus far. It hasn't even been fair. With 9 goals and 4 assists in 5 games, Skinner looks poised for a run at the scoring championship. His motor never stops running and he just has a nose for the net. Kitchener is going to be one heck of an enjoyable team to watch this season.


Honorable Mentions

As I said earlier, this was a hard list to make. A lot of solid performances this preseason. Here are some guys who just missed the list (organized by position and not in order)...

Goaltender
Barrie's Dalton McGrath has been very solid this preseason, earning at least three of the teams victories. McGrath is coming off an excellent season in Junior A and has the potential to push Peter Di Salvo for starts as the season goes on.

Defense
While Tim Campbell's been stealing the spotlight in Guelph, the newly acquired Adam Comrie has been great too. He's got 4 goals in the preseason and looks poised to breakout offensively. Comrie has one of the most lethal point shots in the league and I wouldn't be surprised if he pots 15 from the back end this year. Another defenseman with 4 goals this preseason is London's Steve Tarasuk. On paper, London's defense is looking pretty thin (especially with the injury to Harrington), making Tarasuk's possible emergence as an overage star important. Kitchener Rangers rookie and third overall pick Ryan Murphy has had a solid preseason with 1 goal and 3 assists. He looks like he can be an immediate contributor. Peterborough Petes defenseman Jamie Doornbosch is one of the most underrated players in the league and I'm hoping he has a solid season to enlarge his star. He had a great preseason with 3 goals and 2 assists. Another Petes defenseman, Adam Sedlak was very solid in the preseason. The Czech import had a bit of a disappointing season last year, but if his 3 goals in the preseason are any indication, he's ready to take that next step. Fresh off a solid performance at Carolina Prospect Camp, Whalers defenseman Beau Schmitz looked great with 3 goals and 2 assists in minimal games. And finally, Spitfires defenseman Cam Fowler looks to be everything he was hyped to be. With 1 goal and 5 assists, Fowler's offensive ability is undeniable.

Forward
London forward Dominic DeSando has been outstanding for the Knights this preseason. As a 1990, DeSando had yet to break into the league full time, but his 5 goals in the preseason should assure him a permanent spot. Majors rookie and former 3rd round selection Joseph Cramarossa has been great this preseason with 2 goals and 2 assists. The Majors needed some young and inexperienced guys to step up and he's one of them so far. Another guy with 2 goals and 2 assists is Peterborough Petes first rounder Matt Puempel, who looks capable of jumping right into a scoring role as a 93. Another 1993 born first rounder, Plymouth's Garrett Meurs has scored 2 goals and added 4 assists and looks to be another rookie capable of filling a scoring role. Another Plymouth rookie, Austin Mattson, has also had a great preseason. Mattson is a 1991 who played in the USHL last year and if his 3 goals in the preseason are any indication, he's a keeper. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Import Tomas Rachunek had a disappointing 2008-09 season, however he's looking to turn things around. The Hounds need him to put more pucks in the net and he did that with 3 in the preseason. Finally, even if the Sudbury Wolves are winless thus far, former first overall pick John McFarland had a solid preseason, notching 3 goals.

That's it folks. Anyone you think I missed?

Can't wait for the season to start on Thursday!

Thoughts on the Mississauga Majors from December 13

The Ice Dogs had a home and home with the Mississauga Majors this weekend, losing both games. In this one, the Dogs blew a third period lead, and gave up the game winning goal with 22 seconds left, losing 4-3. It was a relatively unexciting game, which is rare for a match up between these two rivals.

Ryan Yessie reported on the Majors last week, so it's interesting to see how our reports match up on some of the players...

Tim Billingsley - Drafted in 2008 by Phoenix/189th

I've never been terribly impressed with Billingsley. He's rather invisible on the ice and this game presented nothing different. He doesn't play a lot on the powerplay, he doesn't rush the puck up the ice, and I've always felt his physical play was overrated. Often you hear of this being a compliment to a defenseman because it means they aren't screwing up. But I don't agree. To me, players who don't stand out above their competition at this level scream average to me. And while he made strides offensively last season, which likely earned him a draft selection, he's still pointless this season. Quite frankly, as harsh as it sounds, I don't see him as a significant professional player, if at all.

Brett Flemming - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

Was very impressive, I thought. Showed a really solid skating ability, in particular defensively. Moves around effortlessly on the ice and had a couple nice rushes into the offensive zone. Played on the top powerplay unit with Cameron Gaunce and these two showed pretty good chemistry. On the powerplay, Flemming was able to get the puck on net a few times with a good low shot. He also made one really nice slap pass to Jesse Messier who fanned on the shot attempt. If it was a more skilled player, it probably would have been in the back of the net, no offense to Messier. Defensively he didn't make any mistakes, nor did he look undersized at 5'11. I think this guy is definitely going to be an NHL draft pick come June, as I've been impressed with his play in every game I've seen of him this season.

Casey Cizikas - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

I'm not sure what to make of this guy. Everytime I've seen him this season, he's impressed me greatly. But I keep hearing a lot of negative things about him, regarding his skill and effort level. So I looked, and Cizikas actually has over half his points this season against Niagara. Maybe that explains it! Regardless, I can only comment on what I've seen. Cizikas was all over the ice tonight. Showed great speed carrying the puck into the offensive zone. Was the first forward into the offensive zone forechecking hard. His line of Cizikas, Rinaldo and Smith-Pelly was the most dangerous on the ice. He scored a nice shorthanded goal after taking the puck off Dog defenseman Drew Schiestel at the blueline. He was physical, in particular along the boards during the cycle. He finished the game with 2 goals and 1 assist (same stat line in an earlier game this season versus Niagara). Even if he might have consistency issues, he's got that ability to be a big factor every night if he wants to be.

Michael Pelech - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009, but 1989 born

Never been a big fan of Pelech. He's only a mediocore skater which really holds his game back, since he likes to have the puck on his stick. I find him to be a very selfish player who tends to overhandle the puck in the offensive zone. I'm not sure how many times he coughed up the puck in the game trying to gain access into the offensive zone, instead of simply dumping it in. I don't think he is a serious professional hockey prospect.

Zac Rinaldo - Drafted in 2008 by Philadelphia/178th

Rinaldo is what he is. He skates hard, he hits hard, he'll drop the gloves and he's not afraid to drive to the net. While his offensive skills aren't quite at that level that permits him to be a big factor offensively, his work ethic ensures that he is at least highly involved in the play. His line (with Cizikas and Smith-Pelly) showed a ton of grit and were highly successful in playing the puck possession/cycle game. Rinaldo does need to work on his defensive game, though. If he wants to make the NHL, he's going to have to become a 4th line sparkplug, which means that all areas of his game have to be strong. If he's a defensive liability, he's not going to get those minutes at the next level. From all things I've heard, Philly has been happy with his progress this year, especially after he opened some eyes at their prospect camp.

Jordan Mayer - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

I think that a lot of people, myself included, thought that Mayer would have been putting up better offensive stats so far this season. He became a big member of the Majors offense in the second half of last season after coming over from Tier 2 Kingston. But, those offensive numbers aren't really up from last season. He is however seing only 3rd line minutes right now, trying to provide secondary scoring for Mississauga. I did think he was very impressive in the game though. Showed a lot of speed, especially on the forecheck. Had a couple nice scoring chances too. If he were with some better offensive players (was seing a lot of time with Kyle Neuber last night), he might be putting up some better numbers.

Devante Smith-Pelly - NHL Draft Eligible in 2010

Smith-Pelly was the 8th overall pick in the 2008 priority draft and looked really good out there tonight. He was the third member of that highly effective grind line with Rinaldo and Cizikas. He looked quick on his feet and was not afraid to get his nose dirty, which is something you like to see from a 16 year old player. Strength wise, he never got overmatched either, and was able to work the cycle very effectively. Looks like he's on the way to becoming a solid prospect.

Cameron Gaunce - Drafted in 2008 by Colorado/50th

Gaunce is just a real steady defenseman. Solid in every espect of the game, but not outstanding or overwhelming in any area either. But don't associate the fact that he doesn't overwhelm you with that fact that he might be invisible. He's on the ice a ton, plays on the first powerplay and penalty killing units. He rarely gets beaten one on one, and he rarely loses a race to the puck. I think his skating and speed are a bit underrated. I've heard some people say they have concerns about his skating, but I think it's fine. He shows a willingness to lead the rush and once he gets going, his speed aids him in gaining entry to the zone. However, he also does a great job of protecting the puck with his big body. However, I do agree that he needs to improve his acceleration in order to play the role of puck rusher at the next level. The two things I always say about Gaunce are that I find he tends to fall asleep in coverage sometimes, and that I wish he was more physical with his frame. Tonight again, he was directly responsible for an Ice Dog goal where he lost Andrew Shaw infront of the net and he had an easy tap in goal off a rebound. I don't know whether it's that he's falling asleep in coverage, or whether he's reluctant to play physically and really overpower his man. Or maybe it's a combination. Gaunce was also uncharacteristically sloppy with the puck tonight too, but that's not something you normally see from him. I agree with Ryan Yessie in that I see Gaunce carving out a nice NHL career as a 4-5 defenseman who can play a little bit in all situations.

Chris Carozzi - Drafted in 2008 by Atlanta/154th

For some reason or another, I can't help but always feel underwhelmed by Carozzi. He's solid technically and always makes himself square to the shooter. His rebound control is good and he's aggressive in challenging shooters. His weakest area is definitely his five hole, as many of the goals I see scored on him are five hole. And while he doesn't have a lot of weaknesses, he's underwhelming in that I've never seen him flat out steal a game for his team. He gives his team a chance to win nearly every night, but I've never seen him turn in a dominant performance where he completely shuts the door. A lot of the time, you'll hear people say that about NHL goalies, and people will be happy with their play because while they may not be flashy, they give their team a chance to win. But in the OHL, I expect to see some of the top goalie prospects flat out steal games for their team. Some of the best goalies in the OHL like Mike Murphy, Thomas McCollum and Trevor Cann all do this. And that is what holds Carozzi back from being named at that level.

.........................................................................................................................................

On another note, I've heard that Majors forward William Wallen has started skating again and is expected to start playing again after the new year. Wallen is a solid 2009 draft prospect who suffered a brain hemorrhage after the 4th game of the season and had successful emergency surgery to fix it. The Swedish import forward is an incredibly talented offensive player whom I hope shows no ill effects of his injury and can make a full return to hockey.