Ryan Yessie's Thoughts on Several Games

Ryan returns with thoughts on several OHL teams and players...

"With only a few weeks left in the OHL season I will be busy. Not only will I be catching the remaining 7 home games in Sarnia I will be traveling to Guelph and London to catch a few road games, so expect plenty of info on the Storm and Knights to round out the season, also I may be making a trip or two to see some playoff action at one of the cities in my area. So no Sting playoffs doesn't mean no playoff action for myself in one or more of Windsor, London, Kitchener, Guelph
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I was able to catch some action on Sportsnet as well as Cogeco this afternoon January 17th. So here's just a few thoughts on a couple player performances i felt were worth noting.

John McFarland - #18 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 195lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Jan/17/10 - McFarland seemed to float a lot in this game. He made a few pretty bad plays with the puck, but seems to have some decent skating skills. Saw him last year and wasn’t overwhelmed with his talent either. Also he appeared to be more focused on getting back on defence rather than engaging in battles for the puck several times.

Marcus Foligno - #71 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 216lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 104^th Overall by Buffalo in 2009
Report: Jan/17/10 - Foligno seems focused on doing all the little things right. This may have been his issue this season in terms of producing points as he may just not have got the right bounces. That does speak well for his NHL potential as he’s likely to check in as a 3^rd line
winger anyways, but it would be nice, and would bring more confidence if he is able to start producing at the OHL level.

Ben Chiarot - #7 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 222lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 120^th Overall by Atlanta in 2009
Report: Jan/17/10 - Chiarot seems a lot more confident carrying the puck out, than he did last year. He seems content with making the smart/safe play every time, however last year when he was put under pressure he made several mistakes. He seems to be a lot more confident when handling the puck overall this year.

Sam Carrick - #16 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘0” - 188lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Carrick scored a beautiful goal while fighting off two Sting defencemen, then banging home his own rebound. It’s a “take it for what it’s worth” kinda goal for me personally because this is the 3^rd time I’ve seen Carrick play this season, and the first time he’s made a play that has impressed me.

Philip Lane - #10 - RW - YOB: 1992 - 6‘2” - 194lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Lane seemed to try to force the play a few times when it wasn’t there. He played Hard in all 3 zones. However he got away with a clear hit from behind on a Sarnia player who was already on his way down and vulnerable
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Guelph traveled to Sarnia on January 21st Sarnia put up a fight for a while but eventually it was Guelph's big 3 that put the game away in the 3rd period.

Peter Holland - #13 - C - YOB: 1991 - 6‘2” - 195lbs.
NHL: 1^st Round - 15^th Overall by Anaheim in 2009
Report: Jan/21/10 - Holland looked impressive out there, continues to be better at skating and won a few races. Holland was very responsible defensively, and good in the faceoff circle tonight. Holland contributes with an assist on the game winning goal. Again Holland doesn’t shoot as much as I’d like him to, and when he does release it, it’s an absolute laser every time I see it. If there’s one thing in his game that needs to be worked on, it’s his willingness to shoot the puck from more angles.
(Holland had 1A, 2 PIM, +2)

Michael Latta - #17 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 5‘11” - 205lbs.
NHL: 3^rd Round - 72^nd Overall by Nashville in 2009
Report: Jan/21/10 - Latta was very inconsistent tonight. At times he was good at getting involved in the play along the walls, or carrying the puck out, but then he’d disappear for about a period or so. He came out again when the game had already seen it’s winning goal, but scores the insurance marker and then an empty net goal with only seconds left to give himself 2 goals. Latta is hard to predict going forward, however he does appear to have several transferable skills to the NHL the fact that he’s under 6 ft. and inconsistent may take him a while to get to that level.
(Latta had 2G)

Taylor Beck - #19 - RW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 202lbs.
NHL: 3^rd Round - 70^th Overall by Nashville in 2009
Report: Jan/21/10 - Beck is a guy I take a little credit in picking up on. A lot of people knocked him for his skating, but personally I didn’t find it to be that much of an issue. Sure enough he’s having a breakout season this year in the OHL. Although it is his one area that needs the most work, he seems to be improving by baby steps, but hopefully they keep him in Guelph through his junior career as Guelph has an excellent skating coach, that has already done wonders with Peter Holland. The one area I actually want to see Beck improve more so than skating would be for him to add a nasty side to his game. He’s a decent checker, but if he can really get a mean streak going that would make him that much more effective in the power forward role.
(Beck had 1G, +3)

Cody McNaughton - #22 - RW - YOB: 1992 - 5‘9” - 172lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Jan/21/10 - Undersized, but with a lot of pure talent McNaughton is a bit of a disappointment to me nearing the end of his 2^nd OHL season. I really saw McNaughton as eventually becoming a go to guy for Guelph. He plays with a great edge which is nice to see out of player his size, but ultimately reminds me of former Sting player Daniel Lombardi who was another undersized player that played with an edge, and was able to produce just not up to the level that would legitimize him as an NHL prospect. McNaughton is slowly entering that territory, but fortunately for him he’s a late 1992 birthdate so he will not enter the draft until next year. But there is no question a strong finish this year, combined with a big season next year is absolutely critical if McNaughton wants a professional hockey career. Of note McNaughton was the only Storm player who finished the game with a minus rating.
(McNaughton had 2 PIM, -1)
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Jordan Hill returned to play in Sarnia one last time. The former hometown captain of the sting lead the Saginaw Spirit into Sarnia and assisted in demolishing his former team 7-2.

Anthony Camara - #15 - RW - YOB: 1993 - 6‘0” - 179lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Jan/29/10 - If there is a Milan Lucic type player coming out of the OHL anytime soon, I would think Anthony Camara would deserve some serious consideration. He looks much biger than his 6’0” - 179 listing and he had one of the best fights of the year against Brent Sullivan of Sarnia, then came out and despite being 16 went after overager and one of the toughest players in the league in Kyle Neuber. Although he may have regretted the decision to go after Neuber during/after the fight, the fact remains that this is a 16 year old rookie playing like a tenacious 18 year old. Camara drove the puck well, as well as driving his body through anyone that got in his way. Also he made a few smart plays with moving the puck over the course of the game. Camara is an interesting player going forward in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
(Camara had 1A, 10PIM)

Ryan O’Connor - #21 - D - YOB: 1992 - 5‘9” - 179lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Jan/29/10 - Again, before every time I watch him play, I think to myself.. Ok look closely, because I must be missing something. There has to be a reason why I have him ranked so high, and everyone else doesn’t rank him. Yet every time I watch O’Connor play, he is just outstanding. O’Connor’s problems stem from his size which he is only 5’9” and his consistency which I must describe for you to get a handle on how up/down his consistency is. He started out with 5pts in 3games, then later 3pts in 14games. Immediately following that he put up 6pts in 5games which was succeeded by 8 games where he went pointless with a -10 rating. Then in January he got 9 goals, and 15 pts. in 16 games. He is currently pointless in 3 games now. O’Connor is basically this year’s version of Ryan Ellis. He has a monster blast from the point, he’s in my opinion a better skater than Ellis was last year at this time, and he throws the body like he’s 6’2 - 210, and has actually made some devastating hits this year despite his size. O’Connor is a guy who I can understand the low ranking, but the possibility of all 30 teams passing on him if he’s there in the 6^th or 7^th round would be hard for me to believe.
(O’Connor had 2G, +1)

Josh Shalla - #25 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 187lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Jan/29/10 - Shalla basically took off where he left off the last time I watched him play. His shot comes off his stick like a bullet from a gun, his release is impressive, and overall there’s not too many OHL net minders that would be able to stop Shalla point blank if he’s given enough time. While his ability to shoot the puck is extremely impressive, his skating is the absolute opposite. He lost races to players who were exhausted from a long shift, or guys who are just not very good skaters at all. He had trouble jumping into the play, and although his play along the boards was good, he was only able to get into a battle for the puck on a few occasions because of how weak his skating ability is. Shalla should get drafted this year, but don’t expect it to be very high as he’s a bit of a project
(Shalla had 1G, +1)
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Sarnia appeared to be en route to their first win in 12 games. Jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, and controlling the crippled Owen Sound team that was without 3 key forwards, as well as 2 of their top 4 defencemen. However after Campbell allowed 3 goals in 26 seconds during the 2nd period, the doors opened for a 5-3 victory for the Attack over the Sting.

Steven Shipley - #19 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘2” - 204lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/5/10 - Shipley is a guy who last year I projected higher than the offensive Hishon. The often injured Hishon was out of the line-up tonight and Shipley took over. Although he protected the puck well, and had some decent skating abilities for someone his size, he really looks like someone, who if he had a highly skilled winger he could be very effective in all areas of the offensive game. Shipley did a lot of the work himself with the puck, and netted a hat trick. Although the last goal was with an empty net and 1.6 seconds on the clock. He did manage to score the 3^rd goal in 26 seconds on Campbell that put Owen Sound back into the game, and then scored short handed to give Owen Sound the lead midway through the 3^rd. I’m going to see Shipley again on the 19^th and will be interested to see if I see the same dominant force that played on the 5^th.
(Shipley had 3G, +2)

Geoffrey Schemitsch - #26 - D - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 180lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/5/10 - Schemitsch is a player I wanted to keep a close eye on. Considered as this year’s Calvin De Haan, Schemitsch when given space and time is a very effective puck mover, however he made a decent number of mental errors when under pressure, or needing to move the puck quickly. Whether this is just him still adjusting to the OHL, or if he has legitimate issues when being put under pressure is still a question, but he is another individual I’m looking forward to seeing on the 19^th and seeing how he does.
(Schemitsch had 1A, +2)

Cameron Brace - #7 - RW - YOB: 1993 - 5‘9” - 160lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Feb/5/10 - I wanted to make a quick note on Brace as he was not someone I was paying much attention to. However he made himself known by carrying the puck and displaying some outstanding speed. He moved the puck as well as he carried it, and was a critical factor in Owen Sound’s victory. He should be interesting to watch heading towards the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
(Brace had 2A, +2)
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Finally after losing 16 straight games, the lowly Sarnia Sting were able to lay down a beating on the Sudbury Wolves. Jesse Stoughton starred scoring two highlight reel goals, and sparked the Sting offensive that eventually scored 4 goals in 5 minutes on the Wolves to start the 3rd period to solidify a 6-2 victory.

Justin Sefton - #3 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 199lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Feb/15/10 - Sefton was effective defensively as well as physically. He was basically exactly what I expected him to be. Defensive first, physical with good selection of when to hit and when to remain in position, and was a reliable defenceman for Sudbury. He was decent in moving the puck, although it appears pretty obvious his future potential does not lie in the offensive part of the game.
(Sefton had 2PIM)

Ben Chiarot - #7 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 222lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 120^th Overall by Atlanta in 2009
Report: Feb/15/10 - Chiarot has developed well. He moves the puck a lot better, and seems to have developed a little more of an offensive game. Also his skating is pretty good for someone his size. However the biggest knock on Chiarot is his puck handling when under pressure, as well as not only the penalties he takes, but the timing of them. Both minor penalties were very unnecessary and either directly or eventually resulted in goals for Sarnia at critical parts of the game. Chiarot however did make up with the first with a goal of his own a minute later, a smart shot on a bit of an aggressive move from the point, but overall there is a lot of good and a lot of bad in his game still.
(Chiarot had 1G, -2, 4 PIM)


John McFarland - #18 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 195lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/15/10 - McFarland showed just where his top 10 potential came from in this game. Although he did disappear a little when the game was over, McFarland showed great athleticism on a number of plays, and showed that he has breakout speed which I didn’t expect out of McFarland. He has an excellent shot, and his awareness of what was going on looked good. It seems to me that his game to game involvement may be the major issue with McFarland, seeing as I watched him play earlier this year on Sportsnet and he didn’t show nearly the heart and determination showed in this game. If this was the everyday John McFarland I’d say he might belong in the top 10 despite the fact he didn’t put up any points.

Jared Staal - #27 - RW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘4” - 198lbs.
NHL: 2nd round - 49th overall by Phoenix in 2008
Report: Feb/15/10 - Staal had a decent game. He was protecting the puck well, he threw a few decent hits along with one pretty big hit. He wasn’t much of a weapon in terms of producing offense, but Jared is not your typical Staal forward. Jared is typically most effective when he’s working hard along the boards, or if he was parked in front of the net, that would be a good place as he has the size of his brothers Jordan and Eric but not the pure offensive talent. There’s no doubt he’s got NHL potential, but it would be as a bottom 6 grind line player.
(Staal had 1A, -1)

Daniel Maggio - #55 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 202lbs.
NHL: 6^th Round - 170^th Overall by NY Rangers in 2009
Report: Feb/15/10 - I was not really all that impressed with Maggio when I watched him play last year, and that continues into this year. Maggio was used on the power play, and was effective physically and cutting off angles for approaching forwards, but he was a penalty machine. He only received 4 minor penalties, but could have had 3x that amount with the way he played. A lot of the time it appeared he didn’t want to skate and would rather just hook or hold, and would have been an effective defenceman in the old NHL. Maggio seemed uninvolved or frustrated at several points of this game, which peaked with 2 seconds left when he threw a massive two hander at a Sarnia rookie which drew the attention of 6’7” Flemington who attempted to fight Maggio, and Daniel was not willing to oblige.
(Maggio had 1A, -1, 8 PIM)

Marcus Foligno - #71 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 216lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 104^th Overall by Buffalo in 2009
Report: Feb/15/10 - Foligno is a player who I was pretty impressed with tonight. He played hard for the most part of this game, and was involved in the play whether it be in the offensive or defensive zone. Foligno may not have the offensive potential of his brother Nick, but definitely has size and knows how to use it either in battles along the boards, or throwing a hit. Although Foligno didn’t dominate in creating offensive chances, he was involved on a few plays, and seems to be one of those playesr that does all the little things right, that a team needs to win a game. I suppose it’s possible for Foligno to land a spot on the second line in the NHL, but he’s more likely to become a 3^rd line energy player with upside. Overall I was happy with his performance today
(Foligno had 2 PIM)
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As always, thanks to Ryan for checking in with us!

Thoughts on Kitchener and Guelph from November 28

I caught this one on the OHL Action Pack last night, but didn't have time until this morning to write about it. I haven't seen much of Guelph yet this season, so I figured what better game to watch than a Battle of Highway 7. Kitchener and Guelph are always bitter rivals in the Midwest Division and their match-ups make for entertaining hockey.

This one definitely looked like a match up of bitter rivals as it was a very spirited affair. A total of 52 penalty minutes were handed out and a total of 16 powerplays were given between the two teams. Albeit, the majority of those penalties were the result of some very undisciplined and lazy hockey from Guelph and Kitchener, however the point being that it was a scrappy game.

Neither team came into this one playing their best hockey of the season. The Storm were riding a 4 game losing streak, while the Rangers were a modest .500 over their last 10 (after starting the season so red hot). A lot of Guelph's problems this season can definitely be attributed to injury, as they've been without captain Matt Kennedy, Michael Latta and Peter Holland through stretches. Losing three of your four best forwards definitely makes life tough. However Kennedy remains the only one of the three still out of the line up (with a groin injury), meaning that the Storm should be able to start stringing some wins together soon. And soon was last night as they used a hat trick from Taylor Beck to propel them to a 7-4 victory over the Kitchener Rangers. The Storm will definitely be a dangerous team when all their players get back in the groove.

The Rangers however looked very sloppy last night. A lot of defensive miscues and undisciplined penalties. Kitchener's defense just got outworked and looked very weak along the boards and near the net as Guelph's forwards worked the cycle and found room near the crease. Any time a team lets in 7 goals, you might look to the goaltending, but Brandon Maxwell wasn't too fault for this loss. He had little chance on the majority of Guelph goals, which tells you his defense needs to step up. While Kitchener is obviously still a very solid team and a contender in the West, I think it should come to no surprise that they've been linked to adding another quality defenseman (Sam Lofquist before Guelph snagged him, and Taylor Doherty in trade talks).

Let's look at some individual performances.

Kitchener Rangers






John Moore (CBJ)
I've been underwhelmed with Moore in past viewings this season, but he was quite good last night. Seemed a lot more willing to use that skating to not only bring the puck up ice, but continue with it into the offensive zone. Had a couple very nice rushes into Guelph territory. His passing was very crisp too. He seems to have very good vision and anticipation of the play. Picked up a very nice assist on Chris MacKinnon's second period powerplay goal by firing a slap pass from the point to him at the side of the net for the redirect. Defensively there was some good, some bad. He was directly responsible for the J.P. Labardo second period goal. As Labardo (or Cody McNaughton one of the two) took the puck hard to the net, Moore was soft on them as he failed to move his feet and tried to use his stick cutting behind the net. Instead they blew by him, took the puck around the net and cut back out for the wrap around which generated the rebound J.P. Labardo eventually put home in the goal mouth scramble. However, later in the game he seemed to have learned his lesson. Taylor Beck tried to get through him to the net with a nice move and Moore took the man and put Beck hard into the net, knocking it off it's moorings. Defensively, it looks like its just a consistency issue where he'll need to figure out how to play the puck carrier hard every time.

Tyler Randell (BOS)
I thought Randell played a very solid game. His line with Andrew Crescenzi and Ben Thomson was the most consistent for the Rangers tonight, despite not getting on the board. He was very good along the boards and was a load to handle for the Storm defenseman in front of the net. Seems to be seeing time on the first powerplay unit right now too. Had a very nice assist on Matt Tipoff's opening goal of the game as he recovered a missed shot by Chris Mackinnon and fed a backhand pass cross crease to Tipoff for the tap in goal. For all intents and purposes, he has disappointed offensively this season though. Perhaps it's just a matter of confidence in his ability to use his size to generate scoring chances.

Ben Thomson (2011)
A Rangers 8th rounder this past year, Thomson has been a very pleasant surprise. He was recently named to Team Ontario for the Under 17's, so clearly others in the league have taken notice of him. He's a very big kid, already looks like one of the biggest Rangers forwards on the ice. He throws his body around and was solid along the boards as he and linemates Tyler Randell and Andrew Crescenzi dominated the cycle on several shifts. It'll be interesting to see his development going into next season. Could be a potential power forward.

Andrew Crescenzi (2010)
I continue to be impressed with this big Rangers forward. Playing in his first season in the OHL, Crescenzi seems to be finally gaining confidence in his offensive abilities. He's quite large (easily 6'4, 200lbs) and he plays that way. Uses his size to protect and puck and took it hard to the net on a couple of occasions, generating a scoring chance. He's kind of a big and awkward skater, but I wouldn't say his speed or acceleration is poor. Had one rush where he took the puck from the redline and beat all the Storm defenseman to the net, but couldn't beat St. Jacques. His play along the boards is excellent too, as mentioned about his line tonight. He's not putting up the offensive stats to generate NHL attention, but I do think he has potential.

Ryan Murphy (2011)
This guy is so talented. He will be a tremendous offensive defenseman in this league, something I've said in any of my viewings of him this season. Moves the puck up ice effortlessly. Skating and Puckhandling ability are definitely plus assets for him. He anticipates the play very well too though. He's one of those guys who seems to find the seam up the middle. Defensively, he's definitely improving. Off the rush, he uses his skating ability to stay in front of forwards and he's not afraid to play the body either. Along the boards, he's a bit of a warrior too. Was pushing and shoving in loose puck battles, even winning a few against bigger Storm forwards. However he does have some problems with bigger/stronger forwards near the net. Was unable to push Taylor Beck or Michael Latta off the puck on a few occasions, especially as they were moving in and behind the net. But he's young kid, and he's going to get stronger. The important thing is that he shows concern for the defensive end and has a bit of a physical intensity to him. All things that will likely be increased by the time he leaves this league. He finished with a secondary assist.

Jeff Skinner (2010)
Outside of a few shifts, Skinner was pretty invisible last night. As much as I like him as a draft prospect, his play without the puck in his own zone needs to improve. Got beat along the boards several times tonight and he needs to do a better job of tying up his man. Not his best effort.

Jeremy Morin (ATL)
I thought Morin was the best Rangers forward on the ice last night (even better than Chris MacKinnon and his hat trick). While his play in the OHL so far has been represented by his goal scoring ability, it was his playmaking ability last night that shone. Nearly every time he was on the ice, he was making things happen with the puck; making defenseman miss as he carried the puck in the offensive zone. In the second period, he deked around Peter Holland and Adam Comrie before passing it off to Chris MacKinnon for the tap in at the side of the net. I think the skating concerns have been overblown. He's not the world's best skater, but he has some elusive ability on the ice as evidenced by the amount of room he created for himself with the puck. Had a couple other very nice passes that did not amount to goal, but instead quality scoring chances. It's good to know that he's not just a one trick pony. Morin finished with 2 assists.

Brandon Maxwell (COL)
As I said earlier, Maxwell was not to blame for this loss. Wasn't the best game of his career or anything (far from it), but the majority of the 7 goals against were not his fault. One that was though, was Michael Latta's first period goal where Maxwell came out to play the puck, fanned on it and Latta picked it up and beat Maxwell on the wrap around before he could recover. He tried to make the fancy play instead of just flicking the puck to the corner. But he made some big saves in this one to keep it close for the majority of the first two periods. I like how he challenges shooters at the top of his crease and I like his quickness and mobility in the net. If it weren't for a couple of easy tap ins, redirects and pucks off other players skates, Maxwell would have had a solid night! Instead, he makes 31 of 38 saves and takes the loss.

Guelph Storm






Ben Chiarot (ATL)
Chiarot was excellent last night. He's a big body defenseman that actually uses his big body. The Rangers could just not beat him along the wall. While he is physical and does not hesitate to push and shove around the net, he's also smart positionally. On one occasion Jeff Skinner dumped the puck in and came flying into the zone for retrieval. Chiarot, knowing that Skinner could potentially beat him to the puck, angled Skinner away from it by physically engaging him and then blocking him with his body as he tapped the puck out to his forward to get the puck up ice. I like how he keeps things simple offensively too. Makes the smart pass, and does it quickly. He finished +1 in the game.

Sam Lofquist (2010, but 1990 born)
What a find this guy has been so far for Guelph. He played a TON last night and in every situation. He was outstanding. Lofquist, a former member of the USNDP and Minnesota Golden Gophers, has stepped right into Guelph's line up as someone who can play in all situations. He's got great size, he's solid positionally, he was physical in the defensive end, he moved the puck up ice well by pass or carry, and he controlled the point on the powerplay like a 3 year OHL veteran. I liked his mobility on the back end too, as I didn't expect him to be the type that could carry the puck into the offensive zone based on what I'd read about him at Minnesota. He picked up three assists on the powerplay and I really liked the way he moved the puck smartly and was able to get his point shot through. Put a nice low shot on net for Matt Sisca to tip in to start the third period. While he may not have been getting the playing time at Minnesota to show what he's capable of, if he keeps playing like this, he'll quickly get back on to the NHL radar.

Peter Holland (ANA)
Holland was pretty good last night. His skating looks improved (wasn't poor to begin with) and he was able to cut through Kitchener's defense. When the puck is on his stick, he's able to keep control very well and shields the puck with his frame. That makes him very hard to knock off the puck when he's in full stride. Had four assists on the night, two of which were very nice plays to set up Taylor Beck for a tap in at the side of the net. However, he still leaves me somewhat underwhelmed. I'm not entirely sure why, but there's something missing. He still needs to play harder without the puck and along the boards. Was one of the only Guelph forwards last night who didn't have their way with the Rangers defense on the cycle. Was really soft on Jeremy Morin during his pass to Chris MacKinnon on their second period goal. Weakly waved his stick at Morin as he blew by him. At the next level, that type of weak play without the puck won't cut it. He doesn't have to develop into a power forward, but adding a little sandpaper to his game could go a long way.

Michael Latta (NSH)
Latta is just a very solid player. No real flaws in his game, but at the same time, nothing that he does exceptionally well. He's not the biggest guy, but he's very strong and that makes him very hard to contain in the cycle. He brushed off Ranger defenseman numerous times in the offensive end in order to gain possession or keep possession of the puck. He scored a nice goal by taking the puck off Brandon Maxwell and beating him on the wrap around. Defensively and physically, he's a solid contributor too. Dropped the gloves with Dan Kelly, coming to the aid of a high sticked teammate. For everything he does well, I'm not sure his skating has improved much. He still looks a bit sluggish entering the offensive zone, and it prevents him from being a more dynamic player. Once he's able to gain puck possession, he outworks and outhustles the opposition, but in terms of being a factor in transition, he is mostly not. That being said, for all the things he does well, he should be able to carve out a career in the NHL for himself. He also finished with a secondary assist on the night.

Taylor Beck (NSH)
Beck has exploded offensively this season and I think it's easy to see why. Not only has he gotten stronger (and more equipped to play his style of game), but his skating has visibly gotten better. He was a factor on the rush with the puck on his stick and he generated more than a few scoring chances by taking it hard to the net. While none of his 3 goals on the night were spectacular, he put himself in good position to score the goal. His increased strength and skating ability has increased his elusiveness on the ice and he's now able to create more room for himself offensively. Was absolutely Guelph's best forward on the night and looks to be turning himself into quite the excellent NHL prospect.

Adam Comrie (FLA)
Comrie was quietly efficient last night. Paired with Ben Chiarot (mostly), they kept the game very simple and did a good job of getting the puck up ice quickly to their forwards. Comrie did a good job defensively, save the Jeremy Morin dangle. On the play he got caught turning around and Morin went right by him. However, he also got lost defensively in coverage as he was caught standing around looking at Morin while Chris MacKinnon slipped past him for the tap in. Overall though he did a good job of winning battles in the corners and keeping Ranger forwards away from the front of the net. Wasn't spectacular, but he played a very calm and collected game. I'm interested to see if he makes the United States WJC team.

Comments?

Sunday Top 10 - Biggest Draft Fallers

With the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on the horizon (2 weeks away), it is time to take a look at some of the biggest movers and shakers in the Ontario Hockey League this season. So consider this another two part Sunday Top 10. Today, we will examine the biggest draft fallers. The players who made this list, for varying reasons, found themselves tumbling down the NHL Draft list this season, after being held in some regard previously. Next Sunday's Top 10 will examine the biggest draft risers; those players who greatly improved their stock this season with solid performances.

Here are your top 10 Draft Fallers.

10. Vern Cooper - Plymouth Whalers
A little guy with a lot of heart, a lot of people expected Cooper to pick up his offensive game this season and become a legitimate secondary scoring threat behind the likes of Chris Terry. His sandpaper and energy game made some believe he had the chance to be a solid draft prospect, despite being a late 1990. However, this season saw little improvement in his offensive game. Cooper's offensive stats actually declined slightly. This is not the type of progression you like to see in a late 1990 draft eligible forward. For all the intangibles Cooper brings to the ice, it is beginning to look like his chances at a professional hockey career are slim to none. I did not rank Cooper in my top 50 eligible players for the draft.

9. Bjorn Krupp - Belleville Bulls/Barron Smith - Peterborough Petes
OK, I cheated a bit. It's a top 11. But I felt like these two players had a lot in common with each other and their inclusion on the list made sense as a pair. Firstly, they both have NHL bloodlines. Bjorn Krupp's father is longtime and former NHL defender Uwe Krupp. Barron Smith's father is former Edmonton Oilers great Steve Smith. Secondly, both were playing in their first seasons in the OHL with a fair amount of hype after playing previously in the United States. And lastly, both disappointed in their play this season. The two combined for 6 points on the back end this year. While neither was billed as the second coming of Bryan Fogarty, the fact that they were able to make such a small impact on the ice is alarming. Krupp plays a safe game, but his relative lack of puck skills hurts him greatly and his upside is severely limited. For that reason, he took a dive on a lot of lists. Smith was unable to play his way on to a deep London blueline and was eventually traded to Peterborough (as part of the Trevor Cann deal). While their bloodlines may still get them drafted, there is no question that they will go a lot lower than they would have if they had stronger seasons.

8. Michael Latta - Guelph Storm
Probably the most debatable inclusion on this list, Latta is still considered to be a strong bet for a top 60 selection. However, more was expected of him this season and I think he did a lot more harm than good to his draft stock this season. Originally thought to be the leader of the 67's offense this season with Logan Couture, Latta demanded a trade part way into the season and was shipped to Guelph. In Guelph, his offensive production declined in the more defensive system. On top of that, his skating deficiencies really garnered a lot of attention this season. As I said, Latta is still expected to be a top 2 round selection. That being said, it would not surprise me to see him fall into the middle round similar to the way Zack Torquato did in 2007.

7. Daniel Maggio - Sudbury Wolves
The 7th overall selection in the 2007 Priority draft, a lot was expected of Maggio. A package of size, skill and aggression made him an attractive piece to the blueline. However in his time in the OHL, Maggio has not been able to put everything together. His hockey sense has been heavily questioned (by many including myself), and subsequently his ability to improve. He took few steps forward this season, one which was mired with a knee injury. That being said, he has potential should someone be able to bring it out of him.

6. Chris Perugini - Ottawa 67's
Brother of former OHL goaltender Andrew Perugini, Chris was being billed as one of the top goaltenders the OHL had available for this draft. He played very well for Ottawa last season as a rookie and came into this season in a platoon role with Boston prospect Adam Courchaine. He had a solid first two months, outplaying Courchaine and was looking like he was going to steal the starting spot. However, as the season went along, Perugini began to struggle badly. Part of this can be blamed on an inconsistent 67's defense. But a big portion can be blamed on Perugini and the opposing teams beginning to take advantage of his shortcomings. Perugini is athletically sound enough, but he has a tendency to flop around in his crease and has among the worst rebound control in the OHL. Teams begun to take advantage of this and he was getting lit up. I'd be surprised now if he even gets drafted, but if he can improve his mechanics, he has the potential to be a pro goaltender.

5. Michael Fine - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
I think a lot of the reasons Fine saw his stock drop this season were secondary to his play. He put up half decent stats and showcased an ability to be a hard nosed forward prospect with skill. Of course, he needs to be a more consistent offensive threat, but that can be said about a lot of players available for the draft. So why did he fall this year? For one, the Greyhounds were terrible and didn't generate a lot of attention. As always, it is tougher for players (especially secondary players like Fine), to stand out on bad teams in their draft years. Then there was Fine's disappearance from the Under 18 team. Originally named to the team, Fine left for undisclosed personal reasons (replaced with Peter Holland). This tournament could have been huge for Fine, as a chance to play with and against better players. A strong showing at the tournament (like Kyle Clifford had), could have vaulted him back into top three round consideration.

4. Brandon Foote - Guelph Storm
Foote started off the season really well with the Brampton Battalion. He wrestled the starting goaltender position away from NHL draft pick Patrick Killeen and posted one loss in the first three months of the season. He was even named OHL player of the week for October 19th. He was starting to generate a lot of buzz around the scouting community. But things spiraled for the worse as 2008 drew to a close. Eventually Brampton realized they needed an upgrade and shipped Foote to Guelph as part of the Thomas McCollum trade. In Guelph, Foote continued to be wildly inconsistent. Things got even worse for Foote when he failed to place on the NHL's Central Scouting Final Rankings and looks like a real long shot to be drafted, despite such a strong showing to start his OHL career.

3. Marcus Foligno - Sudbury Wolves
With a 70 point season from Nick in his draft year with Sudbury, a lot more was expected of Marcus offensively this season. He finished with only 12 goals on the year and got a lot of flak for his lack of involvement in every game. I think what needs to be remembered is that Marcus is one of the youngest players eligible for the draft. Nick, when he put up 70 points and went in the first round, was almost a full year older than Marcus was in his 2nd OHL season. At the same age, Nick actually put up pretty similar OHL stats. But you can't ignore the plunge Marcus took in most rankings this year, despite perhaps a raw deal. The big test will be next season, where Marcus will show the NHL team who drafts him, how much offensive ability he has.

2. Casey Cizikas - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
The former 3rd overall selection in the 2007 Priority draft, a lot was expected of Cizikas this year after a very strong rookie season. He followed that up with a solid performance at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka tourney. But this season was a step back for him. Offensively, he failed to match his stats of his rookie season and he was never able to become that consistent offensive threat Mississauga needed. He also received a lot of flak for his play without the puck and his effort level on a consistent basis. Even with a good playoffs this year, I'm not sure he saved his draft stock. Obviously, I'm a big fan of his abilities and have been vocal of that this season. But I appear to be pretty alone, which is a testament to how the inconsistency of his play has effected his draft ranking.

1. Taylor Doherty - Kingston Frontenacs
While Cizikas stock may have seen a more significant drop, Doherty earns first on this list because of where his "drop" lies. This big defenceman received a lot of attention for his play in his first OHL season last year, and went into this season as a guy with the potential to go in the NHL lottery. But Doherty never took that step forward, as was expected. Offensively, he had a disappointing season, failing to match his stats from his rookie year. Defensively, he was exposed as a poor lateral mover and an undisciplined aggressor. In many cases, Doherty took a step backwards this season, rather than forwards. This caused his drop from potential lottery selection to possible third round selection.

Stay tuned, as next Sunday we brighten the mood by looking at the top draft risers!

Ryan Yessie's Thoughts on Niagara and Guelph from February 6 & 7

This past weekend, Ryan was able to take in two games at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre. These were the February 6 game against the Niagara Ice Dogs, and the February 7 game against the Guelph Storm.

The following are his reports...

February 6 - Thoughts on the Niagara Ice Dogs


Alex Friesen - LC - YOB: 1991 - 5’9” - 183lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/6/09: Friesen showed off some good bursts of speed at times tonight in Sarnia he had a quick release and Friesen flew up the ice. It was hard to notice too much as both teams seemed to be playing a shutdown style of hockey. Friesen played with a bit of an edge which was a little unexpected from a smallish player.

Andrew Agozzino - LW - YOB: 1991 - 5’9” - 188lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/6/09: I’m very surprised Agozzino isn’t rated by CSB this kid may be small but he’s got a lot of speed, and has a laser of a shot with quick release. It was hard to really gauge how good this guy really is offensively in a 1-0 win but he definitely looks like a player who could be of interest in a team come draft day. (Agozzino had 2 PIM)

Alex Pietrangelo - RD - YOB: 1990 - 6’4” - 210lbs. NHL: 1st Round - 4th Overall by St. Louis in 2008
Report: Feb/6/09: What can I really say about Pietrangelo that hasn’t already been said. He looked like a man among boys. He knew when to pinch and when to play back, his positioning in general was amazing, although he didn’t play the 45 mins. I saw him last time he definitely logged about 25-30 which is impressive considering they played the night before. Pietrangelo moved the puck very well and at one point passed the puck blue line to blue line and across the rink past one sting player and through the legs of another player to hit the tape on a streaking forward, it was ridiculous witnessing that kind of passing. If he was on about 2/3rds of the other NHL teams he never would have been sent back to the OHL. (Pietrangelo had 2 PIM)

Jeremy Smith - G - YOB: 1989 - 6’0” - 170lbs. NHL: 2nd Round - 54th Overall by Nashville in 2007
Report: Feb/6/09: Jeremy Smith going to Niagara may have been the best thing for him. He’s the undisputed starter and last night looked very impressive tonight he had outstanding recovery, and his reflexes were great. Smith looks like he’s recovered from a disappointing first half in Plymouth. (Smith stopped 27 of 28 shots)

February 7 - Thoughts on the Guelph Storm


In the most exciting game all season at the SSEC Jamie Arniel lit up his former team when it counted late in the third then again in overtime to get a critical two points from the Guelph Storm. The game was a fierce and extremely physical back and forth battle with a playoff feel to it. It was also full of current and soon to be NHL prospects.

Peter Holland - LC - YOB: 1991 - 6’2” - 190lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/7/09: This is a guy I spent a lot of time watching. He never really stood out, but at the same time he appeared to play 23-25 mins. Of mistake free hockey so that may in it’s own stand out for Holland. He only took one shot, it just missed top corner and it was an absolute laser with a quick release, I was also impressed with his composure with the puck. He actually appears to be able to protect the puck surprisingly well, he didn’t look like a big man on the ice, but when he needed to protect the puck in the cycle he certainly acted like one. Holland seemed to make some decent tape to tape passes, and his never quit attitude helped him earn a few assists tonight. Holland’s positioning on the ice was exceptional. He also displayed good patience and maturity well beyond that of most 17 year old players. He didn’t take the game over, or make any dynamic plays but you could tell from the action tonight his hockey sense is extremely impressive. His speed was decent but not great, hopefully he can add 10lbs. To his frame and not affect his speed. (Holland had 2A, 2 PIM)

Taylor Beck - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6’1” - 207lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/7/09: Taylor Beck has greatly improved his skating. I have heard that his skating has been his one key weakness, but tonight he looked slightly above average for someone his size, and considering he’s 17 years old. Beck’s positional play was very good, if he wasn’t in the right position during the play, he quickly put himself there. Beck was willing to throw his weight around, but could still stand to play a little more physical as he would be best suited as a power forward. Beck had a decent shot with a good release. The biggest knock on Beck tonight would have been that he took a bad penalty and didn’t play with quite enough intensity edge that you’d expect out of a player his size and skill. He looks like he could be a decent early-mid second rounder. (Beck had 2 PIM)

Michael Latta - RC - YOB: 1991 - 5’11” - 197lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/7/09: Latta was the least impressive of Guelph’s big 4 forwards (Holland, Beck, Latta, Buck). Latta showed some decent skating, but certainly could use some work for a player under 6ft. Latta played well defensively, but didn’t put out much offensively which might have been part of the reason why he wasn’t very noticeable. I have heard Latta plays with an edge but I really didn’t see it tonight. Latta left the game late in the 3rd period and didn’t return for the rest of regulation or overtime as Miroslav Preisinger caught him with his head down and absolutely hit Latta clean, but like a truck in the open ice putting him down for a few minutes before leaving the ice with a little assistance. The hit actually caused enforcer Ryan Baldwin to attack both Miroslav Preisinger and Jordan Hill which landed Baldwin an instigating penalty that resulted in a late tying goal for Sarnia. Latta is a player I would not remove from the top 50 as CSB has indicated him (42nd) but he isn’t someone I’m completely sold on either. Hopefully I will see him later on in the season and get a bit better result. (Latta had 2 PIM)

Brandon Buck - LW - YOB: 1988 - 6’1” - 191lbs. NHL: Free Agent
Report: Feb/7/09: Buck was extremely impressive and arguably Guelph’s best player on the ice. He plays on a line with Holland and Kennedy which has really helped him get that extra space to show off his skills, which include impressive skating ability, and absolutely roofed a laser of a shot to give Guelph the 3-2 lead, then banged home another to give his team another 4-3 lead, both goals would have been clutch if Guelph walked out with a win tonight. Buck may be someone to watch after the Storm’s season is over as he may earn himself a pro tryout contract. Buck has recorded atleast a point in his last 7 of 8 games, for a total of 11 points over those 8 games. (Buck had 2G)

Corey Syvret - LD - YOB: 1989 - 6’3” - 205lbs. NHL: 6th Round - 181st Overall by Florida in 2007
Report: Feb/7/09: Syvret played a strong physical game, however was fortunate to have lenient referee’s as he was continuously clutching and grabbing as well as playing hard physically. If this was 2004 Syvret may be a lot more valuable but since wrapping your arms around your opponent whenever they move past you is no longer a play you can get away with most games, he will likely see himself getting called for several minor penalties if the Panthers choose to give him an entry level contract and he plays in a faster league such as AHL/ECHL. His positioning wasn’t bad at all, but he didn’t show any offensive potential. All in all this is the first time I’ve seen him actually look like a NHL level prospect, and he has gotten noticeably stronger, but he needs to be more disciplined and was very fortunate not to get several holding calls if he ever wants a shot at being a reserve defenceman in the NHL.

Tim Campbell - LD - YOB: 1991 - 6’0” - 185lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/7/09: Campbell looked like a pretty decent player out there. Campbell got 3rd pairing minutes, but he played with the puck a lot during the first half of the game. His passes were always tape to tape and didn’t make a mistake out there, and was also willing to engage physically. His offensive potential doesn’t look high, but he is a player to watch as he may get grabbed up very late this year if scouts notice him. He could also be drafted as an 18 year old when players like Syvret, Martine and Priamo leave, because as it stands he could very easily earn the #2 defensive spot with Chiarot next season and get a chance to prove himself. Campbell; a rookie, is leading the Storm in +/- with a +13 rating this season.

Ben Chiarot - LD - YOB: 1991 - 6’3” - 214lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/7/09: Chiarot was a big physically intimidating force out there. He can hit very hard, however will put himself out of position to do so. Chiarot was surprisingly willing to carry the puck up ice and had decent skating for a player his size and age. Chiarot is still finding himself in the OHL but has put up 8 of his 10 points in the last 20 games played (and 2 in his first 31). Scored his 2nd career goal in an intelligent play to pinch up from the point and put the puck past Spence for the first goal of the game. However there is also the bad, poise and patience may be a big concern as Chiarot panicked in overtime when he received the puck looking to clear the zone, he launched it into the stands with practically zero pressure and had the room to carry the puck out of the zone. The delay of game penalty resulted in an Overtime/Power Play goal that ended the game. Chiarot looks like a project at this point with some boom or bust potential. He’ll pegged as Guelph’s #1 defenceman next year and should have his trial by fire on whether or not he is a legitimate NHL prospect. He has his good and bad, but a few more viewings may make his potential more clear, but he already has NHL ready size as a 17 year old. (Chiarot had 1G, 2 PIM)

Denis Hollenstein - LW - YOB: 1989 - 6’0” - 167lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2009
Report: Feb/7/09: Hollenstein is a very streaky player in his second OHL season. He’s unlikely to be drafted but if he can continue to improve he may give himself an outside shot at a pro contract at the end of next season. He showed tremendous patience with the puck and scored a nice goal due to his poise. (Hollenstien had 1G)

Joe Rogalski - RD - YOB: 1991 - 6’2” - 185lbs. NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/7/09: I usually don’t comment on Sting players outside mid-season and final report, but Rogalski deserves an exception of this rule with the way he has played lately. The jury was still out on Rogalski mid-way through the season but recently he’s been playing with a confidence he’s never had before. Getting more and more shifts with Katic has seemed to spark his creativity. He must have been given the green light by coach MacQueen because he’s been rushing the puck up ice, and occasionally has looked similar to Katic when doing so. Rogalski has extremely deceptive speed for a 6’2” defenceman who looks bigger than his listing. He is easily Sarnia’s second fastest defenceman, and his puck moving skills are becoming more evident every game. Proof of this came in last night’s only goal as he hit Matt Martin with a tape to tape pass through 3 defenders, the pass came from his own goal line and hit Martin who scored the winning goal on a breakaway. Rogalski also played solid tonight vs. Guelph. As the game picked up physically Rogalski showed that he’s not just a tall puck carrying defenceman that he can also throw the body as well. Rogalski set up Jamie Arniel late in the 3rd period with a perfect tape to tape pass once again through a couple defenders that was clutch for Sarnia. The only knock on Rogalski might be that he doesn’t contribute as much as he could offensively, and that if he could add 20lbs. To his frame without losing much speed could really raise his stock. Rogalski is already arguably the best North American defenceman in the 2010 draft, and his recent play is reinforcing that possibility. (Rogalski had 2A in 2GP this weekend)

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Ryan will be in Windsor Thursday to check out the brand new WFCU Center, and to see the Sarnia Sting take on the Windsor Spitfires.