Ryan Yessie's Thoughts on Barrie and Sarnia from October 15

Sarnia had trouble containing Barrie's offensive push but great goaltending from Courchaine combined with a solid team effort helped Sarnia to their second consecutive win vs. a Top 10 team in Canada with a 3-2 victory over the Barrie Colts.


Alexander Burmistrov - #8 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘0” - 170lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: After seeing Burmistrov with all this hype around his game, there was the good and the bad but overall I was disappointed. In terms of skill Burmistrov is a very fast skater, he moves his legs quickly and is very shifty and can change directions on a dime. He handles the puck very well and has very gifted hands, mixed with speed and shiftiness he made a few Sting players look like house league players when chasing after him. He protects the puck well for someone at only 170. Burmistrov is a guy who could be a high percentage player for the shootouts, and could be a shootout specialist if he makes the NHL. He looked fairly reliable in the defensive zone. Generally when you have a player as flashy as Burmistrov they tend to float, but not Alex. He engaged very actively defensively and caused a few turnovers. The negative side is Burmistrov for one tries to do everything himself, and outright does not utilize his linemates whatsoever. Even during the power play he’d stickhandle his way into a situation that saw two of the four Sting players chasing him. Meanwhile, his defenceman with a wide open shot he refused to pass to him and eventually the puck was off Burmistrov’s stick and down the ice, this happened a few times, twice during the critical part of the game. Secondly Burmistrov whenever physical contact is engaged, if it becomes too much, he’ll fold like an accordion and act like he got shot. During the 2nd period he absolutely embarrassed himself. Preisinger’s stick came up near the face, but went wide over Burmistrov’s shoulder.. After the stick had alredy made it’s way up and down, Burmistrov randomly dropped to the ice flopping around and started crawling on his hands and knees probably about 8 to 10 feet trying to sell the high stick and acted like a player would if they were seriously injured and bleeding profusely. It was an absolutely pathetic display and the referee either wasn’t looking and thought he missed an obvious call, or is just plain incompetent because Preisinger received a high sticking call, there was not a trace of blood, and Burmistrov was back on the ice within 20-30 seconds. The raw skill is there for Burmistrov, he is an excellent skater and puck control expert and could be a game breaker in the offensive zone. But overall as a Canadian hockey fan Burmistrov is not someone I’d ever want to draft to my team just based on his ignorance for the integrity of the game, and his inability to handle anything more than the minimum physical contact without trying to act like he’s hurt.

Michael Sgarbossa - #11 - C - YOB: 1992 - 5‘11” - 165lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: Sgarbossa is a name I had circled going into this game, I’ve heard good about him, but he hasn’t done enough to really stand out in terms of a prospect for the 2010 draft. Sgarbossa looked pretty good out there at times, but really never created any scoring chances, also I believe he didn’t even have a shot on net. Barrie kept putting him out there in critical moments, and things such as his skating and puck moving seemed to help his team, but didn’t really stand out in any way.
(Sgarbossa was a +1)

Kyle Clifford - #13 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 200lbs.
NHL: 2nd Round - 35th Overall by LA in 2009
Report: Oct/15/09: Clifford was the best player for Barrie in this game. He’s a very quick skater for someone his size, and he absolutely punished a few players with some massive hits. He mixes things up and makes things difficult for the opposing team in the offensive zone. Clifford had the first goal of the game, in which he created the play almost entirely on his own, as it looked like Sarnia was going to transition the puck out of the zone, Clifford delivered a massive hit behind the net, knocking the puck loose then got open for Della Rovere to pass it to him, and he buried it in an impressive 10 second or so set by Clifford. Later on he set up the tying goal in the 3rd period protecting the puck and making the right pass out to the point. Overall Clifford didn’t look like he had a weakness in his game. He skated better than someone his size, but hit harder than someone bigger as well. Impressed with Clifford overall.
(Clifford had 1G, 1A, +2)

Ryan Strome - #16 - C - YOB: 1993 - 5‘11” - 160lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2012
Report: Oct/15/09: Strome received limited ice time, but looked very impressive despite not making any eventual contributions towards the game. He did well in the face-off circle. He has a very quick release with a laser shot, unfortunately all 3 times that impressive shot when right into the logo of Adam Courchaine. Strome also showed off some good speed down the wing and carried the puck well. Definitely a positive first impression from this 16 year old.

Stefan Della Rovere - #19 - LW - YOB: 1993 - 5‘11” - 200lbs.
NHL: 7th Round - 204th Overall by Washington in 2008
Report: Oct/15/09: After Della Rovere was the talk of the rink for the following couple weeks after Barrie left last year, He was very surprisingly quiet during the game. He started out well making an excellent pass to Clifford to complete the play Clifford created. He did make a good hit or two, but was very undisciplined as well and is very lucky to come away with only two penalties. There are good penalties and bad penalties and Della Rovere could have had 4 or 5 really bad penalties called on him this game. Defensively he was alright but not as good as we’re accustom to seeing and hearing from Stefan. Overall an off game for SDR.
(Della Rovere had 1A, +2, 4PIM)

Ryan O’Connor - #21 - D - YOB: 1992 - 5‘8” - 175lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: If Clifford didn’t steal the show it would have been Ryan O’Connor that stood out for Barrie. I had O’Connor ranked #13 on my preliminary list, and Burmistrov #9. I think these two should at the very least be switching spots on that list, as O’Connor really played like a Ryan Ellis kind of defenceman. I know that comparison is getting beat to death but both have good offensive instincts, where as Ellis’ are better, O’Connor is better at carrying the puck up the ice, and his top speed is better, the first few steps for O’Connor could use work, but when he gets going he can fly. Unlike Ellis who is used mainly at his actual position; O’Connor moved up to forward several times on the special teams, and was many times the 4th forward on the ice while Barrie was down (which doesn’t seem to happen a lot this season) where they are similar and maybe where O’Connor is better is the physical department, however he got a little too rough and let Zach MacQueen get under his skin a little, and took an undisciplined penalty, but this guy is a hitting machine. He threw a couple hits that could be considered some of the biggest in this game, even with players twice his size throwing them, he really layed into a few guys at his size it was something else to see. Where Ellis has O’Connor beat is the natural anticipation for the play.. While O’Connor is not bad at this, it’s what sets Ellis apart from other smaller sized defencemen. Also judging by O’Connor’s shot it’s not where Ellis’ is. Overall I find myself comparing the two throughout this scouting report, but to best break it down the two are similar, and where Ellis may be more known for his anticipation and devastating point shot, O’Connor may be more established as a puck carrier who makes smart plays, and throws massive hits for his size.
(O’Connor was -1, 2PIM)

Josh Brittain - #22 - LW - YOB: 1993 - 6‘4” - 217lbs.
NHL: 3rd Round - 71st Overall by Anaheim in 2008
Report: Oct/15/09: Overall Brittain wasn’t a game breaker but he did help the Colts out tonight. Brittain unleashed a pretty solid shot, and went to the net hard every time he didn’t have the puck. He made power plays miserable for Courchaine and created a screen that made it very possible for Barrie to score if their power play was connecting better. Brittain really looks like a power forward, and could wind up in that role one day. He needs to get faster and be more willing to just throw his weight around at times.

Taylor Carnevale - #27 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 5‘11” - 184lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: Carnevale was passed over in last year’s draft, and was honestly not someone I heard a lot about until this season. He’s off to a great start this season which may once again make it possible for him to get drafted. Carnevale did very well in the face-off circle, and displayed good speed while carrying the puck up ice. Had a few chances to get some assists, as he appeared more willing to set up the goal than to score it.
(Carnevale was a +1)

Peter DiSalvo - #35 - G - YOB: 1990 - 6‘0” - 180lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: Honestly any chance of me considering DiSalvo a prospect anytime in the near future is gone. Last year I figured maybe it was just nerves coming back to Sarnia, but he played horrible tonight again, fortunately his team in front of him kept him in the game. DiSalvo looked fearful of playing the puck even in situations where Sarnia wasn’t pressuring he would give them an offensive zone face-off instead of passing the puck back behind the net for his defenceman. DiSalvo had decent reflexes, but oddly enough they were hit and miss as at times he looked like he had trouble reading shots. He gave up several rebounds. DiSalvo looks like an average OHL starter at best.
(DiSalvo stopped 20 of 23 shots)

Ben O’Quinn - #22 - C - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 185lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: I can’t seem to help but always find myself impressed with Ben O’Quinn most games, especially where he came from being a 4th line/pk guy with 5 mins per game last year at this time. Jordan Hill may have scored the winning goal, but this play was created off the stick of Ben O’Quinn. He passed it through the sticks and skates of 4 players and threaded the needle right onto the stick of Hill to tap it into an open net. Earlier O’Quinn set up what was at the time the go ahead goal with a perfect pass to Hill, the point shot was going in however Kerbashian helped that out. O’Quinn was out there several times in critical defensive moments including the final 1:10 of the 3rd period with a one goal lead. I have a hard time not seeing O’Quinn getting drafted, based on the way he’s been playing game to game for Sarnia. Great hands, will never be a big time scorer, but they are good enough to make him a contributor on the 3rd line of some NHL team one day.
(O’Quinn had 2A)

Miroslav Preisinger - #28 - C - YOB: 1991 - 6‘0” - 175lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Oct/15/09: So much for Preisinger being labeled a playmaker only. About half a period before Preisinger’s phantom high stick that sent Burmistrov into a seizure on tlhe ice, Preisinger collected up a drop pass and absolutely sniped a laser to the top shelf over DiSalvo’s glove hand, very few goaltenders would have been able to catch up to that. Opinions on Preisinger are hit or miss, but the fact remains he does own a good shot, can threat perfect passes through traffic, and is one of the most devastating import players physically in the OHL. How this season goes for him should be very interesting, but he does have a very real chance of getting picked up this year by an NHL team.
(1G, 2PIM)

Adam Courchaine - #1 - C - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 185lbs.
NHL: Signed by Boston as a free agent in 2007
Report: Oct/15/09: This was Sarnia’s first look at Courchaine in a home game after his fight last week in Saginaw. Courchaine looked shaky at first giving up an early goal and almost giving up a few more in the 1st, but once he settled in he looked excellent. He had perfect positioning, and the quickness to cover up just in time, at times it almost looked like he wanted to make the second save dramatic. Rebounds were really the only issue in his game. Also has an awkward glove hand where he keeps it close to his waist almost like there’s one of those stretch ropes attached to it, it usually doesn’t leave his side, and when it does it’s nothing dramatic, but he made several good saves with it, so I guess whatever works. Overall Courchaine was great under pressure, as I mentioned rebounds were an issue but he did an outstanding job on the 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th chances that would develop from them. He could be a huge trade asset for the Sting, maybe even to a team like Barrie who seems to be having issues with DiSalvo. If the goaltenders were on different sides, this would have likely been a 6-1 win for Barrie. I have to say I’m very impressed with Sarnia’s new goaltender, and although his style is a little unnerving at times, and does worry me despite the performance, he should be able to keep Sarnia in every game.
(Courchaine stopped 33 of 35 shots)

RY

Ryan Yessie's Sarnia Sting Season Preview

After a season that surprised many outside of the Lambton County area, the Sting are once again predicted to become basement dwellers. They will be without the firepower or Arniel, Martin, DiBenedetto, Katic, and the stellar goaltending of Dan Spence. Some questions are still out there such as which OA's will Sarnia use? Will Adam Courchaine show up to steal a few games, or is he taking the AHL route? Although standings wise the Sting are less than 50/50 to so much as take the 8th spot in the Western Conference, there are some interesting prospects on the horizon. Sarnia could logically see anywhere from 2-5 players drafted in the 2010 NHL Entry draft. They already have 3 players to watch for the 2011 draft, as well as a potential 1st rounder in the 2012 NHL draft, that should all be in their line-up this season. This will be a trying season for Sting fans, but the future looks very, very bright.

FORWARDS

Ted Brithen - was one of the best players in the Swedish junior ranks. Turning 19 it's no secret Brithen would like to take a shot at the NHL, why else would a good 19 year old swede want to play in the OHL? Brithen has shown explosive speed and offensive skillset so far in camp, and is a question mark but after all the 19 year old players drafted this year, it should be interesting to see how Brithen's skillset translates to a top 6 forward spot on an OHL club.

Kale Kerbashian - has shown flashes of NHL draft worthy skills, unfortunately his size combined with his inconsistencies have prevented him from getting drafted thus far. Needless to say 2009-2010 the year before Kerbaishan becomes an overager is a critical year if he wants to pursue a professional career, and Sarnia's lack of offensive talent this year may be exactly what Kerbashian needs to get every opportunity to show what he's capable of.

Michael Neal (DAL) - Neal's potential OHL status is still up in the air. He will be an OA, which Sarnia has several of, and at the end of the year he didn't look like he'll be sticking around. Working during the summer with his older brother NHLer James Neal, has apparently proven invaluable. Shockingly Neal has reportedly been one of Dallas' top prospects in the Traverse City tournament. This could mean a potential spot on the Iowa Stars in the AHL, or if he returns to the OHL this massive improvement from just 5 months ago could secure him a spot on the Sting.

Miroslav Preisinger - Preisinger showed flashes of NHL potential during his rookie year in the OHL, but not enough to get drafted. That didn't stop Preisinger from reinventing himself during the later part of the season. Once timid, afraid of contact and playing without intensity, Preisinger has shown amazing passing skills, as well as some ability to finish. Also he seems to be a gifted hitter, something sting fans would have never expected watching his first few games. Evidence of this is when he layed out gritty forward Michael Latta with a clean open ice hit, that left him down for several minutes. If he can take his added ice time and show off his offensive skills while still playing with an edge, NHL teams might be willing to line up to draft this Slovak.

Ben O'Quinn - No one player improved during the 2008-2009 season than Ben O'Quinn. Mostly a marginal player with PK time to start the year, O'Quinn took advantage of some injuries, suspensions and World U-17 tournament as an opportunity to show his talents back in the OHL. O'Quinn finished the year paired with Arniel most of the time and either Justin DiBenedetto or Matt Martin. It should be interesting to see if O'Quinn can show off his skills again without quite as talented linemates. If so, and combined with his great defensive awareness O'Quinn could see himself drafted next summer.

Brett Ritchie - He won't be eligible untill 2011 but Ritchie already has power forward size at 6'3" - 190. Ritchie will be interesting to watch, and should show off some great talent. He has goal scoring prowess and is willing to play very physical. In fact he could be a step up from a similar player Sarnia took in last year's 1st round, Greg Sutch.

Brandon Francisco - A sure fire first rounder, Francisco isn't eligible to be drafted untill 2012 but he's certainly got to be highly regarded for that draft. Francisco shows off amazing speed and arguably has the best hands of anyone drafted in this year's OHL draft. Francisco was a goal scoring machine and it should be very interesting to see how Francisco can contribute as a major part of a rebuilding team in Sarnia.

Joseph (J.C.) Campagna - Not a name that jumps out, but Campagna left Ohio to play for Sarnia this summer. So far in camp he's played amazing showing decent speed, good awareness in the offensive zone, and on a small team this 6'1" 16 year old centerman brings some much needed size to the line-up. Campagna isn't eligible untill 2011 but he's certainly a player to watch for this upcoming season.

DEFENCEMEN

Nathan Chiarlitti - Going into the 2010 draft Sarnia has two defencemen who are prett much locks to get drafted if not in the top 60. Chiarlitti is one of those two, and personally i think has the edge at this point on Rogalski. If you live in Sarnia and see the press conferneces, posters, pocket schedules you'll notice that with Stamkos, Martin, DiBenedetto, Arniel and Katic gone from this recent Sting era that Nathan Chiarlitti is now the face of this franchise. Although he only put up 1 point last year, Chiarlitti put up multiple points in the short U-17 tournament last winter. I should be noted that Chiarlitti was behind several veterans on the depth chart and was not a lock to make the Sting. Chairlitti made the team as a 3rd pairing defenceman due to showing poise and patience beyond his years, as well as being very coachable in terms of his role on the team. Chairlitti was primarily used to play a safe defensive game. Now as a top 4 defenceman on this team, Chiarlitti is expected to produce much more offensively, and still be a rock on the defensive end. Chiarlitti doesn't posess the speed that Rogalski does, but he has outstanding positioning at all times on the ice and willingness to do what it takes to win.

Joe Rogalski - Rogalski has been considered for a while to be one of the top 5 defenceman to be drafted out of the OHL. That may become top 6 depending on how you look at it with the addition of Cam Fowler to the O, but Rogalski has ideal size (6'3") and has amazing speed, sometimes looking Katic-esque on the rush (litearlly, becasue their numbers were similar at 71 and 74 sometimes you couldn't tell). This speed, and size will be Rogalski's ticket to the NHL as he is a lock to get drafted. The only knock on Rogalski is that even with all these skills he's played 2 seasons and hasn't stood out on a consistent basis. That may all change this year, Rogalski is expected to be the #2 defenceman teaming up with physical and solid defensive overager Jordan Hill on the top defensive pairing, which will really allow Rogalski to show off his talents.

GOALTENDING

Adam Courchaine (BOS) - Courchaine is expected to make the AHL Providence Bruins, however if he returns he will be the starting goaltender for the Sting this season. If he returns the Boston prospect will have alot to prove as an overager with this team.

Shayne Campbell - Campbell was a late pick in the 2008 OHL Priority selection, but suprised many by making the team. Campbell will rely on his lightning quick reflexes, and his ideal size. Some feel Campbell doesn't have what it takes to be a full time starter in the OHL but Campbell has shown the potential last year at times to not only to be a starter, but to be a guy who could steal games on a consistent basis. Personally he reminds me alot of Atlanta goaltending prospect Chris Carrozzi in style and skillset. Campbell is not eligible untill 2011 so he has plenty of time to show what he's capable of.

RY

Thoughts on London vs. Sarnia from November 1

Ryan Yessie was able to catch the Knights vs. the Sting last night and has shared with us his thoughts on a few particular players. For the record, Sarnia shut out London 5-0.

Sarnia Players
Miroslav Presinger (NHL: 2009 Eligible)
Report: Nov/1/08: I have to report on this guy again, becasuse i'm really impressed with his progression. It reminds me of when Tlusty came to the SOO two years ago and struggled then found his game and took off, Presinger showed off great speed and great skill in rushing the puck up the ice, early indications show that he could be one of the few European players with great raw skill that would rather get an assist than a goal. He earned two hard working assists tonight on the first two goals, first driving to the net which created the scoring chance to get the goal. The second assist he showed superior stick handling drove to the net then dropped the pass off. the goaltender did not have much of a chance on the second goal. (Preisinger had 2A, 2PIM)

Michael Neal (NHL: Dallas 5th rd/149th Overall)
Report: Nov/1/08: There could be some hope for this kid yet. After missing nearly the entire memorial cup run season with the Belleville Bulls with a broken leg. Neal was traded to Sarnia for a draft pick a few games into the season. Tonight he banged home his first goal of the season, which should have come earlier if not some great saves the past few games. Neal like his brother James is a very big Power Forward type player. He doesn't fight like his brother however he can sure throw the body like him. Neal looks like he could turn into a solid 3rd line player who has good hands, good hockey sense and a physical element. If he can learn how to fight, considering his size and skill I think that would go a long way in helping him along in his pro career but looks like a safe pick-up by Dallas, however probably won't make it onto the top 2 lines in the NHL. (Neal had 1G, 2PIM)

London Players
Kale Kerbashian (NHL: Eligible in 2009, born in 1990)
Report: Nov/1/08: Kerbashian impressed me with his speed, quickness throughout this game. On a London team that came out very flat in a big rivalry game between London/Sarnia, Kerbashian stood out among his teammates. He was constantly racing up and down the ice, he created probably half of the chances the Knights had (which were few and far between) and played responsible defensive hockey, I think it will be interesting to see how he progresses this year, because he looks like a legitimate NHL prospect.

Nazem Kadri (NHL: Eligible in 2009)
Report: Nov/1/08: I felt i needed to report on Kadri since he is viewed as a top 10 pick this year. However he was unnoticeable almost the entire game. He created a good scoring chance int he 3rd, and displayed some good puck handling abilities, and did well on the penalty kill when he was out there. I saw Kadri alot last year and he impressed me, and I really believe he is a lock for the top 10, but he definately looked like he took the night off tonight.

Michael Zador (NHL: Eligible in 2009)
Report: Nov/1/08: Zador showed a few flashes of why he is highly reguarded, but I think sitting on the bench for extended periods of time has really affected his play when he goes in, he's shown at other levels when he plays every night he's very effective, but he looked off his game at times tonight letting in 2 bad goals. (Zador stopped 25 of 30 shots)

Ryan Yessie will likely be back with a report for us later day or tomorrow on the Plymouth Whalers vs. Sarnia.

By the way, anyone wishing to reach Ryan can do so at rydogg4life@hotmail.com

Thoughts on October action by a new contributor

Alright folks, in an effort to make this blog the most comprehensive it can be, I've brought in another person to provide his thoughts on OHL action. His name is Ryan Yessie and he's a Sarnia Sting fan. He's also an avid OHL follower and he's someone who's opinion on OHL prospects I greatly trust. I hope you enjoy reading his posts!

Here are some thoughts from Ryan on a few October games he was able to catch.

October 10. - Sarnia vs. Windsor



Miroslav Preisinger (NHL: 2009 Eligible)
Report: Oct/10/08: Preisinger has really brought his game to another level since having a very slow start this year. At first it looked like he didn’t have the skill to keep up, after being a player considered to be picked in the first round of this years draft, his play was alittle disappointing. He was easy to knock off the puck, and seemed afraid of physical contact, as well he wouldn’t shoot the puck. Tonight Preisinger played at high speeds most of the night and made a picture perfect pass to set up a goal in the 3rd period. For what it’s worth E.J. Maguire was at the game and about 5 ft. away from myself when the goal went in.. it looked like he couldn’t take his notebook out fast enough and began to write something down seconds after the goal. (Preisinger had 1A)

Ryan Ellis (NHL: 2009 Eligible)
Report: Oct/10/08: Ellis looks like the real deal, skates quickly and accelerates in his first few strides effortlessly. Great positioning defensively. He isn’t going to wow anyone with his defensive ability, but they are much better than the average offensive defenceman. Ellis showed great puck moving skills, could work on his shot power, but that will develop as he gets stronger. (Ellis had 1A, 2PIM)

Taylor Hall (NHL: 2009 Eligible)
Report: Oct/10/08: It’s amazing that Hall is still going to be in the OHL one more year, he along with Katic were easily the fastest skaters on the ice tonight. Hall plays a lot like Stamkos, just does everything at such a high speed, he doesn’t look quite up to par with what Stamkos was in his two years in the OHL overall, but Hall without question belongs in the same class. (Hall had 1G, 1A)

October 11. - Sarnia vs. Saginaw

Cody Sol (NHL: 2009 Eligible)
Report: Oct/11/08: Sol looked pretty good out there overall, big defenceman, doesn’t use his size physically that well, but uses it well positionally. Very smooth skater, very impressive for someone his age. Unfortunately he left near the end of the 1st period and didn’t return. Don’t expect much offensive output from him. But he could be a good reliable defenceman as time goes on.

Jordan Szwarz (NHL: 2009 Eligible)
Report: Oct/11/08: Szwarz looked very impressive. Great puck skills, and decent speed, moved the puck well and has a good accurate shot. Playing on the top line with Combs. He looked like the best forward on the team tonight. Not sure where he projects but he’s the kinda player you could steal in the 4th or 5th round. (Szwarz had 1G,1A)

T.J. Brodie (NHL: Calgary 4th rd/114th overall)
Report: Oct/11/08: Brodie looked like he really improved from training camp. Plays with an extra jump in his game than he had last year. Doesn’t shy away from initiating physical contact, great puck movement and played well in both ends of the ice. Most improved player on Saginaw from last year hands down. (Brodie had 1G,1A)

Shayne Campbell (NHL: Eligible in 2011)
Report: Oct/11/08: 15 year old goaltender that made the team for the Sting. Looked very impressive in two games against Windsor, and one against Saginaw. However after sitting out 3 games in a row and not being given much time ahead of the overagers Hache seems to have lost some of his confidence. Made a few impressive saves, but also let in some goals that he would have had in his first 3 games. Campbell still has plenty of time, but as it stands Sarnia is not handling his development properly. (Stopped 26 of 31 shots)

October 17. - Sarnia vs. Oshawa



John Tavares (NHL: Eligible in 2009)
Report: Oct/17/08: Tavares looks like a top pick in the draft, he has impressive lateral movement, he seems to always make the right decisions with the puck, and is almost impossible to move from the front of the net, when he is moved he always seems to find the right spot. He isn’t going to dominate with speed and skill like Hall or Stamkos, instead he has remarkable positioning, great puck movement, and a hard accurace shot with a quick release. However if Taylor Hall was in the draft this year, I believe he would go ahead of Tavares. (Tavares had 1G, 1A)

Brett Parnham (NHL: Eligible in 2009, but 1989 born)
Report: Oct/17/08: Parnham scored a highlight reel goal in this game, great stick handling ability made this goal happen. He has a good shot and nice offensive instincts. However Parnham is likely to be a long shot to be an NHL prospect because he lacks size, abandons his defensive responsibilities too much, as well he has a bad shot selection sometimes trying to get a near impossible goal rather than passing it up to create a scoring opportunity for his team. (Parnham had 2G)

Joe Rogalski (NHL: Eligible in 2010)
Report: Oct/17/08: Rogalski is a late birthday so he won’t go till next year, but does have an outside shot at being a 1st round pick. His defensive positioning is very impressive and he does seem to have some good offensive skills as well, he moved the puck very well tonight and is very composed and doesn’t appear to make many mistakes. (Rogalski had 1A)

October 18. - Sarnia vs. Barrie



Stefan Della Rovere (NHL: Washington 7th rd/204th overall)
Report: Oct/18/08: Della Rovere has great quickness on the ice, he is very hard to knock off the puck as well. Got in a fight with Daniel Lombardi and it wasn’t even a contest, Della Rovere won the fight easily, however it should be noted that Lombardi separated his shoulder at one point of this fight. He was called on by Matt Martin to fight in the second but refused, so Martin clocked one of his teammates with a cross-check which lured Stefan into a second fight, he didn’t fair as well, if a win would be given it would have got to Martin but it would have been a very narrow one at that. Della Rovere did a good job of staying out of the box after this, and scored a very nice goal to keep his team in it for the time being. Sting players did attempt to lure Della Rovere into the 3rd fight which would have accompanied a game misconduct but used good judgement to stay in the game. Della Rovere scored a Gordie Howe hat-trick in the losing cause. (Della Rovere had 1G, 1A, 10 PIM)

Peter DiSalvo (NHL: Eligible in 2009)
Report: Oct/18/08: DiSalvo played decent early but it appeared the nerves of playing against his old team in his former home arena caught up to him, as he let in a few bad goals, uncharacteristic of the year he’s had so far. DiSalvo showed good positioning at times. DiSalvo was pulled halfway through the game. (DiSalvo stopped 19 of 23 shots)

Michael Hutchinson (NHL: Boston 3rd rd/77th overall)
Report: Oct/18/08: Hutchinson came in for DiSalvo and played very solid, had several highlight reel saves. Great positioning, uses the butterfly appropriately knowing when to go down and when to stay up. Quick glove hand and was good on the breakaway. (Hutchinson stopped 10 of 11 shots)

October 24. - Sarnia vs. Ottawa



Thomas Nesbitt (NHL: Eligible in 2009, 1990 born)
Report: Oct/24/08: Nesbitt played very impressively he had great speed, and seemed to affect the game every time he was on the ice, he made two very nice passes to set up two goals in tonights game. Was passed over last year, but could be a good sleeper pick in the late rounds this year as his game seems to have improved from last year. Very quick skater. (Nesbitt had 1G, 2A, 2PIM)

RYAN YESSIE