CCHL Prospect Watch

McKeen's Director of Scouting David Burstyn, looks at several prospects from the Orangeville Crushers and Burlington Cougars who have college commitments. Alex Guptill, considered one of the better 2010 NHL-draft-eligible-prospects to be playing in the CCHL, Nick Quinn, Patrick Koudys and Mark Luzar are featured.

Alex Guptill (2010), LW, Orangeville

Comitted to Michigan, Guptill following a sensational rookie season that saw him pot 30 goals and an appearance at the World Jr. A challenge earlier this season has received considerable praise and is considered one of the better NHL-draft-eligible-prospects to be playing in the CCHL .. Guptill was involved in a three-way trade that saw him land in Orangeville and is being coached by Dale Hawerchuk - an NHLer Hall-of-Famer .. Guptill is averaging close to two points a game since the trade .. he brings a lot of speed to his game and is dynamic with the puck when he has room .. he tends to operate too much on the perimeter and does not force plays up the middle or drive wide to the goal .. at this point, he relies more on his first-step quickness and offensive instincts to get into position to exercise his hair-trigger release .. an injury to Steven Byers (separated shoulder) has seen him skate with a set of different wingers, but coach Hawerchuk has done his best to keep him with Nicolas Vassos - a creative and quick playmaker .. Guptill has a great second and third gear, however he does not commit himself to the defensive zone .. he sees no time on the PK but is the first player over the bench on the PP .. his play without the puck raises some question marks, as he tends to react to plays rather than set up positionally .. not many stop and starts to his game, as he takes wide loops to get back into plays .. physically he is rather slendor, at 6-foot-2, he offers good height but there is not much to his frame, therefore he does not initiate many hits and if he does he rarely dislodges a player off the puck .. Guptill is a natural finisher who relies heavily on others to get him the puck .. his speed allows him to get behind defenders and creates many of his opportunities .. his game should mature under coach Berenson, as he will be more accountable for his actions.

Nick Quinn (2010), D, Orangeville

Comitted to RPI, Quinn has flourished since being released from the Dixie Beehives to start the season, a team that finished 18 games below .500 .. the lack of depth on the backend thrust him into many situations, which has helped his overall game .. started the year with the Aurora Tigers playing under his father but when his dad was dismissed as the coach due to a difference in coaching philosophies he sat out awaiting a trade .. was acquired by Orangeville, on one of the better teams in the CCHL and sees plenty of icetime .. plays a safe, economical game, as he does not gamble with the puck .. constantly has his head up to survey his options .. finds his outlets and plays an error-free game .. his skating has improved since minor, as it is more polished and crisp .. not a burner, he is fairly agile and solid in all directions .. his defensive awareness is good but he could be more aggressive in his angling, as he tends to retreat a tad early .. imposing his will physically is not his game but he does offer good size to smother forwards, however he has yet to incorporate that in his game .. sees time on the point to QB the PP .. his offensive skills are maturing and he could make a decent second-unit PP defender in College .. the former 21st overall selection in the 2008 OHL draft (Sudbury Wolves) has a good set of tools to draw from and the extra years of maturing at the College level should help round out his overall game.

Patrick Koudys (2011), D, Burlington

Comitted to RPI, Koudys has good hockey bloodlines as his father was a standout player for the Sudbury Wolves and was a former NY Islanders pick in the 1982 draft .. a fluid defenseman who exhibits absolutely no panic to his game .. gives his defense partner an out and supports the play well defensively .. curls back and is patient with the puck in order to find an option .. not a gifted skater in terms of overall speed but he is swift and knows where to be, which helps him .. plays with his head on a swivel and executes first passes hard and with accuracy .. has a good offensive package, equipped with a potent slapshot .. has benefitted from the confidence given to him by coach Jooris, as his offensive totals have spiked considerably from last year as a member of the Welland Tigers (GOJHL) .. should make a very serviceable depth defenseman with the potential to play in all situations at the College level.

Mark Luzar (2011), D, Burlington

Comitted to Havard, Luzar would have gone considerably higher in the OHL draft had he not made his school intentions clear early last season .. originally drafted by the Battalion in the ninth round, Luzar offers a nice blend of size and skating ability .. is behind a solid core of defensemen so he has not gotten substantial icetime .. very raw and unconfident with the puck .. his strengths lie in his mobility and ability to stay with plays using his size to contain and angle players .. Luzar should see his icetime increase next year and with that his overall game should improve.