NHL Prospect Watch: Matt Auffrey Ana
Matt Auffrey (Ana), RW, Kitchener
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The Anaheim sixth-round selection made his OHL debut recently against the Plymouth Whalers after leaving the University of Wisconsin.
Auffrey, a sophomore, had played sparingly on a deep Badgers' lineup and decided to pursue Canadian Major Junior A as he was a third-round pick of the Kitchener Rangers in the 2002 OHL Priority Selection.
The native of Evan Mills, New York is a big-framed forward who provides the Rangers with a little more size up front as well as a surplus of forwards, almost guaranteeing a player will be sent to the Kitchener Dutchman, Jr.B
Kitchener coach and GM Peter DeBoer tried to make him feel right at home and perhaps renew Auffrey's confidence, which had sagged through an injury-filled freshman campaign last season in Madison. DeBoer played him on the top line with Evan McGrath (Det) and Mike Duco, however Auffrey showed that he will need time to get used to the pace of the OHL.
He protects the puck well and displayed good strength along the boards. His skating is decent though nothing explosive. A number of times he tried to beat defenders with his outside ability but to no avail.
Auffrey showed his inexperience in this contest, no doubt still getting used to the new players and the different rules. Some of his choices were not the most optimal and he will need to work hard on developing his decision-making skills based on this debut.
Auffrey did get his first OHL marker two nights later in a 4-2 loss to the Guelph Storm.
