OHL [Apr-06]: Western Power Houses Collide

Bad Blood: Western Power Houses Collide (posted 4.27.06)

by David Burstyn

In a re-match of last years opening round Western play off series the London Knights and Guelph Storm are set to engage in the Western Conference finals. There is certainly no love lost between these two teams which has made the series that much more exciting.

McKeen's was on hand for game two of the series which saw the powerful London Knights fall by a 7-1 score and Guelph even the series at a game a piece. We take a look at many star players on both teams.

David Bolland (Chi), C, London

Could have been his worst game yet in the playoff as he was on the ice for the first four goals .. plays a smart positional game but tried to do too much when his team was down resulting in many costly turn overs in the neutral zone, to his credit he did recover well and actually help to prevent a goal .. his defensive play is a strength on most nights as he does not over commit to the puck carrier and does a good job angling in coming forwards .. tough as nails as he laid out some nice body checks and continues to add weight to his modest frame .. good hard shot and able to create many offensive chances .. a poor game, Bolland has been nothing short of spectacular this playoff as he leads the league with 12 goals despite missing four games to a suspension in the second round .. he is a clutch player and performs better when all the chips are on the table, look for him to rebound in the third game. OHL regular season totals (59gp, 57-73-130)

Robbie Drummond (2006), RW, London

Really managed to elevate his game in Bolland's absence as he saw key minutes on the PP which resulted in many goals .. great acceleration and quick feet allow him to jump on loose pucks .. he can finish as his eight goals attest too .. always buzzing around and moving when the puck is not on his stick and is instrumental in creating turnovers. OHL regular season totals (54gp, 14-13-27)

David Jarram (2006), D, London

Does not receive many minutes however did in this contest because the game was so out of reach for the Knights .. a big smooth skating defender who likes to rush the play and carry the puck deep inside the zone .. has a lot of confidence and is not afraid to try things .. has a tendency to get caught up the ice .. tends to be overly aggressive which results in costly penalties. OHL regular season totals (48gp, 1-1-2)

Jordan Foreman (2006), C, London

A small feisty player who readily dishes out body checks and can absorb them pretty well too .. is not afraid to hurl himself at players who are considerably bigger than himself .. leader in PIM for the Knights in the playoffs, he is the energy guy on the squad .. short stride which generates good speed on the straightaway .. he works hard for his minutes and his scoring chances. OHL regular season totals (68gp, 29-26-55)

Ryan Martinelli (2006), D, London

One of the bigger defenders in the league at 6'5 .. he has solid mobility and lateral movement and with his long stride is able to stay with rushing forwards all the way .. valuable in killing penalties as his recovery skills and backwards skating make him almost impossible to beat one-on-one .. gets in the way of passing lanes and blocks shots .. plays a solid defensive game and at times rushes the play to create and open up options in the offensive zone, very rarely though .. an underrated player who has improved considerably and has been rewarded additional ice as a result. OHL regular season totals (66gp, 2-8-10)

Michael Caruso (2006), D, Guelph

Caruso is a tad on the inconsistent side and you are never quite sure what type of player you are going to get from night to night .. when he is on he is capable of making smart plays and not over handling the puck, game #2 thankfully he was "on" for the Storm .. made a great move to go to the net and score his first career playoff goal .. logged huge minutes on the PK and helped to kill off many penalties against a formidable Knights PP .. decent shot but lacks accuracy .. puck handling skills are average as he is better when he distributes the puck off immediately .. his game will need to stay at a consistent level if the Storm are going to be successful. OHL regular season totals (66gp, 1-15-16)

Ryan Pottruff (Car), D, Guelph

A reliable stay-at-home defender who has an elegant stride .. cool, calm presence on the back end as he has no panic point and always seems to be able to make passes to get out of trouble .. solid mobility and decent lateral movement .. offensively he can charge up the ice but has little offensive jam, his bread and butter seems to be his defensive play as he is able to eliminate players in the zone with effective skating and gapping abilities .. does not play outside his limits which has made him very successful in Coach Barr's system. OHL regular season totals (57gp, 4-15-19)

Matt Kennedy (2007), RW, Guelph

A smart player who has not looked out of place since his call up at the start of the playoffs .. jerky skater as he lacks first speed quickness and takes a few strides to get going .. quick wrist shot that he gets off in traffic .. 3rd line utility player who has short limited shifts .. game is still raw, however playoff experience should ease the transition for next year when he becomes a regular in the Storm line up. OHL regular season totals (13gp, 1-0-1)

Matt D'Agostini (Mtl), RW, Guelph

Leading point producer exploded in contest with a five point (2-3-5) performance .. was every where on the ice as his game is oozing with confidence .. creates room and scoring opportunities as he drives wide and is able to make a quick centring feed .. protects the puck well and shows patience in making plays .. his shot is deadly and accurate, scored a beautiful wrist shot goal coming down the wing and does not hesitate to shoot when an opening presents itself .. a special team's threat he is capable of scoring on the PP and the PK .. his line simply dominated all game and if he can generate repeat performances like this one, he will be very hard to maintain. OHL regular season totals (66gp, 25-54-79)

Ryan MacDonald (2006), G, Guelph

Could quite possibly be the quickest goalie in the league .. his reflexes are lightning fast .. technically sound, he is very compact but makes the best out of his size to cover as much net as he can .. cool, never panics in his crease and looks comfortable kicking out rebounds to players in front .. adequate rebound control .. decent stick handler .. guilty of challenging the shooter too much as he was caught out of position for only goal he surrendered in the game .. steady play on the back-end gives his whole team confidence as they know he will always come up big and make the first save. OHL regular season totals (57gp, 2.57 GAA & 0.907 Sv%, 35wins, 15 losses, 1otl)

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

The fact that he is able to log as many PP minutes as he has as a rookie blueliner this late into the season is remarkable .. his poise with the puck in the offensive zone is something that can not be taught .. he's registered 12 points, all of them assists, in 13 playoff games .. does not shoot as much as he should he prefers to make clever players with the puck .. decision making at times in the defensive zone can be frustrating, not getting the puck deep enough into the zone, little chip passes along the boards that are easily intercepted or throwing it up the middle however with a player of his inexperience these types of lapses are a given .. this playoff experience should really help to groom him for future playoff series when he is the leader on the backend and help him to understand what will be expected of him. OHL regular season totals (65gp, 5-28-33)

Kelsey Wilson (2006), LW, Guelph

Late bloomer is making a strong case for NHL draft consideration .. carried his strong play into the playoffs and got his first career playoff hat trick .. receipt of many nice passes, Wilson put himself in areas to score and was able to capitalize on his chances .. works hard and is not afraid to get physical .. Wilson has the determination and the heart to make it to the next level. OHL regular season totals (67gp, 38-31-69)

Knights try to defend Castle (posted 4.21.06)

by David Burstyn

The London Knights are set to embark on defending their Memorial Cup title, a feat that has not been accomplished since the Kamloops Blazers did it back in 1995. The Knights eliminated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in four games in the opening round and are currently engaged in second round action against the Owen Sound Attack.

McKeen's was on hand for game #3 in which the Owen Sound Attack took a two to one series lead. The series took a different complexion when David Bolland was suspended for four games after a kicking incident that took place in game two. Mckeen's profiles many of the drafted players on the London Knights roster and evaluates their performances.

Matt Pelech (Cgy), D, London

A first round pick of the Calgary Flames, Pelech was acquired earlier in the season in an attempt to strengthen the back end .. a big solid mobile defender whose skating skills are his biggest strength .. very agile on his feet and has a swift stride .. his large frame makes it very hard for forwards to beat him one-on-one .. despite his size he is not mean or overly physical .. he has good gapping skills and decent defensive positioning and is very calm in the defensive zone .. he lacks the puck skills to be effective on the PP and rarely if ever jumps into or launches a play .. his shots on the net are usually relatively weak and are meant for a forward to knock in the rebound in front .. Flames management has thought enough of Pelech to bring in some outside coaching to help and aid in his development however another year of junior seems very likely.

Trevor Kell (Chi), RW, London

Is used primarily on the PK as he is a solid two-way player who has learned the defensive nuances of the game .. smart positionally in all three zones .. is not the type of player to look for offensive chances rather he hangs back and is the type of player that will shut the opposition down .. recovers nicely and always come back to take care of defensive duties .. his offensive totals are modest but surely indicate that he does not have much offensive jam .. fluid and decent skating stride but no real second gear separation .. makes smart plays in the offensive zone however does not get into the zone too deep for fear of getting beat the other way .. has been instrumental to coach Hunter in many situations late in games to help preserve one goal leads.

Josh Beaulieu (Phi), LW, London

A player with a mean streak .. he plays with an edge and it is not uncommon for him to engage in the physical side of the game .. he didn't really improve on his offensive totals this season .. he has limited offensive prowess as he lacks effective decision making while in possession of the puck.. has been under used on occasion however he does see some PP time with the first unit .. decent speed however he has a swaying motion that may prohibit him from being faster.

Sergei Kostitsyn (Mtl), RW, London

A very crafty and highly offensive player .. his puck distribution skills are top notch as he makes timely passes all the time that are precise and create odd man rushes .. often plays the point on the PP due to his passing abilities .. he has quick hands and is tricky to play one-on-one as he has a wide selection of moves .. fast wrist shot in the slot .. when he crosses into the offensive zone he is very shifty and hard to contain he creates much time and space for himself which enables his team mates to get into better position .. defensively is a side of his game that could use some improvement as he is usually the last player to lumber back into the zone .. should be able to play at the AHL level and may be a nice addition to the Hamilton BullDogs playing along side his older brother.

Adam Dennis (Buf), G, London

An extremely quick and agile goalie .. he drops to the butterfly and recovers with ease .. he maintains good balance when making the first save and is always in good position to make another save if need be .. he smothers the puck always and has exceptional rebound control .. solid lateral movement as he covers the bottom portion of the net with his effective skating stride .. his stick handling is average .. despite the fact that he lost the game, two of the three goals scored against him were with a man advantage .. he gives his team an opportunity to win every night and was named the top goalie in the OHL as a result.

Dylan Hunter (Buf), C, London

Captain of this team gets plenty of ice time with his dad being behind the bench .. decent speed but no explosive quickness .. is guilty of pushing too hard to create offensive that is just no there as he forces passes or stays too long in the offensive zone not being able to recover when the play changes direction .. he is capable of working hard to get back as was evidenced on one shift when he clearly coughed up the puck and did not want to get scored against however he needs to play with that sense of urgency all the time .. defensively ha makes many errors, is not overly strong or does not have the foot speed to keep up with some of the better more talented players in the league .. not one of his best games as he finished the night with a minus three rating.

Scott Aarssen (2006), D, London

Is a relatively small defenseman who lacks the strength to remove players from in front of the goal .. he has good quick feet and makes decent decisions with the puck .. offensively he can get his shot off fast and towards the goal .. he is still learning on the job as he was caught pinching and relied on the help of his defence partner to bail him out .. showed a good understanding in one-on-one coverage as he played a streaking Bobby Ryan perfectly in the latter stages of the game electing to play the man as opposed to the puck .. while London's back end is not overly strong his game has matured and he has emerged as one of the go-to-guys on the back end resulting in increased minutes as coach Hunter seems very impressed with his play.

Adam Perry (2006), LW, London

Was one of very few Knights forwards that played every game this season and averaged more than a point a game .. started this contest out very slow as it seemed he could not keep up but settled down as the game carried on .. is the type of player that will compete and fight for pucks anywhere on the ice .. has really blossomed into a finisher and has managed to be an effective contributor in the playoffs .. he has a good shot and more importantly he anticipates well to create his chances whether they be on 5 on 5 or PP situations .. at times can be lazy on the back check but has enough diligence to pick up a man and stay with him .. his skating is a tad choppy but he does get good speed.

Rob Schremp (Edm), C, London

Has been everything for this Knights team and he will be sorely missed next season .. he explodes into the offensive zone with a first step that may be the best in the league .. always calling for the puck and shooting .. is a tad selfish at times with the puck as he shoots often .. seems too comfortable with the puck as he often stick handles through three guys to gain the line but is so shifty in the neutral zone that he can make guys look foolish .. is a much better open ice player .. he makes plays along the boards or behind the net but gets out muscled off the puck in those areas .. seems not to want to get involved in the physical aspect of the game .. his offensive talent is head and shoulders better than most of his peers in the OHL, had it not been for a stipulation in AHL rules he most certainly would have been there .. there is no denying Schremp's creativity, skating ability and finishing skills, he actually appears to have gotten faster a trait that will make him more endearing to the Oiler's, a franchise looking for a sniper who can score timely goals.

Guelph-Saginaw Playoff Reviews (posted 4.15.06)

by David Burstyn

For the first time since their inception into the league, three years ago, the Saginaw Spirit is in the post season. They have managed to draft and develop their own talent and are finally starting to reap the benefits of their scouting staff. Led by Captain Patrick McNeill and a great supporting cast the Spirit opened their playoffs against the offensively well balanced Guelph Storm.

McKeen's was on hand for Game #3 of the series, a 4-1 victory for the Storm giving them a three games to none stranglehold on the series.

Patrick McNeill (Wsh), D, Saginaw

Captain, led all OHL blueliners with 77 points (68gp, 21-56-77) this season .. is a smart player who may still lack NHL calibre skating, but is always in the right position .. he has good mobility, yet additional speed would help .. he is strong and is able to pin players against the glass or box them to the outside and take them out of the play .. handles the puck well and orchestrates many rushes as a result of his play with the puck .. he goes to scoring areas .. makes smart plays on the line to keep the puck in the zone and find a pass that helps generate offence .. physically he has some size, standing at 6'0, however questions still remain whether or not he can elevate his game to the next level because of it.

Matthew Corrente (2006), D, Saginaw

Is a built like a tank and is as mean as a rhino .. stands guys up at the line and just not just knocks them down, but punishes them in the process .. possesses good speed and attacks the offensive zone as he always looks to contribute on a goal or score one .. makes a good first pass .. defensively he has a tendency to lose his positioning as a result of pushing too hard in the zone, chasing guys out of the box and being beaten on a quick pass .. while his status in the draft remains unclear one thing is for certain, he can play and with proper tutelage he could develop into a decent fourth NHL defenseman. (61gp, 6-24-30)

Vaclav Meidl (Nsh), LW, Saginaw

Big skater with a fluid stride and decent acceleration however his balance and pivots raise concern .. he is an up and down winger who appears to be very top heavy .. as mentioned his change of directions and turn needs work .. offensively he is able to create chances as his stick constantly gets in the way .. has a good shot and looks to use it when he can .. was competitive and showed a sense of urgency however decision making cost his team at times .. only produced 31 points (9-22-31) this season in 56 games with Plymouth and Saginaw.

Jack Combs (2006), LW, Saginaw

Is a hard worker that was used to kill penalties throughout the game as the Spirit were short handed often .. fast feet coupled with his short compact stride allowed him to chase many puck carriers as he was aggressive in his PK role .. threw his weight whenever he could but not at the sake of taking himself out of the play .. was not afraid to take abuse around the net .. offensively his skills are very raw however his committed two-way play will probably see his point totals increase substantially next season. (59gp, 11-10-21)

Zack Torquato (2007), C, Saginaw

Backed by an impressive rookie campaign, the third overall pick continued his strong play into the playoffs .. a magnificent stick handler he is able to make shifty moves, however his lack of overall strength prohibited him from going hard to the net or getting around defenders .. he needs to assert himself more physically as he backed away from finishing checks .. took a penalty out of frustration which cost his team a goal on the PP .. skating is good, however he really lacks the explosive second gear and looks sluggish at times .. his feet appear to be all over the place .. has good anticipation skills and strong offensive skill set and with a year of OHL experience under his belt he should hopefully be able to produce a good season to bolster his NHL draft stock. (65gp, 19-18-37)

Michal Birner (StL), LW, Saginaw

Shows good speed and quickness .. is a slot guy he relies on others to get him the puck and he takes advantage of his accurate, hard shot to bury goals .. he shoots from anywhere .. defensively he is reliable, however he needs the puck to be truly effective. (60gp, 31-54-85)

Tom Pyatt (NYR), C, Saginaw

Is an incredibly smart hockey player who has the ability to play a down low grind-it-out-game or an open ice game due to his hockey sense and natural offensive ability .. fast feet and strong legs is able to blow to the outside and challenges defenders constantly .. shows remarkable balance and strength in all facets of his game .. appears to have a bright future as a professional. (58gp, 24-29-53)

Ryan McDonough (2006), C, Saginaw

Led the Spirit in scoring as he has great offensive skills .. speed is his best weapon as he springs onto loose pucks and buys himself time to make a decision with it .. very dynamic and can count on his play making and shot selection to burn goalies .. showed flashes of being able to dominate the game in the early stages on the first period, unfortunately his play fizzled as the game wore on .. at 5'9 his size is a concern yet he should attract consideration, but not until the later rounds. (68gp, 39-49-88)

Kyle Wharton (CBJ), D, Guelph

Combines defensive prowess with offensive imagination and logged the most minutes of any Guelph defender .. boasts keen hockey smarts, he made many clever plays with the puck .. PP point man with a good shot .. a smooth skater who is never out of position and protects his goal .. was never caught despite his pinching, recovered nicely .. two late penalties were the only blemishes in an otherwise strong game .. should be able to compete for a defensive job in Syracuse next season as his game is very well rounded and geared for the Pro-game. (58gp, 8-30-38)

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

To receive the amount of ice time that this rookie blueliner has in the playoffs is unthinkable, however Doughty is no ordinary defenseman and on a team rich in depth at that position he certainly stands out .. is able to add an offensive element that his team mates on the back end can not provide .. shows such poise with the puck and pivots so well to elude forwards with a strong roll off move that garnered tremendous success in this game and all season for that matter .. is susceptible to rookie mistakes but playoff hockey is a learning curve that he has managed to figure out fast .. chipped in with two assists .. defensively he was able to thwart a potential breakaway by catching up to forward and diving to knock the puck away from him .. the sky is the limit as far as potential is concerned as he has two more seasons till he is drafted. (65gp, 5-28-33)

Ryan Parent (Nsh), D, Guelph

Simply put he could be one the most complete players in the OHL at his position .. his approach to the game is not flashy, rather it is simple and extremely effective .. he possesses the smarts of a seasoned NHL veteran .. smooth silky stride makes it nearly impossible to beat him one-on-one .. more physically mature than his counter parts he is able to out muscle the majority of the players in the league .. offensively he hanged back and rarely pushed or created offensive chances .. does not get beaten and/or scored against and his uncanny skating and hockey sense will see him don a Predators jersey in the next two or three seasons as a capable number three guy in the organization. (60gp, 4-17-21)

Jason Pitton (NYI), LW, Guelph

Displays good speed although his edges need work .. one of the bigger players in the league he is strong but not overly physical, does not have a mean streak in him, he did however receive a game misconduct for a charge, which was debatable .. decent offensive tools and gets into positions to score. (68gp, 28-14-42)

Rafael Rotter (2006), C, Guelph

One of the smallest players in the league, dazzles with his outstanding first step quickness and all around blazing speed .. short stick enables him to stickhandle in tight areas, however he lacks the strength to power his way to the net .. slick playmaker, made many nice passes throughout the game .. feisty as he hurled himself at bigger players and drew penalties as a result, has been criticized for diving .. it is hard not to fall in love with this player as he exhibits such passion on the ice and if his heart were measured it would be well over 7'0. (62gp, 11-36-47)

Matt D'agostini (Mtl), RW, Guelph

Is a solid offensive package as he looked dangerous in the offensive zone all game and recorded two goals as a result .. showed impressive speed when the puck was on his stick .. has a wicked release and works to get into the top of the slot to wire it .. is creative in his passing skills as he works the give and goes to perfection and has nice touch pass ability .. is also adept at holding onto the puck and surveying his options .. on the flip side he sometimes tries to do too much and is stripped of the puck. (66gp, 25-54-79)

Jamie Arniel (2008), C, Guelph

Saw limited action in the first half of the game but was used in a more effective role in the latter stages of the game as the Storm were protecting a lead .. he is very shifty and fast .. he is always moving his feet .. offensively he has not even begun to scratch the surface of what he is capable of doing .. he boasts great passing skills, the ability to get away from checkers and go to the net and has quick soft hands that can finish .. he is small but is not afraid to get his nose dirty and cycles very well .. look for next season to be his coming out party. (61gp, 11-8-19)

Attack's Playoff Mission (posted 4.11.06)

by David Burstyn

The Kitchener Rangers and Owen Sound Attack met up once again in a rematch of last year's Western Conference semi-final. The Rangers swept the Attack last season in four straight and were considered the underdogs in the series. This season the roles have been reversed yet surprisingly the Attack jumped out to a commanding two games to nothing lead before the Rangers bounced back and won game three in double overtime.

McKeen's takes a look at some of the performances in Game #3 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

Matt Lashoff (Bos), D, Kitchener

Recently signed a three-year contract with the Boston Bruins .. displays solid skating technique and has a complete set of offensive tools .. needs to be tougher and more physical as he gets pushed around way too often .. unable to clear his man in front and was guilty of not moving his feet which resulted in two goals in the first three minutes of play, one of which was thankfully called back for his sake .. improved as the game wore on, but played a very limited role in contest.

Jakub Kindl (Det), D, Kitchener

Has yet to showcase an all around game that would indicate he is worthy of a first round NHL pick .. is too soon to tell, however early indications suggest that he still has not managed to find stride in the North American game .. he is far too passive in handling rushing forwards .. very rarely will he physically assert himself due to a combination of lack of strength and it is simply not his game .. he needs to close the gap better on one-on-one's .. his play down low is an area of concern as he is unable to contain forwards against the glass.

Boris Valabik (Atl), D, Kitchener

Big, mean and nasty, he defends his team mates almost to a fault and takes costly penalties as a result .. has learned to keep his game much simpler .. sees the ice better but making plays with the puck in an offensive role is not his strong suit, fumbles the puck on occasion .. his foot work has improved as he is filling into his body slowly and has become more mobile in the process .. he still needs to focus as he is still prone too many bad shifts and unnecessary and stupid penalties and at times one has to wonder where his head is at.

Matt Auffrey (Ana), RW, Kitchener

Is a strong two-way threat .. skating has gotten better as a result of increased play since joining the OHL and effective Kitchener Ranger coaching staff .. he is ever so strong on his skates as he has a solid build and never gets knocked down .. played an emotional game but needs to be more disciplined as he did take untimely infractions .. offensive skill set is mature however at times tries to play outside his limitations and be too fancy with the puck attempting to stick handle and beat three guys instead of making simple dump in or quick feed .. frustration had set in a few shifts when he wanted to be the player to score, indicated his competitive desire, however he must me more selective in his options.

Victor Oreskovich (Col), C, Kitchener

Was a late addition to the team after his rights were acquired from the Windsor Spitfires at the trade deadline .. a strong, tall player who is very agile and fast on his feet .. appears thicker than his weight suggests but will still need to add some much needed muscle to his frame .. his skating is remarkable for his size as he really glides onto the ice covering more ice in one stride than most do in two .. great acceleration with bursts of second gear quickness .. displays impressive stick handling skills .. missed many games due to injury .. is the most naturally skilled player in entire Ranger organization.

Jean-Michel Rizk (2006), RW, Kitchener

After failing to come to terms with the Minnesota Wild, Rizk re-enters the draft this season .. he is a smart player who uses his speed as a weapon .. plays the PK and chases everyone down with his fast feet, is always the first fore checker into the zone .. has sound positional skills in all three zones as his lengthy experience in the OHL has taught him well .. supports the defenders with a strong back check .. is patient with the puck and does not rush plays .. offensively his skills are average .. displays a good attitude with an honest hard working approach to the game.

Myles Applebaum (2006), C, Kitchener

Is hoping to have a strong playoff to enhance his chances of being drafted .. good size and all around natural ability .. will scratch and claw to get his name on the score sheet .. often doing a lot of dirty work and not getting awarded an assist but determined play is instrumental in creating chances .. strong work along the boards led to Kitchener's second goal .. a fierce competitor, he will need to get tougher so he can handle his assignments better and intimidate the opposition enough to create even more room for himself.

Andrej Sekera (Buf), D, Owen Sound

The best player on the Attack .. his remarkable poise, defensive awareness and offensive savvy made him a constant threat .. scored game tying goal with a minute left in the contest on a rocket of a shot while beating Azevedo and drawing McGrath out of position to unload it .. he is very calculated in his offensive charges, when he sees a seam in the defence he goes for it .. blazing speed which is deceptive .. makes the best first pass on the team .. unbelievable puck handling skills as he shows no panic point .. took abuse and did not retaliate in a way that would be detrimental to his team rather played through it and burned the Rangers on the score sheet .. has got tremendous Pro upside as he can control the game at this level and will be honing his craft very shortly in the NHL.

Bob Sanguinetti (2006), D, Owen Sound

Played a conservative game .. very passive in his approach to this game as he did not want to be responsible for surrendering a goal .. handled the puck less than he usually does and distributed it faster up the ice .. smooth skating allowed him to be effective on the PP but did not register any points .. his confidence level in the playoffs is rising as he missed the post season last year with an injury.

Theo Peckham (2006), D, Owen Sound

A hard nosed defender who did not tolerate anyone remotely close to his crease .. defensively he is fine as his nastiness scares many players from trying to make a move inside .. he struggles in his foot speed and is constantly beaten by faster forwards who get a quick jump on him, he literally can not keep up .. decision making suspect at times.

Mike Angelidis (FA), LW, Owen Sound

On the strength of his career season of posting 53 goals he should receive an invite to an NHL training camp next season .. his skating is quite raw as his stride looks awkward and his feet are not the fastest .. speed is not a necessity for the type of game he plays as he primarily moves to the front of the net and parks his big frame in front to bang away at rebounds .. has a decent shot and can finish .. rough and tough style of play make him ideal for tight close checking hockey games such as the playoffs.

Bobby Ryan (Ana), RW, Owen Sound

Always trying to make a play with the puck .. is not afraid to take offensive chances by shooting from anywhere on the ice .. shots always reach the net .. skating still seems to be a problem as he lacks the explosive first gear but is smart enough on the ice where that will not necessarily hurt at the next level .. outside speed would help him develop into a better Pro .. his stick handling abilities are in the upper echelon of the league and will be his ticket into the SHOW.

Battalion Wave Red Flag at Bulls (posted 4.9.06)

by David Burstyn

The Brampton Battalion entered the playoffs as the hottest team in the league, winners of 15 in a row. They opened up their first round playoff series against the Belleville Bulls, a team they had beaten in all four of their meetings in the regular season.

McKeen's was on hand for the opening two playoff games and files notes on several prospects for the upcoming draft and NHL drafted players.

Shawn Matthias (2006), C, Belleville

An extremely smart hockey player with a pro glide .. showed offensive imagination and even managed to convert on a short handed effort in game two .. works hard, finishing checks and is a mainstay on the PK due to his impressive skating .. goes to the net looking to tip shots .. was unsuccessful in a one-on-one attempt to beat Wolski but recovered nicely and caught up to him despite being behind two strides .. does not get beaten due to strong positional play .. good balance while unloading a shot on the move .. protects the puck very well and generally makes intelligent plays with it .. his playoff intensity has reached a new level and is improving his draft stock with his spirited play as he was clearly one of the better Bulls in the first two games.

John Hughes (2006), C, Belleville

A small, offensively creative player .. excelled in the regular season as he nearly out scored the second best offensive player on the roster by a two to one margin .. his quick feet and unbelievable stick handling and passing ability really shine in open ice .. he is able to thread the needle on most passes .. his reluctance to sacrifice his body and his inability to penetrate danger areas as well as constantly being out-muscled off the puck certainly do not weigh in his favour .. his decision making at times were debatable as he attempted to take shots while defenders were standing directly in front of him .. his skills are fully developed however physically he still needs to mature.

Matt Beleskey (2006), LW, Bellville

Has been named the assistant captain since Gibbons returned from injury .. emotional leader who is bred for playoff type intensity as he wears his heart on his sleeve .. has lots of sandpaper, as he is tough to play against .. showed no fearing going after Oreskovic .. jumps into plays and it appears as if his skating has gotten slightly better .. scored a goal by refusing to give up on a play and driving to the net, taking abuse in the process .. is used as the trigger man on the PP as his shot is hard and heavy .. still trying to fine tune his game, he shows qualities that simply can not be taught and his win at any cost attitude will be very endearing to NHL scouts.

Sebastian Dahm (2006), G, Belleville

After posting sub-par numbers in the regular season, Dahm gave his team an opportunity to win both games and managed the split .. quick reflexes and the ability to keep the puck in front of him led too many timely saves .. challenged shooters as he was able to rotate his body/feet while still staying square to the shooter .. good side to side movement as he maintained a high level of concentration in traffic and was able to smother most loose pucks .. made 47 saves in a game one overtime losing effort, however rebounded with a 43 save performance in game two to preserve a win in overtime.

Bryan Cameron (2007), C, Belleville

Limited shifts in the first two periods of game one, but saw his ice time increase in the third and considerably in game two .. did not look out of place as his slick skating and relentless work ethic kept him involved .. made strong moves in the neutral zone to gain the line as his first step quickness allowed him to attack the net .. anticipates very well as his astute positioning helped him to create many plays in the opposite direction .. his grit and offensive flair makes him a dangerous third option for Coach Burnett.

P.K. Subban (2007), D, Belleville

Was a healthy scratch for the first game however returned for the second .. tried to keep his game simple as he refrained from over handling the puck and made quick passes out of the zone .. struggles when he has the puck on his stick for prolonged periods of time and is usually stripped of it .. decision making is still a work in progress as is his vision, but he does boast good offensive capabilities and did log powerplay time as a result.

Michael Vernace (SJ), D, Brampton

One can certainly not teach the offensive talent that he possesses .. very comfortable with the puck and is the catalyst of most offensive breakouts .. he was brutally exposed down low as he was unable to contain stronger forwards .. despite his modest weight 208 and 6'0 frame he still lacks a nasty element to his game and is often out muscled along the boards .. looked fatigued when the game got physical and at one point administered a hit only to fall down and laid down for what seemed like a long time .. his 5-on-5 play needs some work as he pushes for offensive chances too much before addressing his defensive responsibilities .. skating and puck skills are top notch but some seasoning on the finer aspects of the game by higher level coaches will bolster his status as a prospect.

Aaron Snow (2006), LW, Brampton

What sets Snow apart from most players is his versatility .. he can play in any situation along side a grinder or a top line scorer .. he has developed good chemistry with Aquino and Wolski due to his smart hockey sense, not playing outside his limits, identifying and understanding his role on the team and on any particular line .. will play physical and is not afraid to get hit .. scored a goal however he will need to unleash his shot faster in the slot .. his decision making is good but he will need to be faster in order to succeed at the next level .. has showed promise and his committed two-way play compliments him as a complete player worthy of NHL draft consideration.

John DeGray (2006), D, Brampton

Not much has changed from the beginning of the season as far as his development is concerned .. his zone clearing and dump ins are much more valuable in playoff hockey .. he makes safe plays, never trying to do too much .. his skating allows him to be in the best possible defensive position as he readily blocks passing lanes and intercepts passes .. skating still needs work as he looks awkward at times but does have solid reverse movement .. his complete lack of offensive upside, no goals this season, may scare NHL teams from investing a high pick on him as they may be able to develop a similar player from within their own farm system.

Luch Aquino (NYI), RW, Brampton

It is easy to notice Aquino as he is such a hard worker .. always moving his feet and displays a competitive desire to want the puck .. showcased his solid vision and finishing ability as he was involved in five of Brampton's first six goals scored in two games .. created many more offensive opportunities by means of passing or shooting in traffic .. is a special team's threat as he is active on both the PK and PP .. has really elevated his game and made others around him better as his finishing skills were always omnipresent however he has not been given enough credit for his play making skills .. his production and high level of play will be instrumental in the Battalion's post season success ..

Luke Lynes (2006), LW, Brampton

Started the season on fire but sizzled towards the second half of the season .. is always a threat to score on the powerplay .. his shot selection could be worked on as he shoots from low percentage scoring angles .. has struggled to find open ice and good positions to score in the series .. knocked off the puck too easily as his lack of balance and strength contribute largely to this especially along the boards.

Wojtek Wolski (Col), C, Brampton

Was the hottest player in the second half of the season and finished third in league scoring with 128 points in a mere 56 games .. never seemed to leave the ice .. has a rocket of a shot .. his leg strength is explosive and he catapults into the offensive zone and is always dangerous when he has the puck especially at top speed .. is respected by defenders for fear of getting beaten one-on-one that they back up which in turn creates more room to score .. strong on his skates and really positions himself to find best possible shooting lane in the slot resulting in goals .. Battalion' captain has been an offensive dynamo, however he must be cognoscente about his play away from the puck in order to win tighter battles as the playoffs get deeper.

THE OHL PLAYOFFS (posted 4.7.06)

by David Burstyn

The OHL playoffs are under way. Eighteen teams will compete for a berth in the Memorial Cup. The early favourites in the East are the Barrie Colts and the Brampton Battalion. McKeen's was on hand for the first game of the Barrie/Toronto series as well as the opening two games of the Brampton/Belleville series. Here are some scouting notes on those games.

Bryan Little (2006), Barrie, C

After a scare in the last game of the season in which Little had to be carried off the ice in a stretcher after a collision with Scott Lehman, he returned and scored a goal .. showed cob webs early in the game but appeared to get more comfortable towards the third as he played a strong cycle and always went to the net to fire off a shot .. pounced on rebounds and showed no fear in the physical side of the game .. charged the net .. made many quick moves to elude defenders .. was able to lean on defenseman as his balance and strength made it hard to knock him off the puck .. great hand/eye coordination, batted down pucks and tipped pucks perfectly in front of the net .. displayed a competitive desire that is imperative for post season success.

Vladimir Nikiforov (2006), Barrie, RW

Small sized forward really was able to take advantage of ice he creates for himself with explosive speed and slick stick handling .. tremendous vision .. able to get to loose pucks faster than anyone on the ice .. very effective in traffic as he is able to stick handle around slow footed defenseman .. has good finishing abilities .. skating is great as he uses his edges well, turns and stops better than most skaters in this league .. a dynamic offensive player who registered three assists in the game.

Travis Fuller (2006), Barrie, LW

Had a huge game as he scored a hat trick .. made many strong offensive plays .. dangerous coming down the line as he was like a bull in a china shop running through people to gain the offensive zone .. charged the net and thanks to a strong frame was hard for defenseman to contain .. refused to give up on a play .. a dominant player whose scoring abilities coupled with size and strength should create ample scoring opportunities in tighter contests like the playoffs.

Matthew Bragg (2006), Barrie, C

Hard not to notice centre on the third line as he gave an outstanding performance assisting on the game winning goal in overtime .. worked hard and skated well .. always moving his feet .. spirited play kept other team mates honest .. a smart defensive minded player, he excels in his play in the neutral zone .. limited as far as offensive instincts are concerned however his role is to shut down other star players .. his commitment to both ends of the ice has made him a player that Coach Williamson relies on in the dying minutes of a close contest.

Matt Caria (2006), St. Mikes, C

Has emerged as Toronto's best player down the latter half of the season .. open ice really allowed him to showcase his surprising speed .. created ample scoring chances and was very dangerous all night .. makes strong plays with the puck, however his offensive skills have not yet been fully developed as his reaction time still needs grooming he takes more time than he needs too to make a play .. sees the ice well as he made a stellar pass for a goal .. able to spin off opposition and attack the offensive zone .. was late coming off on many shifts .. given some time and added offensive responsibilities he could find himself being the leading scorer of this team in the next few seasons.

Scott Lehman (Atl), D, St. Mikes

Rock hard defenseman did everything he could to make his team win .. took penalties but they were justified as he tried to set a physical tempo to the game early .. blocked shots, removed players from the crease and took hits to advance the puck .. very comfortable with the puck, decent first pass out of the zone and showed great poise when rushing it out of the zone .. effective on the PK as his skating helps him close the gap well and angle players to the outside, played Little perfectly on a one-on-one situation .. provides the Major's back end with a stable defender who is nasty and shows good offensive skills.

Tyler Donati (2006), LW, St. Mikes

It is hard to imagine where the Major's would be without the twins .. while Tyler did not register as many point as his brother he was one of their better offensive players throughout the season .. he shows flash and the ability to finish .. he reads plays well and his shots are always on the net .. his skating has that extra gear of acceleration that helps create scoring chances .. displays intensity at times but is unable to play the whole game at the same level .. his defensive game needs work as he does not do the little things to get the puck rather someone else do it and distribute him the puck afterwards.

Wayne Savage (2006), G, St. Mikes

Assumed the starting role at the OHL trade deadline .. looked sharp at the beginning of the contest, but lack of defence and poor rebound control led to a losing effort .. plays a hybrid style as he is not so quick to drop to the butterfly .. remains square to the shooter and has a lightning fast glove hand .. his skating needs a little work as his movement side to side is a tad slow as he leaves his net open, susceptible to wrap around goals and missed shots that come in front off the glass .. beaten on a breakaway goal which he may have committed too early on .. must control his rebounds better and get help in front of him so he does not have to face 45 plus shots a game.

Owen Sound's Future (posted 4.5.06)

by David Burstyn

Not many teams had to overcome the losses to so many star players as did the Owen Sound Attack this season. Due to strong performances from proven NHL drafted prospects Andrej Sekera and Bobby Ryan the Attack managed to secure a playoff spot for the sixth straight year. Other players such as Theo Peckham and Bob Saguenetti made names for themselves for their strong play this season and have become intriguing prospects. We also take a look at Matthew Kang, Joshua Bailey and Scott Tregunna, players who have played well in their debut season.

Bobby Ryan (Ana), Owen Sound, RW

There is a reason Mike Angelidis had over 50 goals this season and that is Bobby Ryan, simply put he makes others around him better which is a true sign of a superstar .. he is the type of player that would excel with increased competition and talented linemates which makes his game geared for the NHL .. the Attack's captain boasts great hands and extraordinary vision .. his strength on his skates is a big plus as he can battle for pucks along the boards or in the corners .. his skating could use a little work as his speed is still an issue .. his creativity with the puck is excellent but at times should shoot more instead of making perfect pass .. he does have a good shot and will challenge defenders all the time in one-on-one situations pushing them back to set up his accurate wrist shot .. an NHL future is in the immediate plans and may go down the same road as Getzlaf to get there, spending a season in the AHL for grooming but no doubt that the Ducks want him inserted into the line-up as soon as possible as evidenced by a recently signed three year contract. (59gp, 31-64-95)

Andrej Sekera (Buf), Owen Sound, D

Posted his best point totals to date in brief OHL career averaging more than a point a game and was second in goals scored amongst defenseman with 21 .. a smart hockey player who does many little things well .. is not physical but is capable of taking the body and delivering hard hits .. positionally sound, he defends his crease well and reacts very fast in the defensive zone .. he is an extremely fast skater with deceptive speed, quick feet and a short stride .. offensively he sees the ice very well and has great vision as he sees plays develop and anticipates accordingly .. a relatively late draft pick, Sekera has raised his level of play to the point in which he became a steal for the Sabres and a top four defender for Buffalo in the not so distant future. (51gp, 21-34-55)

Theo Peckham (2006), Owen Sound, D

Amassed a whopping 236 PIM this season second only to Cescon (Peterborough Petes) in the league .. not opposed to fighting immediately off the draw as he proved with Kelsey Wilson (Guelph Storm) and can take a punch .. offensively he is very limited, it is his toughness in his zone that receives high marks .. he is a mean player with a nasty streak especially in front of his net .. size helps him eliminate time and space for forwards however he has a tendency to chase the puck carrier out of the box and his poor recovery skills hurt him .. his feet are not the quickest and he gets beaten by faster forwards .. is like a Luke Richardson type player, do not expect much from Peckham as far as potential is concerned as he is what he is and might become a later round selection. (67gp, 6-9-15)

Bob Sanguinetti (2006), Owen Sound, D

No one improved their draft positioning quite like Sanguinetti did this season .. he anchored the PP and played an increased role on this team from last year's squad .. his skating is quite fluid as he shifts his body to get maximum speed with a long graceful stride .. he has good top end gear as he is able to recover and knock a puck away from a player who was two strides ahead .. displays keen offensive instincts as he makes lethal passes out of the zone but probably should not gamble as much as he does .. he has great puck rushing skills, however on rare occasions he is prone to bad giveaways as he loses concentration and his intensity level drops off .. defensively he has a hard time moving a player away from his net as he tends to get out muscled .. there is no denying his high end skills, but he is a work in progress that shows unlimited potential .. he may be the next Brent Burns in terms of switching position when arriving at the NHL as he certainly has the agility to play forward .. a top 12 pick is almost a guarantee with the chance to move up barring a strong playoff. (68gp, 14-51-65)

Scott Tregunna (2006), Owen Sound, RW

A big player who is relied upon solely for his PK abilities .. has managed to put up respectable numbers considering it is his first full OHL season .. a smooth skater who has a long effective stride but does not have a second level of acceleration .. he has good change of direction and is an effective forechecker .. his positioning helps his offensive numbers as he is a smart player and usually knows where to be .. will go to the net looking for offensive chances with his stick on the ice waiting to capitalize on a rebound .. an honest hard working winger his services may be too common to warrant any serious NHL consideration. (66gp, 11-12-23)

Matthew Kang (2007), Owen Sound, LW

More was expected from Kang this season in terms of providing second line scoring .. has really struggled to find his positioning on the ice and his adjustment to the OHL has been a slow one .. good skater but seems to be behind a stride as a play unfolds and he is away from it looking invisible in the process .. constantly learning to play without the puck .. offensively the chances have not come as they would have last year playing Tier II so he has to work that much harder .. this is a learning curve for Kang as next year hopefully will be his coming out party .. he is small so he will need to dazzle with his slick play making ability and finishing skills to get noticed and play at the next level. (62gp, 11-14-25)

Joshua Bailey (2008), Owen Sound, C

Will become the offensive leader for the Attack as early as next season .. he is extremely smart and has the offensive potential to be able to score many goals at this level .. he is relatively scrawny at 5'11-165lbs., but he competes along the boards and in the danger areas .. he will need to add considerable upper body strength in the off season, however he is willing to take a hit to advance the puck which scores top marks from older players and coaching staff .. he could develop into a future captain as his lead by example approach to the game at such an early stage in his OHL career is contagious amongst his peers. (55gp, 7-19-26)

Ice Dogs take a step back (posted 4.4.06)

by David Burstyn

After finishing first in the Eastern Conference last year the Mississauga Ice Dogs took a dramatic step backwards finishing with the third worst record in the league. The Ice Dogs unloaded many of their older, more established players this season in an effort to rebuild the team by acquiring younger players. McKeen's takes a final look at the Mississauga Ice Dogs and analyzes the play of many of their younger players.

Lucas Lobsinger (2006), Mississauga, G

A tall goalie who got the majority of the starts during the last quarter of the season .. covers a lot of the net and plays a hybrid style .. when he drops down he covers much of the net .. decent rebound control .. puts himself in a position to see the shot .. looks comfortable and does not appear to need to scramble to make a save .. decent stick handling abilities, prefers to play it on the fore hand .. glove hand needs a little work as it appeared to be a tad slow .. his skating could also use some attention as he could have been quicker sliding across his crease .. may get some late round NHL consideration.

Joshua Day (2006), Mississauga, D

He is a smart player who distributes the puck efficiently and moves well in the offensive zone .. his shot power could use some work .. does not force things, as he is very smooth and calculated in his decision making .. does not gamble with unnecessary pinches .. has limited speed but he is an exceptional skater whose reverse movement is certainly a strong suit .. defensively, he still has flaws which lie primarily to his lack of strength and some defensive zone miscues when he tries to do too much on occasion .. it is a long shot for him to be drafted, although his improved play since the OHL trading deadline has helped his cause.

Nathan Martine (2006), Mississauga, D

Joins the Ice Dogs team as their go-to-guy on defence and will be looked upon to provide stability on the back end for years to come .. a sturdy build who throws the weight around and delivered many thunderous body checks .. offensively he has decent tools as he has managed to use his hard shot to score some goals .. he sees the ice well and is relied more for his offensive prowess as he is confident with the puck .. his defensive game could use some fine tuning as he sometimes falls out of position .. his skating is good and he has quick feet but appears sluggish at times.

Stefan Legein (2007), Mississauga, RW

A hard nosed player who is small but does not back down .. goes to the net hard and displays decent offensive skill set .. will sacrifice himself for the good of the team and is always working to get something generated .. very irritating to play against as he is the type of player that can make a big man look foolish when he tries to hit him .. wrist shot has good accuracy but limited power .. shows a good understanding of positional play in all three zones.

Oskar Osala (2006), Mississauga, LW

Osala raised his game and emerged as the best Ice Dog in the second half of the season .. solid frame has looked more comfortable playing at this level in recent weeks and is asserting himself accordingly .. his skating is still a little shaky as balance has become an issue but his stride helps him get to areas fast .. has improved his anticipation skills as he readily intercepts pucks, one in particular behind the net which lead to an easy centring feed for a goal .. wants the puck and excels when it is on his stick .. while he is big he is not overly physical he does go to the net and tries to create disturbances .. displays a willingness to fight for the puck .. showcases quick hands in front and is able to convert on his chances .. a good play maker he sees the ice and makes passes that at times are not expected by team mates .. a trip to the playoffs would have really bolstered his draft stock however his improved play and sheer size make it is almost certain that he will be selected in the NHL draft.

Windsor Notes: (posted 4.1.06)

by David Burstyn

McKeen's takes a look at a few of the draft eligible prospects and NHL drafted players who switched teams at the trading deadline.

Keaton Turkiewicz (2006), RW, Windsor

Since being traded from Sudbury, Keaton has shown an incredible ability to make the most of his opportunity on his new club .. while some teenagers sulk and can not seem to understand why they got traded, he has used that as motivation to impress NHL scouts in his draft year .. he shows great bursts of speed and really hustles out there .. plays physical and actively looks to make a hit, he plays a big man's game .. he is strong along the boards and down low as he has good balance .. a capable fore checker he often hurries the opposition into mistakes .. he is over anxious in the offensive zone as he tends to really rush the play as opposed to taking his time, he needs to improve on his offensive polish.

Mike Weber (2006), D, Windsor

Still showing signs of being a capable NHL defender .. skating ability coupled with acute hockey sense make him an attractive top 2nd round selection .. has made improvements to his reverse movement and looks very comfortable handling the puck in any situation .. made many good plays along the side boards as he out manoeuvred players and gained positional advantage on them to rid the puck out of the zone freely .. has decent vision as he can spring a man open with a good first pass.

Bryan Bickell (Chi), LW, Windsor

Has provided O'Reilly with the perfect finisher .. has really padded his stats since playing with an effective play maker as O'Reilly .. goes to the front of the net with his stick down and is burying his chances .. not necessarily working harder but is getting into good scoring position .. showing more confidence as he is taking many more shots than before .. very large build but is not aggressive enough.

Cal O'Reilly (Nsh), C, Windsor

Has really matured his game as he finally has good wingers on his side to make him that much more dangerous .. still does not shoot enough .. needs to work on his defensive game as well .. he excels in the role of play maker and makes great tape to tape passes .. he is very elusive and draws defenders to him only to dish it off perfectly to another player .. shows good puck control along the boards and is dangerous on the PP.