OHL: Architect of the Storm

OHL: Architect of the Storm (posted 12.29.06)

by David Burstyn

When the Storm changed ownership earlier this year the first order of business was to resign Coach and GM Dave Barr. Barr has had a very positive effect on the team and the community. His work was recognized and rewarded with a three year extension. Barr has helped many hockey players get drafted and his work with Drew Doughty in particular is a reflection to the type of development he provides for his players.

McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest featuring the Storm and files these notes.

Jeff Hayes (2007), C, Guelph

The smallest player in the OHL as he stands a mere 5'6 and weighs a slight 148 .. 12th round pick is slick and very athletic .. his small frame allows him to dart into holes and he can work the puck well in tight quarters .. squat down skater who has modest speed .. good stick handler, his puck skills are what keeps him in the line up .. another case of being too small it aptly applies to Hayes as he is constantly knocked off the puck and needs to make plays considerably faster as he lacks the strength to do anything once the opposition catches up to him .. an uphill battle but he looks to be a good role player in this league for now however it is uncertain if he can keep his roster spot with other prospects in the waiting.

Luke Pither (2007), C, Guelph

Did not log a considerable amount of ice in the first period and as a result needed some extra time to find his game .. showed some lazy habits and has failed to capitalize on the andreline he had when first arriving to the Storm .. pushed things too much, forcing passes, poor shot selection .. could be much faster with his decisions .. play along the half boards needs work, as he looks over whelmed and constantly rids the puck surrendering it deep down low resulting in an odd man rushes the other direction .. very soft, has the opportunity to lay the body but never follows through .. decent puck protection in the slot but his shots offers little in terms of power at this level to be an elite goal scorer .. the tools are there and you keep expecting him to play to his potential but for some reason he still has not been able to put it together, which is alarming considering it is his draft year.

Grant McGee (2007), RW, Guelph

Gives the Storm an added element of toughness as he replaces the player he was subsequently traded for in Biggers .. not a natural in any aspect of the game in terms of skill but what he brings to the table is an honest approach to the game and a work ethic that does not go unnoticed by Coach Dave Barr .. ok skater, long stride who uses his speed to play both ends of the ice .. puck skills and finishing abilities are not what he is coveted for however his fearlessness to crash the net usually results in some points for him, as he has more goals than assists.

Matt Kennedy (2007), RW, Guelph

Continuing to plug away at his game and slowly making subtle improvements to his game .. offensively he is starting to realize what he can get away with, as each shift is a learning experience .. still failing to recognize scoring chances as he takes himself out of the play or simply does not see the opportunity .. lacks quickness in his stride but to his credit he can accomplish good speed in full flight despite a wonky stride and awkward balance.

Tyler Melancon (2007), RW, Guelph

No player has surprised more than Melancon .. his scoring exploits continue and he shows no signs of slowing down .. more of a play maker, he has shown terrific creativity with the puck .. smart player who knows what to do in the offensive zone, goes to the net, makes nice touch passes to confuse defenders and has a firm understanding of positioning .. ok skater as he adopts a short stride and generates modest speed .. takes a hit to advance a play and although he is small he is very determined .. his small frame allows him to curl the puck as he protects it which opens up additional room for him to find an option .. good puck control and ability make him one of the go-to-guys on this young Storm team.

Michael Caruso (Flo), D, Guelph

On pace to shatter his point totals accumulated in the first two seasons as he has already eclipsed his career goal total, mind you he has only scored one goal in his first two seasons as he is showing more confidence with the puck and it has been reflected on the score sheet .. very inconsistent play, he makes sensational plays one shift only to make a puzzling play the next .. defensively he plays the man rather well as his quick feet, mobility and athleticism are strong suits .. occasionally he makes a good first pass and his decision making at the line whether it being rolling off a player, or a quick flick of the blade gives him extra time to make a play .. has not made drastic changes to his game nor developed it overly, his increased offensive totals are a result of him being a third year player in the league but as far as pro potential is concerned he needs to focus more on being consistent and mentally tough.

Ryan Pottruff (FA), D, Guelph

After failing to come to terms with Carolina he returns for his over age season in the OHL .. gives the Strom some presence and stability as he positions himself well on the back end .. shows some flashes of puck skills with healthy individual rushes up the ice .. decent feet, not exceptional but he will always takes the body .. no nonsense defender who intimidates with his physical edge, can be too aggressive at times and it costs him penalties .. will block shots and sacrifice himself to rid the puck out of the zone .. has a good understanding of the game and the pace of the league as he moves his body at all times allowing easy outlet passes for his defensive partner as to bail him out of trouble should he get pressured.

Joe Underwood (2008), D, Guelph

Has not found the back of the net however he is showing some potential with his puck skills as he has vastly improved in little under a month .. his skating is getting stronger as he shows increased agility in both his stride and movements .. benefited greatly with two key injuries to the back end thus played additional minutes and held his own in the process.

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

Doughty has played so well and developed so quick that his name is being mentioned as a top 5 pick for next years NHL entry draft and for obvious reasons as he simply dominates the competition .. he was invited to the WJC camp but failed to crack a line up that featured five returning defenders although he is almost guaranteed a spot for next years squad .. an abundance of skill with the puck, his confidence level with the puck and the chances he takes can only be done by very few in the league .. he protects the puck so well, as he keeps it close to him and his quick half spin-o-rama's make him not only exciting to watch but unpredictable as well .. opponents are very weary when they approach him as he has so many tricks up his sleeve that they don't want to look foolish when he beats them so they often give him the time and space he needs to create and by the time they try to close the gap it is too late as he is already within shooting distance of the goal .. great shot and selection, when it gets through it is very productive as he already has nine goals .. has equalled his point total from last year at the Christmas break and will be looking to lead the league in scoring as he is currently in fourth place overall amongst defenseman .. on the odd time he got beaten during the contest he hustled extra hard to make up for his gaffe .. wanted the puck on every opportunity and got discouraged at team mates when they did not pass him and the play failed to materialize, something to monitor.

Jamie Arniel (2008), C, Guelph

Played well on a line with Rotter and McLean but when Rotter left for the WJC his game looked affected as he did not exhibit the same confidence as he has previously .. Rotter opens up a lot of room for Arniel and is able to slide him a pass down low something his team mates were not able to do until late in the contest in which he did manage to score .. more of a down low, behind the net type of forward he does his best work along the boards as he is a digger in every sense of the word .. he maintains a spot by the side of the goal however I would like to see him get closer to the paint as sometimes he reduces his shooting angle by his position on the ice .. needs to be feisty and physical to be effective, at times he failed to exhibit the type of intensity his game is renowned for and it did not go over favourably with Coach Barr .. continues to be an offensive leader for the Storm.

OHL: Team USA - Minus the Two Bobby's (posted 12.27.06)

by David Burstyn

For the second straight season the USA team did not invite Bob Sanguinetti to the World Juniors. The former first round pick was snubbed as was team-mate Bobby Ryan. For Ryan it was especially disheartening as he was hoping to redeem himself on the international stage. The Attack are most certainly grateful as they have already lost the services of both, Trevor Lewis (USA) and Marek Bartanus (Svk) to the WJC.

Marcus Carroll (2007), C, Owen Sound

Plays with the type of intensity that coaches love .. the tougher the game the more he excels .. not easily scared and will venture into traffic areas .. still failing to see the adequate ice time needed to produce points .. work ethic and dedication to sacrifice himself may be his ticket to ride in NHL circles.

David Kolomatis (2007), D, Owen Sound

His play remains un-flashy and therefore it is hard to pick him out of the crowd .. slowly expanding his role in terms of offence .. not overly savvy with the puck but improving puck skills have warranted some PP time .. limited shot power, he is rather ineffective in terms of a point shot, and often opts to throw the puck in deep .. not the best feet, he does display ok side-to-side movement .. slowly making his mark but still leaps and bounds from being considered a NHL draft.

Wayne Simmonds (2007), RW, Owen Sound

Continuing to build on his debut season as he is able to produce offensively and gives the Attack more fire power .. not afraid to drop the gloves, he willingly fights for room with his physical style of play as well .. shifty skater, is very hard to get a read on .. he has sensational moves, as in one shift alone he cleanly deked out both Doughty and Parent .. creates chances with his speed, especially up and down the wings .. slowly working his way up the NHL ladder and proving that decision to play in the OHL as opposed to Bowling Green may pay off.

Thomas Stajan (2007), C, Owen Sound

Has defied the odds by making the OHL after suffering an injury in his OHL draft year that limited many teams' viewings of him .. cousin of Maple Leafs Matt Stajan .. has benefited greatly with the departure of Bailey as he has assumed much more ice and management is hoping he can take on a greater offensive role .. saw second PP time albeit briefly .. slender and under developed he still needs to put on some much needed weight .. ok skater, could still cut the ice better and turn with more fluidness .. needs to be stronger on the puck as he tends to loose it far too easily and too often .. for all his short comings it is important to point out that he has not played much and his confidence level should improve .. NHL draft considerations may be too lofty but he should most likely improve on this level in a few short seasons.

Elgin Reid (2007), D, Owen Sound

Brings a wealth of experience as he was a member of the 2005 Memorial Cup Ottawa 67's .. hard nosed defender acquired to add depth and leadership on the back end .. very slick, agile and mobile .. 1st PP unit, he can control the pace of the game as he shows a healthy confidence while handling the puck .. joins the rush and is always looking for offence .. boasts a hard shot from the point .. defensively he takes care of his assignments and is always in position .. the Attack are making a push for the Memorial Cup as are many teams in the West and the addition of Reid can only help.

Trevor Lewis (LA), C, Owen Sound

Showing no signs of slowing down, Lewis has played a strong game thus far this season as he is able to effectively manage a game with his speed and hockey intelligence .. extra gear allows him to cut to the outside and back in again to get a high percentage shot on goal .. always puts shots on the net, constantly firing it on goal from any angle .. accurate wrist shot, he scored a sensational goal in the slot .. upper body work needs to be addressed as he looks a tad over matched physically in certain situations .. has displayed a healthy work ethic as his attention to detail in the defensive zone has been a pleasant surprise.

Bob Sanguinetti (NYR), D, Owen Sound

A surprise omission for many from the Team USA roster as the former first overall pick is second in goals scored amongst defenders in the OHL .. has not scored coincidentally enough since hearing the news of not making the team .. his play has been lack lustre this season despite the heavily padded offensive stats which come primarily by means of PP .. looked disinterested and was a non-factor to say the least .. made many poor passes with the puck which were easily intercepted .. a fixture on the PP, but not shooting enough and failing to identify good opportunities to make a play ..knocked off the puck far too easily, limited puck protection skills exhibited .. comes back but is not the physical force he was last year when he would eliminate his man .. looks like a completely different player and he needs to get out of his funk for the sake of his team.

Bobby Ryan (Ana), RW, Owen Sound

After starting the season slow, Ryan has exploded in the last month and currently is in the top ten in scoring .. has been a tad tentative in his play and much like his team-mate Sanguinetti the disappointment of not making the USA Team has had an effect on him .. did show his aggression by hitting and taking the body .. he does so much in terms of creating on the half boards .. his hands are ultra quick and the vision he displays will go a long way in establishing his pro career .. when he wants to play he is a game breaker, capable of taking a game into his own hands and single handily winning it by himself.

Anthony Soboczynski (2008), LW, Owen Sound

His third team in the last two seasons as he was acquired by the Spitfires in a block buster trade .. his speed continues to be his best asset however he truly lacks the sense and the proper positioning in the offensive zone .. when he finds himself in open ice situations he is unable to bury his chances .. does not exhibit a scorer's instinct, failed to take a puck to his back hand instead he opted to go to the forehand, which resulted in a missed opportunity .. lacks one-on-one stick handling skills .. defensively he is ok, his long stick and reach help him out greatly as he has been relegated to a PK role .. Coach Stothers in an attempt to spark some offence out of him had him take a few shifts with Ryan and Lewis but it was a failed experiment which lasted only three shifts.

Michael D'Orazio (2008), D, Owen Sound

Learning the game better, as he is making the most of his ice time with cool, safe plays that do not injure the team .. lost some of his PP time with the addition to Reid .. making easy passes, doesn't try to go for too much .. getting better at pinching and closing the gap, something he has worked hard on, as he reads the play much better and lets it come to him .. booming slap shot, with time it could develop into a serious offensive weapon .. heir apparent to assume the defensive reins in a few short seasons as he has a good set of tools to draw from.

OHL: New Kidd on the Block (posted 12.19.06)

by David Burstyn

Since the Otters run to the Memorial Cup in 2002, the team has been marred in futility as Erie has finished last in the Midwest division three times in the last four years. They are currently have the worst record in the OHL and run the risk of once again finishing last in their division. There are a few bright spots in the organization and the recent acquisition of Zack Torquato brings hope for the future. The coaching staff has regularly inserted as many as four 16 year olds in the line up and they are hoping that these players build the confidence and gain the experience that will turn around the franchise.

Zack Torquato (2007), C, Erie

The corner piece of the deal that sent Captain Ryan O'Marra to Saginaw .. has added instant offence to a team that has struggled to score .. first line centre has already been given a letter as he is the new assistant captain .. played a spirited game, have not seen such an effort since his JR. B playing days when he dominated the competition with the Stratford Cullitons .. increased minutes in all situations, including PP and PK .. boasts an impressive +4 through 11 games .. has made others better, with his vision and outstanding passing ability, draws players to him opening up passing lanes for others .. renewed work ethic, is proving to his new team mates that he wants to win and is committed to team success .. he leaves a contender to essentially be with a team that is years away from being considered competitive which should really test his mental toughness .. his draft stock should improve as he was slightly buried on the second line in Saginaw and in Erie he will get plenty of opportunity to shine, the results have been favourable so far.

Nick Palmieri (2007), RW, Erie

Was doing fine offensively before Torquato showed up but has since developed good chemistry and his numbers have improved as a result .. skating has slowly corrected itself , he still needs to strengthen his stride .. his size is his best asset as he can create and open up room with it by driving to the net .. shields puck when going to the net and is able to generate some chances .. vision is limited, and his shot is decent with an ok release .. his history of injuries may scare off some NHL teams as he has not been the most durable in junior.

Josh Kidd (2007), D, Erie

The third year defender has already surpassed his offensive totals of the past two seasons combined .. slowly developing an offensive game as his shot and passing skills are maturing .. his improvement is encouraging to scouts who like to see a learning curve .. slick skater and for his 6'5 size he displays outstanding mobility .. has difficulty lining guys up for a check and he still struggles with his agility on occasion .. plays a simple game and while he can carry the puck up the ice he rarely exercises that option .. as with most defenders his decisions with the puck could always be faster .. projects to be a good 5th or 6th defenseman in the NHL largely based on his size and his skating ability.

Anthony Peluso (2007), D, Erie

Moved to defence to start the season .. he sustained a serious knee injury that kept him out of the line up and still looks a little rusty in terms of skating as he has not fully recovered all the strength in his knee .. employs brute force to impose himself, as he is physically strong especially his upper body .. takes bad penalties at times .. not overly puck savvy .. slowly finding his game and able to learn on the job as he is far from polished and makes many gaffes in the defensive zone.

Ronny Rogers (2007), LW, Erie

After several successful seasons in the OPJHL with Huntsville, Rogers joins the Otters full time this season .. has added instant offence as he is third in team scoring .. shot has good velocity, wrist shot is his best option .. good follow through, he stays with plays .. aggressive fore checker, his play in the neutral zone is instrumental in creating turnovers .. his speed is impressive as his second gear is deceptive and allows him to get in close just when a defender thinks he has him pushed to the outside .. showing an improving game and should warrant an audition to an NHL camp with his strong play.

Kelly Geoffrey (2008), LW, Erie

A scoring sensation with Markham last year he registered 124 points in 67 games .. slowly emerging as an offensive player despite his lack of PP minutes and ice time .. one of the smaller players in the league, he is 5'9 and weighs 148 but he plays aggressive and does not back down .. great hands, he stick handles extremely well .. makes moves to the inside/outside playing through the abuse he is subject too on every shift .. coaching staff is leaning on him more and he should be a valuable cog in the Otters future as he looks to be a complimentary 2nd line player, capable of scoring 25 plus goals in this league.

Brian Shaw (2008), D, Erie

Has been used sparingly but the experience has been a good one for him .. just to be surrounded by players of a higher skill set has improved his game .. shows the potential to move up the depth chart and assume a spot on the top two defensive pairings as he has size, a good skill set to draw from and plays a safe game .. positioning could be better as he got confused on a few shifts where to be .. decent puck skills, showed maturity with his decisions and did not panic when it was in his possession .. limited minutes in the contest albeit it was a close affair, he should see his minutes improve towards the end of the season and next year.

Mitch Gaulton (2008), D, Erie

Fourth overall selection has been everything for the Otters on the back end .. plays the PP on the first unit and is thrust into almost every situation including 3-5 PK .. remains composed and his maturity is head and shoulders above his young age .. very solid defensively, he has grasped the concept of positioning and playing without the puck and is effective in driving players to the outside, stick checking them off the puck and if he can eliminating them from the play with a timely placed body check .. at 6'0, 185, he is built rather solid and is able to knock guys off the puck with his body strength and balance .. emerging into a premier defender and certainly a player the organization can build the back end around.

OHL: Moon Over Kingston (posted 12.12.06)

by Jeff Rayner

Notes on 2007 and 2008 eligible players with Oshawa and Kingston

Brett McLean (2007), RW, Oshawa

strong skater .. fairly smooth/fluid .. first step-quickness is good .. industrious stride .. very smart positioning in 'o' zone opening gaps/spreading out d-coverage .. plays top line/PP .. shows unexpected vision and ability to move puck quickly to driving forwards .. positions in front of net on PP .. could do better job screening goalie .. plays PK .. acceleration at times looks good, other times sluggish .. top speed is deceptive, especially given size and style of play…always driving through center of 'o' zone .. could show more patience in passing game .. battles very hard for puck .. works hard to keep stick free .. game style opens up ice for teammates .. plays north-south .. not overly physical or bruising, but plays rugged style .. is capable of dishing out big hits, but doesn't do so with great consistency .. owns average playmaking/game breaking upside .. offensive contribution made as complimentary player .. very strong upper and lower body .. rarely out muscled by opposition defenders .. could develop into 2nd line power-forward .. passes need to be harder/crisper .. logs a lot of ice time .. defensive commitment inconsistent, floats back on occasion .. needs to improve secondary effort in recovery of stolen pucks .. uses body very effectively to protect puck .. frequently utilizes one-touch pass .. rocket slap-shot .. clutch scorer.

Dale Mitchell (2007), RW, Oshawa

Fairly good acceleration, takes small strides .. tenacious in puck pursuit .. skating is good but needs work – appears to expel a lot of energy achieving top speed .. small size does not stop from driving to net with puck .. nice shot, uses often .. PP .. sees ice well .. has ability to change direction very quickly .. not averse to physical play .. could bear down harder on loose pucks in d-zone.

Michael DelZotto (2008), D, Oshawa

Exceptional first-pass ability and outlet game, most striking facet of game .. very heads up thru neutral zone and owns phenomenal vision .. has beautiful skating ability .. very efficient stride - graceful .. active stick on PK .. frequently utilizing poke check .. flies through neutral zone when carrying puck .. very proficient gaining zone .. no reservations when jumping into play, primarily on PP .. owns strong well placed slap shot which he keeps low for rebound opportunities .. shots rarely blocked .. d-zone work/reads need to improve as he does get beaten wide, but shows excellent footwork in effort to recover positioning all the while keeping stick in check of opposition attacker .. capable of physical play finishing checks even against bigger opponents .. offensive game awareness and potential is very impressive .. logs a lot of ice time and plays a mature game given age .. d-zone urgency and awareness could by upgraded, will come with experience .. periodically gets caught watching puck in d-zone .. excellent decision making under stick check.

Brett Parnham (2007), C, Oshawa

Frustratingly inconsistent .. did not notice till third period after several eye-opening shifts in which he controlled the puck and pace of play .. can show game breaking skill and playmaking ability, but consistency is a major drawback .. small stature also a concern, although when motivated it is not a weakness .. skating and acceleration are also impressive, but also underutilized due to inconsistent play.

Nathan Moon (2008), RW, Kingston

Shows improving play in traffic .. still needs to improve balance .. more finishing mentality, but also owns impressive playmaking ability .. defensive play is inconsistent, gets lazy in d-zone coverage, looks to jump d-zone too soon .. actively challenges d-men one-on-one using slick hands and nifty moves to beat for scoring opportunities .. needs to improve offensive consistency as well .. some shifts he's a game breaker, others he's invisible .. nevertheless shows intriguing upside as 2nd line finisher/playmaker .. efficient in both open ice and traffic/board play.

OHL: Caria, The Eight Leafed Clover (posted 12.05.06)

by David Burstyn

McKeen's takes a look at three players in the OPJHL who warrant some NHL draft consideration.

Wilson Ngai (2007), D, Toronto Junior Canadiens

Has not committed to a school, he is still weighing his options .. his game has not changed much since his minor midget days with the prolific Toronto Marlboros .. a steady stay-at-home defender who does nothing to make you notice him .. has contributed marginally on the score sheet with 10 points in the team's first 25 games .. doesn't hang on to the puck long, usually distributes it .. takes himself out of a position to score .. physically he looks a bit thicker, but is still very thin considering his 6'3 frame .. great skater, smooth and effortless .. can log upwards of 30 minutes a game as he is reliable no nonsense defender .. his game has not developed and he still has not worked on things that were concerns a few years back .. NHL aspirations may be lofty.

Louie Caporusso (2007), C, St. Mikes Buzzers

Has committed to Michigan as the high octane offensively fuelled Caporusso is well equipped for the NCAA game .. should learn considerably under Red Berenson's program .. not overly big but well put together .. his hands and offensive ability is his best asset as he is the team's leading scorer and in the top 12 in league scoring .. a threat short handed as his skill and speed make him dangerous every time he touches the puck .. a tad selfish on occasion .. waits for plays to come to him as opposed to wanting the puck and making a play .. is a player who would benefit a great deal from a good teacher .. he is an attractive package and an NHL team may take a chance on him in later rounds as he is the type of player the new NHL covets .. a poor man's Mike Cammalleri.

Brendan Smith (2007), D, St. Mikes Buzzers

Has committed to Wisconsin .. plays a safe, responsible game .. he has pro written all over him .. his cool, calm demeanour to the play is a pure indication of how smart and intelligent he is on the ice .. not pressured into making mistakes .. appears to have put on a little weight on his 6'1 frame .. agile and athletic .. he is light on his skates and changes directions effortlessly .. has been more defensive minded this season as he only springs into the attack when he sees an opening .. his game has matured and he has improved on the things last year that were causing him problems, simply put he picks his spots better and does not force offensive situations .. does have a hard slap shot and gets it off in full flight .. a player who continues to develop which is always a positive sign for NHL executives.

OHL: Caria, The Eight Leafed Clover (posted 12.05.06)

by David Burstyn

The St. Mikes Majors despite the loss of many veterans have competed and remain well in the hunt for the playoffs. The team has undergone some changes and although they did not always win the trades they made, Coach Stefanski has gotten the most out of his players. Caria has been leading the charge following a franchise high 8 points in a game against the Battalion. For his strong efforts this season he was recently invited to participate in the Canada/Russia ADT Challenge.

Kriss Grundmanis (2007), D, St. Mikes

Big Latvian defender was the Majors second pick in the import draft .. a big long legged defender who is still feeling the OHL game .. at times he looked lost and could not keep up with the play .. much has to do with his foot work which needs considerable work .. he is slow to join the rush as he lacks the explosiveness in his stride .. his game is a work in progress .. while he does boast a hard shot and is gaining more experience with every passing game his intensity and character will play a large role in terms of his NHL draft possibilities.

Matt Caria (2007), C, St. Mikes

Surprise story of the year as he has produced, offensively at an alarming rate .. showing more consistency in his game .. an average skater his hands are much quicker than his feet .. he is a capable finisher who works hard down low to produce .. likes to play by the side of the net and make cross ice passes or try to score by shooting it off players in front .. successful but at times forces plays .. his puck skills are limited, he doesn't handle the puck too well but gets the job done and does what is expected .. his defensive game is ok but he is primarily an offensive threat and plays the majority of his time in PP situations.

Dustin Ekelman (2007), C, St. Mikes

Centre of the third line .. offensively he does not have much jump .. playing with young developing players in Pelech and Preston .. awkward skater and limited first step .. is more of a defensive minded player, who supports the back end with a solid understanding of positional play .. very limited in the physical aspect of the game .. slowly maturing but will take a few years to be an effective, reliable 2nd scorer.

Kaspars Daugavins (Det), LW, St. Mikes

The most creative and dynamic player on the roster .. third overall in the Import draft .. a slick passer and play maker .. does not shoot as much as he should .. plays to his potential as he will always give you consistent efforts .. fluid skater, he has good speed .. he makes great moves at full speed and makes defenders look foolish at times .. question his true finishing skills, although he does have a good release it could be quicker .. hard to think of this Majors team without his services as he has adjusted rather well in a short period of time.

OHL: Re-united and it feels so Good (posted 12.01.06)

by David Burstyn

For the first time in two years the tandem of John Tavares and Sam Gagner were brought back together as the Canadians hosted the Russians in the ADT Challenge. It was a spirited contest and quite physical as the Russians put forth their best effort albeit in a losing cause. Team OHL improved its record to 8-0 against the Russians and remain undefeated since this tournament began in 2003. Ryan O'Marra was named the Player-of-the-Game (Game #4) and Bryan Little provided the GWG with five minutes left in the game as Canada edged the Soviets 4-3.

McKeen's was on hand for game #4 of the series and files notes on OHL players who have a good chance of making the WJC Team. As well we take a look at some of the draft eligible kids and evaluate their performances and profile some Russian players who played exceptionally well.

Steve Downie (Phi), RW, Peterborough

Another revved up performance against international competition .. Downie plays better with the Canadian jersey on .. he is feisty and mean .. he tried desperately to get into a fight with Zubarev in the dying seconds of the game .. plays with such a passion it is hard not to take notice .. lethal on the half boards, he creates so much as his patience with the puck and passing skills are elite in his age group .. great vision and play down low, he plays a strong cycle game .. lacks the true break away speed to be a finisher, he does the majority of his work in the dirty areas and has a good shot just inside the hash marks that catches goalies by surprise .. a definite candidate for the WJC as his play last year was the best amongst forwards.

Bryan Little (Atl), C, Barrie

An omission to the team last year as he was a late cut .. has since elevated his game to monumental heights .. should be a key contributor to the WJC team this year as he does so many things right .. nothing little about his game he is lights out in the scoring department and his commitment to defensive play should earn him top marks .. he was used a lot in the dying minutes of the third period by Coach Hartsburg showing the confidence in him to get the job done .. skating and agility are his best assets .. he can stop and turn on a dime and rips apart a defence with his vision and strength down low .. played the point on the PP as opposed to his usual half board position so he could not control the PP as much as he would liked but was still effective .. scored the GWG with a bullet shot top corner .. will be a solid addition to this year's WJC Team.

Ryan O'Marra (NYI), C, Saginaw

You heard it here first O'Marra will be the captain of this year's WJC Team .. he brings many intangibles and leadership skills to the table .. has a great understanding of the game .. an aggressive player who hits with authority and can change the complexion of the game with a single hit .. takes penalties at times but they are warranted and are usually the result of him being much stronger than the opposition as he hurts them .. a decent skater, he uses his whole body to generate additional speed, he has a good skating technique .. great release and healthy offensive tools .. after winning gold he understands what will be expected of him and his team mates this time around.

Ryan Parent (Nsh), D, Guelph

A stud on the back end that will be utilized this year at the WJC to neutralize and contain other countries top forwards .. so slick and mobile, his footwork is his best strength .. his positioning is outstanding, he played the point on a few PP and his calm relaxed approach was imperative to the team's success, he did not do anything fancy merely throwing it in deep and maintaining sound position while his team mates cycled down low .. he is an effective defender who can play 30 minutes a game.

Sam Gagner (2007), C, London

He could be the dark horse on the team should he make it .. his play has warranted considerable attention as he showed the ability to make swift, smart plays with talented line mates .. played the 1st PP unit and made many nice passes that team mates did not expect .. has an innate ability to hold onto the puck till the very last second before making a pass to an open team mate .. did not shoot at all rather fed line mates constantly .. cycles the puck and protects it well along the boards .. certainly impressed the coaching staff with his increased minutes throughout the game .. a long shot but not one to be ruled out.

Logan Couture (2007), C, Ottawa

Still suffering from mono, he looked tired and a tad weak .. will slowly regain his game as his strength levels improve .. took short shifts and bounced off players when he administered a hit .. was a tad behind the play all night .. made up for his lack of offensive game with a concentrated defensive approach .. always identified a man and stayed with him .. picked up the trailer and was positional sound in his zone .. not expected to make the team this year, he is certainly a player Hockey Canada has recognized as being able to participate in future international competitions.

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

A learning experience for Doughty as playing with superior line mates helps him understand what is needed to get to the next level .. did not look out of place .. showed no hesitation in making plays with the puck .. good first pass .. competed and played hard to get to loose pucks .. stood players up at the line but still needs to close the gap more and use his stick to pester opposition .. was on the ice for Russia's 2nd goal .. saw his minutes dwindle a bit when the game became much closer than originally anticipated .. should continue to develop and be a marquee defenseman in Hockey Canada program.

John Tavares (2009), RW, Oshawa

Not one of JT's best performances .. he looked sluggish and tired as he had just played a game the night before .. he did manage to battle through checks and threw his weight around .. connected on a pass to McNeill for the second goal however he could have been quicker to make the pass .. always around the puck .. team mates came to his aid when he was knocked down .. still may be too young for the WJC Team however with a strong camp anything is possible.

Igor Zubov (Ott), D, Lokomotiv Yaroslv

A decent size defender who has thickness and strength .. made good passes out of the zone .. decent mobility .. very effective in front as his physical approach to the game helped clear bodies in front.

Dmitri Zyuzin (2007), C, Salavat Yulaev

Scored a goal off a poor deflection in front .. moves his feet and can be found around the goal mouth area .. feisty he creates with his aggressive approach .. quick snap shot and decent offensive skills.

Stanislav Romanov (2007), D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Another hard nosed defender .. slow feet but a punishing hitter and a player who can easily get under your skin .. angles well and he pressures players to the outside .. too aggressive at times as he registered 8 PIM .. average skater who does not move his feet enough .. admired a pass and got nailed .. seemed to lose focus .. a one dimensional player as he did little to create offensively.

Viktor Tikhonov (2007), LW, Severstal Cherepovets

Failed to make a positive impression .. he was constantly behind the play and lacked the physical strength to make a difference .. ironically enough despite his father being a renowned coach for his work ethic it did not rub off on his son as he is lazy and rarely comes back .. saw limited ice due to his lack of intensity.

Andrei Zubarev (2007), D, Ak Bars Kazan

The captain he played a solid game as he was a fixture on both the PP and PK .. he did a good job of containing the Canadian forwards as he was strong in front and established good position .. anticipated well in the offensive zone however he is not a great skater and his speed would not allow him to get to the puck .. smart player who knows where to be .. took considerable abuse throughout the contest to advance the puck .. was speared in the dying seconds of the game by Stewart.

Ilya Proskuryakov (2007), G, Metallurg Magnitogorsk

Made many saves that would have resulted in goals .. not so much in his ability but in Canada's lack of capitalizing on their chances .. ok rebound control .. athletic and flexible, he made many saves with his agility and reflexes but looked unsure as to where the puck was .. followed the play ok as his lateral movement allowed him to slide easily from side to side .. made 32 saves.

Egor Milovzorov (2007), RW, Sibir, Novosibirsk

Named Russia's player of the game .. a slick play maker who uses his speed to open up the game .. more of a passer than a shooter .. showed athleticism and agility in his ability to get around players .. made plays in traffic but is weak and a tad soft as he had a tendency to disappear when the game got more physical .. most dynamic player in terms of stick handling and offensive ability .. a bit lazy on the back end .. good skater with quick first step that caught many Canadians off guard.