OHL: Barrie Little Snow

The Brampton Battalion have plenty to prove this season. Despite remaining near the top of the regular-season standings, Stan Butler's crew have been unable to translate that success into the playoffs. The Barrie Colts have experienced recent postseason setbacks of their own, including a tough seven-game loss in the opening round last year against Ottawa.

Both squads have put together different teams in many respects. While the Battalion rely more on size, grit and solid goaltending, the Colts, on the other hand, are a fast and talented club that aim to outscore rather than outpower their opponents.

Bryan Little (2006), C, Barrie

late '87 birthday makes Little one of the oldest players available in the draft .. continues to flourish within Barrie's system, demonstrating a unique chemistry with Hunter Tremblay that makes them quite possibly the deadliest duo in the league .. Little has very well-rounded skills in the offensive zone .. possesses a blistering shot and wicked release on his one-timer .. hides his shots well and usually catches goalies off guard .. strong on his skates which allows him to win the corner battles .. forces defenseman to rush him and then blows by them with quick bursts of speed .. playmaking skills are exquisite; one step ahead of the game .. makes creative passes into vacant areas anticipating where his linemates should be .. teammates must stay alert when playing with him as he can make plays that most players don't think possible .. a top 10 spot in the NHL draft next June is certainly in sight at this stage.

Nathan Martine (2006), D, Barrie

an adequate skater who joins the rush when he can .. still has difficulty containing bigger, stronger forecheckers .. his defensive coverage down low also needs work .. it is tough to assess if his defensive shortcomings are due to a lack of strength or to a fear of drawing penalties .. can make nice tape-to-tape passes .. plays on the second powerplay unit and makes sound decisions in offensive situations.

Vladimir Nikiforov (2006), RW, Barrie

the best skater on the team after Bryan Little .. diminutive forward is an electrifying player to watch and possesses quite an arsenal of moves .. best stickhandler on the team .. can be lethal if given too much open ice .. plays the point on the first powerplay though his quarterbacking decisions are not always the smartest ones .. takes shots when shooting lanes are blocked and tries to force passes that are not always there .. small size gets him knocked off the puck a bit .. quick transition game creates chances for himself however his linemates can't keep up with him and the play usually quickly dissolves as he attempts to beat all the defenders one-on-one .. would benefit from having more talented linemates that would better utilize his offensive potential.

Blake Parlett (2007), D, Barrie

the Colts' first-round OHL selection pick at 15th overall .. displays good size and movement for a rookie defender .. protects the net well and often hangs back to support the puckcarrier .. physically he is able to contain forwards along the boards .. took a few penalties as a result of the new rule changes .. all in all, a smart player who just needs time to learn and adapt.

Aaron Snow (2006), LW, Brampton

sophomore winger has stepped up his game considerably this season with the absence of Luch Aquino and Wojtek Wolski .. Snow is a complete package who can hit, score and set up plays .. size is a bit of concern, however he actively plays the body and is not afraid to mix it up .. constantly puts himself in positions to score .. was dangerous in the offensive zone all game and made a superb 2-on-1 pass for a goal .. an efficient skater able to blow by slower defenders though his first step could use a little work .. certainly will get continued looks from NHL scouts as he has accepted an expanded role in the offence and has backed it up with effective two way play and sound defense.

John deGray (2006), D, Brampton

could be the first defender taken out of the OHL this season, although Kingston's Ben Shutron is making a strong early case as well .. hard to pinpoint what his strong suits are as he just plays a very safe and economical game .. poised with the puck and displays a calmness that is unrivalled by his peers .. powered by a lumbering skating style and will need to further address his lateral mobility .. used on the powerplay though he doesn't display much shooting power, instead opting to lob pucks at the net and let the forwards whack home rebounds .. made a nice first pass out of the zone which resulted in a goal .. should continue to mature and may even receive an invite to Canada's World Junior team.

Matt Smyth (2007), RW, Brampton

The Battalion's first-round OHL selection pick at 14th overall .. an agile forward who skates very well for his age and is blessed with blinding speed .. one can see the offensive potential here however at times looked ordinary due to the pace of the game .. supports the new rule changes by hanging out at the lines .. eager to jump into the rush, sometimes playing too deep in the offensive zone and being the last forward back on defense .. his overall play away from the puck will need some work however this season should be seen as a learning curve to prepare him for what looks like promising future ahead.