OHL: Berti Deeds

The Oshawa Generals entered the 2004/05 campaign optimistic that the size and talent assembled by new GM Brad Selwood would lead them to the top of the OHL's Eastern Conference. The disappointing first half results of their current last place seeding has given the organization pause for thought, and cost head coach Bob McGill his job. Since re-organizing their strategy under the bench tutelage of newly-annointed interim coach Brad Selwood, the Generals have picked up a few wins and are playing energetic hockey, although defensive misgivings still exist that need correcting. OHL correspondent Doug Evinou attended a recent home game between the Generals and the Ottawa 67s at Oshawa's Civic Auditorium, and files this report on a few of Oshawa's top skaters.

Adam Berti (CHI), LW, Oshawa

The big skater has really responded in the last few games since McGill's departure, and had a huge impact in this game, registering a hat-trick .. plays alongside rookie forward Matt Piva and OHL veteran Brandon McBride .. made a move on the rush at Ottawa's blue line, forcing McBride offside .. unleashed a high wrist shot from the slot that beat Ottawa keeper Danny Battochio high early in the first after a 67s turnover .. was forced offside later in the period when McBride made an extra move before crossing the blue line .. has been playing with a lot of spirit, finishing his checks and using his size to his advantage .. his line continued to do great cycling work behind Ottawa's net, and it paid off later in the first as Piva found Berti in front of the net, to put the Generals up 2-0 .. pairs with McBride to form one of the General's most effective penalty killing duos .. stripped Ottawa captain Will Colbert off the puck at Oshawa's blue line to generate a quality short-handed opportunity .. late in the third period, Piva found Berti in front of the net again, to put the Generals up 6-5 .. consistently planted himself in front of the net in the game, and the Ottawa defenders had a very difficult time containing him .. in overtime, McBride and Berti used their speed and size to generate numerous scoring chances, but the pair couldn't solve Battochio .. with five goals in his last two games, Berti has shaken off his early season scoring slump, and has taken over the team scoring lead .. the question with Berti will always be consistency of play; he has the tools to be a dominant power forward (shot, size, speed), and is playing like it right now .. if he can continue his current level of play, it will go a long way in helping the Generals climb back into the play-off picture in the OHL's Eastern Conference.

Brett Trudell (FA), RW, Oshawa

The former Guelph Storm forward has been a consistent performer for the Generals since coming over in the off-season, and has performed admirably as the team's captain .. plays alongside newly acquired forward Peter Tsimikalis and effective 19-year-old rookie Andrew Gibbons .. a decent skater with size, Trudell plays an efficient two-way game and leads by example with a consistent work ethic and competitive nature .. found space on the power play late in the first period to receive a brilliant Bret Nasby cross-ice pass, and waited for Battochio to go down before shelving it high above the 67s helpless keeper's shoulder to put the Generals up 3-0 .. claimed space in front of Ottawa's crease in the second period, and took a pass from Gibbons in the corner for his second goal of the game .. on a very similar play early in the third period, took a pass from Tsimikalis to complete the hat trick .. the overage forward has done everything that could be expected of him this season; it is very likely he will be able to parlay his solid play into a pro contract next year, and a roster spot in the ECHL or AHL.

Bret Nasby (FLA), D, Oshawa

Progressed very quickly in his first OHL season last year, and was selected by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round of last summer's NHL Entry Draft .. the lanky defender is a good skater for a player of his size, and plays a reliable defensive game .. he is starting to progress as a playmaker over the course of this season .. recorded his first ever OHL goal in the Generals' previous match against Kingston .. made a terrific pass to Brett Trudell on the power play late in the first period, finding the Generals' captain on the opposite side of the ice with a tape-to-tape pass .. mostly paired with Generals' veteran John Neal on the blue-line, although the team played the game with seven defenseman, so the pairings got mixed up over the duration of the contest .. does not play an overly physical style of play, but does have the potential to put on a lot of muscle onto his frame, and this side of his game my mature as his body does .. a solid pro prospect, and is getting lots of opportunities to strut his stuff on a roster that is in desperate need of consistent defensive efforts .. should develop into a top OHL rearguard by next season.

David Halasz (2005), D, Oshawa

The former Ottawa 67s rearguard was shipped to Oshawa in the off-season to make room for incoming 67s stand-out imports Jacob Petruzalek and Lukas Kaspar .. move was one of necessity for Ottawa GM/coach Brian Kilrea rather then a blight on Halasz' record; Petruzalek and Kaspar came over as a pair, and CHL rules limit teams to two imports per season .. arguably Oshawa's top all-around defenseman, possessing the speed and hockey instincts to make a profound impact at both ends of the rink .. not an overly physical defenseman, but has the size and strength to contain forwards along the boards .. his absence due to injury in the games preceding the Christmas break were costly, and the losses that piled up during that time contributed to the Bob McGill firing .. the team is undefeated since Halasz has returned to the line-up .. a calming influence on the blueline who pairs with former Kingston defenseman Trevor Waddell on the Generals' top-pairing .. got a sniff of pro-hockey last fall as a Maple Leafs' rookie camp invite, and will look to get drafted this time around after being passed over in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Devereaux Heshmatpour (2005), D, Oshawa

The hulking rearguard was shipped to Oshawa by Kitchener in the November trade that saw the teams swap goaltenders Carlo DiRienzo and Dan Turple respectively .. struggled handling the puck in this one, coughing up the puck at his blue line for an unforced giveaway .. stepped in and challenged Ottawa forward Bryan Bickell when the 67s player elbowed Heshmatpour's defensive partner Chad Thompson in the head midway through the first period .. was assessed with a two minute instigator penalty in the subsequent fight, and sat for the next seventeen minutes due to the accompanying ten minute misconduct and five minute fighting major .. Ottawa forward Julian Talbot skipped past Hesmatpour later in the second period and got a good scoring chance .. Oshawa bench boss Selwood had seen enough from Heshampour at this point, and the young rearguard watched the rest of the game from the bench .. has had some strong games since joining the Generals but this was not one of them .. the big rearguard is willing to stick up for his team mates, and he is an adequate fighter .. has decent straight ahead skating ability, but his lateral movement and agility could still use a lot of work .. showing more confidence when carrying the puck, but he still has moments where his handle on the puck is shaky .. a decent passer, and has a hard, right-handed shot .. will get pro attention because of his size (6-6, 238lbs), but his disappointing development to this point has put projections of early round NHL draft potential on the back-burner at this point.

Gary Friesen (2005), C/LW, Oshawa

Sophomore forward brings a strong defensive game to the table for the Generals .. blessed with tremendous speed; uses it to his advantage as an effective penalty killer .. centered the Generals third line with Tom Jefferson and newcomer Travis Kauffeldt .. made a terrible blunder in the middle stanza, hitting his team mate with a shot from the blue line, managing to recover the puck and then coughing it up to the 67s' first year forward Aaron Alphonso when attempting an ill-advised cross-ice pass on his back-hand to Trevor Waddell .. it was a costly mistake for the Generals, as Alphonso sped in on Ryan Gibb and scored, making the game 3-2, and giving the 67s all kinds of momentum .. Freisen is slowly starting to assert himself more offensively, and has already surpassed his point total from last season; albeit with more ice time during his contests this campaign .. his speed should make him an attractive property late in this year's NHL draft.

Game Notes

Sixteen year-old defenseman James DeLory is currently representing Ontario at the 2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Lethbridge, Alberta. The Generals' first pick in 2004 (8th over-all) has played well this season, regularly pairing with David Halasz along Oshawa's blue line, and is a player to watch for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Justin and Tyler Donati, the twin brothers and Generals' forwards, left the team prior to Bob McGill's firing, reportedly demanding a trade as a pair to one of three OHL teams. With the OHL trade deadline fast approaching (January 10th at 6pm), it will be interesting to see if Brad Selwood can net anything for the precocious pair.