OHL: Central Division Draft Review

In part three of McKeen's OHL draft review, correspondent David Burstyn examines the Central Division, consisting of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, who held the third overall selection, the Brampton Battalion, Sudbury Wolves, Mississauga IceDogs and the Barrie Colts, the regular season winners of the Central Division and Eastern Conference.

Toronto St. Michael's Majors

The last few seasons have been disappointing ones for this once proud organization. Dave Cameron is back into the fold and this bodes well for St. Mikes. He successfully managed to lead the Majors to four Eastern Conference finals during his tenure as coach and general manager from 2000-04. Cameron took over the draft and selected players that are all very healthy skaters. Given the move into the Hershey Centre, these players will have more room to display their skills.

Casey Cizikas, the third overall selection, finally gives the Majors a player to build around. He has a proven track record of being a winner, as he has won at every level including an OHL Cup this season with the Mississauga IceDogs. Tough and skilled, he can beat you on the scoresheet and with his fists. His play along the boards and in traffic makes him an exceptional player, as he thrives playing in physical contests. He is very wiry but incredibly strong. His puck skills and ability to create with his speed make him a player that the Majors will covet. He should be handled very well by coach Cameron.

The Majors might have grabbed one of the best defenders in the draft when they selected Burlington Eagle Brett Fleming. An explosive skater, his mobility and agility are one of the best in the draft at his position. He is very smart and reads plays extremely well. He was relied upon in all special team situations for his team. His skating is phenomenal, as he could easily lead the rush or find himself behind the opposition's goal, only to be the first player back in his zone to defend a broken play. His transition to the OHL will be gradual due to the nature of his position however, coupled with Tim Billingsley; his selection gives the Majors a great one-two punch on the back end.

In a surprise move, the Majors jumped on Corey Bureau in the second round. A gifted scorer with great hand/eye coordination, he lacks explosive speed nevertheless, has the smarts to get open. He was often situated on a line with Taylor Hall (Kingston) and did the little things very well to get on the scoresheet. His shot selection and accuracy are clear strengths however, it remains to be seen if he will be able to perform without high quality linemates.

The fourth and fifth round selections were great additions to the Majors and may even challenge for a roster spot next season, as the Majors will be hard-pressed to score goals.

Ryan Lopes (4th) was captain of the Brampton Battalion, a team that managed to stay in the OHL minor hockey top-10 rankings all season. A smaller centre, his quick feet enabled him to get to open ice and his shot release in traffic resulted in many goals. A fixture on both the PK and PP, he played with intensity and was effective at both ends of the ice. His commitment level was unrivalled, as he showed up to play every night. Despite his scoring accolades at just over a point-per-game, he factors to be more of a shutdown player at the OHL level but should be able to play in the league.

Flick (5th) is a huge project! He started the year off sensationally hot but cooled right down after Christmas. He played a lot of hockey, as he also played for his high school team in the Quad A OFSAA loop. His skating is still rather wonky. He is a bigger kid and actually grew throughout the season, so he had a hard time controlling his coordination. His shot accuracy was simply not there and as a result, he scored only 26 goals when he should have doubled those totals for the amount of chances he got. He has considerable upside, as he plays a strong physical game and should he improve other aspects of his game, he should be able to step into the league in two seasons. His play is not unlike a young Eric Staal and with some experience at the Jr.B level next year he should be able to make the jump.

The wildcard of the Major's draft could be North York Ranger Patrick McEachen. Committed to school just days prior to the draft, he saw his stock tumble as a result. He is the epitome of a stay-at-home defenseman. His ability to read the play and react accordingly is what makes him so talented. He is a smart player who understands when to jump the rush or when to hold back. His play improved over the course of the season and at times, he seemed to be the only player who cared, as he was a man possessed in the North York Rangers opening round loss to the Toronto Young Nats. If the Majors could convince him to play for their program, they would have a reliable defender capable of playing 20-plus minutes a game.

Brampton Battalion

For the second year in a row, the Battalion managed to get a player with a skill set that exceeded their draft position. Last year they managed to get Cody Hodgson at 18th overall, a player who should have easily been a top-five pick and this year, they scored another coup with the selection of Matt Duchene, a player many consider to be the best of this year's crop.

The fifth overall selection could have been the first had he not already verbally committed to Michigan State at the tender age of 14. However, the Battalion is quite convinced that he will report. Duchene is a franchise player in the making. He will dominate the league should he decide to play in it and actually may challenge for the Red Tilson Trophy at some point in his OHL career. He does everything at top speed and has a wide array of moves that he uses at top speeds to fool defenders. Simply put, he can turn defenseman into pretzels if they play the puck on him. At times, he had a tendency to do things all by himself but that's only because he could. Despite his high goal production of 69, he was not selfish and readily passed the puck, always looking for open teammates. Should he develop chemistry with Hodgson early, than it could be very exciting, high-tempo hockey in Brampton.

The Battalions' second pick was yet another highly explosive skater with generous offensive skills. Chris Beauchamp is regarded as one of the best skaters in his age group. The way he beats defenders and pounces on loose pucks creates many opportunities, as his first step and agility allow him additional time and space. Beauchamp will need to make adjustments, as his lack of physical play will hurt him at the OHL level. He plays with very little grit and seems to play passive and/or afraid at times.

The three defenseman they took in the first seven rounds, Kyle Pereira, David Pratt and Ryan Wiley are all offensive-minded with good puck-rushing skills. The Battalion lacked depth on the back end and the idea is that hopefully one of these players can step in and provide some scoring.

Kyle Pereira, Brampton's' fifth round selection showed remarkable poise and composure on the back end. He had a knack for getting his shots on goal and created a lot of offence as a result, as goalies had difficulty containing his hard shot. Undersized, he used his positioning and foot speed to contain forwards. He is a long shot but is the most OHL-ready of their defenseman selections.

The two wildcards of the draft could be Brandon Foote and Josh Shalla. The two players shared a fair bit of success, as they were teammates for the Whitby Wildcats.

Josh Shalla has all the tools to be a power forward. His finish around the net is great, as he has soft hands for a player who is rugged and physical. He does a great job in establishing position down low and uses his big lower body to muscle guys away from the puck. His skating is a flaw but he worked all season to get it up to par. It lacks fluidity and speed nonetheless, it served him well for the type of game he played. Has the potential to become a serviceable player, capable of fulfilling a role as a crease-crasher who bangs away garbage goals.

Traditionally goalies like Foote do not get rushed however, with a young goalie tandem, he may see action should any of the two goalies get hurt, as he has to be considered No. 3 on the organizational depth chart. Foote is an extremely athletic goalie who relies more on his reflexes to make a save. He is a good skater, which helped his lateral movement. He has considerable potential however, he is rather slender and will need to add some more weight to help his stamina levels before he assumes an OHL position.

Sudbury Wolves

Recognizing that the Wolves would lose many of their defenseman this season, they were the first team to jump on a defenseman in the first round. More than half of their picks were defenseman, as they attempted to refill the prospect cupboard.

Daniel Maggio is a massive, hard-nosed defender who logged a ton of minutes for the Windsor Jr. Spitfires. He is an exceptional skater for his size and does an admirable job of closing the gap and blocking shooting lanes. His size served him well and even when he was slightly out of position, it was easy for him to recover at this level. Although, he will need to be more conscious of his position once he makes it to the OHL. He does a great job of sheltering the puck and making swift passes, which makes him an ideal candidate to quarterback a PP at some point during his OHL career.

The Wolves made a trade with the London Knights to secure a second round pick which they used it to select Marcus Foligno, the son of coach Mike Foligno. Considering the success Mike had with his first son Nick Foligno, the development of Marcus should be interesting. Not as fluid or light on his skates as Nick, Marcus is pure offense and a natural finisher. His hands are unreal, as he can finish in close. He understands the game and even though his foot speed does not always allow him to get to loose pucks, the way he positions himself in front is very reminiscent of a young Tomas Vanek. Players who can score and play physical are always at a premium.

The Wolves selected in later rounds two players, Brandon Pirri and Colin Martin who could both play in the league or be complete busts.

Brandon Pirri, their eighth round selection was an offensive dynamo and scored goals with ease this season playing for the Toronto Young Nats. The team consisted of one line that scored the bulk of their goals on the PP and Pirri usually played the entire PP. He has Pavel Datsyuk like moves and can beat any defender one-on-one. Has superior puckhandling skills and exhibits tremendous patience especially in traffic, which is surprising given his slender frame. However, he is not physical and shows no courage in retrieving the puck. His play without the puck needs drastic improving, as he is extremely lazy on the backcheck. There have been rumors that he is pursuing a scholarship and will most likely play Tier II next season, as his father owns a team.

Colin Martin the Wolves sixth round selection is also a natural with the puck and scored goals at will using his super sized frame in front to create. Extremely effective along the wall, he bulldozes over the opposition to get to the net. Martin struggled to stay in the lineup early in the season because he let his aggression get the best of him and was suspended often as a result. His play in front of the net was great however, Martin had a tendency to watch the play when the puck was not on his stick and his defensive zone coverage was awful to say the least. At times, he looked as if he was skating in quicksand, as his first step was simply not there. Martin still has plenty of potential and it will be up to him if he wants to play in the OHL, as he certainly has the size and skill.

The wildcard of the draft could be Peter Hermenegildo, the Wolves third round selection. A stocky, well put together defender who at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, was virtually impossible to knock off the puck. He recognizes his opportunities and is quick to join a play or lay out a hit. He still needs to be aware of his position from time to time. He has a cannon of a shot but must get it off faster. His mobility is decent, as he is able to keep up with most players however, his foot speed is a tad off, which could be a direct result of him carrying too much weight. He will be given many opportunities to make an impression on the Sudbury coaching staff, as he is a player who has considerable promise and thrives in many aspects of the game. Could turn into the next P.K. Subban.

Mississauga IceDogs

The IceDogs' first two picks were forwards who were listed at 5-foot-8. They followed that up by taking two big defenseman to compliment those forwards. Their latter-round selections were one of the best in the draft, as they selected many role players who have a strong chance at playing in the OHL.

Andrew Agozzino was dominant last year when he playing a year up with the Vaughn Kings and was named captain as an underage player. This year he decided to leave Vaughn and play for the high-octane Mississauga IceDogs, a team that many considered the best in the province, even before the addition of Agozzino. He scored over 57 goals and registered 160 PIM's displaying his ability to score in traffic areas and play an aggressive style. He has a great first step and his hockey sense serves him well to make plays to open linemates. He played his best hockey when he was on a line with Cizikas, as they formed wonderful chemistry with one another. A bit of an anomaly in his defensive zone coverage, as he displayed very little effort backchecking, yet was effective when playing the PK. He did not exhibit the consistency one would have liked or expected from him considering his success last season however, he is a solid addition to this club that can be a key contributor at the OHL level with the right direction.

Alex Freisen, the IceDogs second round selection is a smaller forward who certainly plays bigger than his size suggests. He is a complete player who plays all 200 feet of the ice. Simply put, he wants the puck every time he touches the ice. His work ethic is contagious and rubbed off on his teammates especially Taylor Beck. He broke up many plays and used his blinding speed to create chances going the other way. He stays with plays and never gives up. He is an absolute pest to play against. He has many admirable traits to his game, as his speed serves him well to the outside and his courage in front allots him many chances. If he is able to put on some size without compromising his speed, he should be able to bury many chances in front. Has the potential to be a good third line, shutdown player or a first line scorer. It is all up to him.

The IceDogs selected two reliable stay-at-home defenseman, with Jay Gilbert and Josh Philips with their next two picks.

Jay Gilbert was a complete defensive stalwart for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, a team that gave up its fair share of chances. He supports his defensive partner well and always protects his net. He is not flashy rather, electing to make the smart, simple plays out of the zone. He was the QB on the PP for his minor team however, that will not be his game at the OHL level, as he has only average puckhandling skills. At 6-foot-1 and still growing, he will be a perfect shutdown defender capable of holding late leads in close contests.

Josh Philips is cut from the same cloth as Gilbert however; his game is not as complete. He tends to hold onto the puck too long when going up ice and needs to utilize his teammates better by making faster decisions. He also needs to add some strength, as too often players took liberties at him down low and around the net. His strength is his ability to force opponents into mistakes due to his exceptional positioning and mobility. His skating and agility allow him to do that at this level however, with faster players at the OHL level and gaps being closed quickly, he may have a hard time adjusting should he make the team out of the gate.

The IceDogs did a great job in the later rounds to give them depth at all forward positions. The selections of Cohen Adair, Andrew Shaw, Andrew Calof, and Ryan Speers were healthy additions. Defenseman Mike Schwindt was also a very good pick.

Adair played Midget AA for Stratford and was often buried on the third line. He did not see any PP time but still managed to put up healthy stats. He prefers to run over guys then skate around them. He is a swift, effortless skater who would benefit greatly by increasing the length of his stride and adding much-needed power to his lower body. At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he has size and given his commitment to two-way play, his chances bode well for the future.

Shaw played for the Quinte organization and was the captain of the Red Devils. He is a complete heart-and-soul player who always gives everything he has when he steps on the ice. He displayed some scoring prowess and his vision was a strength. A tad on the small side, he may play Tier II next season, which would help his development considerably.

Calof is another undersized center but his puck skills and agility are one of the best in the draft. At 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, he certainly has a lot of growing to do and that is why he may have fallen to the ninth round because it certainly did not have anything to do with his offensive ability. He scored 11 points in one game at the Marlie tournament. His shot lacks power and too often he attempts to go to the net but he cannot stay there for too long, as he is manhandled constantly. Given his shot power, he really needs to charge the net to create, which is unlikely to happen given his diminutive stature. Should Calof land a spot on a Tier II team next season, he should improve considerably.

Speers was another highly offensive player for the Windsor Jr. Spitfires. He scored many beautiful goals throughout the season employing his lethal, accurate shot from a distance or in close. His skating is also very fluid. He tends not to get too involved in the defensive side of things, which should stunt his development. He has been offered a try out for the Leamington Jr.B team next year.

Schwindt, a big tall defenseman from the Grey-Bruce Highlanders, continued to work on his game throughout the season. He desperately needs to fill-out but he oozes potential, as his size is such an asset. He played a very safe, conservative game, as he did not over handle the puck and did not try to play outside his limits. He sacrifices himself for the team. He may have the opportunity to play Jr.B in Owen Sound next season, which would do his game wonders if he plays a regular shift.

The wildcard of the draft could be Joseph Zarbo, a Buffalo native who played high school hockey for St.Francis. He was easily the most improved player coming down the stretch and culminated his season with an outstanding OHL Cup, as he led his team to the semifinals. He approaches the game well, as he comes prepared to play. His smarts and hockey sense cannot be taught and coupled with his modest scoring skills, the IceDogs could have a player in him as early as next season. The relocation of the franchise serves the IceDogs well, as he lives twenty minutes from St.Catharines and will most likely report.

Barrie Colts

The Colts stand to lose a surplus of offensive players and with that in mind, they drafted five forwards with their top-six picks.

The addition of Mitch Lebar, 17th overall, should give the Colts a high-octane player capable of putting up points. He should have no problems adjusting to the league as his skating, vision, and hand skills are all up to par. He did not always play with intensity but when he wanted to play, he was easily one of the best-skilled players in the draft. He scored many goals as a direct result of his second gear and his ability to separate himself from the opposition. He was even used as a defender who would build up speed from behind his net and carry it deep into the offensive zone. At times, he seemed unchallenged by the level of competition and was even called up a few times to play Midget, a level he excelled at too.

Kyle Clifford is a smooth skating forward who plays an in-your-face type of game. He is most effective when he hits and causes a disturbance. His finishing skills are not the best, as his shot lacks accuracy but he can generate chances with his abrasive style of play and a hit-everything-in-his-path mentality. His play away from the puck is very attractive, as he constantly came back and even when things did not go well for him offensively, he always maintained a sound defensive approach. He tailed off slightly in the playoffs however, he might have been playing with an injury, as he is a true competitor and would not take himself out of the lineup.

The wildcards of the draft could be Adam Payerl and Curtis Longland. Both players were invited to the Under-17 evaluation camps and benefited greatly by playing with better players, a luxury they did not have throughout the season.

Payerl was everything to his woeful Kitchener Jr. Ranger team. I mean everything! He scored and was a part of 75 percent of all the goals the team scored. He was a tireless worker and even though his team was blown out on most nights, he never gave up and continued to plug away, sacrificing his body, making centering feeds and finishing checks. He had a tendency to over handle the puck however, with the complete lack of talent surrounding him, he was forced to do too much to get his team going. His footwork and speed are concerns however, his hockey sense should supplement those deficiencies.

Longland also played on a relatively mediocre team - the Welland Tigers. He was not relied upon as much to his team as Payerl but he was a big part of it. He scored an impressive 28 goals, as he has a knack for finding loose pucks in front and taking advantage of his chances. He is a tall player that should fill out nicely once he stops maturing, as he has a modest frame to work with. He is not afraid and will get dirty to make a play. His skating is very fluid and he has great acceleration. He will definitely be viewed as a player that can step in some time during the next two seasons depending on the work he does in the off-season.