OHL: Little Big Man

The Barrie Colts (26-21-8-2) are a team in transition, though you wouldn't know it by their record. GM Mike McCann and Head Coach Marty Williamson have spearheaded a youth movement this season, developing a young nucleus led by young star Bryan Little. David reviews the progress of Little, newcomer Todd Perry and other promising youngsters on the Colts roster.

Bryan Little (2006) C, Barrie

Excellent speed he uses to derail defensive schemes .. excellent first step, sharp turns and can get to full throttle in two strides .. strong on his feet and can carry the puck a long way with tremendous puck protection skills .. deadly when cutting down the wing to finish or set up a play .. creates time and space in man-on-man situations .. adept at finding open ice on the powerplay .. gets involved down low .. wants the puck with the game on the line .. crisp, accurate shots on both the forehand and backhand .. much improved playmaking skills, instincts and confidence .. can wiggle off defenders or simply out-skate them .. plays in all situations .. deadly in four-on-four play .. a dedicated backchecker with nice recovery powers and a quick stick .. at times shows a tendency to try to do too much, as when he tried to stickhandle past three players instead of dumping in the puck, extending an already long shift.

B.J. Crombeen (Dal) RW, Barrie

Nice frame and decent skills .. aggressive and mean .. good straightaway speed and a powerful stride .. snap shot is his best offensive weapon .. tough to manhandle in front of the net; plants himself and persists .. good awareness of linemates; adept at setting up teammates heading to the net .. one patented move is to position himself properly off the draw and get a clean shot off from the slot with a quick release .. if he doesn't score he usually gets a new faceoff .. another patented move is to cut wide to his forehand taking the defender with him, hoping to catch the goalie moving and beat him with a nice shot low to the ice.

Todd Perry (2005) D, Barrie

Big but not a banger .. shows confidence but not much aggression .. size is respected by opposition .. offensive instincts are ordinary but he has a decent shot from the point he is not afraid to use for tips/rebounds .. good at tying his man up with a long reach .. well-rounded in defensive basics .. nasty streak will hopefully come with time.

Hunter Tremblay (2005) LW, Barrie

Smart set up man who reads the play well .. lacks size but can dart in and out of the crease area, take a pounding and continue working .. moves his feet at all times on the pp, tiring defenders .. does not possess exceptional speed but constantly attacks the net .. skates with a fluid stride and uses quick crossovers to generate acceptable speed .. works the half boards effectively to settle down passes nicely .. sneaky and slippery; just rolls off players .. nice vision and puck distribution skills .. protects the puck well down low .. finishing upside isn't special but has a quick snapshot .. looks for the pass and should unload more in the slot .. uses stick effectively at the defensive end successfully creating turnovers .. solid at both ends but lack of size limits upside.

Mike Roelofsen (2005) C

Shifty and can move with the puck .. skates with an awkward style .. acceleration, first step need further work .. struggles to position himself timely in the opponent's end due to slow feet .. shies away from physical play .. nice patience and savvy when the puck is on his stick .. often caught standing still in the neutral zone making it easy to get around him.

Matthew Bragg (2005) LW, Barrie

Has been used sparingly for the duration of the season .. decision-making is raw and has a tendency to hold on to the puck for too long resulting in costly turnovers .. needs add strength to all parts of the body .. opposing rearguards manhandle him and that shakes his confidence .. good skater; strong healthy strides and nice cuts.

Nathan Martine (2006) D, Barrie

Thick, offensively-skilled rearguard .. makes smart, conservative plays .. remarkable poise in high-pressure situations .. can make the right decision with a guy on his back .. good confidence moving the puck out of his own end but isn't high on the first pass, as he often carries the puck past centre ice for a dump-and-chase .. loves to jump in on a scoring chance .. must strengthen his arms and legs to handle strong, fast opposing skaters .. backwards skating is a weakness .. blew a tire twice defending one-on-one.

Jordan Shine (2007) LW, Barrie

Gritty and in-your-face .. very limited offensively .. agitator looks to rile guys up and drop the gloves .. finishes checks with authority .. makes sure his defensive responsibilities are taken care of .. does not overcommit out of position.