OHL: Maunu vs Boys

Notes on seven promising youngsters currently playing for the Windsor Spitfires and the St. Mike’s Majors, including the rock-solid Mitch Maunu, offensive-minded Scott Lehman and 2005 draft-eligible wildcard Ryan Wilson.

Mitch Maunu (2004), D, Windsor

Was the 2002/2003 Spitfires’ Rookie-of-the-Year .. nice, sturdy frame and solid on his skates .. a well-balanced skater, he moves with a wide stance and possesses excellent lateral quickness .. reads the play well and is rarely out of position defensively .. relishes the physical aspects of the game, hits hard and often .. confident and poised; looks like an overager due to his all-around maturity .. excels at logging major minutes, always has something left in the tank late in the game .. a little wild with penalties at times, but we like that he shows intensity .. very dependable and airtight at both ends of the ice.

Ryan Wilson (2005), D, St. Mike’s

2005 draft-eligible rearguard was picked in the third round of the 2003 OHL priority selection .. listed at 170 pounds at the time and has bulked up big-time since, now weighing at an impressive 207 lbs .. very solid and poised in his own end .. not a fast skater, but one with good balance, a wide, fluid stride and quick lateral mobility .. not afraid to pitch in on the rush, which he does with a good burst of first-step quickness .. made an instinctive play, picking up a puck in the slot, unloading a hard shot on the net confidently .. won’t shy away from the physical game, enjoys playing in traffic .. logged considerable minutes on the powerplay .. a capable qb with a quick, hard shot and the ability to crisply distribute the puck .. already a strong contributor at the OHL level and a true gem for when the 2005 draft rolls around.

Scott Lehman (2004), D, St. Mike’s

Offensive-minded defenseman with an above-average skill set .. has a solid shooting array and plays a solid, well-rounded game on the powerplay, although he must find better ways to get himself open for shot opportunities .. tends to get lost in his own end and crumbles under pressure with the puck at times .. part of the problem is his sub-par hold on the puck, so he tends to rush with the pass, many times resulting in turnovers .. listed at 195 lbs, but looks slighter; must use his size more readily .. doesn’t have the upper body strength to move larger forwards or compete physically near the net .. fast, penetrating skater, he is a polished stickhandler and competent at taking it out of the defensive end .. must work on balance and defensive positioning .. took a poor 10-minute misconduct penalty .. has played on the second power play unit behind the younger Ryan Wilson .. a half-empty, half-full defenseman needs further maturation.

Iain McPhee (2004), D, Windsor

Two-way rearguard has modest skills, but a mature defensive game .. uses size well to effectively angle forwards from the net .. plays a physical game and shows willingness to battle in the corners .. an average skater, not overly fast, but well-balanced and agile .. shoots the puck crisply, but shies away from handling the puck more than he deems necessary.

Tyler Haskins (2004), C, St. Mike’s

It is hard to believe he was a fifth-round selection by the Guelph Storm in 2002 .. smallish forward with elusive skating and good skills with the puck .. centered the top line with Tim Brent currently out of the lineup .. impressed with good offensive vision, instincts, making smart, crisp decisions breaking out the zone .. strong defensive positioning .. additional bulk is a must, but all the tools, including competitiveness, are there.

Brett Liscomb (2004), LW, Windsor

An under-sized winger, generously listed at 5-foot-9 .. plays a tenacious game and is a strong forechecker .. speedy, skates with a quick, choppy stride .. scored a goal on a hard-earned play, as he picked up a loose puck in the slot and lifted it over Majors’ netminder Ouzas .. quick hands .. capable on the penalty kill due to his quickness .. a hard-working type whose greatest detriment is his diminutive stature.

Jeff Leavitt (2004), C, Windsor

A checker with decent size, but not much in terms of offense to offer .. uses his stick well to break up plays and is a willing worker in traffic .. has an awkward skating style that is slightly lower than average .. solid faceoff skills, shows good strength on the draw .. scored a goal due to some hard work and determination .. a serviceable forward, effective in short-handed situations as well.