OHL [May-06]: Saginaw most improved

Saginaw Spirit most improved team in OHL (posted 5.26.06)

by David Burstyn

The Saginaw Spirit held the distinction of being the OHL's most improved team this year.

Since they joined the league in 2002 after being moved from North Bay, the Spirit have improved on their regular season point totals each season. This year however was a breakout season that saw them explode for 36 wins, 18 more than last year's previous best and marked an improvement of 30 points, most by an OHL club this year. The Spirit accomplished something this season that fans, ownership and management have been waiting for since their inception into the league, their first ever post-season appearance.

While the Spirit were eliminated in four games at the hands of the Guelph Storm, the trip to the post season proved to be a healthy experience for this team, especially since a large contingent of players will be returning anxious to redeem themselves.

"We really viewed for the players and the staff that this was a necessary step for our franchise" says Director of Scouting Dan Halliburton about his team's playoff experience. "To go from the level that we were at previously to really a level that can compete amongst the top teams in the OHL, that experience is going to carry through to next year where we have so many returning players and it gives them a taste of really what it is all about in terms of the competition level increasing, demands increasing and the discipline involved". "We hope that that little bit of experience will take us a long way next year".

The architect of this team, Dan Halliburton joined the team in its second year of operation. His resume includes previous positions as Head Scout for the Owen Sound Platters as well as a two year stint as General Manager for the team prior to joining the Saginaw Spirit as the Director of Scouting.

"I have just completed my fourth year with the organization" states Halliburton "I started with the 87's and was largely responsible for that draft". "I think we are moving in the right direction".

Halliburton is no stranger to hockey rinks as his search for talent covers a wide geographical area. His team consists of 8 to 10 area scouts to help him assess talent but Halliburton himself prefers to see the players first hand.

"I probably saw well over 500 games this season" says Halliburton. "My travels take me as far as Thunder Bay in Ontario all the way down to NY State to St.Cloud Minnesota for the Under 15 Select camps".

Scouts Corner

Effectively communicating amongst his team of scouts on a regular basis and setting guidelines , Halliburton believes to be essential in properly determining which players will be a good fit for the team.

"We base our decisions as to the criteria we set at the beginning of the year and it is clearly outlined to our scouts" admits Halliburton. "The criteria is really a skill test as to what we are looking for, skating, skill set, hockey sense, size and strength coupled with the projection we have for that particular player and further underlined by a player's character are the deciding factors for us in choosing a prospect".

"Our conversations are on-going depending on the time of the year" Halliburton says about his scouting team "we have formal meetings about three times a year to discuss and rank potential players".

Recognizing change and adapting to it accordingly also plays a huge roll in organizational success something Halliburton is constantly aware of. So when the OHL adopted the two referee system this past season, Halliburton was quick to change his stance on players that may in the past have gone unnoticed.

"Certainly the rules now dictate which type of player is going to be successful at the OHL level" adds Halliburton "we have factored that into our strategy and understand that skating and puck skills have become paramount when we are looking at players".

Home Grown Talent

Halliburton had a particularly strong draft his first year with the organization as he selected Patrick McNeill and Tom Pyatt with his first two picks, both these players were drafted in the fourth round of last year's NHL entry draft. McNeill, was selected 118th overall to the Washington Capitals and Pyatt went 107th overall to the New York Rangers. These two players matured greatly this year and were a key reason for the success of the club. They hope to follow in Geoff Platt's foot prints, a former Spirit player who saw action this year with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"As an organization and me personally I am very proud of Tom Pyatt" glows Halliburton about his pick "We had him pegged as a first round player and were very excited that he was still available to us in the second round". "He has shown a very selfless attitude, no ego with him whatsoever as he works hard and has even achieved international success with his gold medal winning performance at the World Junior Hockey Championship".

Current players on the roster have also contributed largely to team success. Drafted players such as Matthew Corrente, currently ranked 37th by Mckeens Hockey and Ryan Daniels a promising young goalie both look to make a splash in Vancouver for the 2006 NHL entry draft. Daniels is another sentimental favourite of Halliburton's and he firmly believes that he has what it takes to be successful at the next level.

"We had Ryan as our top rated goalie on our lists" admits Halliburton about his decision to draft the Pickering native. "He forced us to pick him because of our evaluation on him and we are very happy that we picked him in the third round". "Since arriving he has shown to the organization that he thrives on being challenged and has stepped up his game". "He didn't make the Under 17 team but he is considered a fairly high pick in this year's NHL draft".

The Spirit continue to move in the right direction as is reflected in the standings. But with success no longer comes the luxury of drafting within the top three spots a position the Spirit held for the past four seasons. This year the Spirit drafted 12th overall and chose Nick Crawford, a defenseman they see as a possible replacement for McNeill when he graduates to the next level. The Spirit have been fond of building from the back end out. Crawford's addition to the club marked the third time in four year's a defenseman was chosen in the first round by the Spirit.

"We like our chances of Crawford to make the team next year" boasts Halliburton "We have a lot of confidence in his ability". "However much will determine over the summer in terms of his strength and development as to what kind of an impact he will make on our hockey club".

Halliburton is also quick to talk about the rapid development of Chris Breen and Jovica Zelenbaba, two players selected last season in the 2005 draft that he is fairly confident will play a larger role on the team this year. Breen played in 25 contests this season and Zelenbaba appeared in just 2 games behind both Daniels and Thuot in goal.

"We had quite an active development plan with Zelenbaba, as he played in Kitchener Midget all year and was able to see some OHL action as well as participate in many practices". "Our goalie Coach Randy Wilson is very high on him and we will look to insert him into the line up as early as next season".

"Breen has improved tremendously" adds Halliburton of the towering smooth skating defender "with his size, 6'6 coupled with his strength we believe that he can help out and can contribute next year".

Remaining Positive

The Saginaw organization is committed to developing their players not only with hockey skills but equip them with life skills as well. Teams are often faced with a certain amount of uncertainty come draft time as to which high end players will report and actually play in the OHL as opposed to the NCAA. Getting the right mix of players is often a challenge but not one that Halliburton sees as a major obstacle.

"The first thing we do as a club is understand that the OHL isn't for everyone" admits Halliburton who is accepting of the decisions players make "The other thing is we put the onus on ourselves to sell our program to assure players and families as to what our values as a team are all about". "If we are given that opportunity and Saginaw is still not an option to them than that is something we deal with, we don't really critique other organizations for their selections we are just focussed on exposing our program to players and we are fairly confident that we will attract the right type of player".

With an attitude like that within upper management it is easy to see why Saginaw has a winning Spirit and should continue to taste success at the OHL level.

Central Division OHL Priority Draft Overview: (posted 5.24.06)

by David Burstyn

The Peterborough Petes dominated this division this year as a result of having the largest contingent of NHL drafted players on their roster. Several teams such as the Ottawa 67's and especially the Oshawa Generals are in re-build mode. The Belleville Bulls and Kingston Frontencas have a good nucleus of players in their organizations and are poised to make a run.

Oshawa Generals

The Oshawa Generals enter next season as having the youngest roster in the entire league. Their first round draft choice, John Tavares has been everything the league expected him to be when they granted him exceptional status last year, as he posted 45 goals in his debut season. In an ironic twist of fate it was a late goal in the last game of the season by Tavares against the Kingston Frontenacs that moved the Generals ahead of the Sarnia Sting to pick second in the draft.

The Generals are very strong up front up several young players like Brett Parnham, Brett MacLean and Dale Mitchell on the cusp of stardom. So the obvious need was a stud blue liner and the Generals certainly got that in Michael DelZotto. He scored 30 goals last season in minor midget with the OHL Cup champion Markham Waxers. He possesses a blistering shot and keen offensive skills. He joins a very young defensive corps and will be counted upon immediately. His strengths lie in his ability to join the rush and will be given every opportunity with the Generals quick skaters up front. It should be a learning curve for Del Zotto next season but his game is very complete and he will only get better with added responsibility at a higher level of competition.

The Generals added two quality players with their next two picks in Dean Howard and Anthony Peters. Howard was the leading scorer on his Midget Sault Ste.Marie North Stars team, playing a year above his age group. He is a flashy stick handler and has a great shot. He has good acceleration and should be able to make the transition to the OHL nicely. A player who can thrive in the new OHL were obstruction and interference calls on skilled players will be enforced more in the two referee system. Peters looks to be the goalie of the future but may have to wait a season to get the chance. It is more likely that Carlo DiRienzo will back stop the Generals in his over age year with Ben Thomas as his back-up. Peters is a technically sound goalie, who is calm and poised in his crease. He should benefit from another year of development in Jr.B or Tier II , before he reaches the OHL but there may be an outside chance that he could be the back-up if management does not think Thomas is ready.

The Generals after years of finishing in the basement have managed to accumulate a good collection of players. They may still be too young and inexperienced to make a playoff run next season but this is a team that shows tremendous promise. John Tavares early adjustment to the league and his proven track record of winning on every level in the past gives Oshawa fans and management plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Ottawa 67's

The 67's will lose forwards Julian Talbot and Chris Hulit along with goaltender Danny Battochio this season. These players were instrumental in Ottawa's run to the Memorial Cup in 2005 however their future looks bright with future stars Logan Couture, Jamie McGinn and Matt Lahey up front ready to contribute and fill the scoring void. Their first round pick Tyler Cuma addresses the rushing offensive minded defender that the team is lacking. The 67's had four picks in the top two rounds and did an admirable job in identifying team needs and picking players accordingly to address their team needs.

As mentioned Tyler Cuma will be thrust into offensive situations. His ability to control the play and puck handling skills are top notch. He made huge strides to improve his game last season in minor midget and as a result improved his draft stock considerably. He should strive under the tutelage of Brian Kilrea as he is a very coach able player. His skating and lateral movement will make it easy for him to keep up with the pace of the OHL and close the gap on the stronger OHL players. Once he puts on some much needed muscle he will be a dominate player and yet another NHL draftee to come from the famed Ottawa 67's organization.

The 67's addressed their lack of scoring with lost players by adding Thomas Nesbitt, Cody Lindsay and Matt Ribeiro. All three are capable of putting the puck in the net but play different styles. Lindsay is more of a two-way threat who will be utilized as such and will be a favourite of Kilrea's very soon due to his healthy work ethic. He will be relied upon to kill penalties and can and will chip in with the occasional goal. Nesbitt is a great stick handler who is not afraid to crash the net. He is fearless in his approach and should be a dominate player by his draft year. Ribeiro is a speedy player with a solid release and Kilrea would be wise to put him on a line with a quality play maker.

The 67's also successfully managed to select Jarred Seymour and Matt MacDougall with their 3rd and 4th round selections. MacDougall is a solid defender who will have a career in the OHL as his size and mobility make him most attractive. Seymour is a bit more of a project as he only started playing organized hockey a few seasons ago. He has good upside as his skating is very good although he will need some additional coaching on positional play and will need to fill out.

The future looks very bright for the 67's! This was a very strong draft for the Ottawa organization and OHL hockey insiders could be talking about this draft in a few short seasons. These picks are very capable of maturing and developing into solid contributors at the OHL level and beyond. The 67's did not draft a goaltender so look for them to add one in the Import Draft.

Belleville Bulls

The Bulls are certainly moving in the right direction. The organization has managed to draft players that have paid immediate dividends in their rookie season. In 2004 John Hughes had a decent rookie season with 31 points and followed that up with a 50 point improvement this season. Last season's first round pick Bryan Cameron notched 20 goals in his rookie campaign and looks to have a very promising future. This season the Bulls selected offensive minded defender Shawn Lalonde, with the hopes that he can have the same success as previous first round selections.

Lalonde will add an explosive element of offence from the back end. He is a swift, smooth skating defender who is not afraid to take risks and the big ice surface at Yardmen Arena should compliment his game. He plays a similar game to Matthew Corrente of the Saginaw Spirit as he has a mean streak and should really be able to assert himself physically once he fills out his generous 6'0 frame. The Bulls wasted no time taking Matthew Tipoff with their second round pick. The Bulls must have liked what they saw in him and jumped on him early with the fear that he may not have been available when they picked next in the third round. He is a high energy player, who crashes the net and showed that he is capable playing along side strong players as was the case with his linemate 1st overall pick Steven Stamkos. He fits the Bulls profile as far as the type of players they like, hard nosed, feisty and able to work the corners with a good scoring touch. He should have no problem assimilating into the line up.

The Bulls strengthened the depth of their goaltending by adding Edward Pasquale in the third round. They added Mike Murphy last year in the fourth and these two look to be the front runners to compete for the starting job in two seasons. Stephen Johnston is a solid hockey player who got very little recognition playing on the Guelph Jr. Storm. He is a silent leader with great offensive talent, possess a solid defensive game and has a strong work ethic. He will be given a hard look at training camp and may make the team as did last year's 6th rounder P.K. Subban.

Kingston Frontenacs

The last few seasons have been very generous to the Frontenacs in terms of drafting players. They hit a home run in 2004 with Ben Shutron, Shawn Conners and Cory Emmerton and followed that draft up with an outstanding 2005 draft which saw the likes of Daryl Borden, Matthew Reis, Andrew Wilson and Luke Pither inserted into the line up. This year the Fronts looked to replace some of the offence they may be losing in the next few years with Josh Brittian, Nathan Moon and Robert Mignardi all forwards as their top three picks.

Josh Brittian is a towering forward who stands at 6'4 and already tips the scales at well over 200 pounds. He needs to strengthen his stride and get stronger along the boards but that will happen fast especially when put into a steady program of weight lifting and increased conditioning. Brittian broke his leg and recovered in time for the OHL Cup however his game seemed a little tentative, he should be able to rebound nicely and make the opening day roster.

No player suffered as much as Nathan Moon with Hockey Canada's decision to strengthen minor hockey which prohibited him from playing a year up. Last year he was playing Tier II hockey and thrived playing with older competition however his return to midget hockey had an adverse affect on him. He seemed very disinterested during stretches of the season and did not seem to play with the same intensity as he exhibited last season. Moon has all the offensive characteristics to be a top scorer in the OHL and Kingston should be a good fit for him as he should be the corner stone of the offence when Emmerton and Stewart graduate to the pro game.

Peterborough Petes

The Petes entered the season with the most NHL drafted players on their roster, a true testament to their scouting department as many of their players were original draft picks. The last four seasons have seen them add Jordan Morrison, Daniel Ryder, Jordan Staal and Zach Harnden with their first round picks. The Petes still have a good young nucleus in place and should not lose too many players to graduation. They will lose two of their more relied upon defenders in Trevor Hendrikx and Aaron Dawson but drafted Zach Bogosian as a suitable replacement.

Bogosian is a product of Cushing Academy. He boasts good size and uses to his advantage as he will punish forwards with an aggressive physical game. Offensively he shows potential but will need time to develop those skills. He is very interested in joining the Petes organization and should mature very well under the guidance of Coach Dick Todd.

David Shantz will most likely be asked to come back and finish his final year of junior with the Petes however the goaltending seems to be taken care of with the selection of huge 6'5 Jason Missiaen in the fourth round. He will most likely act as a back up to Trevor Cann in a few seasons giving the Petes a good one two punch in goal.

Defenseman Luc Comtois, a 9th round selection and Jamie Doornbosch their 3rd round pick will be monitored very closely in their respective leagues next season with an outside chance of cracking the line up in 2008. Many players from last season's draft including Tyler Sheldrake and Jason McDonough are expected to see larger roles.

Central Division OHL Priority Draft Overview: (posted 5.17.06)

by David Burstyn

Always an entertaining division due to the proximity of the teams in the league many rivalries have been created thus providing entertaining hockey. This year it was a dog fight to see who would finish first and the Brampton Battalion managed top spot with a win on the final game of the season passing the Barrie Colts by one point. Toronto and Sudbury remained competitive and after reaching top spot last year in the division the Mississauga Ice Dogs returned to the basement of the Central division for the fifth time in their eighth year of existence.

Mississauga Ice Dogs

The Ice Dogs lost their five top scorers from last season including Patrick O'Sullivan. As a result they are the second youngest team in the league behind only the Oshawa Generals. They suffered last season by finishing with a good overall record and thus drafted late in every round. Their top pick of two seasons ago, Dustin Jeffrey is no longer with the team and last year's top pick Jordan Skellett struggled out of the gate.

The Ice Dogs made a very healthy selection with Alex Pietrangelo at third overall. His game is very solid. He should be the captain of this Ice Dogs team before he moves onto the NHL as it is most likely he will be a strong pick for the 2008 NHL draft. His skating is superb and his decisions with the puck are very smart. Greg Gilbert is a very qualified coach who will be able to impart a lot of wisdom on his rookie blue liner. Pietrangelo will join a fairly young defense corps that includes Nathan Martine and rising OHL star Drew Schiestel. They will make their fair share of mistakes but could develop into the best defense unit in a few short seasons.

The Ice Dogs added some much needed size up front with the second round pick of Josh Dadic. A tall player who has yet to fill out, he is a bit of an awkward skater but can bull his way too the net. Similar to Chris Lawrence at his age he may take a while to develop as he is a power forward. Chris DeSousa, their 4th rounder barring a good training camp could make the team and Chris VanLaren, their 3rd round selection is a safe pick to step in and replace a few older defensemen in two years as he is not quite ready yet. Local boy Matthew Sisca is a good scorer who will probably play Tier II and may see some action as early as next year. The Ice Dogs again will struggle this season and will probably miss the playoffs again but should compete in every game they play.

Toronto Majors

When last year's first round pick Brendan Smith failed to report amidst wide speculation that he was not going to play in the OHL, the organization fell back a few seasons. It is very hard to replace the loss of a first rounder especially in the OHL when you only have a small window of opportunity to compete for the OHL Title or the Memorial Cup. This year the Majors has three picks in the opening two rounds and wasted no time selecting two defenders in the second round to off set the absence of Smith.

In the biggest surprise of the draft the Major's picked Dylan O'Neil with the tenth overall pick. O'Neil played on the second line of the Markham Waxers and was often over shadowed like most forwards on that team by Steven Stamkos. He is a high energy player with good offensive capabilities and back checks well. He is a gifted playmaker however he is a selection they probably could have gotten in the second round largely due to his size. He will probably play with Zamec as Zamec likes to crash the net and will be able to bury his chances that O'Neil will create.

The second round saw the Majors tighten their defense unit. Tim Billingsley and Cameron Gaunce could more than step into the line up. Billingsley will be a pleasant surprise as the Majors may have uncovered a gem in him. Gaunce will probably benefit from the smaller ice surface at the St.Mike's arena as his foot speed is not up to par but his strength is, making it easier for him to pin rushing forwards along the glass and contain them.

Many players saw limited duty last year from their previous draft, Michael McGurk and Anthony Tapper saw some time while Zamec was the only full time rookie inserted into the line up. Although those players did not make much of an impact it did provide them with valuable experience and bodes well for their chances to contribute next season. The Majors may have drafted their goalie of the future as Chris Carrozzi, 60th overall shows all the signs of being a number one net minder in the OHL. Tyler Allen another great pick will play most likely Tier II waiting for his chance to play in the OHL.

Sudbury Wolves

The Wolves had an average season. They lost one of their better players before the season in a trade that sent Ryan McDonough to Saginaw. His absence had an immediate impact as they managed only to score 227 goals. This year they addressed their scoring woes by taking two offensive minded players with their first two picks.

Jared Staal at eleventh overall may shock many hockey insiders as it has been suggested that if his last name were Smith he may have been a fourth rounder at best. Resting on the laurels of his older siblings before him the Wolves took a chance and can remain patient with him for the time being. The youngest Staal will need considerable time to grow into his body and find his stride. He does possess good hockey sense and anticipates well. He will be under the micro-scope as he may have the greatest pressure of all, considering his Brother Eric's early success in the NHL and the media hype surrounding the Staal name.

Justin Larson may be another player like Staal in that he will take some time to develop due to his size, however his skills are more refined and his overall game is more mature. A great pick at 31st overall, Larson had a great year with limited help in terms of line mates. He is a safe bet to record at least double digit goals and will most likely make Sudbury fans forget about the high expectations they may have thrust upon Jared Staal, should he falter or fail to produce.

A solid draft after their two first picks, as they managed to pick Alain Valiquette a top goalie that played in the Northern League and posted impressive numbers. Kyle Tarini could be the most complete player ready for the OHL and should really be able to compete for a roster spot. Jeffrey Verreault, their ninth round pick and the son of assistant coach Bryan Verreault has a tremendous skill set and should be able to make the line up in the next few years.

Barrie Colts

The Colts are strong in all areas so much that they traded away their 2004 1st rounder Nathan Martine to make a run for the OHL title. They should not lose too much of their team this season with the exception of a few over aged players. The Colts appear to be in good shape to compete next year and added a quality role player in first round selection Stefan DellaRovere.

Stefan Della Rovere, the captain and the fourth player chosen in the first round out of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens system is a hard working, defensive diligent forward who will be receptive to any role Coach Marty Williamson thrusts upon him. His adjustment should be a smooth one however do not look for him to contribute his name to the score sheet often. Other notable picks are Brian Lashoff, who if the Colts manage to convince to come over and play, they may be able to replace the void of Todd Perry as Lashoff is a dependable defensive defenseman who has some offensive upside.

The Colts took a chance on scoring sensation Corey Trivino who would have ultimately been a first round pick had he not verbally committed to the NCAA. The Colts may have replaced Dan LaCosta with future goaltender Michael Hutchinson. Hutchinson was the top rated goalie coming into the season however poor defensive support this season on a weak Markham Majors team did not help his draft stock. He still has good upside and should be able to work his way into the line up and replace LaCosta when it is necessary. Daniel Minor, a high scoring winger for Port Colborne Jr. B two seasons ago looks to be ready to join the Colts and should be able to contribute on the second line as early as this season.

Brampton Battalion

Due to a 15 game winning streak to end the season the Battalion finished in seventeenth place and drafted there accordingly. Most teams that finish with good regular season statistics should not be awarded one of the better players in the draft but such was not the case with the Battalion as they managed to secure Cody Hodgson. Until the OHL implements a rule prohibiting players from choosing their own team by playing the NCAA card, strong players like Hodgson will not help weaker teams and stronger teams will always remain superior.

Cody Hodgson had an outstanding season playing a year up with the Markham Waxers Midget program. It would have been inconceivable to imagine what he could have done on his original team the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Hodgson will be a force immediately and may even battle for Rookie-of-the-Year honours given his ice time. He is a versatile player who should be able to be slotted on any line and flourish. Hodgson may develop good chemistry with last year's first round pick Matt Smyth as he can distribute the puck well and Smyth is more of a finisher.

Second round selection, Michael Lomas will be a high energy player that Coach Butler should be able to utilize. His skating is phenomenal as his first step quickness is second to none to any player in the league. He will need to understand his role if he is too succeed at this level, something Coach Butler will make clear early in the year. Other picks such as Ben Alavie, Patrick Killeen and Michael McInerney are projects that may play in the OHL in a few seasons.

Mid-West OHL Priority Draft Overview: (posted 5.16.06)

by David Burstyn

One look at the mid-west division and it is clear it is the most competitive of them all. The London Knights once again led the way with over 100 points however graduations too many of their star players leave the playing field wide open for next season.

Erie Otters

The Otters poor season cost Coach Dave MacQueen his job after six years with the organization, which included a trip to the Memorial Cup in 2000. The Otters needed to address their scoring from the back end and wasted no time selecting Mitch Gaulton with the fourth overall pick.

Gaulton should be able to jump into the line up immediately. Playing a year up for him is nothing unusual as he did so last year with the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs before moving to the Toronto Jr. Red Wings to play his final season of midget hockey this year. He can do everything very well as his skating, puck moving skills and blistering shot are something the organization covets in a defender and can certainly build around him. They are very thin on the blue line and Gaulton will be thrown into all game situations almost right away. He may adjust similarly to the way Drew Doughty did in Guelph as he has maturity in his game. He played his best games when it mattered most to his team and may just need the challenge of increased competition to bring out the best in his game.

Erie should be ok up front with two healthy picks last season in Anthony Peluso and Nick Palmieri, which may lead to the speculation of drafting Kelly Geoffrey, a flier pick as he has already committed to playing NCAA. He is fast and explosive and would certainly compliment the Erie roster. The Otters also managed to grab with their second of back-to-back third round picks Brian Shaw. He is a big, mean defender who has terrific mobility. He should be able to compete for a spot on the line up as Erie will be anxious to move forward and assert younger players into their line up while they still have the veteran presence in the room. Mitch Forbes and Anthony Luciani are two players management will keep an eye on and hopefully see OHL action in the next few seasons.

Owen Sound Attack

The Attack surprised everyone with an opening round upset of the Kitchener Rangers this season primarily with their ability to log the puck up the ice and generate offense from the back end. Their defenders did a wonderful job creating offense and the Attack realize they may lose one or two of their stud blue liners hence they used their first two picks to grab capable defenders Michael D'Orazio and Brandon Burlon.

D'Orazio may have been a tad over shadowed by fellow team mate and defense partner Alex Pietrangelo. He has a physical side to his game which should come out more in junior as he was limited in minor midget to showcase his toughness and aggression. He does not excel in any particular area yet he does everything well. He will be able to provide many years of service on the Attack's back end. Burlon may have been a case of the best player available on their list when they picked in the 3rd round. A stud on the back end of the Vaughn Kings he should blossom but will not be without learning from his mistakes as he will most likely get burned while adjusting to the pace of the league. Their third overall selection, Guy Carteciano is very reminiscent to current player Marcus Carroll. He is a hard worker who has some decent finish and should thrive on the fourth line if given the chance.

Guelph Storm

The come back story of the year goes to the Guelph Storm. Dave Barr won the Coach-of-the-Year award as he was able to get maximum efforts from all his players. This organization is in very good shape after an extremely successful draft last season that saw five of their picks see OHL action.

The Storm used their first selection to take Anthony Nigro. He is a bit enigmatic as he has all the tools but does not apply himself on a consistent basis. Coach Barr will not tolerate this type of work ethic in his players and Nigro better expect to come to work everyday at the rink. He plays a similar game to Jordan Morrison of the Peterborough Petes and like Morrison may take a few years to truly play up to his level.

A strong draft saw them select Patrick Moran and Kyle Steckley with their next two picks. The strength of the current roster could make it very hard for these players to compete for minutes yet alone a roster spot. They will get a hard look at training camp. There are many wild cards in this year's draft for the Storm. Muise, their 7th round selection has tons of offensive ability, his hands were one of the softest in the league last year. Luke Haegele showed considerable promise however he needs to thicken up a bit and Zach Dion displayed the talent to play in the league just not immediately. The Storm do a great job from within and have a good coaching staff in their Jr.B ranks that develops their players well. Denver Manderson should get into the line up after a great year with the Guelph Dominators and Zane Neily although under used last season in Brantford Jr.B should get every chance to make the team. The future looks very bright for the Storm and do not be surprised if they win the division title.

Kitchener Rangers

The Rangers season could best be described as up and down last year. They started off really slow but managed to pick it up towards the end of the year with some good trades at the deadline that gave the team a new identity. They completely collapsed however in the playoffs and will need to restock the prospect pool to remain competitive.

The Kitchener Rangers opted to draft relatively small players with their first two picks. They both have a nasty streak and can put the puck in the net. Nazem Kadri, 18th overall is the more skilled of the two and given the new crack down on obstruction he should be able to flourish with the room his speed creates. He is a great finisher and very dynamic! Michael Mascioli, 38th overall competes hard and will battle for loose pucks. He should become a fan favourite in no time and is cut from the same cloth as Mike Duco, a high energy player. Mascioli has some offensive jam but will be limited in his first season as he will have to give way to some of the more experienced players this season and pay his dues.

Due to the Rangers strong season they picked 18th overall in virtually every round which made it very difficult to grab high profile players in later rounds. They liked what they saw in the London Jr. Knights organization as they knapped Kadri's line mate Shaun Furlong and teammate Jamie Commerford. Philip Varone is a high profile scorer and finished tops in points at a recent Kitchener rookie evaluation camp. Look for Evan Zych and Dan Kelly to see an expanded role on the blue line especially if Valabik or Lashoff go pro. Zych captured the Sutherland Cup with the Cambridge Winter Hawks and was one of the better defenseman in Jr. B last year.

London Knights

Success has a way of catching up to you in junior hockey and the London Knights should feel it this season. With the likes of David Bolland, Rob Schremp, Dylan Hunter and Adam Dennis moving on there are many holes to fill. The Knights will struggle for offense this season but did manage to select some decent players this year.

While other teams probably would have drafted Philip McRae it was fairly well known in OHL circles that he would not report to any other team other than London as his father ex NHL'er, Basil is a co-owner. McRae as a result should see premium ice time as he has a very generous skill set and when his draft year approaches he should reach 6'3, 205 pounds. He will be a dominate force and as an insurance policy the Knights took it upon themselves to draft fellow team mate and good friend Kevin Bodker in the fourth round to make the transition that much easier for him.

No surprise that Tucker Hunter and Garett Hunter were taken by the Knights. They both will get a chance to play however Tucker's game is much more developed. Garett is the son of GM Mark Hunter and will need work in all areas to produce at the OHL level.

The Knights are pretty comfortable in goal with Steve Mason most likely seeing a bulk of the starts. Their defense looks to be in good shape, increased minutes will go to second year defenders Scott Aarssen and Corey Syvret. The Knights tried to draft players with high offensive skill sets and may have gotten that with Kale Kerbashian, the leading scorer with the Thunder Bay Kings last year he could be a steal in the third round. The offense is an apparent weakness that the Knights have done everything in their power to convince Under 18 scoring leader, American Pat Kane to join their program. Other attempts to convince Sam Gagner and Kevin Montgomery have been unsuccessful however it looks rather promising that Kane may report. The verdict is still unclear but with McRae, a high profile American born player playing in the OHL, may make some players change their minds and reconsider their options about the OHL.

Western Division OHL Priority Draft Overview (posted 5.14.06)

by David Burstyn

The OHL Priority Selection took place this past week. While there is always speculation of kids not reporting, opting to go the NCAA route this year there were very few surprises. Teams were able to add pieces to their teams without players handcuffing them. The Ottawa 67's, and Windsor Spitfires made the most of draft day with four picks in the top two rounds while the Sarnia Sting had three picks in the top 40.

Mckeen's takes a four part look at all 20 teams and how team's picks will develop and fit into their organization.

In a division that separated third place from first by a mere four points, competition seems to be on an even playing field which makes being successful at the draft table that much more important in this division. No team in the West division helped themselves more than the Spitfires who added several marquee players with additional picks acquired in trades who can and will step into the league as early as next season.

Sarnia Sting

The Sarnia Sting have been the doormats of the OHL for the past two seasons. They needed help in all positions and did so by taking a forward, a defenseman and a goalie with their top three picks.

They chose Steven Stamkos as the first overall pick. He was the best player outside of junior last season and should be able to pay immediate dividends on a team struggling for offense. Mississauga was the only team to score less than Sarnia this season. Stamkos is a player that could see first line duty should Chad Painchaud be promoted by the Atlanta organization, the team that holds his rights. That would be a big blow for the Sting but if any player is capable of stepping up and adding to the offense it certainly is Stamkos.

The Sting used their second pick to take big strapping blue liner Dalton Prout. He played essentially in their back yard in the Windsor Minor Midget program and looks to be a player who is capable of taking care of his zone while second year blue liner Mark Katic rushes the play. Prout has a fair bit of size to him at 6'2, 190 and has some offensive upside. It is a safe pick to shore up the back end and coupled with their fourth round selection Ottawa Valley Titans top defensive defenseman Brett Sullivan, GM Millar certainly did a good job filling in the holes.

The Sting also had problems keeping the puck out of the net. They surrendered 295 goals with only the Ice Dogs and Generals giving up more. They addressed their goaltending issues by making Peter DiSalvo the first goalie taken in the second round. He literally carried his team through to the GTHL championships and nearly to an OHL Cup title. He will almost certainly get a chance to play next season with the graduations of Ryan Nie and Jeff MacDougald. Parker Vanbuskirk returns for his second season after starting 30 games last season and will most likely spilt the load with DiSalvo. The Sting may use their Import selection on another goalie or add an over aged goalie if management feels uncomfortable with the young tandem.

Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds

The Greyhounds have had not much success with their last few first rounders. In 2004, Ryan McInerney quit the team and was later traded and in 2005, Jake Muzzin was unfortunately lost for the entire season with a back injury.

This season the Greyhounds return to the table drafting James Livingston, a player many believe to have some attitude issues. There is no denying his skill set and he plays the game very intense. He struggled a little bit this season playing Midget Hockey and was inconsistent at times which worried many teams. He has good size to go along with good hands and should have no real problem adjusting to the speed of the league. It will be Coach Craig Hartsburg biggest assignment to harness Livingston aggression and make it work for him on the ice to help the team.

With their second round selection they went back to the York Simcoe team and took Sean Jones. He is a smaller forward who has some finish. A team mate of Livingston, the Greyhounds are hoping for continued chemistry at the OHL level. Their next few picks were safe ones in Chris Dunham and back yard talent Brett Perlini who hopefully will replace an aging forward unit. The defense and goaltending seems to be intact as they kept them in most contests. Of all the teams that qualified for the playoffs this season they scored the least amount of goals, more goals for is an obvious priority that the Greyhounds hope to have addressed with this year's draft.

Windsor Spitfires

Last year the Spitfires looked poise to making some waves with a solid first rounder in Akim Aliu and rising OHL star in Steve Downie plus a healthy supporting cast. Those two players are no longer with the team and the organization had to do a complete face lift in a short period of time. The results have been fairly successful. They made the playoffs after trading their top pick and their top player and were able to secure many second round picks in the process.

Greg Nemisz, Adam Henrique, and Mark Cundari are excellent picks that give the organization tremendous depth.

Nemisz is a solid offensive contributor and has some serious NHL Pro potential. He is quick on his feet, makes many if not all plays at top speed and has such a natural second gear acceleration that he makes everything look effortless in the process. He should see some PP time this year as the coaching staff will give him every opportunity to exceed. Henrique is a bit of a wild card as he has yet to play to his potential. A solid addition to a club that already has plenty of offensive players, Henrique will come along slowly which should make him hungrier and the extra competition for him to get his ice will be a good test for a player who has always received top minutes on every club he has played for. Cundari is a safe pick at defense, he was one of the best players in his age group this year and given next year will be a learning curve for him he should adjust well in a few short seasons.

The new owners of the Spitfires have plenty of reason to be optimistic as they came away from this draft making their squad much more skilled and deep. The Spitfires added many other solid players in late round selections as well. Thomas Battani, Eric Wellwood, Darren Cizmar and Matthew Hackett all have a chance to play in the OHL.

Saginaw Spirit

As a reward for making the playoffs the Spirit picked out of the top three for the first time in franchise history. The Spirit have done a good job in drafting players and had an especially strong draft year last season which has really helped them pave the way to be successful for the next few seasons. While no one position needed to be addressed this season they took players who will replace some of their veterans down the road and should be able to pick up other role players in various trades or the Import draft.

Nick Crawford elevated his game this season and was selected by the Spirit with their first pick. He is cut from the same mould as current captain, Patrick McNeill but does not have the same offensive capabilities. Nevertheless he reads the play well and makes healthy decisions with the puck. He will get stronger and smarter making him the heir apparent to becoming the number one defender in the next few seasons. The Spirit traded away their second round pick but were lucky when T.J. Brodie was available in the third round, yet another defender who sees the ice well and should be able to step in as early as next season. Given his generous skill set and poise with the puck it is not inconceivable for him to play the point on the PP in the next few seasons as he has all the tools to be successful he only needs the experience.

With a good nucleus in place the Spirit were able to gamble some of their picks on pet projects such as Andrew Cloutier and Jordan Paton. Cloutier shows much promise and potential however his game needs another year to develop as his skating is a tad awkward and his physical game needs work. Considering his size, 6'3, 180 and tools he is certainly worth taking a risk on and with the Spirit not pressured to get him into the line up it could be a very good marriage. Paton could be the biggest steal of the draft. He played in Sascatewan and was not seen as often as teams would have liked. He played his bantam hockey in Brantford and was one of the more dominate players at his age group than. His blazing speed is most attractive to the Spirit organization and he should get a chance to crack the line up.

Plymouth Whalers

Just imagine how strong the Whalers would be with the likes of Nick Petrecki in the line up. Slated to go in the top five of next year's NHL draft the Whalers thought they had a deal and it really set the program back when he didn't report. This year the Whalers were more cautious with their selections of American born players drafting A.J. Jenks and Kevin McCarey, with their seventh and eighth round picks. They are easily first round selections but have made it publicly known that they will explore the NCAA route. Jenks was approached by Michigan at the age of 14 and has verbally committed to their program.

Vern Cooper good be the most skilled player in the draft. His small stature hurt his draft stock and there were even rumours about his English communication skills that scared some teams away as he speaks mostly in Cree. Much depends on his adjustment to the league as he has never lived away from home and that may play on his mental toughness. If he can make the appropriate adjustments, he could be lights out for the Whalers and a player Western division teams may dread to play against. Cooper is definitely the future of the Whalers!

The Whalers are relatively thin on defense and with that being said Jordan O'Neill could suit up for them, he was their third round pick. Their offense looks to be in good shape even though they will lose John Vigilante, their top scorer from last season. Players such as Armstrong and Terry will be counted upon for more goals and a healthy Collins make this draft not so urgent for players to step in immediately. Kaine Geldart a player who played Tier II in Kingston last season may see OHL action; he is small but very dynamic and has great hands.

Prospect Report: (posted 5.4.06)

by David Burstyn

For the second straight season the London Knights emerged as the top team in the Western Conference with a five game series win over the Guelph Storm and were awarded the Wayne Gretzky Trophy.

McKeen's was on hand for game four of the series, a game that all but seemed destined to go into over time until a Ryan Martinelli goal with two seconds left gave the Knights a commanding 3-1 series lead. The game also featured the return of London blue liner Frank Rediker. Rediker who was acquired three seasons ago, played his last playoff game in 2003 as a member of the Windsor Spitfires and had yet to play in a single playoff game for the Knights.

Frank Rediker (FA), D, London

An original draft pick of the Boston Bruins he could not come to contract terms .. oft injured defender has yet to show what he can do in the playoffs .. was used rather sparingly just to get him used to the pace of the game .. played on the PK and did not try to do anything fancy with the puck .. simple plays to clear the zone, hangs back and takes care of defensive responsibilities .. decent speed but slow feet and limited lateral movement .. was beaten a few times when opposition got the puck in the neutral zone and challenged him .. not overly physical in this contest as he rarely initiated body contact and did little to remove players from in front of the net but has a history of being a little nasty .. offensively he can make some clever back door passes but overall he has very limited offensive up side.

Jamie VanderVeeken (2006), LW, London

Big, strong smooth skating forward exhibits tons of potential but does not play with the consistency or urgency that he should .. since coming into the league, five years ago he has played on a different team in each season, which may be a reflection of his lack of character .. teams are willing to take a chance on him however because of his potential .. some shifts he looks like the best player on the ice and others he is invisible .. is most dangerous when he builds up speed and drives to the net as his size really intimidates .. has been a good role player for the Knights playoff drive this year as he has managed to chip in with some offence.

Rob Schremp (Edm), C, London

Continues to lead the playoffs in scoring averaging over two points a game however he has struggled in the goal-scoring department .. went eight playoff games without registering a goal as the Owen Sound Attack and the Guelph Storm for the most part were able to neutralize his shot .. takes tremendously long shifts in upwards of three to four minutes .. uncanny ability to dangle and really explode in the neutral zone, similar to Maxim Afinogenov of the Buffalo Sabres .. his first step at a stand still is unbelievable as is his stick handling when entering the offensive zone.

Sergei Kostitsyn (Mtl), RW, London

Kostitsyn is doing a fine job in replacing Corey Perry this season .. he provides the team with clutch goals and brilliant play making abilities .. Kostitsyn and Perry play very similar games as there top speed still needs work however their hockey sense and overall intelligence bails them out of any speed issues .. good wrist shot as he uses it well and often uses defenders as screens to unload it .. he likes to go back door as he and Schremp have developed chemistry and know where each other will be .. should he return to junior next season his numbers may dip a little with many of his team mates departing however he does have a natural enough skill set to be able to create and generate offence on his own.

Brandon Biggers (2006), LW, Guelph

Fourth liner is in and out of the line up and is used sparingly when he is .. is a tough player who finishes checks and can fight however many shy away from him in that regard because he can really throw them .. big, thick frame that is top heavy can and will fill out .. when he reaches his maximum playing weight we will be incredibly fierce and should be able to generate more offence as a result .. his offensive game is not particularly strong but he does display some good tools and should be awarded with his fearless play towards the goal .. likes to work the puck down low and create chances on the cycle .. an aggressive, hard working forward should see his ice time increase with the loss of some key veterans and should be a fan favorite in no time.

Jamie Arniel (2008), C, Guelph

Arniel has managed to elevate his game to monumental status in this years playoffs .. not scared at all in attacking the corners to fetch loose pucks, actually thrives in the cycle game .. has not gotten taller but has gotten considerably stronger .. has a very wiry frame and is hard to contain as he just keeps moving his feet .. Decision-making has become quicker and he gets rid of the puck faster often making effective plays with it thus earning a promotion to the second line .. not afraid to shoot and can jump on his own rebounds generated by his original shots .. the Storm look to be very strong next season as Arniel will only get better and they have many new young players joining the team to compliment his game.

Tyler Doig (2006), C, Guelph

A decent skater with good creativity .. is a utility player who is used in many situations .. shows patience with the puck however at times too much and looses the puck as a result .. need to work on his release especially at the top of the point .. a complete player who thrives in all three zones in terms of positioning and his hockey smarts provided him with additional minutes .. may have played in his final season with the Storm as it still has yet to be determined if he will be asked back as an overager.

Ryan Parent (Nsh), D, Guelph

In our final look at Parent in what has been a spectacular season for him in terms of international success and career highs in points in both the regular and playoff season .. Parent is as simple as it gets in terms of a defenseman and by no means is that a knock on his game .. he is cool, calm and poised with the puck however he distributes it way too fast and one could only wonder what he is capable of if only he decided to rush the play on occasion .. he started to at the beginning of the year but that soon fizzled out and with the improved play of Doughty and the acquisition of Wharton .. in either case his one-on-one ability is top notch and he shows all the necessary tools to become a future Pro .. look for him to return to junior next season and continue to provide stability and leadership on the back end.

OHL 2005-06 Award Winners (posted 5.3.06)

OHL's Most Outstanding Player:

WINNER - Wojtek Wolski

RUNNER-UP - Rob Schremp

Rookie of the Year

WINNER - John Tavares

RUNNER-UP - Logan Couture

Goaltender of the Year

WINNER - Adam Dennis

RUNNER-UP - Dan Turple

Defenceman of the Year

WINNER - Andrej Sekera

RUNNER-UP - Marc Staal

Scholastic Players of the Year

College/University - Danny Battochio

High School - Joe Pleckaitis

Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year

WINNER - Wojtek Wolski

RUNNER-UP - Cal O'Reilly

Humanitarian of the Year

WINNER - Mike Angelidis