OHL: New Riders on the Storm

When coach and GM Dave Barr left for the NHL coaching ranks, it marked an end of a four-year term, which saw him advance once to the Conference final. The departure of Barr opened up the door for long time assistant Jason Brooks to assume the dual role. Brooks has been involved with the Storm for the past seven years and brings with him a proven track record of winning, including leading Team Ontario to an Under-17 gold medal last season. The Guelph Storm lost the league's best defenseman in Drew Doughty due to graduation but healthy scouting has always been this organization's saving grace and they have many new players eager to step in and fill the void. McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest featuring the Guelph Storm and files the following report on several players that should have an impact this season.

Peter Holland (2009), C, Guelph

Holland returns for his second season 20-pounds heavier and more determined .. after posting modest rookie point totals with 23, Holland, situated on a line with Beck and first round selection Cody McNaughton, is poised to shatter his offensive contributions from last season .. the increased strength has allowed him to be much more confident when entering the offensive zone .. he is strong on his skates and continues to add length and quickness to his stride .. he has a slight hiccup in his mechanics, which at times prevents him from maximizing full speed .. he makes things happen with the puck due to his size, puck protection skills and reach .. he can make plays at a high tempo and finds his man with regularity in traffic .. what makes him an offensive threat is his coordination and athleticism and he marries his size with it to take and receive passes .. his shot has improved as has his release and it is evident that he had worked hard in the off-season to reach the level it is now .. uses his size to box out opponents and establish healthy scoring positions in front .. played more of a power game but did not readily throw his weight around as he did last season .. he was capable of it, but he just positioned himself smarter and was first on the puck so he did not have to try and physically assert himself to retrieve it .. Holland has also bought into team concepts and willingly comes back to defend, often getting his stick on the opposition to slow them down .. with his combination of size and skill it is possible for him to post 30-plus goals this season and rapidly move up the Guelph depth chart and the NHL draft list providing he can continue to play with the same type of intensity and consistency.

Taylor Beck (2009), LW, Guelph

Second year winger came into camp into tip-top shape adding an additional 15 pounds to his frame from last season .. a knock-kneed skater with an awkward skating style, he garners decent levels of speed but his lack of a first step still prohibits him from getting to loose pucks .. at his best when his feet are moving so that they can catch up to his hand speed .. a tricky player to defend when coming down the wing due to his jerky style of skating, as his limbs fly everywhere and he has a multitude of stickhandling moves, which he can execute at top speed .. defenders who play the puck are usually fooled, as he can go inside-out, employ toe drags or steam roll a defender if he notices he has his head down .. an opportunistic scorer who goes hard to the net and stays there .. his body is difficult to move when planted and his hands in close are perfect for finishing and scoring garbage goals in front .. he still suffers with his vision and tends to play with blinders on, as he cannot see the ice .. he has very limited patience with the puck and gets overzealous around the goal often throwing it out in front when there is no play to be made .. he uses his body in defensive situations .. he is most effective when he can tie up his man along the boards because his play in open ice often has him scrambling to find his spots .. Beck is a prototypical up-and-down winger who is capable of doing the job at the OHL level and will be an accomplished scorer this season and even better next year, however there are still many holes in his game moving forward.

Travis Gibbons (2009), D, Guelph

Gibbons did not see a lot of action last season despite dressing for 42 games .. relegated to the 6th man on the backend, he was able to learn from osmosis from the likes of Doughty and Caruso, as his game is a combination of the two playing more of an offensive/defenseman's game .. slick with the puck and makes crisp clean passes, he is very aware not to overextend himself in the offensive zone .. still learning the ropes as far as what he can get away with, he was caught up ice a few times but his quick feet and active stick helped him to recover .. used in all situations, he is a reliable option that is capable of logging more minutes this season and assuming more responsibility due to the maturity in his game .. small by NHL draft standards at (5-11,180), he does make good use of his size in terms of angling and his overall defensive play .. should be able to stick within the top four this season giving him maximum exposure to NHL teams, however he will likely be an NHL camp invite rather than a draft pick.

Ben Chiarot (2009), D, Guelph

Last season's second round pick was the 7th man on the backend suiting up for 31 games but only playing a handful of shifts in each contest .. this year, he returns eager to play a regular shift and earn his ice with his physical intimidating style .. at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is the biggest member on the backend .. he has a large wingspan, which he uses to defend but at times, he can be drawn out of position .. he needs to keep his game simple to be effective and he is at his best when not noticeable .. lacks confidence with the puck and tends to distribute it quickly .. he is an average skater with a clunky first step and has no glide in his stride .. he needs to make adjustments faster in the neutral zone and get his feet moving quicker so he can be more commanding defensively and force players to make a decision, rather than giving them open ice .. likes to physically eliminate players from the play and can administer a well-placed hit toward the boards but struggles to land his hits in open ice .. offensive skills are not polished but he does have a hard, low point shot .. Chiarot will have to battle for his icetime, as the Storm are deep on the backend.

Evgeny Molotilov (2009), D, Guelph

A recommendation by Igor Larionov to then GM Dave Barr found Molotilov in the crimson colours .. a stable defender who is not flashy in any area of the ice .. he plays a dependable game but really only has the skill set at this level to be a 6th or 7th defenseman at best .. lacks an explosive gear, offensive instincts and puck skills .. his role is more situated for a shutdown role and playing enough minutes a game to give the top four some much-needed rest .. prone to defensive lapses and generally weak on his skates, he needs to distribute the puck off his blade fast, otherwise he will lose it .. lacks a pointshot and is a choppy stickhandler .. needs a lot of work but playing in the CHL should make him a better hockey player in the future.

Anthony Nigro (StL), C, Guelph

Nigro returns after a productive Traverse City tournament (4-2-2-4) with more confidence and jump in his step, as he has led the way this season with six points in his first two contests .. cerebral forward whose instincts and overall position make him a candidate to join the 40-plus goal club this season .. he is shifty and protects the puck well with his frame .. difficult to almost impossible to knock-off the puck due to his determination to make a play while in possession .. makes plays, goes hard to the net and is a threat when he enters the offensive zone .. he is coming back with more consistency but often finds himself deep in the offensive zone trying to manufacture offence .. due to his limited skating speed, he will need to exit the zone considerably quicker against stronger, quicker teams .. developed some lazy habits when his team was up five goals and needs to put a more concentrated effort on all shifts in all areas of the ice .. should best his offensive totals of last season but his play will be measured in the playoffs and as an assistant captain, he will be expected to lead.

Thomas McCollum (Det), G, Guelph

McCollum put forth a solid effort at the Traverse City tournament playing the better parts of three games with a 1-1 record, however his loss was in a shootout against the Wild .. he registered a .947 save percentage and an impressive 1.52 goals-against average .. McCollum returns to the OHL for his third season and could easily be one of the top three goalies in the league .. he will undoubtedly get consideration for the starter's job in the upcoming WJC in Ottawa for Team USA .. an unflappable goalie with superior rebound control .. he is always set and square to the shooter and does not give up the top portion of the goal due to his size (6-3) when he drops to the butterfly .. has improved on his overall technique including his butterfly .. his stance is very compact and he is in total control of his limbs .. never caught sprawling or out of position to make a save, he is effortless in his movement .. he is capable of making successive saves .. exhibits patience to wait for shooters to make their move, as his big body covers up the majority of the net anyway .. McCollum still has a lot to prove including carrying this team on his back and leading them deep into the playoffs.

Cody McNaughton (2011), RW, Guelph

Not quite 16 years old, McNaughton has acclimatized himself rather well on Guelph's third line and has produced amicably thus far .. a scoring sensation for the high octane minor midget Jr. Canadiens program, he was selected 12th overall last year .. had an amazing training camp where he led all scorers including a four-goal game against many of the team's dressed veterans .. will never cheat you on effort and is an absolute wrecking ball on the ice .. despite his size (5-9, 165), he hits with zest and enthusiasm and often looks to lay guys out who have their head down crossing the line .. he is incredibly strong and even if he gets a sliver of a player it is enough to knock the opposition out of contention for the puck .. he is equipped with healthy levels of acceleration and the balance on his skates aids his game .. aggressive on the forecheck and quick to react to changes in the game makes him very useful .. he still needs to be aware of his defensive assignments and not attempt to jump into the rush so eagerly .. plays a mature game and advances the puck swiftly up ice .. is more of a goal scorer but has relied on his passing skills to keep him involved in the play, as he passes and always moves his feet, never admiring his play rather going hard to the net and trying to set up .. he has all the skills to be a successful junior player and will be a fan favourite for many years .. the extra year of development due to his late birth should also help him come NHL draft day.