OHL Priority Selection: Barrie Colts

The Barrie Colts got full value for their top few selections drafting Ryan Strome and Zach Hall, two forwards that should play for the Colts at some point in their junior career. The Colts also managed to select Ryan Wells a top defenseman for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs - winners of the Alliance Championship. They only selected one goalie, Clint Windsor who may be the tallest goalie of the draft. They also selected super pest James Hennessey in the fifth round. McKeen's looks at these five key players selected by the Colts.

Ryan Strome (2011), C, Barrie

Strome was the most consistent player on the Toronto Marlboros, a team that did not lose a regular season game en route to an OHL Cup Championship. Strome possesses great individual puck skills and his ability to process and slow the game down are unrivalled by his peers. With 41 goals and 106 points in his final season of Midget, Strome should be able to contribute and produce as early as next season for the Colts. He is not blessed with great speed but it is his calmness that intimidates the opposition. He plays the boards and the wall superbly, establishing firm position and not getting knocked off his skates due to his remarkable balance. His shot improved as well during the course of the season and given some much-needed strength and conditioning in the off-season, he may surprise many goalies next year with his wrist and snapshots. Strome was the ultimate player in terms of versatility as he made others around him better. Coach Strong would often play him with any Bantam call-ups during the year and Strome would still be able to produce and set up his so called 'inferior' linemates. Stome's game improved throughout the season both with and without the puck. His stick may be a tad too long for him to be able to stickhandle at the OHL with the relative ease that he did in Midget. His addition to the Colts will be a welcome one, as he has leadership abilities that bevy his youthful age.

Zach Hall (2011), C, Barrie

Hall played an integral part of helping the Quinte Red Devils capture the OMHA Championships. He saved his best performance for the playoffs, as the chemistry between him and Sault Ste. Marie second round selection Nick Cousins was phenomenal. The duo worked in tandem with a series of set plays on the PP and had a solid understanding as to where each other was on the ice at all times. Hall will need to develop an identity for himself but he has many tools to be an OHL regular. He did score 46 goals and the Colts are hoping he can develop into a top six forward with a year of grooming at the OPJHL level. He is able to shoot off either wing and would more than likely make a better winger than centre. His passing skills and puckhandling ability still need to be polished. At 5-foot-11 and 145 pounds, he is undersized, however to his credit he appears considerably bigger and thicker. He is a knock-kneed skater whose limbs fly everywhere on the ice. He has a wide stance, which makes it hard to pry the puck away from him when in his possession. It is unlikely that he will make the Colts roster next season given the amount of forward returnees, however a strong camp and accelerated development at the OPJHL level could warrant a Christmas call up.

Ryan Wells (2011), D, Barrie

Wells took a back seat to Worrad (35th overall London Knights) in the playoffs and any success he had in the early stages of the season appeared to be forgotten by OHL scouts on draft day. Bottom line is he should not have fallen to where he did (4th round 82nd overall), however this may serve as motivation for the London native. He was the top offensive leader on the backend for his team - the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs - who won the Alliance Championships. His shot is an absolute laser beam and he was a permanent fixture on the PP throughout the season. His shot was so feared that teams often played him high on the PP, which was a large reason the Chiefs were so successful with the man advantage, as this often left others uncovered. A healthy and mobile skater, he was very confident with the puck as a result. He would make mad dashes up the ice looking to stimulate offensive opportunities. If Wells can be criticized for something it was his defensive awareness and his lack of urgency. There were games that one had to look for him on the ice. He should be able to land a roster spot on a Jr. B club next season, however should he come into camp in prime condition and a renewed attitude he could very well stick with the club due to a rash of graduations on the backend. His play is similar to Josh Godfrey.

Clint Windsor (2012), G, Barrie

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Hamilton native comes from OHL bloodlines as his brother; a defenseman, had a cup of coffee with, ironically enough the Windsor Spitfires. The younger Windsor started the majority of his games for his Hamilton Rep Midget team and performed admirably considering the skill level in front both offensively and defensively. He very rarely got the support he needed in terms of goals so he constantly had to make saves to keep his team in the contest. He was the best player on his team and it was no surprise that he was the first player to be drafted off the Hamilton Rep roster. He is a project who understands how to use his size advantageously in the crease. Windsor remains square to the shooter and consistently challenges shooters. He lacks quickness in his lateral movement and is still quite rigid in his crease. He does not appear to have much of a style and he tends to over play his shots. His late birthday should help Windsor in his overall development. It will be integral for him to be on a team next season where he can play the bulk of his games so he can work on many facets of his game, a year of Major Midget would be beneficial.

James Hennessy (2011), LW,D, Barrie

Hennessy played both forward and defence this season. He finished the year as a defender and gave the Toronto Young Nats spirited efforts in the playoffs to advance past the opening round in a surprise win over the Mississauga Senators - a team that was ranked in the top-10 for the bulk of the season. He is average in terms of finish, skating and stickhandling skills, his main asset is to be physical and intimidate the opposition. Hennessy is a pesky player to play against, as he is constantly trying to get strong players off their game. He hit and played aggressive and also showed a willingness to drop the gloves as well. His body language and decisions on the ice were a detriment to his team at times during the season. He needs to keep his game simple and emotions under check. He will also have to drop his gloves at the OHL level to be a full time player in the league.