OHL Priority Selection: Belleville Bulls

The Belleville Bulls had the second overall pick and wasted little time selecting Brendan Gaunce, the younger brother of Cameron Gaunce (Mississauga Majors and 2nd round Colorado Avalanche pick). The Bulls addressed their defensive woes by choosing both Snelling and Bignell. Snelling offers size, whereas Bignell gives the Bulls skill. The selection of Daniel Altshuller gives the Bulls a nice 1-2 punch in goal along with Tiechmann. Dylan Corson and Cole Bolton are both smaller players but play with heart and determination and have a chance to crack the lineup in two years.

McKeen's Director of Scouting David Burstyn continues his look at the OHL Priority Selection with the Belleville Bulls.

Brendan Gaunce (2012), C, Belleville

Gaunce scored the most points amongst OHL draft eligible players with 121 in 68 games. Considering his lack of a supporting cast it makes it that much more of an achievement. Gaunce laboured through the first half of the season and did not play with enough urgency. After the Marlie tournament he started to take things more seriously and transformed his game to another level. He would physically dominate games and impose his will in all areas of the ice. Known for his offensive fortitude, he was an absolute tyrant in the offensive zone and could do things at will due to his sheer size and hand skills. Defensively, Gaunce got better as the year went on but he still does not know where to go without the puck. Gaunce is not overly fast but is difficult to contain once he got momentum. He needs to improve his overall agility, as he relies on his size too much. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he is one of the more physically developed players and should be able to adjust to the OHL easily. Gaunce is a smart hockey player and learned much from his coach, Paul Titanic. Titanic also coached Steven Stamkos and Gaunce's older brother in minor hockey.

Darryl Snelling (2012), D, Belleville

Snelling started the season playing very well on a talented Mississauga Reps team, but his play saw a steady decline in the second half of the season. Snelling is a sizeable defender (6'3, 160), that does many little things well but nothing exceptional. He is more of a project at this point, as he needs to physically mature into his frame. Nonetheless, he does possess good agility for his size and has a firm understanding of defensive responsibilities. His game struggles when he tries to do too much with the puck and when he pinches unnecessarily to maintain pressure in the offensive zone. He panics with the puck and simply does not know what to do with it when pressured. Snelling is a fierce competitor and is very physical when defending his crease. He will need some time to adjust to the pace of the league but could make a complementary top-four defender in three seasons.

Daniel Altshuller (2012), G, Belleville

Although the Bulls have a competent starter in Tyson Teichmann, the Bulls quickly snapped up the Ottawa Jr. 67 netminder. Altshuller was pegged as a first round pick by the half-way point of the season due to his excellent mechanics and net presence. However, he struggled in the playoffs, surrendering weak goals and flopping out of position too routinely. Altshuller is at his best when he can get into a game early and needs to face many shots for him to stay involved. He has a good glove and is learning to keep it in front of him. He has great size at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, and should get a chance to compete for the backup job in Belleville battling Malcolm Subban.

Adam Bignell (2012), D, Belleville

Scouts had to travel a distance to see Bignell play this season, as he suited up at Culver Academy. His play at the U17 Alliance evaluation camps helped his draft stock and gave scouts more exposure to his game. Bignell has good hockey bloodlines, as his father was a former OHL coach and a winner of the Sutherland Cup with the Cambridge Hawks Jr. B. Bignell plays a very offensively fuelled game, as he has better than average puck skills and is very fleet of foot. His agility and lateral quickness help him spearhead a rush and he marries it with good vision. Bignell has good distribution skills but needs to work on his shot. Physically, he is very underdeveloped and desperately needs to add weight to his spindly frame. Bignell should be able to adjust to the Olympic ice surface, as his game thrives with additional time and space. Bignell is a year away from playing Major Junior but should have a spot for him on the Jr. B Kitchener Dutchmen for him to develop.

Dylan Corson (2012), LW, Belleville

The son of former NHLer Shayne Corson, Dylan was only two years removed from playing double A hockey and suited up for one of the best minor midget teams in the province this season with the Toronto Marlboros. Corson played in all situations this year and with a rotating set of linemates due to his versatility. Corson does not over handle the puck and makes quick, short passes to ignite the offence. He is a good two-way player with a solid understanding of the game. Neither fast nor slow, Corson can keep up with plays due to his hockey sense. He is a scrappy player and has modest size at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds. Corson will need a year of Tier II, but he has the determination and skill set to play in a designated role in the OHL.

Cole Bolton (2013), C, Belleville

Bolton played for the Quinte Red Devils this season, a team that only won three games all year. Bolton was the lone bright spot, as he competed and hustled on each shift regardless of the score of the game. He showed tremendous character by never giving up and leading by example. Bolton is not a flashy player but he has formidable skills. Bolton had no one to play with so any points he got were the direct result of his own hard work. He is a knee-jerk skater that is awkward in appearance but manages to get the job done. He is well balanced and can absorb hits, as he leaves himself exposed. Bolton plays a spirited game and is the sum of his parts. He is the type of player that defies the odds due to his heart and commitment to be a 'player'.