OHL Priority Selection: Guelph Storm

The Guelph Storm entered the draft with 18 picks. Although the organization did not have a second round pick, they made good on a series of sixth round picks with Ryan Horvat, Mac Nichol and Jeffrey DiNallo. All of these players bring a different element to the team and have the potential to play in the OHL. The Storm is most intrigued by Carter Sandlak, their first round pick and son of former NHLer and current Anaheim Ducks scout Jim Sandlak. They are also pleased with their fourth round selection of Zach Mitchell. McKeen's Chief correspondent David Burstyn profiles these players.

Carter Sandlak (2011), C, Guelph

Cut from the mold of a power forward, Sandlak played the final month of the season with a broken bone in his foot. Sandlak helped his London Knights advance to the Alliance Championships before bowing out to the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs. Sandlak played sparingly in the OHL Cup due to his injury and sadly had to miss the Under 17 evaluation camps. He shows bouts of creativity but the bulk of his goals came as a result of his sheer size and willingness to venture into the danger areas of the ice. He competed hard and always sacrificed himself to make a play. He was the team's leading scorer with 86 points and recorded a whopping 208 PIM. He gives the Storm instant size up front for a team that has generally drafted on the small side. He is currently 6-foot-1, but should continue to grow, as his father is well over 6-foot-4. Sandlak needs to work on his skating. He is not overly agile but does work well in straight lines. He does have a good nose for the net and soft hands for both shooting and passing, however in speed games he could get lost in the shuffle. His play is very similar to Stefan DellaRovere, as he should be able to blossom in his third year in the league. One can only hope that the coaching staff is patient with Sandlak, as he will need ample time to develop and carve out a niche for himself in the league.

Zach Mitchell (2010), RW, Guelph

An NCAA commitment to Harvard scared some teams away but the Storm decided to take a flier on the highly explosive winger in the fourth round. Mitchell is pure offence, as his ability to create is unrivalled by his peers. His hand skills alone make him a first round selection, as he scored 42 goals this season for the first place Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL. Equipped with great speed and sensational one-step quickness, Mitchell was able to out skate the opposition to loose pucks and his lethal hand skills made him both a threat to pass or shoot. Mitchell excelled in all game situations and was a fixture on the PK. His speed allowed him to generate many shorthanded scoring opportunities, as he routinely badgered the opposition playing in the F1 role. His size raises a few question marks as he stands a mere 5-foot-9 and does not have much weight to him. Playing a year in the OPJHL should suit his game, as he will receive icetime and should be able to put up numbers. He plays very similarly to Brandon Pirri (Georgetown Raiders). Should Mitchell decide to come to the Storm, (as what is being anticipated in two short seasons) the pick could be the coup of the draft.

Ryan Horvat (2010), C, Guelph

Few players exhibited the same level of game intensity and consistency as the Brantford 99'ers captain did this season. Not a flashy player, he gets the job done in an effective manner while maintaining a high-tempo-style-of-play. Not shy to administer a hit, he plays considerably bigger than his 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame suggests. His skating is average, as is his ability to produce offensively. Should Horvat crack the Storm lineup in his junior career, he would be a third liner at best whose contagious work ethic and habits would hopefully push the offensive players on his team. Horvat is a very disciplined player who understands his limits, which is another trait that makes him endearing. He should have a chance to play Jr. B next season for the Sutherland Cup champion Brantford Golden Eagles.

Mac Nichol (2010), D, Guelph

The only thing that kept Nichol outside of the top three rounds was his size. His skill set is very mature, as was able to manufacture offence on a team that did not boast much depth - the Huron-Perth Lakers. There is some salvation for Nichol as his father is 6-foot-4 and the assumption is that he has not hit his growth spurt yet. Should Nichol be able to add some size and weight to his frame, he could make for a very intriguing prospect. His skating and mobility are excellent. He is able to track down players well, however once again his lack of size and strength does not allow him to contain them. His shot also suffers as a result of his lack of strength. He appeared very hesitant to use it and only scored five goals this season. His main areas of strength are his ability to process the game and make crisp passes, out of the zone and in the offensive zone. Nichol is already being pencilled in on the Listowel Cyclones Jr. B team next season and if he does not opt toward the College route, he could easily be a regular in the Storm lineup for his NHL draft year.

Jeffrey DiNallo (2011), C, Guelph

Early in the season, DiNallo liked to showcase his slick stickhandling skills and beat the same player three times. He was putting on a show for OHL scouts before he realized to simplify his game would improve his draft stock. He was the eighth player selected from the York Simcoe Express going 120th overall. DiNallo struggled at times without some of his bigger linemates, as the likes of Higley and Goodrow complemented him. He exhibits short bursts of speed to get into the open but cannot sustain his acceleration. He projects to be a complementary third-line centre, as he is great on draws and would make an ideal match-up player. A lack of size is an immediate concern in terms of his overall development but he does play with fire, is not easily intimidated and willingly goes into traffic areas. He should be able to latch onto an OPJHL team and as is the case with most of the smaller players drafted into the OHL should he not get the chance to play for the Storm, the college route might best serve his hockey and educational needs.