OHL Priority Selection: London Knights

The London Knights succeeded in acquiring one of the best defensemen in the draft - Scott Harrington. They followed up that selection with another defenseman in hometown hero Jake Worrad. The Knights wisely used their third and fourth round picks to select teammates from the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Dane Fox and Seth Griffith. The Knights selection of Nick Coone was the first of three goalies taken by the organization. McKeen's Chief correspondent David Burstyn profiles these players.

Scott Harrington (2011), D, London

Harrington should have been a top-five pick, however a week before the OHL draft, he announced his interests in pursuing NCAA options. The bluff did not scare the Knights as just like the Mounties, the Knights always seem to get their man. Harrington, should he decide to suit up for the Green and Gold, will be a welcome addition to the backend. Considering the uncertainty of players returning including the likes of John Carlson and Michael DelZotto and the graduation of Scott Aarssen, the stage will be set for the Kingston native to perform. Harrington is no stranger to playing against older competition. Two years ago, his major bantam team folded and he played all his games with the 1992's. His play was so spellbinding that he even received a call up to the Kingston Voyageurs (OPJHL) as a 14-year old. This season, his OHL draft year, Harrington once again played a bulk of his games with the Voyageurs after his minor midget team (Greater Kingston Predators) were eliminated from the playoffs. Harrington enjoyed a fine run with the Voyageurs going all the way to the RBC Cup. The youngest player in the tournament, he chipped in with two assists in five games. Harrington was absolutely dominate for his midget club but a lack of supporting cast did not help matters. The 6-foot, 175-pound Harrington scored 19 goals and recorded 67 points in 66 regular season games. His offensive game intimidates the opposition, as he is a reliable and confident stickhandler and puck rusher. His first pass is accurate and crisp and his effortless skating style and acceleration round out the overall package. Harrington continued to get better as the OPJHL playoffs wore on and improved on his defensive game while posting 18-1-6-7 offensive totals. Not a naturally physical defenseman, Harrington prefers to use his wide skating base to break up plays and angle guys out of scoring position. Another great aspect of his game is his conditioning. It was not uncommon for him to play in excess of 30 minutes a game for his midget club and he never showed any signs of fatigue. Harrington should succeed under defensive coach Jacques Beaulieu who was rehired by the club and has worked with the likes of Daniel Girardi, Danny Syvret and Kyle Quincey in the past.

Jake Worrad (2011), D, London

Worrad took his game to another level in the playoffs, where he exploded with 10 goals in 15 games after only scoring 13 in 54 regular season league games. Worrad has a blistering shot from the point. He was able to get it off and use it often due to the double coverage of defensive partner Ryan Wells, which often left Worrad in the clear. Worrad is an exceptional skater, he is fluid and has a nice long stride for a player of his size (5-10, 175). He does a good job of creating with the puck and is aware of his position on the ice. He also excels away from the puck, as his lateral and reverse agility make him very valuable down low. Occasionally, he would get muscled off the puck and adding some strength will be crucial to him developing. It is hard to project what Worrad will be at the OHL level. He does many things well but cannot be classified as an offensive defenseman or a defensive one. Finding and identifying a role for him in the OHL will also be critical for his development. The Knights are hoping he can be a suitable 4th defenseman in a few seasons, but he will need to defend and stick up for himself better.

Dane Fox (2012), C, London

Fox is loose cannon, as he is everywhere and nowhere on the ice. He is the type of player that the opposition will know is on the ice at all times and will dread playing against. Well put together at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, he appears to be much thicker and is difficult to contain because he is constantly in motion. Fox posted impressive numbers with 40 goals in 50 games and 87 points. What made him attractive to the Knights however, was his gumption and his willingness to compete, as was evident with his 125 PIM. Fox is a raw prospect that needs to work on many things but should be able to fully acclimatize himself within the league when he hits 18. His skating needs work, as he is rigid in his turns and tends to take wide looping circles to get back into the play. He exhibits bouts of creativity but is a north-to-south player whose goals will be generated by going hard to the net and paying the price. Fox may not be ready for the OHL next season especially given coach Hunter's philosophy/approach on playing the rookies. He will probably end up with the Knights Jr. B affiliate the Lambton Shores Predators and get every opportunity to shine. The Predators finished in last place and scored the least amount of goals last season as an expansion club in the Western Jr. B hockey loop.

Seth Griffith (2011), C, London

Griffith posted solid numbers for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones, leading the team in goals scored (42) and tying Fox for the team lead of 87 points. Griffith has a better offensive game and it will be his puck skills and ability to manufacture offence that will be his calling cards into the OHL. He will need to be a top-six forward to succeed, as he is simply too small and defensively unaware to excel on the third or fourth lines. Griffith is able to do things at top speed but routinely tries to beat defensemen with the same move. While it is healthy for him to want to be a difference maker, Griffith needs to adapt to game situations better and understand his limitations. He will more than likely join Fox as a member of the Lambton Shores Jr. B Predators and should be able to work on many facets of his game.

Nick Coone (2011), G, London

The nephew of Washington Capitals goaltending coach Dave Prior, Coone saw more than his share of rubber for the Cambridge Hawks - a team that only won three games all season. Considering the Hawks were out scored 3-1 on average, and he saw an average of 38-plus shots a game, Coone played remarkably well, as he got little to no support in the goal department. Coone is a very athletic goalie, with quick feet and lively pads. His biggest struggles lie in his side-to-side movement (post-to-post) and his limited use of the stick to make saves or play the puck. Coone needs to play in front of a better defensive corps next year to regain his confidence. It is uncertain if Coone will be able to stick with the Jr. B Cambridge Hawks next season even though he was the only member of his midget team to be drafted into the OHL.