OHL Priority Selection: Niagara IceDogs

The Niagara IceDogs have possibly drafted the best 1-2 in the draft with their first and second round picks. The selections of Lucas Lessio and Doug Hamilton will pay immediate dividends, as they should be able to step in and have an impact as early as next season. They got full value out of their third round pick, selecting Brantford 99'er leading scorer Andrew Fritsch. They also selected Joey De Concilys, a teammate of Hamilton's and local born player. McKeen's profiles these players.

Lucas Lessio (2011), LW, Niagara

Lessio was an absolute powerhouse on the Toronto Marlboros, leading the team in scoring with 53 goals, 123 points and a whopping 126 PIM. Lessio has already been named to the final Under 17 camp and stands a good shot to make the team. A bullish skater, he powers his way into the zone adopting a squat down style that at times, robs him of his speed but nonetheless, allows him to protect the puck. Lessio doesn't have high-end speed but is good in short bursts, especially when he darted in and out of the slot and took advantage of his wicked release. His most admirable trait might be his tenacity. At times, he needed to be reminded to play with consistent intensity throughout the year but when it mattered most, Lessio rose to the occasion, helping the Marlies win the OHL Cup while finishing in second place in OHL Cup scoring (7-5-6-11). Lessio's aggressive forechecking style of play meshes nicely with coach Cicchillo's philosophy. The IceDogs have many returning players up front and Lessio will have to earn his ice. Coach Cicchillo has shown that he can develop young players if they are willing to put in the effort and work. Both Andrew Agozzino and Freddie Hamilton have matured to become contributing members of the IceDogs and Lessio should be able to follow the same path. At the time of press Lessio was still undecided if we would pursue the NCAA option, as he was being heavily recruited by the University of Michigan, however all signs point to the IceDogs to be able to sign him.

Doug Hamilton (2011), D, Niagara

The St. Catharines minor hockey program scored a huge coup when they were able to acquire the services of Doug Hamilton. The Hamilton family decided to move to the Niagara area once Freddie was drafted by the IceDogs last season. The move meant that the younger Hamilton left his former the team the Mississauga Reps to play for the St.Catharines Falcons. Originally a forward, Hamilton decided to play defence this year and the move paid off. Encouraged and mentored by coach Frank Girhiny who enabled Hamilton to play his game from the onset of the season. The success of the Falcons (30-2-4 regular season record) came in large part to Hamilton's ability to make end-to-end rushes and generate offence. Hamilton is not a blinding skater, nor an exceptional stickhandler but his mental capacity and ability to process and play an error free game is what makes him a great prospect. He took many offensive chances this year but rarely sacrificed his defensive positioning, even if he found himself deep in the offensive zone he always hustled to get back. Technically sound in all three zones, his defensive game is based around angling and positioning forwards rather than using brute strength and aggression. The work ethic and smarts are a common trait for both the Hamilton boys. Given the landscape of the IceDogs defence for next season, Hamilton will have a great opportunity to shine next year. Hamilton scored 20 goals and notched 57 points in his OHL draft year. While the points might not come with the type of consistency he is used too next year, there is little doubt that Hamilton will be the leading point producer for the IceDogs backend for many seasons to come.

Andrew Fritsch (2011), C, RW, Niagara

No player's draft stock sunk lower than Fritsch's. For the bulk of the season, he was being hailed as a top two round pick but a poor second half cost him. Fritsch first broke onto the scene two years ago as an underage playing on the 1992 Midget team helping his team advance to the Alliance finals. He scored timely goals and competed at a high level of intensity. This season the same traits that made him endearing as an underage simply were not on display. There were times when Fritsch could take over a game but the effort level simply was not there. Highly creative in the offensive zone, his passing skills and vision were never fully utilized by his teammates and many of his opportunities went unconverted. Fritsch played on the wing for the majority of the season when he should have probably played centre. His offensive game was never fully developed as a result. Fritsch did not do himself any favours with lacklustre performances in must win playoff games, disappearing for periods of time. His OHL Cup efforts were also very questionable. Fritsch has many layers to his game but also needs to work on many aspects of it as well. A capable skater who can elude coverage and hits, he would benefit greatly from throwing the occasional hit himself. This should come with some much-needed strength and conditioning, as he is in dire need of adding some weight to his 5-foot-11 frame. Fritsch should be able to latch on with the Jr. B Golden Eagles but it will be up to him to want it badly enough. The slip in the draft should be an eye opener for Fritsch and it should be very interesting to see how he responds to the slight and if he is willing to work on off-ice components to improve his game.

Joey DeConcilys (2011), D, Niagara

The IceDogs returned to the hometown well with the 97th overall pick of Joey De Concilys who was the leading scorer on the backend for the first place St.Catharines Falcons with 14 goals and 71 points. A capable puck distributor, his vision is uncanny and his ability to spin and shake off forwards and make a pass helped with the Falcons transition game. His biggest setback is his sheer lack of size. At 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, he is very small by OHL defenseman standards. His game was littered with defensive errors at the Midget level and he will need to fine tune this portion of his game. He was unable to box out players in the slot or tie them up and the challenges will only get increasingly more difficult at the next level. De Concilys is a highly energetic player who oozes offensive skill but that simply may not be enough. Nonetheless, given the IceDogs history of not only drafting but playing undersized defenders, he could get a shot but he desperately needs a minimum of a year playing Jr. B to get stronger.