OHL Priority Selection: Peterborough Petes

The time is now for the Peterborough Petes to make a surge in the Eastern standings. Following three mediocre seasons that have seen them draft a player in the top six spots, the Petes have acquired some nice pieces through the draft and should be able to compete for not just a playoff spot but home ice advantage. Considering the success the Petes have had in recent years selecting a forward (Zack Kassian, Ryan Spooner) the Petes once again opted to draft a forward with their first and second round picks in Matthew Puempel, 6th overall and Luke Hietkamp 26th overall. They did a fine job of selecting goaltender Andrew D'Agostini with their third round pick and made the most of their next four selections with Kyle Rankin (59th overall), Derek Mathers (75th overall), Reid Jackman (85th overall) and Jake Bannister (105th overall) all players who have the potential to play in the OHL. McKeen's profiles these players.

Matthew Puempel (2011), RW, Peterborough

Two years ago, Puempel was a standout performer for the '92 Sun County Panthers and arguably their best player. In his OHL draft year he did not disappoint with his encore performance, as he scored an outstanding 88 goals, 144 points in 76 regular and playoff season games. Puempel is a natural goal scorer. Many of his goals would clank off the bars further illustrating his shot accuracy. Like all great goal scorers, his release is lightning quick and he established great positioning in the slot to take advantage of it. A force when he is in motion, the right-handed 6-foot-1, 185-pound winger could not be muscled off the puck in any area of the ice when he converged on a loose puck. Puempel needs to get into a game early, with a goal or a passing play otherwise he can become deflated and go through the motions. He struggled against the London Jr. Knights in the second round of the playoffs, as he was held off the score sheet in a three-game sweep. He was a non factor in the series due to the Knights strategy of double covering him. He will need to add a physical dimension to his game to battle through adversity, as he will be targeted at the OHL level as well. Puempel did not do well in the fighting department this season, as he literally got pummelled in his only fight of the season at the hands of Paxton Leroux (94th overall, Saginaw). Puempel could lineup with Zach Tatrn and/or Spooner to form a good 1-2 punch. He is not the best stickhandler and would benefit from a crafty playmaker that can get him the biscuit. Either way, it will be a difficult challenge for Puempel to succeed in his first season unless he focuses on his defensive play.

Luke Hietkamp (2011), RW, Peterborough

The biggest enigma heading into this draft, Heitkamp embodies everything you would covet in a prospect. He has size (6-3, 180), athleticism and a nice scoring touch, yet there are questions about his overall ability to succeed at the OHL level. Pete's management is hoping that he can put it together, as he is cut from the same mould as a young James Neal when all the pieces of the puzzle are in place. Hietkamp laboured through a series of injuries that robbed his development. When he came back he did not always compete and concerns about his overall consistency were raised. To his credit, he finished with a strong effort at the OHL Cup with 7-2-2-4 totals while providing clutch scoring to help the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs advance to the finals. When Hietkamp uses his size and power to his advantage he becomes difficult to contain. He can draw penalties because the only way to stop him is to haul him down. He needs to improve his overall vision but his finish is polished and he will be relied upon more to score goals than set them up. With a logjam of forwards in the Pete's camp, Hietkamp will have to impress early, otherwise a year playing Jr. B may be in his immediate future.

Andrew D'Agostini (2011), G, Peterborough

D'Agostini was the driving force behind the resurgence of the Markham Majors into a playoff contender. The Majors teetered all season long amongst the bottom dwellers of the GTHL until D'Agostini elevated his game and took it to another level. He managed to tie the Toronto Marlboros twice in the play downs to extend the series to five games. The feat was even more impressive, as the Marlies only tied once in 32 league games. D'Agostini is an absolute warrior who never gives up on a play and uses any one of his active limbs to make a save. He is a hybrid goalie whose athleticism and quick reflexes help him be so successful. D'Agostini is small in stature (5-10, 145) and will need to fill out as he does give up a large portion of the net. He is highly coachable, and oozes character, as he wants to become a better player. His mental composure was tested often on an inferior Markham team and despite the poor team defence in front of him he always encouraged them, never pointing the finger of blame when coverage was blown. The Petes have acquired several goalies in the past few drafts but none stand a better chance to inherent the reigns from Missiaen. Matthew Coutts will more than likely win the backup job this season but D'Agostini could be an injury call-up if either goalie should go down.

Kyle Rankin (2011), LW, C, Peterborough

The first forward taken from the ODMHA, Rankin put together a fine campaign with 59 points (24 goals) in 50 games en route to an ODMHA Championship with the Ottawa Jr. Senators. The Senators completely disappeared in the OHL Cup, scoring only two goals which Rankin managed to assist on both, going a pathetic 1-3 in tournament play being outscored 14-2. Rankin's best asset is his speed and ability to make plays at a high tempo of play. He did not have a strong collection of linemates and was often forced to do things by himself. He often played outside his limits but was extended that liberty by the coaching staff. Rankin usually runs out of real estate before he is able to make a play. He looks good in terms of his shiftiness and skating ability but accomplishes very little with the puck. Rankin has to mature considerably to play at the OHL level. He could make a good PK player with a renewed commitment to defensive play and positioning without the puck. It remains uncertain as to where Rankin will play next year, as he was not claimed in the CJHL draft, although the Petes may find a home for him with their junior affiliate the Peterborough Stars.

Derek Mathers (2011), D, Peterborough

The Petes have always gravitated toward defenseman like Mathers, big, mean, physically imposing, but slow. Mathers is very raw and will need a few years of grooming but considering he only played Triple A hockey two seasons ago his growth curve is high. Mathers was experimented up front during parts of the season and surprisingly performed well considering his hand speed and overall offensive game. The experiment was short lived and he returned to the backend where he QB the second PP unit. His shot is good, however his vision is lacking and he would shoot in any open lane when given the chance. Mathers needs to also work on his first pass out of the zone. Often, he would chip it off the glass, as he was unable to make a successful crisp pass out of the zone. Mathers has heavy feet and is rigid in his footwork. He was able to track down skaters at the Midget level due to his size but upgrades will be mandatory to succeed at the OHL level. Mathers best attribute is his fighting skills. He did not need to be told twice to drop the gloves and intimidated the opposition with his brute strength. Capable of playing in a top three rotation in the fifth defender role, he will need to defend his teammates to stick with the Petes.

Reid Jackman (2011), LW, Peterborough

Jackman missed the better portion of the season with a lingering knee injury. Jackman's stock dropped because scouts were not able to see what he could fully do. He played in only 12 regular season games but did average more than a point a game with 15. He was able to return for the playoffs and the OHL Cup and performed admirably in his return. Jackman boasts great size (6-3, 180) and an exquisite skating style. He is graceful and elegant in his movements. Although he is not naturally physical, he uses his long wingspan to break up plays and his quick acceleration allows him to get to loose pucks. He uses his reach to get around players and has an arsenal of moves at his disposal, which were proudly on display at the OHL Cup. Even though he was unable to convert on his chances, he was dangerous with the puck and helped to open up ice for his linemates. Jackman is a work in progress, but a full and healthy season would do wonders for his overall game.

Jake Bannister (2012), RW, Peterborough

Bannister was the first player to be selected from the Ajax-Pickering program. He played several games last year as a call-up for the 1992 squad. Last season, he played with zest and enthusiasm while manufacturing offence that had many scouts excited to see to start the season. A strong first half statistically for both himself and the team had him high on many teams' radar. Bannister centred the top line and factored in for the majority of the Panthers' goals. His patent move was to draw defenders out wide with his blazing speed and use his quick hands to roof a shot above a goalies shoulder. Bannister's play tailed off in conjunction to the team struggling and he was never able to recoup his game. He started to take things for granted and did not focus on the little things that made him successful. Bannister was unable and unwilling to lead his team playing bored and uninterested away from the puck. He exhibited very little in terms of consistency and did not take advantage of his speed like he had in the past. To make matters worse, he contracted mono in the second half of the season and was never able to fully recover. The Panthers lost in the opening round to the Jr. Colts and sadly, Bannister, as team leader took the majority of the blame. Bannister needs to mature off the ice and become a better team player. He should have a chance to play Tier II next season and his future as a career OPJHL or an OHL player will inevitably be his to make. He possesses all the tools to be a player, however his mental game needs to be tinkered.