OHL Priority Selection: Plymouth Whalers

The Plymouth Whalers have a rich tradition of success at the draft table. Head Scout Jim Debenham has been running the draft since 2002 and has done a fine job of restocking the prospect cupboard. The Whalers once again opted for a scoring forward with their first selection, grabbing Garrett Meurs with the 13th overall pick. They went deep with Americans for their next few picks grabbing a top-flight goalie with their second pick Matt Mahalak and then returning to their backyard to select Compuware forward Stefan Noesen in the fourth. The Whalers were pleased to select Calvin Higley in the sixth round, a player that could be the surprise pick of the round. McKeen's profiles these players.

Garrett Meurs (2012), C, Plymouth

Meurs was one of the most electrifying players available in the OHL draft. He dazzled with his array of stickhandling moves, finishing ability and sensational speed. Meurs possess the one premium you can't teach - goal scoring - (he scored 52 goals in 67 games) but is very ordinary away from the puck. If there is a one-on-one battle, Meurs would just as easily give up on the puck pursuit entirely. Meurs is a smart player and capable of playing a complete game, as was witnessed in his best game of the season - a 2-1 win over archrivals the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs - in a round robin game at the Whitby Silver Stick, where he scored the GWG and assisted on the other. Too often, Meurs was content to save his best performances against inferior competition. Never was this more evident in their opening round playoff loss at the hands of the Kitchener Jr. Rangers. Meurs was targeted often and simply could not create enough space to exploit his offensive game. Meurs draws comparisons to Taylor Hall in the skating department, as he is simply dynamic. His speed allows him to generate his chances, as his first-step quickness and agility allows him to separate from the pack and get into the clear. As was the case with Hall in Midget, he often appeared passive and uninvolved but Hall learned to transform his game and the Whalers are hoping for the same result with Meurs. Coach Vellucci has done an amazing job developing Tyler Seguin and Meurs could duplicate his stats if he buys into team concepts and sacrifices himself for the good of the team. Meurs needs to be put in the right situations to succeed and Plymouth management acknowledges that if he is not scoring there is little else he can do to affect the outcome of the game. Meurs, junior career has the potential to be a stellar one or he could be a coach killer and constantly leave the staff wanting more out of his play.

Matt Mahalak (2011), G, Plymouth

Mahalak entered the draft as the top-rated goaltender available. He did not make many stops into Ontario, playing in only the OHL Cup toward the end of the season for the bulk of OHL scouts to get a snippet of his talent. He went 1-1 (including a shutout) for the TPH Thunder, a travel team based out of Atlanta, splitting duties with Jay Williams (90th overall, Saginaw). Mahalak was chosen first overall in the USHL draft and plans to play for the expansion Youngstown Phantoms next season. Mahalak is hoping to play a minimum of 30 games to better prepare himself for Major Junior. Given the strong relationship the Whalers have with the Mahalak family (Mahalak's older brother RJ plays for the Whalers), Matt should have no difficulty adjusting in two years. A standout goalie with Culver, Mahalak is a very gifted student (92% average) and has aspirations of pursuing a career in astronomy. His career of choice may explain how he is able to gauge his angles so well and offer very little to shooters. Mahalak boasts great size (6-2, 175), covers the lower portion of his goal and is almost unbeatable up top. He has a strong competitive fire and very rarely surrenders a weak goal. He moves swiftly and effortlessly across the crease, keeping his stance compact, as he is very mindful not to expose any openings. His technique is unflappable and his movement is very economical in his crease. When Mahalak joins the Whalers in two short seasons he will join an OHL franchise that is developing a reputation for producing NHL talent, and he will undoubtedly be the next in line.

Stefan Noesen (2011), C, Plymouth

Noesen was a third-line centre on the Detroit Compuware under 16 program - a team that won the USA Hockey National Under-16 Championship earlier this spring. Noesen, a Texas native comes from a tradition of winning, as he was also a member of a select team from Dallas that won a Pee-Wee National title. Like most players residing in his geographical area, the decision to move and play in Michigan was one of necessity to improve his hockey skills. Noesen plays a hardnosed game and has some offensive polish. He willingly engages down low and is effective below the hash marks. He prepares well, as his hands are quicker than his feet. He scored many of his goals in tight this year using his size to bully guys out of the slot and utilize his snapshot. Noesen will struggle in the early stages of his OHL career, as his skating is flawed. It should improve in time but the pace of the league will intimidate him. He is a high character player and should be able to adapt but his icetime will be rather limited and his offensive contribution will be very minimal.

Calvin Higley (2011), LW, Plymouth

How Higley managed to slip to the sixth round may be a question 19 other OHL teams ask in two years. A high octane, offensive performer, Higley potted 45 goals in 73 games and more importantly was able to pick up the offensive slack in the absence of Daniel Catenacci (1st overall S.S. Marie) who sustained many minor injuries throughout the year. Higley was able to get into the open, as the emphasis was not always on him, however he did not play in the shadows of any player on the YSE roster, a team that saw 11 players drafted. Higley plays the game with a tenacious, aggressive streak and is able to get into scoring areas through sheer will and determination. His offensive skills are still jaded and inconsistent, as he can shoot over the net on one sequence and score a nice goal on the next. His skating is a tad unorthodox, as he employs little hops to generate speed. To his credit, he is always buzzing and trying to make things happen. His hockey sense is above average and this should compensate for his lack of size (5-11, 170). His game consists of making others look better and doing the dirty work along the boards and in the corners, but he has enough skill to be able to stick. Next year, should he get ample playing time at the Tier II level he should be able to grab a roster spot in Plymouth for his NHL draft year.