OHL Priority Selection: Saginaw

The Saginaw Spirit addressed all positional needs with their first three selections, grabbing a forward in Justin Kea a defenseman in Jacob Ringuette and arguably the best goaltender in the draft, Jake Paterson. McKeen's Director of Scouting David Burstyn profiles these three prospects.

Justin Kea (2012), C, Saginaw

The son of former NHLer Ed Kea, Justin has all the tools to be an absolute steal in the first round or an average player. When he applies himself as he did at the Silver Stick he has the size and the skill to take over a game, other times this season, he was rather ordinary. His lack of offensive production (51-22-22-44) this year set off alarm bells for many teams, as he did not score often nor did he lead his team in points, despite logging substantial minutes for his club. Kea is a swift and agile skater and is a force when he gets his feet moving and goes outside to beat a defender. He gets good speed out of the gates and has a long thick stride. At 6-foot-3, he has the potential to grow another few inches and if he ever learned how to bang bodies on a consistent basis to open up additional room for himself he could become an effective player.

Jake Paterson (2012), G, Saginaw

Paterson posted a whopping 15 shutouts this season and led all OHL draft-eligible goaltenders in most statistical categories. Playing in front of a talented Marlies team helped his game, however he was unflappable in the pipes and made key saves when tested. His mental composure and rebound control are his best assets. The hybrid goalie also offers size and his mechanics are flawless. He is incredibly calm in the net and limits his movements. He possesses a great glove hand and always remains square to the shooter. Paterson had an outstanding OHL Cup, allowing just seven goals in five games, despite losing in the final. With the imminent departure of Pasquale and the uncertainty of Galansky's ability to assume a full workload, it is not inconceivable for Paterson to get some playing time with the Spirit this season.

Jacob Ringuette (2012), D, Saginaw

Ringuette started the season on a high note like most of his Huron Perth teammates but hit a wall in the second half of the season. He did not have a great playoff nor a good OHL Cup. In fairness the long lay-off between the Alliance playoffs and the OHL Cup did not help matters. Ringuette has many tools to be successful but struggles when he tries to play outside his skill set. He was forced to do too much and it reflected in his play. He has formidable puck skills but is not a natural puck rusher. He angles off well and has good size and positioning to keep forwards to the outside. Equipped with good size and hockey sense, Ringuette could become a very complementary piece to a winning team in a few short seasons.