OHL Report: Flyin Ryan

Still considered the team to beat in the OHL, the Spitfires have remained in the top two spots of the CHL rankings for the past 21 weeks. General Manager Warren Rychel addressed his goaltending needs by acquiring Josh Unice. Unice participated in the WJC as a member of Team USA and also backstopped the Rangers last season in their run to the Memorial Cup final. Blessed with depth at all positions the Spitfires are led by Ryan Ellis. Ellis currently leads all OHL defensemen in scoring and is projected to be a top ten selection according to the McKeen's preliminary rankings.

McKeen's correspondent David Burstyn looks at Ellis along with several other Spitfires that have contributed to team success.

Ryan Ellis (2009), D, Windsor

Continues to prove the naysayers wrong by elevating his game when it matters most .. was a stand out defender in the Top Prospects game and shined in a recent contest against archrivals the London Knights .. Ellis' shot is so widely respected in the league that he has often been double teamed to prevent him from getting it off .. he has not been able to score as a result, despite the entire PP circulating around his ability to get his shot on goal .. Ellis is more effective with the puck than without it .. he likes to step into the neutral zone with the puck and make a play .. to his credit he has become better defensively .. he sees the ice in almost all shorthanded situations including 3-5's .. adept at taking the lane, Ellis relies on his balance to win battles down low and along the boards to pry loose pucks and send them down the ice .. he is not physically intimidated despite constantly being targeted .. Ellis is able to find his options well but at times, makes mistakes towards the end of his shifts .. Ellis is playing with an abundance of confidence, which in itself explains his success .. his patience and ability to control the game stand out as assets that an NHL team will surely covet.

Jesse Blacker (2009), D, Windsor

Blacker appears to be content to play in the shadow of Ellis and is employed in more of a shutdown role rather than an offensive one .. he does have good puckhandling skills, however the accuracy of his passes need work .. at times, he makes mad charges up the ice but they are not architected well and usually result into little more than gaining the line .. has a physical dimension to his game, as he throws hip checks and lines his man up well .. needs to settle down more defensively, as he can get carried away trying to do too much but he does have good mobility and feet to bail him out .. has matured under the likes of Young and newly acquired Shutron and should be a steady defender who is capable of showcasing his offensive skills next season.

Adam Henrique (NJ), C, Windsor

Henrique has established himself as a great two-way centre, capable of winning key draws, scoring important goals and shutting down the opposition's best .. developed more grit in his game, as he likes to be involved .. blessed with great hand/eye coordination and a sturdy frame to protect the puck, Henrique is able to play any type of game .. very calculated in his approach to the neutral zone and when to blow by defenders to pursue an offensive opportunity .. once he gains additional strength he will be much more confident to challenge forwards and defenders .. he maximizes his scoring chances largely in part to his positioning .. backed by a strong feel for the game and quick one-step acceleration, he makes an ideal centre and will be a kingpin in the success of the Spitfires come playoff time .. his play is reminiscent of a mature Mike Sillinger.

Greg Nemisz (Cgy), RW, Windsor

Nemisz has quietly put up the points this season .. his skills are understated, as he does not move fast but he can make defenders look foolish with a deke or slide a sneaky pass to an open teammate .. he is difficult to defend against due to his stealth-like nature, as he appears in the slot just when it seems he is completely removed from the play .. with the puck, Nemisz has the innate ability to control the game .. he is slippery and can change gears, coupled with his control of the puck down low he is very dangerous in the offensive zone .. Nemisz has good size but does not always relish in the physical play and he needs to engage more in the contact side of the game to be a difference maker, as he can be perceived as a gentle giant .. more is expected when you watch Nemisz but he is subtle in his approach to the game and his stats back up his play .. it will be very interesting to see how Nemisz responds to a long playoff drive.

Andrei Loktionov (LA), C, Windsor

Has been a consistent performer averaging over a point a game while manning the half boards on the first PP unit .. has adjusted nicely to the North American game, as his vast hockey sense and passing skills replace (to a lesser degree) what Josh Bailey gave this club last season .. the two play similar games, however Bailey understood how to play better with Hall .. patience and willingness to attack traffic areas with the puck in his possession is what makes Loktionov special .. more of a playmaker than a finisher, his shot is not powerful but it is well placed .. still needs to shoot more, as his play has become predictable .. plays a stout defensive game, as he turns his checking work into scoring opportunities .. he seems to be more aware of where the puck is so when others are looking for the puck he is already heading up ice with it .. he is at his finest when he is able to create odd-man rushes .. not overly big, he uses his body to scratch and claw at loose pucks and the strength he has on his stick is remarkable .. Loktionov is a perfect complement to his linemates, as his vision and natural ability make him a threat to score in any situation.

Taylor Hall (2010), LW, Windsor

Hall continues to dominate and leads the Spitfires in scoring .. like a cyclone he is everywhere in the offensive zone with his chief asset being his speed .. explosive in the vein of an Alexander Ovechkin he leaves defenders flatfooted and has the finishing skills to bury his chances once he gets them .. Hall plays on the left side and even when playing centre, he has a tendency to lean towards the left side of the ice .. he is not a great playmaker but he creates scoring chances off his rushes .. he lacks the patience to be as effective as he could be but at this stage in his development he is able to suck guys to him and deliver a healthy pass .. needs to eliminate low percentage plays in his repertoire including drop passes, although it demonstrates his creativity he needs to be more selective in his decision making .. wide base to his skating enables him to protect the puck and set up down low .. defensively he is awful, he skates with no purpose without the puck and in all likelihood has been coached to patrol the blueline looking to create a breakaway with his speed .. misses playing with Bailey, as his goal scoring totals have slipped .. Hall takes abuse and rarely defends himself or fights back, as he needs to play with some more grit .. Hall plays a very dynamic offensive game with speed and natural finishing ability that is reminiscent of a young Pavel Bure.