OHL: Spitfires Get Younger

It was not exactly a dream season for the Windsor Spitfires last season, as they failed to make the playoffs for only the fifth time in franchise history. The new management team did not miss a beat and had one of the strongest drafts, as they took advantage of a series of early picks acquired in their fire sale of last year. They boast four, 1991-born players on their roster and may have the strongest group of 1990-born kids in the entire league. The Spitfires will be very popular amongst NHL teams this season as the Greg Nemisz, Joshua Bailey and Adam Henrique threesome are bound to stir considerable interest.

McKeen's correspondent David Burstyn was on hand for a recent game and files these notes on various prospects.

Greg Nemisz (2008), RW, Windsor

Silent but deadly, as you do not notice him until the end of the game when the scoresheet has him registering three points .. an elegant big man, who can get physical when he needs to .. formed unique chemistry with Snow and Henrique and was often situated on the first PP unit .. extraordinary patience and agility when handling the puck .. he makes creative and clever passes to spring teammates .. he works the half boards well, as his vision is sublime .. has a surprising second gear and change of pace .. Nemisz is the type of player who might make a better pro, as he learns to adjust to his body and handle his coordination better .. poised to make an impact this season.

Adam Henrique (2008), C, Windsor

Henrique could be one of the best second line centers in the league, which speaks volumes of his skill set due to his age .. what separates Henrique from others is that he can score as well as defend .. his hockey IQ is off the charts and he needs to be watched closely to understand how effective he truly is .. a talented skater, he cuts the ice well and his smooth transition from offence to defense serves him well .. always has his feet moving and goes to where the puck will be not where it is .. his anticipation works in his favor especially in the offensive zone .. while he did not shoot often, he was able to identify the open man for a pass .. not a physical player, as it is simply not his game .. his finesse skills and developing game will be noticed by NHL brass.

Joshua Bailey (2008), C, Windsor

Bailey is one player on this squad that could usurp Henrique from the top centre position .. they have similar abilities however, Bailey's penchant for creating offence off the rush is unparallel to that of his peers .. Bailey has the potential to reach 90-plus points this season, as he will be given every opportunity to produce .. a fixture on both special teams .. is most dangerous in PP situations where he uses his hockey sense to locate a high percentage scoring play .. at times, his eyes give him away as far as his available options, so he will need to address this facet of his game .. speed has never been his game however positioning has .. he is adept much like his counterpart Henrique as to knowing where to go in all situations .. strong on faceoffs .. takes hits and is not afraid to engage down low however, he will need to drive the net with the puck more to improve his game.

Eric Wellwood (2008), LW, Windsor

After seeing limited duty last year, Wellwood returns to assume a regular spot on the fourth line .. extremely fast skater with tremendous acceleration .. fails to capitalize on his speed, as his feet are too fast for the rest of his body .. only knows how to do things at one speed - mach .. needs to slow his game down to garner better results .. too many times he over skated the puck and could not find an open man because he trapped himself in a corner with no escape routes .. was not overly involved in any facet of the game and will need to rethink his approach, as he simply does not process the game well .. the coaching staff will need to find a role where he can ultimately flourish.

Harry Young (2008), D, Windsor

Last season was a learning experience for the mammoth, Tecumseh native, as the overall defense struggled including Young - allowing the most goals against last season .. not to be confused with a puckmoving defenseman, Young is your typical stay-at-home defender who makes an opponent pay the price when they get too close to his goalie .. one of the biggest defenders in the league (6-4, 215) he has a tendency to be too aggressive and as a result, he takes ample penalties .. physical play is encouraged by defensive coach DJ Smith who played a similar type game for the Spitfires and Maple Leafs .. has good one-on-one ability, as he stays with his man .. long reach allows him to be effective against players of all sizes .. he pays particular attention to smaller ones and leans on them harder, almost forcing them to make a pass out of sheer intimidation .. limited to no offensive skills and his play with the puck is inadequate .. with improved footwork and decision-making ability, Young may find himself being drafted because at the very least, he could be a serviceable depth defenseman at the AHL level with his size.

Michal Jordan (2008), D, Windsor

The Windsor Star will be having a field day with the puns should he materialize into something special .. the first import pick for the Spitfires last season (8th overall) .. he produced half-a-point-per game last year in the Czech Extra League .. modest-sized defender who will need sometime to adjust to the pace of the game and lifestyle change .. a healthy skater with good mobility and modest speed .. struggled in the early stages of the game with his decision-making before relinquishing the puck and concentrating on defensive zone coverage .. maintained a physical approach in front, as he readily pushed forwards out of the crease .. had the presence of mind to establish better body position if the opponent was too strong or big for him in front .. appears to have a good feel for the game however, patience, keeping up pace, and decision-making should all improve throughout the season.

Matthew Hackett (2008), G, Windsor

Played a few games toward the end of the season for the Spits after starting in 16 games with the St.Thomas Stars (Jr.B) .. the nephew of former NHL goalie Jeff Hackett, is a tall goalie who covers a bulk of the net but is not overly agile .. he relies on his big body to make saves .. he stays deep in his crease and rarely comes out of the blue to challenge a shooter .. does not have a particular style but is economical in his approach to the game and makes timely saves .. retains his balance and can move adequately from side to side however, not overly tested in this game as far as his lateral movement was concerned .. his glove hand needs some work .. his technique is slightly flawed when shooters attempt a wrap around or get close to the side of his goal, as he makes the saves but looks awkward in the process .. has good size and can contain streaking forwards and players who crowd his crease .. could surprise come draft day if he gets enough starts to prove his mettle.

Taylor Hall (2010), C, Windsor

The second overall pick looked comfortable in preseason action, as his fluid and superb skating allowed him to keep pace .. highly creative and explosive with the puck, he gives the Spits considerable depth at the centre position for many years to come .. already has made minor adjustments to his game, as he does not hold onto the puck too long like he did in minor hockey .. using his vision and utilizing his players better .. can achieve maximum speed in few short strides .. his skating will result in many goals and points, as it is already first class in this league .. plays on the perimeter and he will need to get more involved if he is to make a name for himself .. his skill set, including his stickhandling abilities are sensational .. he can undress a defenseman while coming down centre and many defenders in the league may learn the hard way on how to play him .. has all the makings of being a star in this league but he must compete in order to make that happen.

Ryan Ellis (2009), D, Windsor

The 5-foot-9, Cambridge native is one of the smaller players to be signed this season and has the daunting task of playing defense - a position most new bigger players struggle with .. a hard-hitting, highly offensive player, as his minor hockey stats can attest too .. he scored the most goals last year (28) among draft-eligible defenseman and registered over 100 PIM's .. although he had difficulty containing his man, he did not back down and even went at Stamkos after the whistle .. he has a slight hiccup in his skating but it does not hinder him .. a howitzer of a pointshot, he already has been situated on the first PP unit .. will need time to develop but has a good package to draw from.

Jesse Blacker (2009), D, Windsor

The second defenseman selected by the Spits in last year's draft .. smooth skater with great mobility and agility .. played on an inferior team last season and struggled because of doing too much .. was the polar opposite in this game, as he was partnered with overage defenseman Elgin Reid and played a very safe game .. limited involvement with the puck, he almost instinctively passed it as soon as it touched his blade .. hung back for the most part and did not become involved with the rush .. made several nice first passes out of the zone .. has potential and his game will increase with confidence and responsibility levels.