OHL: Storm Troopers

This season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Guelph Storm. A team that generally exceeds expectations and play over their heads, the Storm has struggled out of the gate this year. The slow start led to the eventual trade of highly sought after NHL prospect Jamie Arniel. Since the trade, the Storm has managed to collect themselves. The emergence of top-ranked goaltender Thomas McCollum has given the Storm a fighting chance for one of the final playoffs spots heading into the Christmas break. McKeen's looks at three players poised to make a splash at this year's NHL entry draft, plus two Storm players that will represent Team Ontario at the Under 17.

Thomas McCollum (2008), G, Guelph

McCollum is the only reason the Storm have managed to claw back into playoff contention, as he is the backbone of the team .. he was recently named Player-of-the-Week, as he recorded back-to-back shutouts and has surrendered a paltry two goals in his last five starts .. cool, calm and collected, McCollum is big and makes himself bigger by cutting down angles and challenging shooters .. his reflexes are excellent for close shots, as he stays on his feet and does not flop .. he has a great glove hand and is difficult to beat up high .. his lateral movement is good, as he is a swift skater, which helps him swallow rebounds .. McCollum likes to play the puck and is very confident with it .. at times, he struggles down low by the goalmouth when he cannot set up in time .. McCollum battled with his confidence early this season but has seemed to find his game .. he has all the tools and fundamentals to be a top-flight goalie prospect and should he manage to squeak his team into the postseason and steal some games, his draft stock should soar.

Anthony Nigro (2008), RW, Guelph

Nigro has been a healthy surprise this year, as he is starting to fulfill some of the promise that made him a first round selection last season .. situated on the second line with the team's leading point producer, Pither, he has been given more offensive responsibility, something he did not receive at all last season .. he works well on this line, as he brings an element of grit to it and goes hard to the net .. still finding his game and picking his spots .. he shows flashes of offensive ability but needs to follow that up with more consistency .. has a decent stride and surprises many with his explosive first step in which he can get to loose pucks, as he uses his edges very well .. he has managed to put on some upper body weight, which has helped him in the corners especially as he keeps the puck in his skates, surveying his options .. playing with more patience and does not try to force things .. has become a good support player who recognizes his strengths offensively and is using his shot more and taking advantage of his release .. is slowly creeping into NHL scout's notebooks.

Luke Pither (2008), C, Guelph

After being bypassed at last year's NHL entry draft, Pither is once again on the radar for this season, as he has managed to finally score with regularity .. Pither leads his team in points however, 60 percent of his points have come via the PP .. Pither is an electrifying player when given time and space, as he has an abundance of moves and superior puck skills .. the problem lies in his inability to attack the net .. he elects to beat a defenseman to the outside, as opposed to pushing the defenseman back and forcing him to take a penalty to stop him .. rarely seen in the corners, Pither's game relies heavily on his finesse skills however, it can be a tad unsettling when he pulls back deliberately, as he simply refuses to be hit .. Pither has good anticipation and self-preservation skills, which has enabled him to pile up the points this season .. it took him a while to find his offensive game but he seems very comfortable in the Guelph system .. Pither should make a healthy overage player for the Storm, capable of leading the team in points for the next few seasons however, aspirations of him becoming an NHL prospect may be too lofty.

Peter Holland (2009), C, Guelph

Holland will represent Team Ontario at the upcoming Under 17 and should play a key role in the team's success .. as a rookie, it is a substantial jump from Midget to Major Jr.A but Holland has adjusted nicely and is finally starting to show signs of getting it .. while the points have not been coming with the regularity of some of his peers drafted before and ahead of him, Holland does a good job of using his size to create space for both himself and his linemates .. he is a physically imposing player at 16, as he forces defenseman back, easily entering the zone in the process .. his stick skills are good however, his pass accuracy needs to be fine-tuned .. he has a long, looping stride and is well versed on the defensive side of the game .. he uses his reach in all areas of the ice .. Holland should be able to build on some confidence at the Under 17, if he uses his shot more and manages to be a part of goals, he should come back with a better outlook for the second half of the season.

Taylor Beck (2009), W, Guelph

A bit of a surprise selection for the Under 17 squad after Kennedy (Sarnia) went down with a broken thumb .. assistant Guelph coach Jason Brooks is the head coach of Team Ontario, so the selection is one that comes from his experience with the player .. Beck is a work boot, will always give you a solid effort, and will play any role you ask of him .. he uses his size well, as he has a big rump and is able to push players (at times four years his senior) off the puck down low .. he is not a gifted skater but is slowly starting to lengthen his stride and work on his footwork .. there is nothing fancy about Beck's offence, as he just lets a shot rip and goes hard to the net .. he does not really have the moves or hand skills to beat a defender one-on-one but he does not seem to care, as he bulldozes his way into the zone .. should make a good power forward in the next few seasons in the OHL and play a vital cog on Team Ontario by parking his big frame in front and trying to collect garbage goals.