OHL: Storming Back

After sustaining a 10-game losing streak earlier in the season that saw the team trade it's leading goal scorer of last season, Jamie Arniel, the Guelph Storm have bounced back and are battling for playoff spot in the tight and competitive Western Conference. McKeen's looks at several players making an impact for the storm including Drew Doughty currently rated No. 3 on McKeen's Midterm Rankings for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

Sitting just inside of the top ten in defenseman scoring despite missing several games to participate in the WJC in which he was named the tournament's Top Defenseman .. Doughty has played a lot of hockey this season and you have to wonder if it is not catching up to him .. he has appeared sluggish in February registering a mere five points in a dozen contests .. Doughty suffers from having to do too much .. he has a decent supporting cast on the backend but none that are capable of the end-to-end rushes to spark instant offence like him .. he may be feeling the added pressure of having to lead his team on a regular basis .. he has not improved and even though he can carry the play, his rushes this season lack the explosiveness and critical decision-making .. at times, he is easily drawn out and coughs up the puck .. however, there is no doubt he is a top-five skill but his overall game leans on the offensive and he is far from complete defensively, as he continues to get burned and beaten in one-on-one situations.

Anthony Nigro (2008), C, Guelph

Nigro has finally started to put it together and remains a good scoring threat in a secondary role .. tough combatant, he has shown that he is not afraid to drop the gloves, as witnessed in his tilt with Della Rovere early this season .. an average skater, his speed does not serve him well to get back into plays .. he often is caught playing too deep offensively .. he relies on his anticipation, which is ok at this level and should see him be a productive scorer at 19 .. nonetheless, his lack of speed prohibits his NHL draft chances .. could be selected as a later pick due to his tenacity and his ability to battle in front to score .. his hands are well served in front, as he can get the puck up in an instant .. his stickhandling is ok so he needs to get in close, as he cannot beat many guys one-on-one in this league.

Thomas McCollum (2008), G, Guelph

After starting the season slow, McCollum has managed to string some good winning streaks together vaulting his team back into playoff contention .. was fighting the puck at the beginning of the season, likely due to the weight of the draft but has settled down and is in the top five in most statistical categories at the three quarter mark of the season including G.A.A. GP and save percentage .. fluid goalie who minimizes his movements and eagerly steps out of the crease to challenge and take away angles from shooters .. can lose focus at times and needs to do a better job down low concentrating on pucks .. he tends to jump on rebounds when he can but loses sight of the puck at times .. communicates well with his players and has become more vocal despite his relatively quiet demeanor off the ice .. will be the ticket to Guelph's success in the postseason.

Taylor Beck (2009), LW, Guelph

Beck, a mid-second-round pick has been playing better than most first-round selections due to his win-at-all-cost attitude and non-stop motor .. since returning from the Under 17, Beck has been a different player, as his confidence has skyrocketed .. unsung hero who is trusted in many situations by coach Barr .. wayward skater especially out of the gate but somehow his flapping limbs manage to get the job done, as he can close the gap well in all three zones due to his lengthy stride .. always moving and attacking the boards .. he does not need to be reminded to play physical and will not stop even if bleeding .. a solid 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, players are bouncing off him .. has the capacity to be a very effective power forward in the OHL .. his passing skills and vision are not fully developed but his shot and power behind it will make him a potential 30-goal man as early as next season.

Peter Holland (2009), C, Guelph

Yet another player who has shown considerable improvement after his Under 17 gold medal win .. not as filled out as his counterpart Beck, he is exceptionally strong on the puck and on his skates .. consistency in his decision-making is a concern, as he can play some great shifts and then look lost on others .. needs to use his body more, which should come with added strength .. a healthy skater but not a fast one .. he can keep up with plays easily due to his hockey sense to always stay somewhat involved .. boasts a good offensive arsenal and is very athletic .. he should be a top point producer next season when the Storm lose Rotter to graduation.