OHL: Weber Boosts Spitfires

The Windsor Spitfires are a mess of a team. The Steve Downie-Akim Aliu hazing incident has left the team's locker room divided and GM-Head Coach Moe Mantha suspended. However recent surprise victories against London and St. Mike's have added a necessary injection of optimism and promising youngsters Mike Weber and Jonathan Sciacca have been instrumental in the brief turnaround. We have several progress reports on Windsor and opponent St. Mike's, including the 2007 draft-eligible Aliu and Majors' emerging Adam Zamec.

Mike Weber (2006), D, Windsor

This well-built defender already has surpassed his offensive totals from last year .. brainy player with defence-first instincts .. fluid skater for his size with impressive mobility .. rubs his man out of the play with outstanding side-to-side movement .. does not have great top-end speed but is a capable puck rusher, quite competently moving the puck up the ice .. played the point on the top PP unit .. solid QB skills with a crisp point shot .. all the tools are here to grow and develop into a good pro – size, skating, decent hands .. approach so far reminds somewhat of Marc Methot.

Jonathan Sciacca (2006), D, Windsor

Smallest defender on the team at 5-11 .. scored only one goal last season, already has four .. relied on more heavily in offensive situations .. smooth skater with decent acceleration .. sees both PK and PP time .. partnered with McPhee who is a stay-at-home defender, allowing Sciacca to orchestrate plays on offense .. economical approach to defensive aspects .. can make a good first pass out of the zone to get out of trouble .. plays with his head up and is always surveying his options, not getting rid of the puck until the last second .. not overly strong nor physical so at times has difficulty containing forwards along the boards.

Cory McGillis (2006), LW, Windsor

Former first round pick started to get a little more adjusted to the OHL .. poor season last year plagued with nagging injuries and inability to crack the top three lines .. boasts decent skating skills with good acceleration but needs to move his feet at all times; tends to coast occasionally .. offensively he has some good skills .. benefits from ample playing time but does work for his offensive chances .. lacks one-on-one skills as he was coming out of the penalty box and had a partial breakaway but didn't even attempt to make a move towards the net, rather he stopping and waiting at the line until everyone got back .. struggled defensively; at times he looks completely lost in his own zone or when he does not have the puck .. attempts to throw the body but is rather unsuccessful .. very weak on his skates, constantly falls down and is pushed around a lot which is surprising considering he is at 6-2, 214 pounds.

Akim Aliu (2007), RW, Windsor

Has really struggled to find his game considering all the off-ice distractions .. has had to prove himself that much more as teammates have been quick to alienate him .. Windsor is perhaps not the best environment for him to grow and he has expressed an interest in being traded, which will most certainly happen early in the new year .. playing with quality players Garlock and O'Reilly but his shifts are short and not particularly frequent .. saw no ice time in the last 15 minutes of a close game .. fails to make an offensive contribution as sometimes he is not utilized by his linemates .. tough for him to make an impression when he sits on the bench for prolonged periods of time and then is expected to produce when the sweat has dried .. overall his skating skills are good for a player at 6-3, 210 and he is still growing .. he is swift and generates good speed with a good first step .. decision making is a tad suspect but he is quick to attack the puck carrier when he loses possession of it .. Windsor is a mess and has so far failed this kid.

Marek Horsky (2006), C, St.Mike's

First and only import pick made by the Majors this season .. comes with an impressive resume as he averaged more than a point a game in HC Skalica in the Slovakian Junior league .. plays on the second line as his offensive imagination has helped his teammates produce .. his shot and release are effective weapons .. shifty skater with good speed .. puck protection skills and strength are suspect, as he is often knocked off the puck rather easily .. speed and face off abilities make him a permanent fixture on the PK.

Adam Zamec (2008), LW, St.Mike's

Has really elevated his game, skating a regular shift with captain Tyler Haskins and developing fine chemistry together .. despite his small frame, he takes on all opponents and certainly does not back away from the physical dimension of the game .. drives to the net .. battles and can be effective in traffic areas as he has the ability to retrieve the puck .. goes to areas where he can receive a good pass to score .. makes short passes down low and around the net that often spring his man free and gives his team mate an extra few seconds to make a hard charge to the net .. with increased strength and conditioning he can develop into a league standout.