OHL: Windsor Spitfires No. 1 with a Bullet

When the OHL season opens this year, the Windsor Spitfires will have accomplished a first in their 34-year club history - being the No. 1 ranked CHL team. The Spitfires boast tremendous depth at all positions, however goaltending is an immediate concern. The addition of key players through various trades and successful drafts under the watchful eye of GM Warren Rychel have transformed the Spitfires into lead contenders in only two short seasons. Mckeen's Chief correspondent David Burstyn evaluates the talent of several Spitfires poised to make their mark this season including Calgary Flames draft pick Greg Nemisz.

Greg Nemisz (Cgy), RW, Windsor

After a short training camp with Calgary, the Courtice native returns to the OHL for his third season determined to put up career offensive totals, as he has grown yet another inch and put on 15 pounds of muscle .. plays a game very similar to a young Bertuzzi even though he is not as graceful on skates .. skating in all fairness has cleaned up and he uses his massive stride to gobble up precious ice but still lacks an explosive element to it, which will be needed at the pro level .. a force in the offensive zone, as he cannot be contained and easily sets up in the slot to unload a shot .. has offensive awareness that simply cannot be taught .. tends to play in the scenery and even though he may be the most skilled player on the ice, he tends to blend in more with the play rather than shine .. has all the tools to be a 50-goal scorer this year and if partnered with the right playmaking centre, he should be more than capable.

Ryan Ellis (2009), D, Windsor

Ellis has become a stalwart on the backend and one of the best OHL defensemen in only his second OHL season .. a permanent fixture on the PP, he is ever so skilled at transferring the puck to either side and he is unpredictable in his passing options .. owns a blistering shot that is on and off his stick in an instant .. always finds his outlets in all areas of the ice, as he is smart in his decision-making and rarely loses the puck .. stable and balanced on his skates, he is not a deafening player in terms of quickness but what makes him so valuable is his astute positioning .. takes a hit to make a play .. played a more relaxed game and was conservative in his approach to log the puck up ice displaying his maturity and ability to control the play .. Ellis has first round NHL selection written all over him, however consistent efforts could bump him into the top half of the draft.

Jesse Blacker (2009), D, Windsor

Marred with several injuries last season including a shoulder injury and a broken wrist (missed 3 months) that limited the second round selection to a mere 17 games with the Spitfires and only eight games with the Chatham Jr. B Maroons .. a reliable, aggressive puck-moving defenseman that gives the Spitfires another option on the backend to launch an offensive attack .. controls the play, as he handles the puck exceptionally well for a player who saw limited duty last season in the games he did play .. he has a poor habit of extending his passes and needs to make quicker decisions with the puck .. his skating is fuelled by his impressive mobility and backwards skating .. still needs to move his feet more and get into better position while defending .. his reads on the defensive side of the puck need improvement but in all fairness, he does not over commit at the line .. Blacker is a big piece of the puzzle moving forward but rival teams may request him in trade talks should GM Rychel wish to address certain holes, a player he may be forced to give up to make a charge this season.

Ron Soucie (2009), D, Windsor

Soucie enjoyed a successful rookie season, as he landed a spot on the All-Rookie Team en route to a Sutherland Cup-winning performance for the Tecumseh Chiefs .. played admirably as the fifth defender relying more on his defensive acumen to keep him in the lineup, rather than his ability to produce offensively .. gives the Spitfires size on the backend at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, as he can cover space with his body but tends to lose his assignments defensively.. flawed in the defensive zone, as he needs to establish better positioning and step-up on players quicker .. his first step is simply not there nor is a high-end gear, as he takes too many steps when moving laterally .. is a solid depth defenseman who should continue to mature with added icetime .. .. he is a work in progress, as he made several rookie mistakes but was a quick study in Jr.B last season and made midseason adjustments that saw a dramatic increase in his icetime .. is also a good trade commodity for GM Rychel should the offer be right.

Ben Dubois (2009), C, Windsor

Scrappy, energetic forward enjoyed a healthy rookie campaign as a member of the Leamington Flyers, as he scored 18 points (10 goals) in 48 contests last season .. employed more as a fourth-line checker, Dubois has the skill set to stick on this team but will see his icetime diminish substantially once all players get back from NHL training camp .. a versatile, two-way forward who creates with his dogged style of forechecking .. comes back deep on the defensive side of the game .. showed improving offensive skills but made several plays that were of Jr.B mentality, not surveying his options and blindly throwing the puck cross-crease .. he pushes forward on plays and tries to create in front .. maturing puck skills, he is not without confidence and will push the envelope offensively .. lacks size but has courage and keeps coming back when physically abused .. has a good wristshot in close, as he can get it up quickly and it shows accuracy .. he is not a natural scorer and needs to take abuse to bang home goals, as he does not have natural finish .. Dubois should treat this year as a learning curve, as he has a bright future ahead of him as a Spitfire.

Justin Shugg (2010), RW, Windsor

Oshawa Generals first round selection last year started on the wrong foot, as he was involved in a contract dispute prior to the season .. an enigmatic player who oozes skill but simply refuses to work .. lacks physical courage and has too many lazy habits .. however, his hand skills especially below the dot are money in the bank .. he finds the narrowest of margins to sneak a puck by a goalie and needs very little time to get his shot off .. his shot is both hard and accurate and his snapshot and wristshot often catch goalies off guard .. does not force his way into the offensive zone and seems content to give up the puck at the line rather than advance the play .. needs to become more involved or he will eventually fall out of favour, as his play is not typical coach Bougner hockey and he will grow tired of his antics unless he scores and scores often.

Austin Watson (2010), RW, Windsor

The second round selection decided to forgo his verbal commitment to Maine to join the potent offensive contingent of the Spitfires .. naturally skilled with a plethora of offensive attributes that he marries with his reach and coordination .. sensational skater that is propelled by long graceful strides, which achieve maximum speed levels in a mere two steps .. got to loose pucks quickly and made industrious plays often finding the open, streaking man up ice .. still needs to develop patience with the puck but has great puck distribution skills and an impressive shot .. Watson has all the makings of a sure fire pro, as his game resembles that of a young Eric Staal, however he needs to challenge his opponents and jack-up his intensity.

Taylor Hall (2010), C, RW, Windsor

The new Windsor Recreation Centre will be buzzing with NHL scouts next season flocking to see both Hall and Watson .. Hall has already been mentioned as a first overall selection for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, as he has been a winner on every International team he played on last year collecting three gold medals (Under 17, 2 with Under 18 squads) in a span of five months .. an electrifying player with spellbinding speed whose main strength is retrieving loose pucks and constantly making plays in front to set up offensive chances .. wide stance and powerful strides make him an elite NHL skater already .. tends to play the game at his own pace often neglecting to utilize his teammates at opportune times .. he also is very aggressive in the offensive zone and will try to beat a defender one-on-one at the blueline, which creates odd-man breaks the other way if he is unsuccessful .. needs to play a more methodical game and not try to do it all by himself when the puck is in his possession .. needs major refinement in the way he approaches the defensive game, as he is lost without the puck .. offensively, he has the potential to lead the OHL in scoring especially if Bailey comes back even though that will push him away from his natural centre position .. appears to have put on some weight behind his shot, as his snapshot just sizzles off his blade .. is wiry strong and added some weight to his frame, as he is more chiselled physically and has great stamina levels .. an offensive catalyst, he looks well on his way to repeating and eclipsing his offensive totals of last year.