OHL: Youthful Storm Exceeding Expectations

Youthful Storm Exceeding Expectations (posted 10.31.06)

by David Burstyn

For the past few seasons the Storm have been in rebuild mode, or at least they have tried! Efficient scouting staffs have uncovered many gems and in turn the young players of the Strom have responded well and quickly to the pace of the game. The team consists of four sixteen year olds and nine seventeen year olds. Much credit can go to Coach Dave Barr who has successfully instilled hard work as the team's mantra.

Mckeen's was on hand for a recent contest featuring the newly acquired Luke Pither from the Kingston Frontenacs giving the Storm both the 4th and 5th (Doughty)picks of the 2005 OHL draft and files these notes.

Luke Pither (2007), C, Guelph

After being lost in the shuffle in Kingston he was subsequently traded to the Storm for Jason Guy to help the Fronts with some goal tending issues .. the strong play of many 90 born forwards on the Fronts made him expendable .. a swift skating centre that is seeing increased minutes in all situations especially the PP .. has developed good chemistry and is already on the first line with Doig and Melancon .. goes to the net and shows natural goal scorer's instinct as he is always around the puck however his shot power needs to be fine tuned as it doesn't carry the weight associated with being a true finisher .. defensively he is still learning, his play is best when he keeps it simple and does not try to run everyone down .. he is not physically over bearing rather chooses to play a finesse game and beat players in open ice situations where his above average speed coupled with his hand/eye coordination can lead too many high quality scoring opportunities .. should flourish in this environment as his ice time has improved and is averaging close to a point a game since coming over in the trade .. still will need to do considerably more to receive NHL draft consideration however his confidence and continued ability to play both sides of the puck will help him get recognized.

Matt Kennedy (2007), RW, Guelph

Kennedy will never win any scoring records however he is the type of player that is critical in winning hockey games and more importantly championships .. his work ethic was noticed last year when Coach Dave Barr called him up briefly for the season and then for the remainder of the playoffs .. a solid defensive style player who has limited hands but does drive to the net .. offensively he is becoming more involved, and his skills are maturing as he is able to get his shot off, he lacks true one-on-one moves and as a result is usually a dump and chase type player, who will bang and crash .. showing improved strength and balance in his play .. slightly awkward skating style, his first few steps resemble that of a galloping horse and then once he gets going he really digs into the ice .. PK specialist in his tenacity in terms of puck pursuit, always moving his feet and blocking shooting lanes .. not a particularly skilled guy which may prohibit him from being employed at a higher level namely the NHL.

Grant McGee (2007), RW, Guelph

Under used and under appreciated he was involved in a deal which included Trevor Solomon that sent Brandon Biggers to the Greyhounds .. a big kid who is not afraid to plaster someone into the boards, took out over aged Scott Todd with a thunderous hit that knocked him out of the game and then immediately fought afterwards .. PK is where he thrives as he is strong along the boards and very hard to knock off the puck, it took three guys to pry the puck away from him, as he killed valuable time from a penalty in the late stages of then a close game .. his skating is average, he has a long stride but not much acceleration or jump to him .. he will be a valuable cog in the next few seasons for Coach Dave Barr and be heavily relied on as a utility player who fulfills a specific role.

Jamie Arniel (2008), C, Guelph

Has already equalled last season's offensive production in only his 15th game .. he is second in team scoring and his renewed confidence allows him to be more creative with the puck and take some chances with it .. challenged the slow footed defence of Windsor all night with his play down low and even spilt the defenders on occasion .. elusive with the puck as his quick wrists and stick handling ability enable him to make a good pass even in traffic .. getting stronger and it is showing with his puck possession, as he does not get knocked off the puck as easily .. he has a short stride but it is effective in garnering top flight speed .. will need to continue to produce and have a strong playoff to help his confidence coming into next year; his draft year.

Anthony Nigro (2008), C, Guelph

First round pick is seeing some more ice time and actually was experimented with on the PP for a few brief shifts .. Coach Barr is slowly showing him more confidence and easing him into the program .. will need to continue to show hard work and commitment to plays in which he doesn't have the puck, played sparingly on the PK in an effort to instil this attitude .. is an ok skater not overly fast, potential to get better with some much needed core strength .. got worked over, along the boards and in front when he was guilty of admiring a pass for too long .. made some plays along the boards but showed slight hesitation as fear kicked in .. coming along slowly.

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

It appears that every game you watch of Doughty he is making improvements in other facets of his game .. simply put the play starts and ends with Doughty as he is the team's offensive catalyst, the puck moving defenseman that makes plays with his razor sharp passes or simply goes in and does it himself .. when he gets a few feet to work with he is lethal as he can stick handle around flat footed forwards and can literally log the puck deep into the offensive zone without even so much as a stick hitting him as he shields the puck marvellously.. he is extremely talented in finding and exposing the seems of a defence with his vision, only passing to players who are moving and/or in full flight .. appears to be stronger as he was able to out muscle and position his body to make proper take aways, did it with ease, a trait no doubt learned by defensive partner Ryan Parent .. offensively his skills are top notch in the league .. he exhibits patience and does not rush the play as was indicated with a beautiful goal on a 5-3, he allowed himself time and space and more importantly recognized that, as plays seem to be slowed down for him, a trait that will no doubt lead to a successful NHL career when his time comes.

Patrick Moran (2008), D, Guelph

Is the type of defender who will play in the league for five years as his skills and hockey sense make him a valuable addition to this hockey club .. poised and calm he is the type of player you don't recognize yet posts a plus 1 or 2 after the game .. reliable and not flashy he boasts good vision and can make the pass .. has a bit of an aggressive side to him, not in the way in which he plays but does not hesitate to drop the gloves as his high PIM's indicate.

Cody St.Jacques (2008), G, Guelph

After posting a 7-0-2 record in Kingston Tier II, management decided to promote him to the parent club .. the goaltending of the Storm has been a pleasant surprise, starting with Thomas McCollum and the rapid development of St.Jaques enabled the Storm to deal their so-called number 1 goalie at the start of the season Jason Guy, 15 games into the season .. Coach Barr has much confidence in his young tandem .. St.Jaques made his debut against the Spit fires and did not disappoint .. he has quick pads and focuses extremely well in traffic .. he did not allow an even strength goal as both goals came on the PP .. he is relatively calm, even though there were times during the game in which he looked shaky he did manage to calm himself down .. moves very well, quick butterfly but also can make stick saves while standing up .. limited movement when making saves .. likes to handle the puck and did so in the first but limited his involvement as his passes were a little too hard and not entirely accurate .. looked very good in his debut and is poised to have a successful career in the OHL.

Stamkos Sting (posted 10.21.06)

by David Burstyn

After failing to make the post season for two straight years the Sting have nowhere to go but up. As a result the Sting have accumulated some high end talent as they have been blessed with both the second overall selection in 2005, Mark Katic and the first overall selection in 2006, Steven Stamkos. Management has brought in several other supporting cast players and backed with a new coach, former Erie bench boss Dave MacQueen, the Sting are finally playing up to their abilities.

Mckeen's was on hand for a recent contest involving the Sarnia Sting and files these notes.

Mark Katic (2007), D, Sarnia

Enters the draft as the top defenseman available as his offensive skills are at a premium .. led all rookie defenseman in scoring last year and like many other successful 89 born players led Canada to a gold medal in the Under 18 tournament .. smooth skater who boasts one of the quickest feet in the league, certainly tops among defenseman .. solid puck skills as he is capable of making a beautiful first pass or rushing the play individually .. strong QB PP ability .. can enter deep in the opposition zone and due to quick recovery skills is able to come back and make staunch defensive plays .. shows a good defensive conscience however could angle off opponents and close the gap better .. strength and size are obvious concerns however, the changing of the rules certainly plays in his favour as small defenseman such as Brain Campbell and Kristopher Letang have proved to be successful at the NHL level.

Jared Gomes (2007), LW, Sarnia

Industrial type winger plays a gritty game and has a fiery attitude .. competes for loose pucks and does much of the dirty work on a line with Stamkos and Kell that has developed good chemistry .. average skater he moves his feet often and slides off players to be effective while gaining the line .. limited puck-handling skills and often rushes his shot resulting in lack of accuracy, however his shot is relatively hard .. workhorse is often used to kill penalties and provide team with a spark when needed.

Daniel Lombardi (2007), LW, Sarnia

Small diminutive winger made the adjustment to the OHL last season well and managed to produce albeit modestly in the points department .. did not have a good game and looked a tad sluggish and tired , capable of skating and playing better .. still prefers the cycle and the down low game as it compliments his style of play .. distributed the puck efficiently behind the net out in front to streaking forwards .. has been employed in a PK role and third line shut down unit .. will continue to make strides however, he will need to be extraordinary in his role to garner NHL draft consideration.

Harrison Reed (Car), C, Sarnia

Assistant captain has pushed himself to get better and knows what is expected of him .. has shown a committed effort to defence and after a horrific season of being -31, improvements have been made in his work ethic without the puck .. sets a good example with his work in practise going through routine drills with intensity .. sacrificing some offence for defence has worked better for team success and Reed has bought into that system showcasing his maturity and leadership skills .. swift smooth skater with soft hands .. failed to generate many scoring chances but with his quick feet and offensive instincts, he is bound to lend his name to the score sheet more so than he did last year.

Dalton Prout (2008), D, Sarnia

Second round selection is coming along slowly for the Sting but has been allotted key minutes, which should help in his future development .. big strapping blue liner should continue to get bigger and stronger and at 6'2, 210 at the age of 16 he is already one of the bigger defenders in the OHL .. good skater with limited speed but decent mobility .. he is very careful not to over handle the puck and plays within his limits in the offensive zone, not taking any risks .. shows all the signs of being a dominant stay-at-home defender with some offensive upside but one who will compete and make the opposition always keep their head up and be aware of his presence on the ice.

Steven Stamkos (2008), C, Sarnia

Last year's first overall pick has not only managed to step in and contribute but leads the team with nine goals in nine games .. unbelievable talent it is scary to think how much better he will get once he gets used to the league and improves on his strength .. showed no fear in going behind the net, or in danger areas to make a play despite the fact that he knew he would be hit, was hit on four separate occasions on one shift alone by one of the bigger defenseman in the OHL, Phil Oreskovich but battled through it .. smart hockey player who has a good feeling as to where his line mates are, a flashy play maker but at times needs to simplify his game more and take the shot when he is in the slot as he is prone to making too many passes, especially the drop pass that were not completed .. has a strong shot with an adequate release, which he will most likely improve with practise .. has a good frame to work with, as he will most likely put on some weight during the course of the year .. making a strong statement to be part of Canada's Under 17 team and a highly sought after NHL prospect next year.

Cameron Heads Bulls Draft Class (posted 10.18.06)

by David Burstyn

The Belleville Bulls continue to move in the right direction with astute drafting and excellent coaching. Last year the Bulls had two players selected in the NHL draft, Shawn Matthias (Det, 47th) and Matt Beleskey (Ana, 112th). This year promising crop includes former OHL first round selection, Bryan Cameron, who looks to add an NHL team to his credentials. The maturing Bulls are equipped for this season as they sport a capable roster of third year players who can make healthy offensive contributions. Bull's management made a trade in the off season to secure Flames first round pick, Matt Pelech (26th, 05) to help bolster their chances of an OHL championship.

McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest featuring the Bulls and files these notes.

Bryan Cameron (2007), RW, Belleville

Second year pro has already seen an increase in ice time as more is expected of him this season.. registered 20 goals last year and followed up stellar rookie campaign by averaging a goal of a game in the Under 18 tournament, in which Canada won gold .. highly skilled with good finishing abilities, accurate wrist shot is his best weapon .. solid skater who is swift and able to separate himself from fore checking forwards and defenders .. prone to some lapses in intensity and must learn that skating on first line is a privilege not a right .. not overly physical however he is strong on his skates and can make plays down low against the boards .. when he gets stronger he should be able to dominate at the OHL level .. good overall player must continue to fine tune his game to achieve high NHL draft consideration.

P.K. Subban (2007), D, Belleville

Last year's surprise 6th round pick not only made the jump to the club but was a healthy contributor in the points department and played over 50 games .. bulked up during the summer but still will need to concentrate on conditioning as he appears too heavy .. strong defender he readily and actively seeks out a big hit .. does not line players up due to his lack of foot speed but when he catches up to them, he usually knocks them down to the ice .. decent puck skills, shields the puck well when skating full throttle with it .. highly offensive as he is the catalyst on the PP .. hands are not soft but he is effective in his role .. defensively he struggles to find position and his limited mobility does not allow him to catch up to speedy forwards .. has a tendency to play too deep in the offensive zone getting caught in the process .. over extends his shifts on occasion and tries to do too much when he has the puck .. Subban has many tools but he needs to round out his game, defensively to get harder looks from the NHL scouts.

Eric Tangradi (2007), LW, Belleville

High scoring American enters his first season in the OHL .. tall, skinny player who boasts modest speed .. is not physical and rarely if ever attacks danger zones and works hard for the puck actually looked tentative to engage in battles .. skill set has yet to develop as he is getting acclimatized to the new league however he does show some promise as a play maker who sees the ice fairly well.

Shawn Matthias (Det), C, Belleville

A classic late bloomer, Matthias put it all together just before the NHL draft with a sublime performance in the playoffs and the Under 18 tournament vaulting him into the NHL's second round .. intelligent and makes subtle plays that only a player of extraordinary hockey sense would make, like a chess master that thinks his moves well in advance he feels the game and is not pressured into giving away the puck .. not flashy, remains calm not drawing any unnecessary attention to himself .. his increased confidence has enabled him to get additional PP time in an opportunity to improve on his maturing offensive skills .. long reach allows him extra time and space, coupled with decent vision he is able to exploit a defence with a crisp pass .. skating is smooth and swift however it appears that he has no top gear .. Detroit will continue to monitor him and given the track record of Coach George Burnett in developing players he should benefit greatly from another year or perhaps two of junior.

Matt Beleskey (Ana), LW, Belleville

Getting drafted is just one step to becoming a pro and that fact is not lost on Beleskey as his work ethic and desperate puck pursuit style of game has not changed, if it isn't broken don't fix it is his attitude .. makes an extra effort as he leads by example for the most part, was prone to some lazy habits on a few shifts that thankfully led to a scoring chance as his defenseman managed to push the puck up for him .. skating has gotten a bit tidier but still lacks that first step explosiveness and will continue to need further work .. shows some game breaking abilities in his ability to work into the slot, unmolested and get off his lethal wrist shot .. needs to stick handle less and shoot more .. should once again be a key contributor to a surging Bulls team that will rely on him heavily towards the end of the season.

Matt Pelech (Cgy), D, Belleville

Unable to come to terms with London, he was dealt in the off season for a plethora of draft picks .. a rock on the back end, his game has not changed since his arrival as he is the prototypical defensive defenseman .. .. nasty and hits to hurt .. outstanding mobility, his skating is swift and effortless .. limited to no offensive ability, handles the puck well for the most part but is unable to be creative or effective for that matter in 5-on-5 situations .. management hopes he can provide stability to the back end and with his massive presence he is bound to intimidate players, especially in the playoffs.

Shawn Lalonde (2008), D, Belleville

First round selection of last year's draft has a solid understanding of the game and the skills to match .. trusted in many key situations and even managed a few minutes in dying minutes of over time, defensive coach has much confidence in his abilities .. showed admirable puck skills as he carried the puck up on several occasions and made decent passes to launch an attack the other way .. lacking experience and strength at this stage as he needs to be harder on the puck when he is making a play with it .. got caught playing deep which resulted in a partial break away, mistakes like that are to be expected however he did a good job of being aware of it the next few shifts and merely played the puck into the zone electing to hang back and wait for the play to come to him .. should be a solid addition to the back end once he matures.

Matthew Tipoff (2009), RW, Belleville

Not having as much success as his former Markham Waxer team mates in the OHL .. slowly being brought along as was the case in this particular game as he saw only three shifts largely in part to a defensive lapse that resulted in a 4-2 the other way .. looks like he put on some considerable weight which alleviates one problem however the Bulls have considerable depth at the forward position, so he will have to impress and work extra hard for his limited minutes.

Bass, Best Served on Ice (posted 10.17.06)

by David Burstyn

The Mississauga Ice Dogs have seen their fair share of disappointments. Their on ice performance is marred in mediocrity as they have only made it to the post season three times in their eight year existence. Mike Kelly replaces Greg Gilbert (left for the Marlies head coaching position) and early indications suggest that this young team is more than receptive to their new head coach and have started the season with an impressive 7-1-1 record in their first 9 games.

Mckeens was on hand for a recent Mississauga contest and files these notes.

Drew Schiestel (2007), D, Mississauga

After missing a quarter of the season with a knee injury, Schiestel returns to the line up to assume his role of a defensive defenseman who plays a key role in shutting down other teams top forwards .. a smart positional player who does not excel in any area but is the type of player who helps you win and is a +1 or +2 at the end of the game .. tall and slightly built he relies more on his quick feet to close down the gap and angle players to the outside .. offensively he is still passive in his approach as he does not over commit .. decision making can be questionable when he is pressured with the puck in his possession .. did not use his shot once during the contest and was not used in PP situations at all .. good understanding of the game however his lack of physical strength and offensive skill will hurt his draft ranking.

Cody Bass (Ott), C, Mississauga

Returns as the captain of the Ice dogs after an impressive Ottawa training camp .. speedy ultra smooth and swift skater .. has gotten considerably stronger and it shows as he is able to out muscle opponents .. big lower trunk he is very hard to knock off his skates as he cuts the ice well and has tremendous balance .. plays a solid two way game however was susceptible to taking a few shifts off in favour of pushing for offensive opportunities .. tries to do too much with the puck and showed signs of frustration when play did not develop to his liking .. has taken on the new role of key scorer, should be interesting to see how he deals with the pressure of being the go-to-guy .. has good offensive instincts but they are not fully developed and he is not a natural scorer rather a guy who works hard, creates his own chances with speed, smart positioning and an above average shot release .. he will have a hard time posting 30 goals and 75 points in the OHL.

Oskar Osala (Wsh), LW, Mississauga

Finally started to find his game in the last quarter of the season which subsequently resulted in him being drafted in the top 100 for last year's NHL draft .. looked sluggish as he did not move his feet constantly as he needs to do .. was able to manufacture decent scoring chances as his large wing span and reach help him get around players .. good hand/eye coordination and agility for a player of his size .. has soft hands and is a capable finisher should be able to improve on last year's stats should he show a more concentrated effort shift to shift.

Jordan Skellett (2008), LW, Mississauga

Last year was disastrous for Skellett as he suffered countless injuries and never found his game .. his lack of playing time last year hindered his development .. boasts good offensive skills .. he is able to shred through a defence as he moves his feet constantly and attacks open areas of the ice .. decision making needs to be much faster .. good skater but not a strong skater .. showed a little bit of feistiness but than appeared fearful on others .. will need to put mental blocks of potential injury out of his mind as to not affect his game .. late birthday gives him an extra year to prove himself NHL ready.

Alex Pietrangelo (2008), D, Mississauga

Third overall pick could be this year's Drew Doughty as his game is much more refined and mature than that of a rookie .. sensational player who saw ice in all situations .. his skating, (forward, backwards, and laterally) and mobility are top notch and he is not fooled by slick stick handlers and he plays the man never the puck .. recovers quickly as his long stride enables him to navigate the ice swiftly .. shows promising offensive tools as his first pass and puck handling ability is leaps and bounds ahead of his peers at the same age group .. still raw in his offensive decisions and learning what he can and can't get away with however his confidence with the puck and his courage to try things is a positive sign .. has a healthy appetite for the puck, wants to be a difference maker as he constantly advances the puck by challenging forwards and attacks the net when he can .. has all the tools to be a successful pro however he will need to develop a nasty side or at the very least be more physical in his approach.

Prospect Report: Storm Drew An Ace (posted 10.3.06)

by David Burstyn

The Guelph Storm exceeded even their own expectations last year. Dave Barr, who captured Coach-of-the-Year honours lead the Storm into the Western Finals and early indications suggest the Storm are once again a favourite. The Storm management has managed to fill holes left by graduated players. The big question marks concern their goaltending and a proven goal scorer however their defence could be the best in the league, as Drew Doughty has emerged as a force already in his young OHL career.

McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest and files these notes on Several Storm players.

Drew Doughty (2008), D, Guelph

The surprise story of last year, Doughty has continued to make strides in improving his game, following a gold medal performance at the recent World Junior Cup were he notched 4 assists in 6 games .. has learned to hang back a little more and let the plays come to him, a skill most likely inherited by his defence partner Ryan Parent .. anticipates well as he was able to intercept some passes and make a charge into the offensive zone .. more a passer when given the chance, does not use his shot all that much in two on 1's or three on 2's situations even though he has the open shot .. is at his best when he can generate speed from behind the net and beat the first two fore checkers as he can really gain the line with considerable speed, shielding the puck and attacking the net, almost forcing the opposition to drag him down, worked on two separate occasions drawing penalties as a result .. defensively he was beaten by playing the puck and not the man, is smarter than that but has lapses in judgement, more will be expected this season to clean up those aspects of his game .. stopped short when he saw a hit coming and coughed up the puck at centre ice leading to a 2-1 .. made some mistakes in the dying seconds of over time as he failed to connect with a pass that resulted in a face off deep in Storm territory, should have made the pass sooner or not put so much on it .. for the times in which he has a break down in his play, he is an offensive dynamo and like most offensive minded defenders, they come with a price .. shows all the signs of being a first rounder next season due to his late birth date.

Brandon Buck (2007), C, Guelph

After leading the Stratford Cullitons (Jr.B) in scoring last season, Buck joins the Storm as a free agent in his first OHL campaign .. a slippery and elusive forward who is quick on his feet and can pester slow moving defenders into turnovers with his aggressive style of fore check .. lacks the strength to out muscle opponents along the boards .. looked winded after getting hit a few times on a shift and came off immediately .. fluid stride was able to separate himself from the pack in his first three strides .. has some good offensive skills but adjusting to the new league will take a few months time.

Jamie Arniel (2008), C, Guelph

Returns to the Strom with added responsibility to produce and be an offensive leader .. has lived up to expectations in the early going as he is averaging over a point a game .. displays better confidence with the puck and is holding on to it for an extra second to make or find a play .. has gotten stronger, thicker and is sturdier on his skates as a result .. wicked release and has a nice touch around the net .. has continued to show improving offensive prowess and is slowly becoming a difference maker in games for the Storm.

Leigh Salters (2007), LW, Guelph

A towering forward, he could be one of the bigger guys in the league .. absolutely demolishes guys along the boards .. does not back down, welcomes physical confrontations, and will defend teammates if necessary .. his skating is remarkable for a player of his size as he is quite fluid .. he lacks finishing skills and offensively creates little .. he does have ok vision and can make decent passes .. will thrive in closer more physical contests and it should be very interesting to see his development improve over the course of the season.

Matt Kennedy (2007), RW, Guelph

After a brief stint with the Storm last season, Kennedy returns with a roster spot and a role .. a smart player, employed for his solid two-way play .. made many nice plays to foil scoring chances in particular with his positioning on the PK, played lower on the point to pester the forwards in the zone, good hockey sense defensively .. decent size but is not very strong .. gets knocked down way too easily and does not assert himself physically to score .. limited puck skills and finishing ability .. a character guy who works hard and will be Coach Barr's favourite next year to play the PK exclusively.

Tyler Melancon (2007), RW, Guelph

Spent last season with Pickering Tier II and posted decent numbers 36 points in 46 games .. always has his feet moving and is very slick .. has good pick up in his stride and is a clever stick handler as he can weave in the offensive zone rather unhindered .. protects the puck well in all areas of the ice .. he is a smaller player but is built well with decent upper body strength .. producing offensively in the early going, could be exactly what he needs to gain confidence in this league.

Anthony Nigro (2008), C, Guelph

First rounder looked very confused in home opener and did not leave a positive impression on Coach Barr .. poor positioning, as he was nowhere near, where the play was developing .. limited strength and size however he should mature and get bigger .. game was dictated by special teams and he is not yet effective to play on either one .. showed very little in this contest as he saw no shifts in the third and limited action in the second period.

Patrick Moran (2008), D, Guelph

Guelph's second round selection is a smooth skating American who played for the Honey Baked Major Midgets last year .. not overly offensive he does have decent puck skills though .. his strengths lie in his skating where his reverse motion is superb and his mobility is an asset .. shows good hustle and smarts .. was injured in the first and did not return for the remainder of the game .. should develop nicely in Guelph's organization.

Prospect Report: (posted 10.1.06)

by David Burstyn

Dan Collins (Fla), RW

Is certainly taking advantage of what he learned at NHL rookie camps as he is off to another hot start .. played exceptionally well in the early stages of last year before succumbing to an injury that cost him over 20 games .. healthy skater as his stride enables him to generate good speed .. assistant captain shows patience with the puck and is able to stick handle around many .. needs to shoot more when he is in the slot as he passed on many occasions .. displays good hands and decent finish .. lacks intensity on some shifts .. an offensive leader for this team he will be relied upon heavily to assume the bulk of the scoring.

James Neal (Dal), LW

A tall lanky forward who displays a long stride but limited 1st step quickness and acceleration, seems to have just the one gear .. got better as the game wore on as he was able to make many creative plays with the puck .. clever passes to confuse the defence and will shoot when no option is left .. receives passes well and is able to settle the puck as he reacts a little bit faster then his peers .. always trying to create when he has the puck, goes to the net but does not drive to it as his frame would suggest .. off to a hot start and should post career numbers as he sees literally full two minutes of PP.

John Armstrong (Cgy), C

Let's forget about last season, where a number of things went wrong resulting in him falling onto Calgary's lap with the 87th pick .. after missing the first three games with a hip flexor, Armstrong returned to the ice and was the best player for the Whalers, playing with a renewed confidence and appears to have his spring back in his step .. competed hard and got involved on every shift and showed a desire to want the puck .. made many quick stick handling moves that resulted into him getting into better shooting/scoring areas .. unbelievable face off skills, used his stick, skates and body to win majority of his draws .. has cleaned up his skating and bullies himself into the offensive zone .. played both the PP and the PK .. is starting to play like most thought he was capable off and if he keeps up his consistent play, the Whalers will be a much better team.

Evan Brophey (Chi), C

First line centre displays outstanding puck distribution skills .. he leads the team with 11 assists in 4 games already .. solid size coupled with ability makes him a force every time he enters the offensive zone .. slick stick handling allows him to push the defence back however his puck protection skills are average and he was stripped of the puck by more experienced Guelph defenders .. good skater but not exceptional or flashy, gets good momentum in three to four strides .. should continue to see his numbers increase as him and Neal have developed good chemistry.

Chris Terry (2007), C

After posting modest totals last season 28 points in 64 games and producing at nearly a half point a game clip in the playoffs, Terry returns to assume a greater offensive role in his NHL draft eligible year .. a smaller player with exceptional balance and good core strength .. his feet are explosive and his 1st step quickness is tremendous .. known more for his offensive abilities he has some decent defensive awareness to his game .. does everything at top speed but needs to move his feet more when he does not have the puck .. goes to net and parks there, his quick wrists are able to gently lift most rebounds over a sprawling goalie .. still needs to show more if he wishes to get drafted into the NHL.

Kaine Geldart (2007), RW

After a successful season in Kingston Tier II averaging a point a game, the 12th round selection has not only made the team but is on the first line .. does not look out of place on the top unit .. his skating is good as he has a capable second gear and can separate himself from others, he can keep up with the two drafted OHL veterans on his line .. has a sneaky release and gets it off fast .. largely unnoticed due to his lack of size in his OHL draft year the new rules have enabled players of his limited size (5'8, 170) to compete .. still quite raw in his defensive duties, he is not strong and is unable to contain players in front .. decision making coming out of the zone will have to improve as well .. a solid addition to the club.

Joe Gaynor (2007), LW

The unexpected addition of Jenks knocked Gaynor down the depth chart .. a complimentary player in his own right he is able to play an effective game but shows little offensive imagination .. he is relied more upon for his size and ability to shut down the opposition .. has a large wing span and can cover the ice when he gets in motion .. used in a third line capacity and will have to be patient with his ice time.

Vern Cooper (2009), C

After posting lethal numbers last year in the GNML, 80 points in 36 games Cooper decided to play in the OHL despite considerable speculation that he may go the NCAA route .. an extremely small forward at 5'8, 150 .. skated well and has good speed but needs more lower strength to break away from bigger players with longer strides .. made safe plays and primarily worked on his defensive positioning , looking to pick up his man and not get caught deep .. limited showing of Cooper but is one to watch out for.

A.J. Jenks (2008), LW

Had extensive talks with Michigan and considered going the NCAA route until Plymouth management convinced him to join their program .. a steal in the 7th round, he plays with maturity well beyond his years .. very smart player who is still getting used to the OHL and its players .. did not make any mistakes with the puck, as his simple approach was well received by Coach Velucci .. great skater with unbelievable 1st step quickness for a rookie of his size, 6'2, 205 .. should only get bigger and faster .. has the making of being a dominant OHL player with considerable NHL upside.