Prospect Roundup: Wolves on the Prowl

Featuring top-eligible–prospects for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson kicks-off his new weekly report – the prospect roundup - on two of the OHL's top defensive prospects - Sudbury Wolves defensemen Peter Hermenegildo and Daniel Maggio. Head coach and general manager Mike Foligno also provides insight on his two prized defensemen.

Though the 2008-09 OHL season is only a few weeks old, Sudbury is off to a promising start. Part of Sudbury's early success this season has been due to the two-way play of defensemen Peter Hermenegildo and Daniel Maggio. Hermenegildo and Maggio led all Sudbury defensemen in scoring last season with 24 points and 20 points, respectively. However, it is their improved defensive play that is catching the eyes of most spectators.

After posting a minus-14 rating during 2007-08, Hermenegildo is a plus player so far this season and leads the team in this department. Things can change over the course of the season but Hermenegildo's progress is apparent.

"Peter has developed both physically and with the maturity level that is required to compete at this level of hockey," Sudbury head coach and GM Mike Foligno said. "His defensive reads are quicker…and he cuts off passes and is now blocking shots. He has started to sense the importance of good defense by the positive results for the team."

Despite the fact that Hermenegildo only stands 5-foot-10, he is built like a rock. Weighing in at close to 200 pounds, he is not anxious to initiate contact and throw his body around.

"Peter is not afraid of anything on the ice," Foligno said. "He plays a physical enough game and never lets up on a hit. He establishes his territory in front of the net and rarely loses body position once set."

Hermenegildo also possesses a quality transition game, as he is capable of rushing up ice, distributing the puck and operating the point, particularly on the man advantage.

"He has a nose for the offensive side of the game and is willing to jump into the play on the rush or come down from the point in the offensive zone play," Foligno said. "He counters from defense to offense very quickly."

Hermenegildo's 24 points in 2007-08 led all Sudbury defensemen. As a result, he will be relied on heavily this season and is expected to see significant icetime on the team's powerplay unit.

"I think Peter is capable of much more and his overall strength and conditioning will allow him to perform at a higher level this year. It is such a learning curve for offensive defensemen in the OHL. There are many facets of the game to work on and the competition is fast and strong. However, Peter is able to read the game better and pick his spots to go on the attack," Foligno concluded.

Much like Hermenegildo, Daniel Maggio has proven his worth as a two-way defenseman. Maggio's 20-point campaign last season ranked second among Sudbury defensemen. Maggio's most effective weapon is his heavy slapshot, which is derived from the powerful frame he possesses. At 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, there is a significant amount of force behind his shot, which can create problems for goaltenders and also lead to rebound opportunities for teammates.

"Dan has a booming slapshot and can have a big impact on the powerplay," Foligno said. "He is working on his shot control daily and, like all young players, loves to shoot hard, though a little bit of accuracy is lost this way. The fact that he does have a powerful shot allows us to use him in an offensive role on the powerplay. He also plays well positionally."

Maggio takes advantage of his size in the defensive end as well. Known for his physical play, Maggio earns his keep by knocking opponents off the puck on a regular basis.

"Daniel is big and strong and has grown quite a bit in the last two years so his body is still catching up," Foligno said. "He is much stronger this year both in his skating and endurance. He is also a feisty player who will not back down from anyone. As a result, his physical play makes it difficult for opponents to feel comfortable on the ice. Daniel's [physical] presence, combined with his long reach, allow us to use him on the penalty kill as well."