Storm may develop in the west

The Guelph Storm should be able to compete in the Western Division. The team boasts six NHL-drafted prospects. The team will lean heavily on Peter Holland and Taylor Beck to help offset some of the offence they lost from Brandon Buck. The Storm does not offer much size up the middle and recent drafts have them leaning towards smaller players. The lone exception is Carter Sandlak - the team's first round selection, but he has yet to make an impact on any of the games the Storm has played this year. The acquisition of Matt Hoyle in goal puts a bandage on the goaltending problem but time will tell if he is ready to lead the Storm deep into the playoffs.

McKeen's Director of Scouting David Burstyn profiles several Storm players looking to make an impact this season including NHL draft picks Peter Holland (pictured), Taylor Beck and Adam Comrie as well as 2010 draft-eligible Matthew Hoyle and 2011-eligible Carter Sandlak.

Peter Holland (Ana), C, Guelph

With the emphasis of Anaheim and the direction of GM Bob Murray to build around size, the Ducks quickly stepped up and selected Holland somewhat surprisingly at 15th overall last year .. playing centre this year when his skill set is better equipped for the wing .. he is not imaginative enough to play the centre position nor is he defensively diligent enough either .. can play the game in a bubble and does not use his linemates around him .. focussed on a goal in mind and is unable to deviate away from his options .. his defensive game suffers, as he seems to float and go through the motions .. too easily, he is knocked off the puck and seemed content to labour back into the play rather than dictate it .. a work in progress but he needs to bare down more defensively and make upgrades to his overall intensity.

Taylor Beck (Nsh), LW, Guelph

Beck has started the season on the top unit and does not look out of place due to his sheer ability to create offence and score .. a sluggish skater, he has made minimal upgrades this year .. he does look to be in better shape and is a firm 200 pounds, however he does not always play like it .. he is passive and does not assert himself in any area of the ice .. a gentle giant, if he were to add a physical layer to his game he would be that more effective, as he has a power forwards' build but plays like a finesse player .. plays well with others and can be slotted with any set of linemates due to versatility .. he recognizes changes in play and has been awarded PK time, although his speed off the mark is not spectacular .. can showcase occasional bursts of creativity when coming down the wing, and is not shy in experimenting new moves and adding variety to his game.

Adam Comrie (Fla), D, Guelph

Acquired in the off-season from the Saginaw Spirit for a handful of picks, Comrie gives the Storm an offensive puck moving defender that the team lacked last season .. Comrie is high risk/high reward .. his style of play borders on unpredictable and his decisions are not always the best .. a talent with exquisite range and mobility .. his raw and natural athleticism stands out, as he can do many things that players his size cannot .. his puck skills are improving, as they are good at a junior level but will need to be refined for the pro game .. Comrie's free-range game worked well in Saginaw but in a more defensive-minded landscape such as Guelph, he has looked uncomfortable in the early going .. his offensive rushes have been curbed, as he can no longer skate with the puck, rather appears to be coached to dump it in once he gains the line .. Comrie needs to work on many facets of his game .. he lacks structure and too often his care-free attitude reflects in his decision making and do not paint a positive picture.

Matt Hoyle (2010), G, Guelph

Hoyle joined the Storm this season after toiling in both the USHL and OPJHL .. last season he played for Harvard (ECAC) and did not put up the best statistical numbers - albeit in 20 games .. the loss of Foote to start the season opened up a door for Hoyle (whose father is also President of the Hockey Club) for him to come in and be the starter .. a standout in his minor Midget days with the Toronto Marlies, Hoyle is a highly athletic goalie with superb reflexes .. he reads and anticipates the play well .. he willingly comes out to challenge .. quick glove hand and decent mobility moving laterally in the crease .. tends to lose sight of pucks in traffic .. sprawls on the ice and makes many saves on his stomach, rather than trying to get back to his feet .. could stand to be more aggressive in his crease .. Hoyle is a good option for the Storm but when Foote gets back from injury there will need to be a decision made, as there will be a surplus of goalies on the Storm roster.

Carter Sandlak (2011), LW, Guelph

Last year's first round draft pick and son of former NHL and current Anaheim scout Jim Sandlak has seen limited icetime thus far .. the big, gangly Sandlak struggles with his skating .. the pace of the league moves too fast for him .. wants to play a physical game but cannot always line his guys up .. his offensive game is months/years from being fully developed but he does show good passing skills .. Sandlak is best when he uses his size down low .. he plays a commanding cycle game but will need time to develop his skills .. Sandlak is already one of the biggest players on the team .. given a few years of development and he could be a very imposing power forward that will bang and crash the net.