Thursday, May 27, 1999

USHR.com 1999 OHL Draft Prospect Scouting Reports

Welcome to this new section of the U.S. Hockey Report. As the season progresses, we'll be putting up scouting profiles on the top candidates for the 1999 OHL Draft. Please bear in mind that the following is not a ranking (for that, check our 1999 OHL Draft List), but the carefully considered opinion and first-hand observations of  professional scouts working for the U.S. Hockey Report. There will be no "consensus scouting" on these pages, and we will never rank a player we haven't carefully watched.

This list is now compiled with the most recent additions at the top of the page.

Added 5/27/99

Drew Fata 1983 LD 6'0 185 St Thomas Jr.B

Fata is the younger brother of Rico Fata of the London Knights. He played last year for the Sault Ste. Marie bantams and, over the course of this season, improved greatly. At the start of the year he seemed a bit too "hyper" on the ice. He was trying to do too much and as a result was overskating and overreacting to the play. He was indecisive and jumpy and the bounces weren’t going his way. He killed penalties but, overall, wasn’t receiving a lot of ice time. He did show some confidence with the puck, however, and, for a 15-year-old defenceman, his stats were quite impressive (46-4-16-20-55 PIM).

Playing against his own age group at the recent OHA Under 17 camp, Fata demonstrated the above-mentioned improvement. While he has a bit of a wide stride and is not a speedster like his brother, his overall skating skills -- mobility + quickness + speed -- are very good. He is a real competitor who loves to initiate physical contact and plays a feisty game. In his own zone he is very aware and is constantly getting a piece of his opponents. His confidence with the puck has continued to grown -- he'll often carry it up ice and occasionally even go end-to-end. He sees the ice well and moves the puck well and without hesitation.

Fata continues to move up in our rankings. We now see him as a 3^rd round pick.

Added 5/27/99

Adam Paiement 1982 RW 5'11 175 Streetsville Jr.A

Paiement is the son of former NHLer Wilf Paiement. He is a very good smooth skater with   speed and quickness. He digs into the ice and breaks well to open ice. He forces the play well and is on his man quickly. However, he will often stick-check instead of finishing his check with a solid hit. He is quite strong and he can throw some heavy hits, but we would like to see him do so more consistently. He seems content at times to just get in the opponents way or cut them off. He backchecks well and kills penalties.

Paiement has very good stats (49-18-24-42-13 PIM). He plays on the power play at times, and has a very good shot. He is a very good puckhandler who can fight through stick checks. He sees the ice well and is a heads-up playmaker and crisp passer. He creates offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. He knows where the net is and he will station himself in the slot. He has good eye-hand coordination for tip-ins. 

Paiement is a smart player with very good skills and great skating ability. If he competed harder all the time, he would be a lot higher than a 4^th round pick.

Added 5/27/99

Danny Knapp 1983 RC 5'11 165 Detroit Honeybaked Bantam

Knapp is not blessed with great size, but he has grown a bit this season. He is a very good skater with deceptive speed (he has a somewhat ducky skating style). He forces the play smartly and he will finish his checks. He can be feisty because he wants the puck at all times. He is an excellent puckhandler who likes to play in traffic. He protects the puck well and will take a hit to make a play. He is elusive, and patient. He has great skills and quick hands. He is creative, too, willing to try new moves, even on face-offs. He has an incredible knack around the net. He's hungry and he has the keen anticipation that helps him see scoring opportunities in advance. He gets the puck on net at every opportunity and he can score in a variety of ways.

Knapp is a dynamic player who scores goals. We see him as a 4^th round prospect.

Added 5/27/99

Matt Maglione 1982 LD 6'1 180 Auburn Jr.A

Last year, as a 15 year old, Maglione played with the Auburn Jr. Crunch (then based in Syracuse). A tremendous skater with speed, quickness, agility, and mobility, Maglione is a top notch offensive D. He sees the ice well, has quick hands and exhibits great confidence in his puck skills. We watched him make a great rush down the off wing, cut around a defenceman and almost pick the far low corner with a snap shot. He has a good selection of shots that he is not afraid to use. He likes to join the rush. With his agility, he easily eludes checks. He recovers quickly when caught out of position. He plays the point on the power play and he distributes the puck smartly. 

As Maglione, an assistant captain with the Crunch, fills out and gets stronger, he may become more confident in the physical game. He tends to slow up and stick or sweep check rather than stand up an opponent. He forces the play well but is often thinking about the puck and not the man and as a result he can be beat 1-on-1. He plays a lot, and in all situations, and is aware in his own zone. He needs to be more authoritative in front of his own net. He plays the left and right sides equally well.

Maglione has excellent stats (44-12-24-36-44 PIM). In his own zone, he panics a bit with the puck as he rushes his plays and sometimes just throws it around the boards without looking. Outside of his own zone, though, he is the complete opposite.

Maglione is a tremendous offensive defenceman who is exciting to watch. He needs more confidence and experience in his own zone but we feel he is improving on his weaknesses. He has signed with the US National Team Development Program for next season. We feel he is a second round prospect due to his continued improvement.

Added 5/27/99

Barry Tallackson 1983 RC 6'3 200 St Paul (Minn.) Johnson H.S

Tallackson is a player who has really come on this season. He has great size and great reach. He has a wide (bull-legged) stride but is a very good skater. He is a very good puckhandler who protects it well. He has poise with the puck, and is creative, too. He doesn't just make the simple play, but will hold the puck to increase his options. He's also a scorer -- he has good hands near the net and a good shot. He moves the puck smartly, and sees the ice well. He was a standout at the US Under-17 tryout camp in March against many of the top 1983's in the U.S.

Tallackson is a player with tremendous upside. He is a power forward with surprisingly soft hands. He has come a long way in a short period of time and if he continues to improve, he should be a pro in the not-too-distant future. He has signed with the US National Team Development Program for next season.

We see him as a high first round prospect.

Added 5/27/99

Justin Maiser 1983 LW 6'0 170 Edina (Minn.) H.S

Maiser is a gifted skater with a powerful stride. He has excellent puck-handling ability and confidence. He has "nifty" quick hands which makes him hard to defend against. His control of the puck is excellent. Maiser is also a creative player who will try different moves to throw the opposition off. He has good anticipation, and jumps well to open ice. He sees the ice very well and -- even if he has his head down -- seems to know where his teammates are. He has a soft passing touch and the ability to sent teammates in alone. He has an excellent shot and can shoot on the fly.

Maiser is an extremely talented player. He has signed with the US Under 17 program for next season. We see him as a first round prospect.

Added 5/27/99

Ed Caron 1982 LW 6'2 200 Phillips Exeter Academy

Caron is a big powerful forward who knows how to use his size to his advantage and has skills on top of that. He's a good skater -- faster than he appears at first glance, mainly because it takes him a step to get going. He is a very good puckhandler with quick hands. The moves that he tries seem to work for him. We watched him make a great move 1-on-1 as he faked outside then jumped to the inside of the defenceman and the puck followed him into the slot. He has a deadly accurate shot that he showed us when he scored top shelf on a nice snap shot from the deep slot. He can also unload an extremely powerful "heavy" slap shot. He uses his linemates well and is a crisp passer.

Caron is starting to make a name for himself. He went from high school hockey last year to a top prep hockey program this season, adapted to the higher level of competition instantly, and helped lead Exeter to the Div. I prep title, averaging about three points a game. When he came out to the National Program tryouts in March he was excellent, and was quickly offered a slot with the program. However, he's opted to go back to Exeter.

Caron has excellent pro potential. If he were to take the OHL route, he'd be a first-round pick. 

Added 5/25/99

Scott Dobben 1983 LW 6'0 180 Waterloo Bantam

Dobben has good size and a wide, powerful stride. He really digs into the ice and has very good speed and quickness. He is very good at forcing the play as he is on his man quickly and finishes his checks. He loves throwing heavy hits -- really pasting guys against the boards. He is very strong on his skates.

Offensively, Dobben seems to have less confidence with the puck than he did earlier in the season. He used to make rushes from centre ice right on through to the opposition’s net. He is a very good stickhandler but he now seems hesitant to try many plays 1-on-1 -- he sometimes slow ups and takes a low percentage shot instead. He only carries the puck for a short distance and then he advances it. He sees the ice well and he moves the puck very well with crisp passes. He goes very hard for the net and this is were he picks up his goals. He has good hands and confidence in close and he is hungry to score. He breaks well to open ice and he plays on the power play. He can take a pass off his skate and he shoots well in stride.

While , Dobben is not as dynamic an offensive player as earlier in the season, he is still a solid winger with a scoring touch. He works hard and plays well in both ends of the rink. We see him as a third round pick.

Added 5/25/99

Andy Chiodo 1983 G 5'11 180 Wexford Jr.A

Chiodo played bantam for the Toronto Marlies last year. He has good size and he is a very good skater. He has very good quickness and reflexes but he sometimes relies a bit too much on these. He is up/down very quickly into the butterfly -- sometimes too quickly. When he has his blocker down he can still cover the upper part of the net with his quick glove. He is sometimes bent forward which leaves some room over his shoulders. He moves well across the crease and he handles and moves the puck well to his defencemen. When he is on his game, he is challenging and cutting down the angles. He has quick feet. He'll get one foot to each post on a deke, thus totally covering the lower part of the net -- and more often than not come up with the glove save when the shooter tries to put it upstairs. He covers rebounds well.

Chiodo is young and has all the physical tools to be a very good goaltender. So much of goaltending is mental, and like a lot of goalies, Chiodo can be inconsistent and alter his style under pressure. We see him as a 2^nd or 3rd round pick because he would’ve been a dominant bantam goalie if he played at that level this season.

Added 5/25/99

Travis Chapman 1983 RD 5'11 195 York-Simcoe Bantam

Chapman is the younger brother of Adam Chapman of Newmarket. He has a very thick frame that may affect his mobility a bit. However, he is still a very good skater. He is very strong and likes to play a physical, feisty game. He uses his stick effectively to agitate and slow down opponents. He moves guys from his crease area well when killing penalties. His defensive game suffers a bit because he is often up ice trying to create offensive opportunities.

Chapman is an excellent puck handler with quick hands and tremendous confidence. He'll   pounce on loose pucks and turn up ice on the attack quickly. He will wind up behind his net and go end-to-end. He doesn’t hesitate, he just goes. At the bantam level he can get away with it most of the time, as he can weave through opponents and he protects the puck well. He has a very good scoring touch in close -- we‘ve seen him score a number of highlight film goals after rushing the puck up ice. He sees the ice well, and moves the puck nicely, even under pressure. He has an excellent passing touch, as he really fires his passes.

Chapman is a dominant player at the bantam level. He will have to be more selective when he rushes the puck at a higher level. We see him as a 3^rd or 4^th round pick.

Added 5/25/99

Roland Griesmeyer 1983 RC 5'9 160 Toronto Young Nats Bantam

Griesmeyer has spent the last two seasons between London, Ontario high school hockey and Toronto bantam hockey. He is a very good skater with very good speed and quickness. He is a small player but he uses every ounce of his body well. He is a relentless worker with a  chippy, feisty attitude. He forces the play well and will throw some hard hits. He uses his stick effectively to irritate opponents and draw penalties. At times, he takes bad penalties because of his intensity level. He is very good on draws and playing 4-on-4. He plays a lot -- and in all situations.

We saw Griesmeyer totally dominate two bantam playoff games. He is an exceptional puck handler who is smart, unselfish, shifty and skilled. He will take a hit to make a play and he protects the puck well. He is very creative 1-on-1 as all of his moves seem to work for him. He seems to have the puck on a string. He can beat opponents to the inside or outside, and he loves the challenge of going through traffic. He is effective at tying up the puck in his skates to buy time in the corner, and then kicking it up to his stick. He likes to use his hard wrist shot to get the puck on net, usually using a defenceman as a screen. He has great vision of the ice as he always seems to know exactly where his teammates are. He is an outstanding playmaker with very quick hands and an excellent passing touch. He finds the open man nearly every time. He sets up many scoring chances but he also creates many chances for himself.

Griesmeyer is an exciting player who works hard in both ends of the rink. He is a dominant player at the bantam level. He would be a higher pick if he were taller. Nonetheless, every team can use a centre who has the potential to put up good numbers. We see him as a 4^th round pick.

Added 5/19/99

Sean Scully 1983 RC 6'2 180 Richmond Hill Bantam

Scully is tall and lanky, but he also has some strength. He forces the play but does not finish all of his checks. He can be feisty and physical at times. He kills penalties but he needs a bit of work on his play without the puck. Earlier in the season, he didn’t commit himself defensively. As his team advanced to the Kobe Cup, he improved his intensity and work ethic. He is a very good skater with a strong stride, so he has good rink-length speed.

Scully is a very confident offensive player. He plays the point on the power play, often carrying the puck up ice, easily gaining the neutral zone. From the point, he loves to use his great shot, using opponents as a screen and getting the puck on net. He has very good hands -- the puck just seems to follow him around -- so he gets his share of scoring chances, particularly down low. He also moves the puck efficiently with hard accurate passes.

Scully is a player who has improved all season long. He was very good at the Kobe Cup Bantam Finals. We see him as a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick. Very good upside.

Added 5/19/99

Matt McDonald 1983 LD 6'1 185 Niagara Falls Midget

McDonald is a big strong defenceman likes to play an intense physical game. He uses his stick very well to hack, crosscheck, slash, or tie up opponents. He plays every second shift, and in all situations. He is an excellent skater with quick feet and a strong stride. He forces the play up high well and he stays with his man on a 1-on-1. He plays the left and right sides equally well and he uses his pokecheck at times. He smartly cuts off his opponent on a 1-on-2 to help his partner. He is always calm and in control, and he clears the puck with authority.

McDonald has good offensive skills. He is a confident puck carrier who protects the puck well and makes the odd rush into the offensive zone. He sees the ice, and moves the puck well. He has a very good passing touch, usually managing to find the open man and advance the puck without hesitation. He plays the point on the power play and he likes to use his very hard, accurate shot. He is very good at keeping the puck in the offensive zone and he likes to sneak into the slot to create options for his teammates.

McDonald is a solid all-around defenceman who keeps impressing us more each time we see him. We think he will be drafted in the 2^nd or 3^rd round.

Added 5/18/99

Carlo Colaiacovo 1983 LD 6'1 175 Mississauga Senators Bantam

Colaiacovo played in Mississauga last year for the minor bantams. He has a lanky frame with lots of room to fill out and get stronger. He smartly steps up to force the play and he likes throwing his weight around. He is an excellent back skater with great mobility. He is very good at defending a 1-on-1 as he has quick feet to stay in front of his man, and he has good reach for an effective pokecheck. He kills penalties regularly, and he plays the left and right sides equally well.

Offensively, Colaiacovo has tremendous upside. His speed, quickness, and outstanding puck carrying ability make him a constant threat. He is a flashy defenceman who loves to jump up into the openings, and he doesn’t mind taking a hit to make a play. He protects the puck very well, often using one hand to ward off an opponent. He can make end-to-end rushes and will cut for the net as he is hungry to score. He is also a gifted passer who sees the ice well and moves the puck with crisp accurate passes. He works the give-and-go well and he will head for the net. He plays a lot, and in all situations. His shot selection is very good and he is not afraid to use a wrist shot if hurried.

Colaiacovo has really come on this season and is starting to convince scouts of how good he really is. What excites us more is how good we think he could become. We believe a team will step up and take him in the first two rounds.

 Added 5/18/99

Mike Sellan 1983 LD 6'0 180 Richmond Hill-Vaughan Bantam

Sellan, who played here last year for the minor bantams, is a left-shot D who loves to use his considerable strength -- and mean streak -- to destroy opponents. He anticipates well and will step up to force the play and throw a heavy hit. He is also very physical in front of his own net and will lay the lumber on opponents who venture there. He kills penalties and can play the left or right sides equally well. He pounces on loose pucks, soundly clearing them from his own zone. His skating has improved over the season as his feet are much quicker now. He is a very good backwards skater who could use a bit quicker push off. He has good mobility and pivots very well.

In the first half of the season, Sellan sat back a lot and did not jump into the offense much. Since then he has become the exact opposite. He shows great confidence and now plays a high tempo game. As soon as he gets the puck on a turnover, he winds up and heads up ice. He has good puck handling skills and mobility, but he is smart enough to realize that he doesn’t have to go end-to-end. He gains the neutral zone then smartly advances the puck to a breaking teammate. He moves the puck well and can either stay on the point or set up in front of the net on the power play. He has a good shot from the point and he smartly pinches to keep the play in the offensive zone.

Sellan is an intense competitor who always played well in his own zone. He has added an impressive offensive component to his game -- and it's really improved his draft rating. We see him being picked in the 2^nd or 3^rd round.

Neil Komadoski 1982 LD 6'1 195 US Under-17

Komadoski, who's the son of the former NHL defenseman of the same name, is a Missouri native who played for the Toronto Young Nats Midgets before joining the US National Team Development Program. He's rugged, hard-nosed, and a team leader on and off the ice. He has very good size and strength. He rubs out opponents and keeps the crease area clear. He is a good skater with quick feet, especially for his size. He is a very smart defenceman who forces the play, has good anticipation, and knows when to pinch and when not to pinch. He is a solid player at both ends of the rink. He has the confidence to carry the puck up ice, and the skill to protect it. He sees the ice well and is excellent at advancing the puck. His passes are accurate and hard. He has a good shot from the point.

In 60 games with the Under-17 team, Komadoski had a 4-14-18 scoring line. He led all players in the program with 230 penalty minutes.

Komadoski would be a solid first round pick if he were to choose the OHL route.

Nick Lees 1983 RC 5'10 165 Peterborough Bantam

Lees is not a big player, his skating (speed and quickness) need work, and he is not the most dedicated defensive player. However, he dominates bantam hockey in a way similar to Brad Boyes last year. He also played well in tier two, scoring five goals in five games at that level. He is a special player who is always around the puck -- and his moves always seem to work.

Lees is a smart and creative puckhandler who wants the puck at all times and is willing to go through heavy traffic to get it on net. He possesses great moves one-on-one and also in tight. He is shifty and he can spin or side step to elude checks. He has slick hands. Plays the point on the power play. Also kills penalties. Has an excellent shot. 

Because he's a pure goal scorer, we feel a team may step up and draft Lees in the first round.

Marcus Smith 1983 RD 5'11 170 Richmond Hill Bantam

Smith played the 1997-98 season for the Toronto Young Nats bantams before moving to the Richmond Hill Stars bantams this past season. He is a dual citizen and the younger brother of center Julian Smith of the Plymouth Whalers. He is an excellent skater with great mobility and quickness which allows him to play up high. He uses these traits and his good anticipation to force the play early. He is not a big defenceman but is strong for his size. He loves to get involved physically as he often steps up to rub out opponents. He kills penalties, blocks shots, and can play either the left or right sides equally well.

Offensively, Smith is extremely confident and skilled. He loves to jump up and join the rush. He plays a high tempo game as he doesn’t like to sit back and watch the play. He likes to carry the puck up ice and he doesn’t mind taking a hit to make a play. He is very quick with the puck and elusive under pressure. He sees the ice very well and he advances the puck with quick crisp passes to open teammates. He is very effective on the power play, using his excellent shot when the opportunity arises. He pinches very well, smartly sneaking into the slot looking for a pass to convert into a goal. 

Smith has a lot of excellent qualities that make him a first round prospect for the draft. He also has the US National Program as an option.

Jimmy Ball 1983 LD 5'10 185 Markham Jr.A

Ball played for the Wexford bantams last year. He is not tall but he is very strong for a 15 year old. He likes to throw his weight around and he is not afraid to mix it up. He is probably a bit too top heavy -- at times he loses his balance when pivoting. He is, however, a good skater with decent mobility. He is aware in his own zone, and shows good defensive coverage. Offensively, Ball is very confident, which is reflected in his stats (49-5-13-18-72 PIM). He likes to carry the puck up ice and he moves it well. This makes him effective on the power play. He has a low hard shot that he usually gets on net. He offensive ability reminds us of Mike Dombkiewicz of Owen Sound.

If Ball were taller, we think he would be picked higher than the 4^th round.

 Craig Conn 1983 RD 5'10 165 St Catherines Jr.B

Conn played last year for the St Catherines bantams. He is not a big defenceman, though he is strong for his size. He receives a lot of ice time in all situations, and on a good team, too. He is an excellent skater with a smooth strong stride. He has very good mobility which allows him to stay with his man one-on-one. He is a very good defender as he is smart -- he anticipates well, and he is very quick to react. He plays up high and leaves no room for opposing forwards to work with. He loves to step up and force the play. He is not afraid to get caught up ice as he has the speed to get back. He loves to throw his weight around against any-sized opponent. He pinches smartly. He clears the puck from his own zone efficiently and he never seems to get rattled, even when there is a scramble in front of his net. He is effective at cutting off an on-coming opponent.  He pokechecks well. He always wants to be in the play and he pounces on many loose pucks.

Offensively, Conn has very good stats (47-10-18-28-65 PIM). He is a very good puckhandler who likes to carry it up ice and he has some imagination. He will take a hit to make a play and he likes to jump up and join the rush. On the power play, he takes charge: he wants the puck. He has a very good shot and he shoots with authority. He moves the puck very well either from his own zone or in the offensive zone. We saw him make a great play on the point as he faked the shot and stepped around his fallen opponent, then quickly moved the puck to a teammate off to the side of the net.

Conn is one of the most confident 15 year-olds that we’ve seen on defence. He is an outstanding player in all areas of the game. If he grows to be 6'0 or more like his brother, he could be a first rounder. At worst, he is a 3^rd round pick.

 Jeff McGee 1982 LD 6'2 185 Burlington Jr.A

McGee played last year for the Mississauga Reps bantams. He has good size, is filling out. and plays with confidence.. He is an excellent back skater with good mobility which he uses to get in opponents' way. His excellent defensive zone coverage comes from an awareness of what is happening around him. He always seems to have a man covered either in the corner or in front of his net. He stays with his man well on 1-on-1's. He is very steady and he uses his strength to tie up and pin opponents. He smartly uses his stick to his advantage. He is very effective at killing penalties and can be very physical. He likes to force his opponent wide and then soundly take him out. He plays the left and right sides equally well. Offensively, McGee’s stats (42-2-4-6-20 PIM) show that he is not flashy. However, he does advance the puck well to nearby teammates. He is very good at keeping the puck in the offensive zone, pinching in at the right times. He is a good stickhandler, and fairly mobile with the puck. He occasionally will carry it up ice. We saw him go wide around the defence and then smartly slip it out front for a scoring chance. He plays on the power play at times, and will carry the puck into the slot to get it on net.

McGee is a very steady defensive defenceman who has some offensive skills. We see him as a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick.

Drew Kivell 1983 RD 6'1 195 St Mary's Jr.B

Kivell played for the Elgin-Middlesex bantams last year. He is a good-sized defenceman who has very good strength which he'll use to take and give solid hits. He likes to step up and force the play and he can bowl over opponents. He uses his good reach to get to loose pucks and to pokecheck effectively. He is a good forward skater who has some speed once he gets going. His mobility and quickness need some work as we saw him get beaten both inside and outside on separate 1-on-1's. He plays every second shift in all situations on a last place team. Normally this is a positive but it may have an effect on his confidence as his team gives up a lot of goals against.

Kivell has respectable stats (43-2-7-9-161 PIM). We were a bit surprised with his penalty minutes as we feel he needs to get more involved and help out his smaller teammates during scrums after the whistle. He has a good low shot that he likes to use. He will join the offence and head for the slot. He carries the puck up ice at times and occasionally try to beat an opponent to the outside. He can advance the puck crisply, but he sometimes makes poor choices with it. He needs to keep his head up and analyze his options more consistently.

Kivell is a young defenceman with some upside. He will need to improve his mobility and decisions to go higher than the 4^th round.

Derek Hennessey 1982 RD/RW 6'1 175 Peterborough Jr.A

Hennessey played last year for the Peterborough bantams. He has a tall lanky frame with room to fill out and get stronger. He is a very good skater with a smooth stride and good mobility. He needs some work in his own zone. He panics a bit with the puck in his own zone and he is not always willing to take a hit to make a play. He can step up to throw a good open ice hit but he tends to stick-check rather than hit opponents. He needs to stay square to his opponent more consistently. He plays the left side also and he receives a lot of ice time in all situations.

Hennessey has a lot of offensive ability. He stats are modest (50-3-11-14-41 PIM). He has played some right wing. He is very good on the power play as he loves to jump into the slot and he has an excellent shot. He moves the puck very well, snapping crisp accurate passes. He sees the ice quite well and he likes to join the rush. He is a very good puckhandler who can carry it up ice.

We like Hennessey as a winger who could play the point on the power play. With his size, skill, and skating ability, he should be drafted in the top four rounds.

Robert Chapman 1982 RW 6'1 175 Wellington Jr.A

Chapman has a lanky frame with lots of room to fill out and get stronger. He has a wide (almost bull-legged) stride with a bit of a "stiff" leg that makes him appear awkward. He needs to lengthen his stride but he does possess some speed. He always keeps his feet moving and he has a great work ethic. He is always hustling and he picks up his man on the backcheck consistently. He is an intense player who forces the play well and hits hard. For these reasons, he is an effective penalty killer.

Chapman’s stats are impressive (51-18-32-50-30 PIM). He plays on the power play and he goes hard for the net. He can carry the puck up ice and he protects it well. We saw him make a nice play in which he stickhandled into the slot to get off a good shot. He has some hands and he likes to get the puck on net. He makes good decisions.

Chapman has good upside and he comes to play every game. We see him as a safe third round pick who could go earlier.

Miguel Beaudry 1982 G 5'11 175 Collingwood Jr.A

Beaudry played for the North Bay bantams last year. He is not a big goalie but he does have excellent reflexes. He tends to go down in the butterfly and use his quick glove hand (he catches with his right hand) to nab even some low shots. He tends to stay a bit too far in his net, and he may rely on his reflexes a bit too much. He needs to cut down the angles a bit more. He crouches well to see point shots and he is effective with the poke check. He stays with the opponent on a deke well. He pounces on loose pucks. We saw him make a great save by stacking his pads on a one-timer. When he comes out of his net to handle the puck, he needs to get back more quickly to his crease. He has very good stats (GP: 21; GAA: 2.92) on a very good team. He was chosen as one of two goalies (with T.J. Aceti) for the Ontario Under-17 team.

Reportedly, Beaudry strives to be the best. He definitely has the tools to be a very good goalie. He should be a high pick for a goalie (2^nd or 3^rd round).

Kyle Wailes 1983 LC/LW 6'0 175 Ajax Jr.A

Wailes played last year for the Wexford bantams. He is a very good skater who is on his man quickly and can throw some good hits. He works hard and gets to many loose pucks. He stays with his man in his own zone and he ties up opponents well on faceoffs.

Offensively, Wailes' stats are very good (33-10-18-28-40 PIM) on a lower team in the standings. He has excellent puck control which he exhibits on the power play. He can stop quickly and reverse direction, or spin with the puck to elude checks. He loves to carry the puck up ice and he is creative. He heads to the net looking for the puck. He shows good stamina as he can play a high tempo game. He sees the ice well and he moves the puck quickly. His passes are usually crisp and accurate. We saw him make a nice play on a 2-on-1, sliding the puck across to a teammate for an easy tap-in. .

We like Wailes at centre as opposed to the wing, as he isn’t hit as much and he has more time to show his creativeness. We see him as a 2^nd round pick.

T.J. Aceti 1982 G 5'11 170 Bramalea Jr.A

Aceti played bantam in Sault Ste Marie last year. He is not a big goalie but he stays square to the shooter and he comes out to challenge and cut down the angles. He has good reflexes and he gets back up on his skates quickly. Rather than a butterfly style, he will stick out one pad to make low saves to that side. He moves well post to post and he shuffles well to stay in front of the puck. He uses all parts of his equipment (blocker, chest protector, pads, stick, and catching glove) to stop the puck. He handles high shots well, controls rebounds well, and handles the puck fairly well. He crouches to see the puck through traffic on point shots. He has very good stats (GP 24; GAA 2.90) on a very good team. He was chosen as one of two goalies for the Ontario Under-17 team.

Aceti is a very smart goalie who has very good concentration and he will battle to keep the puck out of his net. He should go high in the draft for a goalie (2^nd or 3^rd round).

Steve Weiss 1983 LC 5'11 170 North York Jr.A

Weiss played bantam in Toronto last year. He has grown a few inches over the past year. He will need to fill out and get stronger as he can be slowed down by physical contact. He is a very good smooth skater with good speed and quickness. He ties up opponents well on faceoffs and he usually wins them with his quick hands. He kills penalties and he can force the play, but his physical play was a bit behind as he was out for almost two months with a broken collarbone. He needs to work a bit harder in his own zone.

Offensively. Weiss is as outstanding as his stats show (35-15-22-37-10 PIM) while playing on a lower team in the standings. He has very soft hands, and is a great stickhandler who can weave through the other team. He has the ability to slow the game down if he wants to. He can stop quickly and spin to elude checks effectively. He sees the ice as well as any player we’ve seen this year. He can find an open teammate with an accurate pass even without lifting his head. He can thread a feather pass through opponents and onto a teammate’s stick. He is an unselfish player who makes incredible plays with no hesitation. He made a great back pass through traffic for a scoring chance. He heads for both open ice and the net well. He does not need much room or time to make a play.

Weiss is an excellent puckhandler and playmaker who should be an exciting player in the OHL. We see him as a 1^st or 2^nd round pick.

Anthony Aquino 1982 RW 5'9 160 Bramalea Jr.A

Aquino played last year for Mississauga Jr.A. He is an extremely fast skater with excellent quickness. He may have the quickest crossovers that we’ve seen this year. He feet are so quick that he explodes into open ice. He has quick hands, too, and can handle the puck at top speed. He is very shifty and elusive with the puck. He plays in all situations and is an opportunist as he swoops in to corral loose pucks. He has excellent stats (47-31-44-75-31 PIM) and he moves the puck well. He may be a better centre as he can be neutralized when hit near the boards so he likes to dish the puck off. He is an effective checker as he forces the play well. He needs to be more consistent in finishing his checks as he sometimes slows up or turns away.

We see Aquino as a fourth round prospect but he has already accepted a US scholarship (Merrimack) for this September.

Greg Jacina 1982 RC 6'0 175 Orangeville Jr.B

Jacina played last year for Guelph Jr.B. He has already played some games this year for the Guelph Storm of the OHL. He is an excellent skater with a strong stride who breaks well to open ice. He kills penalties and is a very good checker. He forces the play well and has excellent puck pursuit. He is always around the puck, and he anticipates the play well, gobbling up many loose pucks as a result. He is quick on draws. He will hook to hold up an opponent.

Offensively, Jacina is incredible. His stats are good (24-13-12-25-33 PIM) but would probably be more impressive if he hadn’t missed the first two months of the season with an injury. The puck seems to follow him around the ice and he always seems to have it. He has tremendous skill, patience, and poise with the puck. He can control the game because he is so creative and he can weave through the other team. His mobility is excellent -- he can spin and protect the puck in a tight turning circle or stop and change direction quickly. He is also excellent one-on-one, either going through or around opponents. He plays on the power play and he gets many scoring opportunities as he is great in tight and he has very good eye-hand coordination. He has very quick hands and a great shot but he sometimes misses the net up high. At times he shoots too much or hangs onto the puck too long. Yet at other times he creates scoring opportunities by faking everyone out and finding an open teammate for as good a chance. He moves the puck very well even using backhand passes through traffic. He breaks through hooks and gets his stick free at the right times.

Jacina has skills that make scouts drool. He is one of the most individually skilled players in this draft. He should be a fairly high first round pick in June, and he should be an impact player next year in the OHL.

Scott Rozendal 1982 RC 6'1 200 Collingwood Jr.A

Rozendal, who a year ago was only playing double A bantam hockey (Listowel), is a bull on ice. He has a thick, solid frame, throws heavy hits, and is a hard-working player who never gives up on the play. He is tough, feisty and really enjoys the physical game. He agitates  opponents. He backchecks hard and finds a man to cover. He is a very good skater with an interesting skating style: He leans forward with his stick parallel to the ice at knee level, and he uses very quick hopping crossovers to keep himself in the play. He has surprising speed and quickness and he always keeps his feet moving. He is very effective at forcing the play and he always finishes his checks. He kills penalties and ties up opponents well on face offs.

Rozendal has great stats (50-22-34-56-79 PIM). On the power play he stands in front of the net where he takes and gives punishment while providing a good screen. He busts through stick checks and he heads hard to the net. He wants the puck and has surprisingly soft hands for his size. He is effective at retrieving the puck when battling along the boards, and is able to then move it to a nearby teammate. He uses his good shot to get the puck on net. He shows good puck skills. He has strength -- we saw him break up ice on his off wing, go around a  defenceman and cut for the net while holding off his opponent with one hand on his stick.

Rozendal is a gritty character player who rarely has a bad shift. We think he may be a better winger, as his puck distribution could use a bit of work. We nonetheless see him as a safe first round pick.

Stephen Morris 1982 RW 5'9 170 Stratford Jr.B

Morris played last year for the Sudbury midgets. He is small but solidly built, and battles well along the boards. He hits hard by using his momentum. He forces the play very well and he finishes his checks. He works hard every shift and he never gives up on the play. He's relentless, and forces frequent turnovers. He is an excellent penalty killer who backchecks consistently. He is a great skater with a good stride. He puts his speed and quickness to excellent use.

Morris has impressive stats (34-14-32-46-18 PIM with a further 8-9-6-15-6 PIM in the playoffs). He is very smart with the puck. We saw him make a great play shorthanded as he faked a shot, stepped around the defenceman, and then made a creative backhand pass to an open teammate in the slot. He has quick hands -- he takes the puck through traffic to get to the net. He moves the very puck well using crisp accurate passes. He will uses the defenceman as a screen as he releases his shot. He receives a lot of ice time in critical playoff games. He plays very well in all situations.

Morris is a character player who will go through the wall for his team. You can measure his height but not his heart. We see him as a third round pick.

Brad Horan 1983 RC 6'3 190 Ajax Jr.A

Horan played last year for the Toronto Red Wings bantams. He is an imposing player who can use his size to effectively take out opponents. The knock on him is his inconsistency. When he wants to, he can be a dominant player in many ways. In other games, you may only notice him because of his size. He is a good skater with a long stride. He can force the play and finish his checks, and he picks up his man in his own zone.

Offensively, Horan has good stats (51-14-18-32-18 PIM) for a 15 year old. He has excellent hands and great reach. He can score goals as he has a quick release and an accurate shot. He is a confident puckhandler and displays patience with the puck. He can make little moves to beat opponents in tight. We saw him make a great play one-on-one as he faked inside, then went outside, stepped around the defenceman, and got the puck on net with one hand on the stick. With his size and strength, he can easily fight off opponents. He is hard to move in front of the net on the power play. It is unusual to see such a big player with such an exceptional passing touch. He sees the ice very well and he moves the puck with ease. He really snaps his passes accurately to his teammates. He will break hard for the net.

Horan has all the tools to be a future pro. Therefore, he should be a first round pick in the draft. To be successful at a higher level, he will need to show up every night.

Ryan Robert 1982 RW 6'1 185 North York Jr.A

Robert played last year for the Toronto Young Nats bantams. He has a wide, short stride so his speed is not great, but it keeps improving (as does his quickness.) He plays with a lot of intensity and grit. He forces the play well and he finishes his checks with solid heavy hits. He backchecks consistently and he works hard most shifts. He is a good checker who kills penalties.

Offensively, Robert’s stats (45-10-15-25-27 PIM) are okay. His confidence with the puck is improving. He is a good puckhandler but he lacks the quickness to be a huge offensive threat. He shows some creativeness with the puck and he can make some good little plays one-on- one. He will take a hit to make a play and he has a good shot. He goes hard for the net and he will stay there and take punishment from opponents.

Robert is a good effective banger and checker who gives you an honest effort, and he'll score a few goals also. We see him as a fourth round pick.

Brent Varty 1983 LW 6'1 185 Oshawa Bantam

Varty has good size and uses it. He's physical, mean, likes to hit, and does it well. He is a very good skater with a strong stride. He has good speed which he uses to break up ice well. He is an assistant captain on his team and sometimes plays the point on the power play. Also kills penalties and plays in 4-on-4 situations. He's a very good puckhandler who protects it well and can spin with it. He has confidence with the puck and will carry it up ice and around the defence. He will take the puck to the net but sometimes loses control of it. Varty sees the ice well and moves the puck well using crisp accurate passes. He is too unselfish at times. He has good stats (55-22-32-54-64 PIM). Some games he is the best player on the ice, while other games he doesn’t play nearly as well.

Varty has a lot of tools to work with. If he improves his consistency, he could go higher than the third or fourth round.

Josh Tataryn 1982 LW 6'0 180 Newmarket Jr.A

Tataryn, who played two years of Junior B hockey in Orangeville, is an excellent, smooth skater with a strong stride. He seems to glide effortlessly around the ice. He has good speed and quickness which he uses to kill penalties effectively. He keeps his feet moving, too. He forces the play well, finishes his checks, and he backchecks consistently. He is playing a lot more physically this year, and he throws some heavy hits.

Offensively, Tataryn’s stats are impressive (47-30-28-58-27 PIM). He plays on the power play and he shows a willingness to go to the net. He plays on the right side which gives him a better shooting angle on his forehand. He has a good snapshot and he likes to get the puck on net. He gets himself into position in the slot and he is ready to shoot. He is now showing a willingness to take a hit to make a play, and he cycles the puck effectively. He is a very good puckhandler whose quick hands and feet enable him to elude opponents. He has very good vision of the ice and he moves the puck very well using crisp passes. We watched him make a great outlet pass as he whipped around in his own zone, hit a breaking teammate at centre ice, and sent him in alone.

Tataryn has been scouted a lot over the past three years. It is not unusual for scouts to eventually concentrate on negative aspects of a player’s game in these situations. Tataryn went through a lot of that last year. This year, he has really improved his strength and confidence.He could be a first round pick if he chooses the OHL over college hockey.

Adam Chapman 1982 LC/LW 6'0 180 Newmarket Jr.A

Chapman played last year for the North York bantams. He is a good skater but he needs to improve his speed and quickness in order to give himself more time to make a play. He is a hard-working player in both ends of the rink and he reads the play well. He competes hard every shift, forces the play, and always finishes his checks. He is very aware on the ice, which also helps make him an effective penalty killer. He has good upper body strength but needs to improve his strength on his skates as he goes down at times after a check.

Offensively, Chapman’s stats are okay (38-11-2-13-24 PIM) but just as soon as he started to receive more ice time in January, he was sidelined with an injury for about four weeks. He is a good puckhandler but his hands aren’t quick. He protects the puck well and he can make some smart little moves to get past a defender in tight. He is more of a dump-and-chase type rather than a one-on-one player. He is effective with the puck along the boards.

Chapman is not flashy. He works for everything he achieves. We see him as a fourth round pick.

Brent MacLellan 1983 RD 6'4 210 Shattuck-St Mary’s (Minn) School

MacLellan is a huge defenceman who uses his great strength to throw heavy hits and physically dominate opponents. He is a disciplined player who is sound defensively and protects the crease well. He is an excellent skater with short, quick dig-in strides that remind us of Eric Lindros. He has a strong backwards start (from a standstill) which allows him to keep the play in front of him at all times. He likes to play up high to force the play and leave very little room for opponents to work with. If he gets caught up ice, he does have some speed to recover well. His great feet allow him to stay in front of opponents one-on-one and he can play the left or right sides equally well.

MacLellan has very good offensive instincts. He is an excellent puckhandler with quick hands and tremendous confidence. He has great mobility with the puck, especially in the offensive zone where he also exhibits great patience when analyzing his options. He pinches well to keep the play in the offensive zone. He can carry the puck up ice but he usually advances it smartly and then joins the rush. He has very good vision of the ice and is excellent at moving the puck. He really fires his passes, and they are nearly always on the tape. He plays on the power play where he likes to use his shot, which is very good. He also likes to sneak into the slot when the opportunity arises.

MacLellan is a dominant player in so many ways -- physically, defensively, and especially offensively. He is a very mature and intelligent 15 year old who should be a future pro.

Matt Sheridan  1982 RW 6'2 180 Elmira Jr.B

Sheridan played last year for the Brantford bantams. He is a tall, lanky player who has a lot of room to fill out. He likes the physical game as he is very willing to give and receive heavy hits. He can rub opponents out along the boards. He works hard in both ends of the rink and he finishes his checks consistently. He smartly lifts opponents sticks at the right time. He is aware defensively as he picks up his man in his own zone well. He has skinny legs and short wide push out strides, but he is fairly smooth and his speed and quickness continue to improve (but still have a ways to go). His strength on his skates is also improving.

Offensively, Sheridan’s stats are okay (47-12-14-26-33 PIM), but a lot of his points came near the end of the season as he started to receive more ice time. He now plays the left side on one of the top two lines and his confidence has improved greatly. He is a good puckhandler who makes smart little moves to beat opponents occasionally. He has very good reach and he can sidestep hits at times. He moves the puck smartly and will take a hit to make a play. He is not a fancy playmaker but he has good vision of the ice and he can get the puck to a nearby teammate. He works the puck nicely along the boards, and he likes to get the puck on net. He anticipates the play very well, he breaks hard to open ice, and he will fight through checks to get to the net. He seems to arrive at the right spot at the right time consistently. He is always ready to receive a pass or deflect a shot as he gets his stick free at the right time. He has very good eye-hand co-ordination and he is hungry around the net.

We feel Sheridan is a smart, determined player who will continue to get better as his strength and skating improve. We see him as a third round pick.

Cody McCormick 1983 RW 6'0 175 Elgin-Middlesex Bantam

McCormick is an assistant captain who receives a lot of ice time in all situations. He shows great stamina and durability as he plays hard every shift. He has a lanky frame with lots of room to fill out. He has a wide stride with skinny legs, but he is a very good skater who has good speed and quickness.  He keeps his feet moving at all times. He is a tenacious checker who forces the play very well and he seeks and destroys his opponents. He has surprisingly great strength on his skates and he loves to run over opponents.

Offensively, McCormick led his team in scoring (43-22-30-52-53 PIM). He is a hungry player who is always around the puck. He battles hard along the boards and he will fight through checks in order to get to the net. . He carries the puck at top speed and he loves to take the puck to the net for a scoring opportunity. He is a very good puckhandler who can beat opponents one-on-one by using his skill and imagination. On one play, he deked between two defencemen and was pulled down or else he was in alone. Another time he shifted inside then outside to beat his man and he cut for the net but just missed up high. His hunger around the net creates scoring chances out of routine plays. He is effective at deflecting point shots, he pounces on rebounds, and he will try wraparounds with one hand on his stick.

We feel McCormick is a complete player with very good upside. With his drive and skills, we see him continuing his success at a higher level. He should be drafted in the first three rounds.

Eric Himelfarb 1983 RC 5'9 160 Don Mills Bantam

Himelfarb is a small forward with a skinny frame. He will need to fill out in order to handle punishment from opponents at a higher level. If he is caught, he can be neutralized with a solid hit. The trick is catching him. He has a very wide stride and he is a very graceful skater. He has great speed and quickness (he is fast even when he is gliding) and he is very shifty. He needs to finish his checks more consistently, but he is not afraid to throw a hit against any opponent. He is very quick on faceoffs.

Offensively, Himelfarb led his team in scoring (55-50-33-83-62 PIM). He has plenty of confidence with the puck. He likes to carry it up ice and over the opposition’s blueline. At this point he uses his excellent vision of the ice to find an open teammate or take the puck himself to the net. He can beat opponents outside but he isn’t afraid to go inside and get a shot off from the slot. He has exceptionally quick hands and feet.  He can easily step around opponents who have gotten near him. He has an excellent passing touch as he really fires his accurate passes. He always has his head up and he has the ability to thread a pass through a sprawled opponent.

Himelfarb is a great offensive player. We feel he will be drafted in the third or fourth round, mainly due to his size.

Aaron Power 1982 RD 5'11 175 Cambridge Jr.B

Power played last year in Cambridge. He is not a tall defenceman but he is strong. He plays a very physical game and he likes to seek and destroy opponents. He is a very good back skater with good pivots, but he was caught flat footed once on a good move. He is hard to beat near the boards as he cuts off his opponent and punishes him with a hard hit. He reads and reacts well to the play and he steps up to force the play well. He clears the puck smartly from his own zone. He receives a ton of ice time in all situations.

Offensively, Power is very smart and he has great stats (39-10-25-35-85 PIM). He handles the puck very well but he doesn’t carry it up ice a lot. He would need to improve on this and his forward speed also in order to become a great offensive defenceman. He sees the ice exceptionally well, spots the open man, and moves the puck crisply and accurately. He plays the left side on the power play and controls the play. He is the go to guy on his team’s power play. He distributes the puck very well and has a good low, accurate shot that he likes to use.

Power is a very smart, skilled, and physical defenceman. We see him as a second or third round pick.

Kyle Wellwood 1983 RC 5'9 160 Tecumseh Jr.B

Wellwood is a small rookie centre who receives a lot of ice time, which includes playing on the top power play unit. He is a very good skater with a wide stride. He is a skilled puckhandler who has very good hands as his impressive stats (45-22-35-57-12 PIM) show. We would like to see him hang onto the puck longer instead of moving it as soon as he is pressured. He can spin with the puck and make plays one-on-one but he seems to do this only when he is near the opposition’s net. We would like to see him make more creative plays in other traffic areas. He likes to get the puck on the net. He is quick on face-offs and he breaks well to open ice. He can force the play but he doesn’t finish many checks.

Wellwood is a very skilled centre who we feel could go in the fourth round if he chooses the OHL route.

Alex White 1983 LC 6'0 165 Tecumseh Jr.B

White split last season as a 14 year old between Detroit bantams and here in Tecumseh. He is a very good skater with a bit of a short wide stride, but he has some speed. He can break up ice well and he shows good anticipation of the play. He forces the play fairly well and he will slash and bump opponents. He is a skilled puckhandler with good stats (45-13-15-28-8 PIM) and quick hands. He will take a hit to make a play but we would like to see him battle with more intensity along the boards. He sees the ice well and he uses his good passing touch to move the puck effectively. We would like to see him jump out more and be more assertive offensively.

White has the size and skill to be a good player at a higher level. He could move up from the 4^th round if he improves his intensity.

Aaron Lobb 1983 RW 6'2 185 Strathroy Jr.B

Lobb played last year for the Huron-Perth bantams. He is a tall lanky player who is starting to fill out and get stronger. He is not a quick skater but once he gets going, he has a good long stride. He is still a bit awkward on his skates due to his uneven development to date. He sometimes takes a long route to where he wants to go, and he can be slowed down by a hook check. He does break up ice quite well and he heads for the net. He plays a chippy game (he can be nasty), he uses his stick well, and he likes to finish his checks with solid hits.

Offensively, Lobb has surprisingly soft hands for a player of his size. His stats (32-5-10-15-30 PIM) are good for a young rookie who doesn’t play on the power play. He has very good puckhandling skills. He made a great play to cut across centre ice onto his off wing, then he faked inside and beat a defenceman outside. He then held onto the puck until the last second and he slid it out front to a teammate. Everyone thought he was taking it around the net. He makes little moves to  buy himself time then he is able to get the puck to a nearby teammate. He has great reach which he uses to protect the puck. He is effective along the boards and he uses his skates well to control or pin the puck.

Lobb is raw right now but he has very good upside. We see him as a 2^nd round pick.

Steve Ott 1982 LC 5'11 160 Leamington Jr. B

Ott played for the Sun County bantams last year. He is an excellent smooth skater who has very good speed and quickness. He is an extremely hard working player who is very effective in all three zones. He is not big, but he doesn’t shy away from the physical aspects of the game. He plays a feisty game and he likes to throw his weight around. He is very responsible without the puck and he has very good defensive zone coverage. For these reasons, he often kills penalties and plays in defensive situations.

Ott has very good stats (46-13-29-42-88 PIM) and he is very smart and skilled with the puck. He can carry the puck at top speed and he is shifty. He is an unselfish playmaker who makes heads up plays and he does receive some power play time. He is effective along the boards as he can control the puck in his skates well.

Ott is a great all around player who plays a high tempo game and works hard every shift. We feel he is a top three round prospect.

Chris Thorburn 1983 RC 6'0 170 Elliott Lake Jr. A

Thorburn played bantam in Sault Ste Marie last year. He is an excellent skater who has very good speed and quickness. He can force the play but he doesn’t finish all of his checks. He backchecks hard and he works and battles along the boards to gobble up loose pucks. He is an excellent mobile puckhandler who has great control of the puck, even within his skates along the boards. He is very hungry to score, so he will take the puck through traffic to the net. He tried a wraparound with one hand on the stick and a man draped all over him. On another play he broke in alone and he deked the goalie and shot the puck off the crossbar. He needs to fill out and add strength as he can be knocked around a bit by larger opponents. He has very quick hands to help him to elude checks and to receive awkward passes. He cycles the puck well, he will break hard for the net, and he has the ability to get his stick free in the slot. He is a good playmaker but as his impressive stats (31-18-9-27-22 PIM) show, he is a better finisher.

Thorburn is a great offensive player who has the desire to score every time he is on the ice. We see him as a 1^st round pick.

Craig Kennedy 1983 RW 5'11 160 Elliott Lake Jr.A

Kennedy played bantam with Thorburn last year. He is not tall or heavy but he certainly plays a lot bigger than he is. He is a very good skater who is on his man quickly to force the play, and then he finishes his check with a solid hit. He is fearless with the puck. He actually seems to enjoy being hit while making a play. He uses one hand on the stick and the other to help fight off an opponent. He will spin and go towards the boards on purpose, then absorb a hit and either come out with the puck or battle in the corner using his excellent ability of controlling the puck in his skates. He has very good stats (31-3-16-19-23 PIM) and he shows great imagination. He is an excellent puckhandler who will try a wraparound, knowing he will get crunched. He showed his great hands when he cut into traffic and roofed a backhand from the goal line even though he was half way between the net and the corner boards. He is an exceptional playmaker who has an outstanding ability to pass the puck. His passes arrive quickly and on the tape. He made a great long hard pass four inches off the ice to spring Thorburn in alone from centre ice.

Kennedy, if he was bigger and stronger, would be one of the top picks in this draft. He is a solid second round pick in our eyes.

Ben Wallace 1982 LD 6'2 180 London Jr.B

Wallace played last year for the London bantams. He has a lanky frame with room to fill out. He will need to improve his strength to be able to play as physical a game at a higher level. In his own zone he never leaves the man that he is covering. He always has his stick or his eye on him. He is very aware around him and he is a smart defensive defenceman. He loves to battle for the puck and rub opponents out. He plays a chippy in-your-face game and he never gives up on the play. He kills penalties, he pins opponents well along the boards, and he dishes out some punishment in front of his net. He is a very good skater for his size. His back skating and recovery are outstanding. His feet are quick and he stops and changes direction very well. This allows him to stay with a lot of quick opponents who try to elude him. He also has a good forward stride. He plays both the left and right sides equally well. He likes to pinch in the offensive zone and surprise the forward on the boards just as he receives the puck.

Wallace’s stats are not overly impressive (40-1-3-4-10 PIM). He does get the puck at the net and he keeps it in the offensive zone effectively. He has a good passing touch and he can move the puck fairly well. He needs to improve his confidence in his puckhandling ability. He can carry the puck up ice but is hesitant to do so. Sometimes he rushes his passes as well. He is learning and improving every game. His coaches say he almost didn’t make the team at the start of the year, but he is now one of their most reliable defencemen.

Wallace has come a long way in a short period of time. He is an excellent defensive defenceman who could go higher than the 2^nd or 3^rd round if he improves his play with the puck.

Bill Zalba 1982 RW 5'11 175 Thorold Jr.B

Zalba played in Thorold last year. He is a very good skater who digs in but he needs to keep his feet moving. He can force the play and finish his checks with solid hits, but he could do this more consistently. He backchecks consistently and seems to be in the right spot at the right time to find loose pucks.

Zalba has very good stats (38-22-17-39-73 PIM) and he is a very good puckhandler. He will take a hit to make a play and he can get the puck to a teammate when pressured. He can elude checks but he doesn’t try many one-on-one plays except trying to beat his man to the outside. He would rather use his good passing skills and touch to move the puck effectively. He has good eye-hand coordination which he uses to deflect pucks in front of the net. He sometimes plays the point on the power play. He can score from in close.

Zalba is a very smart and effective player at this level. He would need to improve his size and consistency to be a power forward at a higher level. He may be a better centre because he can distribute well. We would like to see him be a bit more creative in one-on-one situations. We see him as a solid 4^th round pick who could move up.

Mike Gresdale 1983 RD 6'0 180 Huntsville Jr.A

Gresdale is a young defenceman who very recently joined this team from Parry Sound Jr.A. He has a wide stance but he is an excellent skater with extremely quick feet. He is an excellent backwards skater with very good mobility and he has good forward speed as well. His skating gives him a lot of confidence to play up high and it allows him to stay in the play. He loves to sneak up on opposing forwards in their zone along the boards. Just as they receive the puck he is right there to stand them up, so they do not have any time to make a play. He always seems to be in the middle of the action and he was playing every shift. He doesn’t just sit back and wait for the play to come to him. He is very aware of things happening around him, which aids him when he kills penalties and helps him get to loose pucks. He is a physical defenceman who loves to rub guys out along the boards and he uses his good strength to move guys from in front of his net.

Gresdale’s stats with Parry Sound were very modest (24-0-4-4-4 PIM). He likes to jump up into the play and take the puck up a bit. However, he seems to want to get rid of the puck early. He needs to take more time to make a play and check out his options. He has the mobility and puck skills to buy himself time, but he seems a bit nervous to do this. He can advance the puck well when he does take a look rather than dumping it off the boards. Gresdale is a young defenceman with a lot of upside. He just needs to improve his confidence with the puck. We see him being drafted in rounds 2 or 3.

Bryan Miller 1983 RD 5'10 170 New Jersey Midget

Miller has also played Jr.B this year. He is an excellent mobile skater with very quick feet. He uses these traits and a good pokecheck to make himself effective one-on-one. He is on his man quickly and he throws heavy hits. He plays a lot and equally well on either the left or right sides. He plays up high and shortens the distance between himself and a forward expecting a pass along the boards. He shows some grit when he protects his goalie. He is a very confident player who is always where the action is. Miller likes to jump up into the play and join the rush. He is a confident puckhandler who will carry it up ice with great skill and mobility. His passes are hard and accurate and he moves the puck quickly. He is effective playing the point on the power play.

Miller is a great all-around defenceman who only lacks height. We see him as a third round prospect.

Nate Kiser 1982 RD 6'0 185 Compuware Jr. A

Kiser played for Little Caesars bantams last year. He has thick legs but is a smooth skater nonetheless. He needs more upper body strength to help in the defensive zone. He doesn’t receive a lot of ice time but he can play both the left and right sides. He has surprisingly good puck skills and a willingness to jump up into the play. He made a nice play to lead the rush, then made a quick drop pass and headed for the net where he received a return pass that he almost converted into a goal. He will take a hit to make a play and is creative with the puck. Good at giving himself more room and time to make a play. When he wants to, he can make quick, effective passes to advance the puck. However, at times he will not look, and he ends up making an ill-advised pass or clearing attempt that results in a turnover. He is one to watch closely, because at times he looks great, yet at other times may make questionable decisions.

We see Kiser as a fourth round prospect who could move up if he improves his decision-making.

Steve Swistak 1982 RW 6'1 185 Compuware Jr. A

Swistak played for the Compuware midgets last year. He is a very good skater who keeps his feet moving. He is an intense and gritty player who works hard every shift. He forces the play well and he finishes all of his checks with solid hits. He always gets a piece of his man either with his body or his stick. He has very good size which also helps make him an effective checker. He is surprisingly creative with the puck. He will try to beat his man by putting the puck through his legs and trying to step to the inside. This move worked several times in one game.

Swistak is a safe fourth round pick who could move up.

Derek Smith 1983 LD 5'11 170 Compuware Jr. A

Smith started the year with the Compuware midgets, but was soon moved up to the junior team. He is young and not fully developed. He needs more upper body strength in order to physically handle larger opponents. He does, however, like to throw his weight around, and shows some feistiness. He is a very good smooth skater whose mobility helps his defensive game. He seems a bit tentative but he is new to this league and doesn’t receive a lot of ice time. He is a good puckhandler who carries it up ice a bit and moves it quite well. However, he sometimes gets rid of the puck too quickly if pressured. He is one to keep an eye on as his confidence and size improves. We see him as a fourth round prospect who could move up.

Robert Globke 1982 RW 6'2 185 Compuware Jr. A

Globke played last year for the Compuware midgets. He has very good size and he likes to use it. He forces the play, will throw some good hits, and he doesn’t mind dropping his gloves. He is a very good skater who has quick crossovers to keep him in the play. The knock on him has been his inconsistency, but he seems to be around the puck a lot -- and he causes frequent turnovers. He receives a lot of ice time, and makes things happen. He wants the puck so he breaks well to open ice and he heads for the net. He creates a lot of offensive opportunities because he has great puck skills and imagination. We saw him make a very good one-on-one move, jumping past a defenceman and in breaking in alone. Another time he faked, went around the defence on his backhand, and cut for the net, almost scoring as he deked across the crease. He has the ability to make plays in traffic and in tight and he doesn’t mind being hit to make a play. He has an excellent passing touch and sees the ice well.

Globke has the size and ability to be a great player. If he shows this consistently, he should be a pro. He is a solid first round prospect.

Joey Hope 1982 RD 5'11 180 US Under 17

Hope, who's been drafted by a WHL team already, isn't tall by today's standards for a defenceman, but he is quite strong and he throws some hard hits. He is a very good skater with good mobility. He is also a very skillful puckhandler with very quick hands. He is able to move the puck when a man is on him and he has no time. He has a good passing touch. He is very confident and creative with the puck but sometimes he may hang on too long and cause a turnover. He tends to be offensive-minded and can also play forward well -- it's likely his better position. He has good stats (15-3-5-8-40 PIM). He made a nice play to pinch in and cut around the defence and he almost scored on a backhand as he cut across the crease.

Hope is a versatile player who a team could use in many ways. We see him as a fourth round prospect.

Brett Lebda 1982 LD 5'9 175 US Under 17

Lebda played with Team Illinois midgets last year. He is not tall, but he is stocky. He is a great skater with outstanding mobility. He stays in front of his man one on one and can effectively pokecheck. If an opponent tries to go around him, he can throw a solid hip check. He is a bit of a gambler and he may get caught up ice at times. However, he seems to make the right decision most of the time. He reads and reacts well to the play and pinches smartly. He seems to control the game when he has the puck. His stats are good (23-3-11-14-10 PIM). He moves the puck well but he would just as soon take it himself. He is an excellent puck handler who shows plenty of imagination when he tries to go end to end. We saw him bring his team back into the game by carrying the puck up the ice, squeezing past a defenceman along the boards on his off wing, cutting for the net while looking to shoot on his forehand --- and then surprising everyone by sliding a backhand pass across the crease for an easy tap-in by his teammate. His size may hurt him in his own zone, but he is an extremely talented and smart player. Any team could afford to have one defenceman like him. For this reason we see him as a second round prospect.

Andrew Downing 1982 LD 6'0 175 US Under 17

Downing played high school hockey in Minnesota last year, and was taken last year in the WHL bantam draft. He is a tremendously smooth skater with excellent mobility and pivots. These traits allow him to play up high with the confidence that he can get back quickly. He needs to add more upper body strength to help him against larger opponents in his own zone, where he seemed a bit unsure of himself in at times. Even if he doesn’t hit everyone, his mobility allows him to get in their way and slow them down. He uses his stick effectively to pokecheck and crosscheck opponents.

Downing has outstanding offensive ability that he shows in spurts. His stats are okay (19-3-6-9-18 PIM) but would be more impressive if he were hungrier to dominate. He at times seems a bit too relaxed. He can go end-to-end with the puck and he has great one-on-one skills. When he does carry the puck, he shows that he has great confidence in his skills. He protects the puck well but he can be knocked off of it. He is willing to take a hit to make a play. He sees the ice well and he moves the puck very well. He made a great play to fake a slapshot and find an open teammate at the side of the net. He will slide into the slot when the opportunity arises.

Downing has all the tools to be a great offensive defenseman. We see him as a first round prospect.

Ryan Lannon 1982 LD 6'1 195 US Under 17

Lannon played prep school hockey in New England last year. He is a very good sized defenceman who likes to physically pound opponents. His skating is improving, but still has a ways to go. He can be beat outside by quicker opponents due to his lack of foot speed and quickness. He works hard, battles, and never gives up on the play. He makes smart decisions with the puck and he advances it quickly to open teammates. He will jump up into the play at times. He passes the puck with authority and accuracy. His stats (23-0-1-1-4 PIM) indicate that he is not an offensive defenceman. However, most teams can use a good solid defensive defenseman who moves the puck up quickly. It is surprising that he has as few penalty minutes as he does because he plays a robust game.

Lannon is a solid second round prospect.

Bryan Perez 1982 LW 6'1 190 US Under 17

Perez played Minnesota high school hockey last year. He is a very good skater with a wide stride. He has a very solid frame that he uses effectively. He is a hard worker who plays well in all three zones. He backchecks hard and will use his stick to hack and slash during battles for the puck. He does a lot of little things well. He is not a flashy player but he does move the puck with authority. He understands his role so he advances the puck to teammates and heads for the net. His stats are modest (23-2-4-6-46 PIM) but it appears that he can offer more in the offensive zone. He can handle the puck and protect it. We would like to see him use his imagination a bit more.

Perez is an effective power forward that we see as a third round prospect.

David Steckel 1982 LC 6'4 185 US Under 17

Steckel played last year for the Pettit Select midgets in Wisconsin. According to many, he has made tremendous improvement over the past nine months. For his size, he is a very good skater. It still takes him a few strides to get going, but as he continues to fill out and evenly develop, his quickness should improve. He has some speed due to his long strides. He seems to enjoy playing a physical game and using his imposing frame. He is a good puck handler who uses his great reach to protect the puck well. He has some imagination as he will try new plays in the offensive zone. His stats are among the team leaders (22-1-13-14-6 PIM). He made an impressive play to cut around the net and attempt a wraparound -- all in just a couple strides. He sometimes tries to rush a play if he is under pressure. He uses his good shot to get the puck at the net.

If Steckel continues to improve at this pace, the sky is the limit for him. We see him as a top two round prospect.

R.J. Umberger 1982 LC 6'1 185 US Under 17

Umberger played for the Pittsburgh bantams last year. He has very good size which he puts to good use. He works hard, forces the play well, and will throw his weight around. He is an intense player who is hungry for the puck every shift. He is also an excellent skater with good speed and quickness for his frame. When he gets the puck, he is almost impossible to knock off it. He has excellent strength on the puck and protects it very well. He doesn’t rush his plays, he just fights through checks to buy himself time or he cuts for the net. He leads his team in scoring (15-14-4-18-6 PIM) so he obviously can score goals, but he's also great at getting the puck to an open teammate even as he's being closely checked.  The way he dominates in traffic and tight areas shows just how good a player he is now. It also makes it easy to visualize him dominating at a higher level. We saw him make a great play cutting in on the defence while shielding the puck -- then got off a good shot on net with a man all over him. He made a nice play on a 2-on-1 to bring the defenceman to him, then slid the puck to lead his teammate in alone.

We believe Umberger is the top 1982 birth available for this draft. He could be a future pro and he is a sure-fire first round prospect for the OHL.

Brock Yates 1983 RW 6'1 180 Cobourg Jr.A

Yates played last year for the Quinte bantams. He is a good skater but he could improve his overall speed and quickness. He is a gritty competitor who works hard and finishes all of his checks. He is not afraid to drop the gloves as he was in a spirited long, tussle with an older opponent and held his own. He goes very hard to the net and is willling to get his nose dirty. He can carry the puck up ice and he shows some puckhandling skills. However, right now he is a young player who needs to improve his confidence with the puck at this level. He often looks to dish the puck off early instead of trying to beat an opponent. His stats are okay (30-3-5-8-26) considering his age and the fact that he is a third line winger who doesn’t see much power play time.

Yates is a player to watch as the season progresses. With added experience at this level, he will probably show more offensive skills next spring at the under 17 camps against his own age group. This is where his stock may rise above a third round pick.

Peter Flache 1982 LW 6'4 210 Cobourg Jr.A

Peter Flache is the twin brother of Paul. He, too, is a huge player with very good skating skills for his size. He has a wide stride and he can gather speed through the neutral zone. He has a good change of direction but it could use some improvement. He forces the play well and he will finish his checks, usually getting a piece of his opponents with his body or stick. With his tremendous strength, he only needs a piece of his opponent to neutralize him. He has a good work ethic. Peter Flache is not an offensive dynamo (27-2-4-6-24 PIM) but he has some skills. He can handle the puck, drive to the outside, and either take it to the net or throw it out front. He uses his body and his reach to effectively protect the puck. He tries some cute back passes that, unfortunately, don’t work most times. He can be an effective up and down winger who works hard and chips in with the odd offensive chance. If his offense improves, he could go higher than the fourth round.

Paul Flache 1982 RD 6'4 210 Cobourg Jr.A

Flache played last year for Ennismore AA bantams. He has come a long way in a short period of time. He has continued to improve since the under-17 in June. He is a huge defenceman who is starting to grow into his body. For his size, he is a very good skater both forwards and backwards. He has good mobility but could use some improvement in that area. Like other big players, he can overskate the play at times and needs that extra step to get back into position.  While he's sometimes caught flat-footed, he still has the confidence to play up high. He is on his man fairly quickly to force the play. He has very good strength, which helps him in his own zone.

Offensively, Flache has tremendous confidence with the puck. This is very unusual and impressive for a defenceman of his size. His stats do not indicate his abilities (29-1-2-3-14 PIM). He will not hesitate to carry the puck up ice and try to beat opponents one-on-one. This is exactly what he did on one rush. He beat three opponents in succession by using his great puck skills and his ability to side-step checks, then cut for the net and tried to beat the goalie. When the goalie sprawled, Flache dropped the puck to an unsuspecting teammate who missed an empty net. On another rush he squeezed past his man along the boards, then beat a defenceman to the outside and slid the puck into the slot to an open teammate. He loves to jump up into the play and join the rush. He advances the puck well and he doesn’t mind being hit. He likes to have the puck in the offensive zone where he usually gets it on net. He also will slide into the slot when the opportunity arises.

Flache is a very interesting prospect who, because of his size, confidence, and imagination, should go in the top two rounds of the draft.

Jeff Doyle 1983 RW 5'11 175 Richmond Hill-Vaughan Kings Bantam

For a bantam, Doyle has very good strength. He is a good, smooth skater with speed and quickness. He is a very confident player who, at times, appears to be coasting, probably because he can dominate bantam hockey at half speed and effort. He is a gritty competitor who can pound opponents whenever he chooses. He smartly picks his spots and doesn’t waste his energy chasing and hitting everything in sight. He plays in all situations and he receives a lot of ice time.

Offensively, Doyle has outstanding skills and imagination. He is an excellent stickhandler with very good eye-hand co-ordination, so he's hard to knock off the puck. He made a great play one-on-one to go inside then outside on a defenceman, step around him, shield the puck and almost score with one hand. Another time he broke into the slot and faked a shot, then cut inside a defenceman into traffic yet he still retrieved the puck from his skates and got a shot on net. He is not given much room by other teams as they try to get him to retaliate and take a penalty (which he will at times due to his competitive nature). He is certainly willing to drop the gloves if challenged. He is very strong along the boards and is excellent at using his skates to free up the puck in tight. He is a smart playmaker who uses his good passing touch to move the puck effectively. He gets good position on his opponents and can punish them in front of their net. Also, he is able to free up his stick when the puck comes near. He has a very good shot, and he likes to use it. He will break hard for the net in search of a scoring chance.

Doyle, who also played for the Richmond Hill bantams last year, plays at times for the local midget and Jr.A teams. He has shown that he can play well at those levels too.

Doyle is a great power forward with tremendous skills and a mean streak. He will probably grow and be able to play a similar style in the OHL. His name may be called out early in the first round of the draft.

Niko Tuomi 1983 LD 5'11 170 Sault Ste.Marie Bantam

Tuomi is not a big defenseman but he does use his size to the maximum. He is good one-on-one as he uses a good sweep check and he can ride his man out of the play. He is a very physical player who finishes his checks with solid hits. He is very feisty and he can be at this level. At a higher level he may not be big enough to absorb that much consistent physical abuse on his body. He receives a ton of ice time and he plays in all situations on both the right and left sides. His skating is exceptional. He is very mobile, he pivots well, and he has excellent speed and quickness.

Tuomi is an extremely talented offensive defenceman. He jumps up into the play at will. He can be caught up ice a bit but he has the speed to get back. He is an unbelievable puckhandler who fights through checks by switching hands on his stick and still maintaining control of the puck. He is as fast with the puck as he is without it and he always keeps his feet moving. He protects the puck very well and he shows a lot of imagination when he weaves through the other team. His hands are very quick as he has very good puck skills to get out of tight areas. He can spin to elude checks and he can explode up ice with the puck. We saw him almost score on a nice rush as he burst around the defence, cut to the net, and chipped the puck of the post. He has very good ability to shoot while he is in stride. He will sneak into the slot on the power play. He also moves the puck very well.

Normally we would not rank a 5'11" defenceman playing bantam hockey very high. However, Tuomi has incredible offensive flair that just can’t be ignored. We see him going in the top four  rounds.

Andrew Archer 1983 RD 6'2 190 Richmond Hill Stars Bantam

Archer was a relative unknown until this season. He has now caught the attention of many scouts. He is an excellent skater both forwards and backwards for his size. He is a big defenceman who can use his size effectively. His defensive play needs some work as he sometimes overskates the play. He is good at forcing the play but sometimes he lunges and misses his man. He at times jumps up and throws a good shoulder check. He kills penalties and he has the size to help clear the front of the net.

Archer is a confident and smooth puckhandler. His is mobile with it and can spin to elude a check. He will take a hit to make a play and he is very unselfish. He moves the puck well and he has a good first pass out of his zone. His decisions need a bit of work especially when he is pressured in his own zone -- he sometimes gives away the puck. He is very good on the point on the power play. He controls the puck well and moves it well in the offensive zone. He has a good shot but he often takes too long to wind up.

Archer is an interesting prospect who excites scouts with his size, skating, and skills. Where he is drafted may come down to his improvement with his decisions and his defensive play. We see him as a 4^th round pick who could move up.

John Howse 1983 RW 6'2 195 Oshawa Bantam

Howse is a huge bantam player who runs over opposing players. He is so strong that he manhandles opponents and absolutely owns the boards at this level. He is an intense and mean player who would rather go through his man than around him. He works very hard each shift and he punishes opponents when he finishes his checks. Every shift, he makes a beeline for his opponent as if he's on a seek-and-destroy mission. He is an excellent skater for his size as his legs are powerful. He has a wide stride with his knees bent and his back straight. He kills penalties well, and he backchecks consistently.

Offensively, Howse has surprisingly good skills. He is a very good puckhandler who can slip the puck through a defender’s legs then step to the inside to elude the hit and continue up ice. He is confident carrying the puck in any zone. He is strong on the puck and he has a good shot that he likes to use on the power play. He breaks well to open ice and he will head for the net. He will at times take faceoffs in the offensive zone. He moves the puck quite well to open teammates.

Howse stands out in bantam hockey. He has a lot of upside because he exhibits good skills to go along with great size and intensity. He should be drafted in the first two rounds.

Ryan Thompson 1983 LC/LW 6'0 180 Fort Erie Jr.B

Thompson played last year for the Niagara Falls Ont. bantams. He is an above average skater with fairly good quickness and change of direction. He is hunched over when he skates in open ice so he lacks good rink-length speed. He will need improvement here to be a good OHL player. He has a solid frame that allow him to play a very physical game. He is a very consistent player who forces the play well and finishes all of his checks with authority. He often gets into shoving and wrestling matches because he may even be late or behind the play throwing a heavy hit. He is a feisty player who will use his stick to gets under the other team's skin. He is not a spot picker -- he will hit the biggest guys on the other team if they are near the puck. He picks up his man when backchecking and he finds a man to cover in his own zone. Sometimes he may pick the wrong guy and leave the slot open. He kills penalties on occasion.

Offensively, Thompson needs to be watched closely. His stats are modest (24-3-3-6-76 PIM) but he is not on the top two lines on his team. He doesn’t play on the power play as he is more in a checking role. If he were to receive more ice time, we believe his stats would more reflect his abilities. He is a good puckhandler who protects it well and doesn’t mind being hit when making a play. He shows some imagination. However, he doesn’t have the puck much during a game so it is hard to get a read on exactly how good his skills are.

Thompson is a solid 4^th round pick because he is a real competitor who plays well without the puck. He could go higher if he starts to exhibit more offensive skill.

Cole Jarrett 83 LD 5'11 200 Waterloo Jr.B

Jarrett played last year for the Soo Thunder bantams. He is a very stocky and strong young defenceman. His bulky frame lessens his mobility and slows him down a touch, but he is a very good smooth skater forwards and backwards. He is very good one-on-one and he can throw a good hip check to ride his man out. He is effective at using his strength and stick to slow down and tie up opponents. He plays a very good physical game and he forces the play well. These traits make him an effective penalty killer. He is by far the youngest player on a very good team, and he receives a lot of ice time.

Jarrett has very good offensive skills. His stats are good (19-4-5-9-12 PIM) for a young player in this league. He is a very confident smooth puckhandler who will carry it up ice and take a hit to make a play. He has a very good passing touch and he sees the ice well. He plays the point on the power play where he uses good instincts to slip into the slot or pinch along the boards. He has an excellent hard shot that he loves to use. Sometimes he slaps the puck too high but he also has a good wrist shot. He uses any means of getting the puck at the net quickly.

Jarrett is a very strong confident defenceman who should be drafted in the top two rounds.

Nick Gibson 82 RW 6'0 180 Stratford Jr.B

Gibson also played last year for Huron Perth bantams. He is a bit lanky at this point but he should fill out as the season continues. He finishes his checks and is fairly effective along the boards. His skating is not great but it keeps improving. This has helped his entire game as he is more in the play offensively and defensively. He has a bit of a wide short stride that slows him down. He can play the left or right side. His stats are impressive (22-15-6-21-15 PIM) especially considering he wasn’t getting a lot of ice time earlier in the season. He has great "soft" hands and he wants to score. He goes hard to the net and tries wraparounds. His hands are also quick which helps him make effective little moves in tight. He won’t carry the puck through the other team but near the net he can finish. His puck movement is good but it could improve. Usually a man is on him because his feet aren’t quick so he doesn’t have a lot of time to make a play.

The object of hockey is still to score more goals than your opponent. Every team needs players that have a good knack around the net. If Gibson continues to improve his strength and skating, he should go higher than the fourth round.

Mike Jarmuth 82 LD 5'11 170 Stratford Jr.B

Jarmuth played last year for the Huron-Perth bantams. He is not a big defenceman so he needs more strength. Right now, he cannot physically handle the larger forwards. He is a very good, smooth skater both forwards and backwards. He is good one-on-one, he reads the play well, and he anticipates well. In his own zone, this helps compensate for his lack of size. He can play up high but sometimes he gets caught up ice. He is a very smart and skilled defenceman who can play the left or right side equally well and has good stats (21-1-11-12-4 PIM). He moves the puck well as he exhibits a crisp lead pass. He has confidence in carrying the puck up ice and he uses good judgement in deciding whether to go or not. He has a very good hard low shot that he gets away quickly. He is very effective on the point on the power play. He smartly sneaks into the slot when the opportunity arises.

Most teams can use a smart skilled defenceman to help run their power play and play an effective offensive game. If Jarmuth improves his size and strength, he could go higher than the third round if he chooses the OHL over college.

Matt Bacon 1983 LW 6'2 200 Mississauga Senators Bantam

Bacon played minor bantam last year for this organization. He is a very big player whose size is extremely intimidating at this level. He is a feisty competitor who throws heavy hits and likes to drop the gloves. He doesn’t run around trying to hit everything and waste his energy. Instead, he is an effective checker who is very aware on the ice and is rarely caught out of position. These traits help make him a good penalty killer.

Bacon has a wide stride and his legs look thin compared to his huge upper body. However, he has surprisingly good speed even while carrying the puck. He has very good "soft" hands. He made a tremendous play to beat a defenceman one-on-one. He went outside then jumped inside, then he cut across the slot and beat the goalie cleanly with a snap shot. He shows very good puckhandling skills and imagination, and a good ability to elude checks. He sees the ice very well and makes smart decisions with the puck. He has a good passing touch and is unselfish. He controls the puck well in tight along the boards.

Bacon is not just another big kid on skates. He has all the tools to be a very good junior player and a potential pro. He has very good upside and he should go in the top two rounds of the draft.

Trevor Daley 1983 LD 5'10 165 Vaughan Jr.A

Daley played last year for the Don Mills bantams. There are many great skaters in this draft but Daley is probably the best. His mobility, speed, and quickness are exceptional. He can play up high or get caught far into the opposition’s end and still get back to defend in his own zone. He can fly all over the ice and get to most loose pucks. The rest of the players on the ice look like they are in slow motion when he is out there. He is very hard to beat one-on-one as he stays in front of his man and uses an effective pokecheck. He is on his man quickly to force the play, and he finishes his checks. He is not a big defenceman, -- which hurts him a bit in front of his net -- but he likes to use his momentum and throw his weight around. He is effective at blocking passes and killing penalties.

Daley is very offensive-minded once the puck is out of the opposition’s hands. He loves to jump up into the play and often reaches the opposition’s blueline before his own forwards. Luckily, his skating skills can cover for this tendency to be out of position. He will often take the puck up ice and create offensive opportunities. He is extremely mobile and fast with the puck, and his hands are just as quick. He is so quick one-on-one that he just shifts gears as he makes a fake and he blows past the defenceman. He can slow down when chasing a loose puck, and draw an opponent close to him, then spin away easily with the puck. He will take a hit to make a play and he will pin the puck along the boards if no play is available. He plays the point on the power play where he likes to use his very good shot. His puck movement is outstanding in the offensive zone as he moves it quickly and accurately. His first pass out of his own zone needs a bit of work. He needs to relax a bit and make a simple first pass rather than trying to do too much. He sometimes flips it high which leads to turnovers.

Daley is receiving a lot more ice time than earlier in the season, and he's scoring more, too. Right now, he has nine points in 18 games. His team recently changed coaches, and Daley is showing that he deserves to play a lot. If he grows, he could go higher than the 2^nd round.

Dennis Wideman 1983 RD 6'0 190 Elmira Jr.B

Wideman played RD and RW last year for Guelph bantams. He has good size and tremendous strength. He is a very physical defenceman who loves to punish opponents into the boards and is not afraid of anyone. He likes to force the play and he uses his stick effectively to chop opponents or take their legs out. He has thick legs that are not long and his feet point outward some. He is a strong forward skater and a good back skater but his mobility needs work. Because of this, he'll  occasionally rely on his stick to stop opponents. Sometimes he has trouble staying square to his man, though this should improve as the season goes on. He kills penalties and is very aware in his own zone. He blocks shots well, and is excellent at getting the puck out of his zone.

Wideman has great stats (17-10-13-23-55 PIM) and has the ability to control the game. He has tremendous confidence and poise with the puck. He is an outstanding puck carrier who protects the puck well and can elude checks to buy himself extra time to make a play. He will also take a hit to make a play. He is not flashy but is creative and makes smart decisions with the puck. His puck movement is tremendous as he sees the ice very well. All of his passes are hard and accurate. He owns the offensive zone, especially on the power play. He is always calling for the puck on the point. He may have the best shot of any 15 year old around and he never hesitates to use it. He takes a quick look to see if a teammate is in front then he lets go a heavy, low, and accurate shot. If no one is in front he can score with a high shot or move it to an open teammate. Even when he fans on his shot, it somehow makes it on net. He will take the puck through traffic and into the slot or he can dish off for a give-and-go. He anticipates the play well, getting to a lot of loose pucks to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Wideman is a defenceman with amazing smarts and ability. He should go very high in the first round of the draft.

Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer 1982 RW 6'1 180 Auburn Jr.A

As a 15 year old last season, Fouladgar-Mercer played for Auburn (formerly Syracuse). He has good size but needs to fill out and improve his strength. Even though he is in his second year in this league, he seems to slow up when he arrives to check an opponent. He can hit but he either lightly bumps or stick checks instead. He is a good player defensively because he backchecks hard, reacts well, and stays in the play. His skating and offensive ability remind us of Mike Henrich. His stats are good (18-5-12-17-10 PIM). He is a smooth skater who has good speed and quickness. His puckhandling skill is tremendous. He has a lot of confidence carrying the puck up ice. He will take the puck into traffic where he uses his great one-on-one skills to deke through opponents in succession. He made a great play to kick the puck to his stick without missing a stride. He then broke around the defence and almost scored while being hooked to the ice. He is a smart player who will take a hit to make a play (although he doesn't seem to like being hit). He plays the point on the power play and has excellent vision on the ice. He spots open teammates and uses his outstanding passing touch to feed them a hard accurate pass even from 90 feet away.

Fouladgar-Mercer is an extremely talented player who has a good chance of making a living in this game. If he improves his physical play, he will move into our first round (from the second).

Ryan Ramsay 1983 LC 5'9 175 Oshawa Jr.A

Ramsay played last year for Don Mills bantams. He is a strong, stocky forward who has very good balance and a wide stride. His legs are short and thick, but he is an excellent skater with very good speed and quickness. He can also stop and change direction quickly. These skills, along with his good anticipation and great ability to read the play, make him a very effective checker and penalty killer. He is tenacious, fiesty and is on his man in no time. He finishes all of his checks, too. His strength and momentum allow him to throw heavy hits and help him battle along the boards. He plays hard and with lots of jump every shift. He is always in the play, and he finds the loose pucks.

Ramsay missed the first few games of the season, but is really coming on (15 points and 32 PIM in 18 games). His numbers would be greater still if he received more power play time. He is an excellent puckhandler who has his head up and is mobile, shifty, and elusive. He can almost weave his way through the other team as shows imagination by trying new moves on the ice. He sees the ice very well, is unselfish, and is always looking to advance the puck to an open teammate up ice. His passes are usually crisp and on target.

Ramsay is an all-around great player who is effective in all three zones. If he were taller, he would go higher than the 3^rd round.

Kevin Hurley 1983 RW/RC 6'0 180 Kitchener Midget

Hurley played last year for the Kitchener bantams. He has good size which he uses to play a fairly physical game. He backchecks consistently and he finishes his checks. He will use his stick to chop or hook an opponent and he shows some grit. He will fight through checks to get to the net and he does good work along the boards to come out with the puck. He has very good skills in the offensive zone. He has the ability to put the puck through his opponents legs and step around him and bring the puck into the slot. He is a creative player who handles the puck well in traffic and can score in close. He plays on the power play and likes to get the puck on net. He creates a lot of scoring chances with his smart playmaking ability. He knows where his teammates are and he can usually get them the puck.

Hurley does kill penalties, but his lack of quickness hurts him in this area. He doesn't have good rink-length speed as he has a short stride and his feet kick out a bit. He knows where to go on the ice, but will need to be quicker to be successful at a higher level.

We see Hurley as a 4^th round pick but if his skating improves he could go higher.

Colt King 1983 LW 6'3 200 St.Thomas Jr.B

King played last year for the Thunder Bay bantams. He is a very big young player who loves to throw bone-crushing bodychecks and make his presence felt. He is an intense physical player who finishes all of his checks. He can also be mean (37 PIM's in 12 games to go along with eight points). He has long, thick legs so his turns are wide and his mobility is hampered. His acceleration and quickness need a bit of work but once he gets going he gathers momentum. The good news is his skating is really improving with each game, and so is his confidence. He is starting to receive more ice time and is responding well to it. He is showing some of the skills that made him a much-talked- about 14 year old last year. He is a good puckhandler and is hard to knock off the puck. He shows some imagination as he is trying new moves in traffic. He will take the puck to the net and he can get the puck to a nearby teammate. He is an imposing figure in front of the opposition's net on the power play. He provides a good screen and is hard to move.

King missed a number of games due to a delay in transferring from his old team. He is getting more comfortable in this league and is improving in all areas. He should be drafted in the first two rounds.

Mike Knoepfli 1982 LW 6'1 180 Georgetown Jr.A

Knoepfli played last year for Mississauga Reps bantam. He is a very good skater who can turn up the speed when he wants to. He's quick, too. The knock on him has been that his play is inconsistent -- in part at least, this could be because he is an excellent student who probably doesn't need hockey as a career. However, this year, playing at a higher level, he seems to be responding to the increased challenges. He is just coming off a shoulder injury so he is not yet in game shape. He has good size which really helps him to be effective in the corners. He backchecks but he could hustle a bit more in this area.

Knoepfli has a lot of offensive ability. He has only two points in six games but things will improve. He works really well with Peter Veltman (who has nine points in his last four games). Knoepfli is a very good puckhandler who show lots of skill and some imagination. He can take the puck inside or outside of the defence. He protects the puck well, can hold off an opponent with one hand, and can stop up or spin to elude checks. As he battles and will take a hit to make a play, he usually ends up coming out of the corner with the puck. He moves the puck well because he sees the ice well, is unselfish, and has the ability to find an open teammate with an accurate, hard pass. He plays on the power play and will go to the net and take punishment. He knows how to get open in the offensive zone and is always ready to shoot. He has an excellent, quick release --as soon as it hits his stick he lets it go. He consistently gets the puck on net and can score with his hard slap shot.

Knoepfli is starting to realize that he may have a future in this game. He and Veltman are clicking and they play a lot. Both players should go in the 2^nd or 3^rd round.

Chris Cook 1982 LW 6'1 180 Kingston Jr.A

Last year at Kingston, Cook played as a 15 year old and came close to being drafted. He's a bit lanky so he needs to fill out in order to continue to play the physical game at a higher level. His toes point outward a bit when he skates. He has a short stride which needs to be lengthened, but he does show some speed. He is a hard-working forward who forces the play and finishes his checks. He goes hard to the net and will take punishment there on the power play. He also kills penalties and receives plenty of ice time 5-on-5. He has some skill with the puck but not a lot of confidence. He sometimes looks to dish off when he could carry it himself. He has good stats (20-10-8-18-20 PIM) which indicate that he can finish scoring chances.

Cook is a safe 3^rd round pick as he comes to play, and works hard in all zones. If he develops more confidence and shows some imagination with the puck, he could go even higher.

Paul Varteressian 1982 LW 6'2 190 Oakville Jr.A

Varteressian played last year for the Oakville midgets. He was ranked in the 5^th round but was not drafted as an underage -- some teams thought that he was injury prone. He has really filled out this year. He's strong, and he uses his strength to punish opponents with heavy hits. He also plays with a lot of heart, and is a hard worker. He forces the play, finishes his checks, and  consistently gets a piece of his man either with his body or his stick.

Varteressian is a very good skater for his size -- and he even shows some speed. He could lengthen his stride a bit, though. He's fairly quick, and has a good change of direction. He uses these skills, along with an ability to react to the play, to make himself an effective checker. He picks up his man well and backchecks consistently.

Offensively, Varteressian is a bit of a hard read -- he just doesn=t receive a lot of icetime. He breaks well up ice when his team takes possession of the puck. He is also a good stickhandler who likes to carry the puck up ice, protects it well, and shows some imagination and confidence with it. He will take a hit to make a play and he likes to battle along the boards and get the puck out front. He will drop the gloves if needed. He moves the puck quite well. He goes hard for the net and will fight through checks to get there. This will help him to pick up some points. Thus far, he only has two points in 12 games, but, because of his offensive instincts, we believe this would improve with more ice time.

Ultimately, it will be Varteressian's offensive development that will determine where he is drafted. We believe Varteressian has the size, skating, and intensity to be a high pick. We don't see him any lower than the third round.

Peter Veltman 1982 RC 6'1 180 Georgetown Jr.A

Veltman split last year between this team and the Georgetown bantams. He has very good size and strength which he uses to throw heavy hits (and to absorb them as well). His skating needs to come a ways as it is not very smooth. His quickness and mobility need work in order for him to stay in the play more and to be a more effective checker. He likes to force the play and finish his checks but he is often too late in arriving. He needs to keep his feet moving -- this would also help him to adjust to turnovers. He is a fairly consistent backchecker and he does show some straight away speed. He either appears tired or lazy as he stands around at times late in his shifts and sometimes turns away from the play. He holds his stick high in the air when he skates but he needs to keep it on the ice more as he misses a few loose pucks.

Offensively, even though he only has three points in 15 games, Veltman has a lot of upside. He is very creative on face-offs. He wins most of them and he often succeeds in putting it through his opponents legs and moving around him at the same time. He seems to skate faster and with more jump when he has the puck. He likes to carry it up ice and try to beat the defenceman one-on-one. He even tried to split the defence on a one-on-two. He has very good puck skills and imagination. He will show you something new each game. He is very strong on the puck and he will take a hit to make a play. He is effective along the boards and not afraid to mix it up after the whistle. He moves the puck well while being checked in the offensive zone, but he needs to use his teammates more often. He has an excellent slap and snap shot and he likes to use them to get the puck on net. He reads the play quite well and he heads to the net at the right time.

Veltman is a bit of a wild card. He excites us with his creativeness and size, but worries us a bit with his mobility and lackluster play at times. If he improves his weaknesses, he could go higher than the fourth round.

Jason Spezza 1983 RC 6'2 190 Brampton OHL

Spezza played last year for Toronto Marlie bantams. He is a very good skater who gathers momentum in his own zone, then breaks well up ice. He has excellent size which makes him very hard to knock off the puck. He can hit but he appears more content to just slow down his opponent with his stick and then try to strip the puck. It appears as if he doesn't want to ruffle any feathers in this league. Next year, as a veteran, he should be a more physically dominant player. He is not a very defensive-minded forward. He will force the play but he doesn't finish all of his checks.

Spezza is leading his team in scoring with 13 points in 10 games. He has incredible skill and poise with the puck. His puck control is way beyond his years. He eludes checks very well, will take a hit to make a play, and can go end-to-end. He is outstanding with the puck in traffic and along the boards. He wants the puck at all times and he controls the power play from behind or at the side of the opponent's net. He knows where to go and he has the hands to score in close. His great reach helps him get to loose pucks. He makes beating his man one-on-one look so easy. He takes passes off his skates well and he can pick the puck out of mid-air with his stick. He makes excellent decisions with the puck. He will try to beat his man, but, if he can't, he will use his great vision to get the puck to an open teammate. He moves the puck very well and has a great passing touch -- crisp and accurate, and he can float a pass over opponents. Even at age 15 he is a constant offensive threat. We would not be shocked if he were invited to try out for the Canadian National Junior Team in December.

Spezza is probably the best young prospect in Ontario since Eric Lindros. He should be in the NHL at 18. He is easily the top pick for this year's draft.

T.J. Eason 1982 LD 6'2 185 Kitchener Jr.B

Eason played last year for the Kitchener bantams. He has very good size, but needs to improve his upper body strength. He isn=t the smoothest or quickest skater, but that will improve because he receives a lot of ice time and his team plays on an Olympic-sized rink. He is a good back skater who pivots well. He's aware in his own zone, though he sometimes gets caught away from his man in front of the net. He loves to punish his opponents in front of the crease -- he's always whacking away, crosschecking, and chopping out legs. He plays a lot in all situations, and loves to throw his weight around. He's consistently involved in the play, both  offensively and defensively. He gets a piece of his opponent at every opportunity. He'll step up to force the play and throw a solid hit. He is excellent at tying up his man, either with his stick or his arms. He plays the pass on a 2-on-1 effectively. He isn't afraid to jump up and join the rush. He handles the puck well, but don=t expect him to go through the other team. His hands could be a bit softer. He has a good shot from the point and uses it frequently.

Eason is a pleasant surprise as he has improved a lot since the final Under-17 camp in June. Because of his ice time, confidence, and willingness to participate in the play, we think he could go higher than the 4^th round.

Travis Hofstetter 1983 RD 6'3 180 Stratford Jr.B

Hofstetter played last year for New Hamburg Jr.C as a 14 year old. He is a big young defenceman who has plenty of filling out to do. At this point, he's a bit of an awkward skater, but he appears to have the desire to improve. He has a wide -- and short -- stride but his speed is fine after the first few steps. His back skating and mobility are good, but need smoothing out. He's on a very good team, so he isn't receiving a lot of ice time now, but  this may change as he improves over the course of the season. Defensively, he makes mistakes, but he is learning from them. He will step up and force the play. He seems to enjoy using his strength to hit opponents. He also doesn=t mind being hit. He will use his long reach to execute a pokecheck. He will throw picks to protect his defence partner from the forecheck. He gets a bit anxious with the puck and may lose it once in a while but he shows an impressive willingness to try new things. He likes to jump up into the play, but he smartly picks his spots. He can also carry the puck while muscling off opponents. He will jump into the slot on occasion. He has a good shot from the point, and likes to use it. He moves the puck quite well, though his hands need to get quicker.

At first glance, Hofstetter appears to be a bit of a project but he is a smart player who will improve in all areas. Many defencemen play within themselves and just leave it at that, but Hofstetter isn=t afraid to experiment offensively and test his boundaries. We think he has tremendous upside and project him to go in the top two rounds.

Matt Craig 1982 LC 5'11 170 Stratford Jr.B

Craig produced a point a game for this team last year as a 15 year old. He has 20 points in 11 games so far this season. He centres the top line on a very good team and receives a lot of power play ice time. He is a very good smooth skater who also has good speed. He needs a bit of work without the puck but he has improved his physical play since last season. He will force the play and bump opponents, but is not an overpowering hitter. He has very good puck skills which he displays well on the power play. He can spin to elude checks and has a quick stick. Unlike Kompon, he doesn't have the poise and confidence to carry the puck in traffic consistently. He seems to sense an opponent coming, causing him to slow up or dish off. He moves the puck well and executes a fine give-and-go. He heads to the net well.

Craig will put up big numbers this year. We see him as a third round pick.

Mike Kompon 82 LC 5'9 165 Stratford Jr.B

Kompon played last year for Thunder Bay bantam. He is a small centre and a very good skater with speed and quickness. He uses these traits to be an effective checker who forces the play and will finish checks. Because of his size, he will never be a big hitter, but he's willing to throw his weight around. He backchecks consistently and shows a good work ethic.

Offensively, Kompon is very gifted. He has 9 points in 7 games so far. He exhibits incredible poise and patience with the puck. He never panics or throws it away. He skates with his head up and he has confidence that he can buy time to make a play, especially in traffic. He likes to carry the puck up ice, and he can turn a defenceman inside-out while skating at half speed. He can protect the puck by carrying it with one hand on the stick, and he can elude checks by using his quick hands and feet. He is always around the puck. He will go into corners and take a hit to make a play. He can take it to the net. He has a great passing touch -- crisp and accurate -- and he sees the ice well.

Kompon will be an excellent player no matter where he goes. He is a solid third rounder who could go even higher.

Tyler Cook 1982 LD 6'2 185 Bowmanville Jr.A

Last season, Cook played for Bowmanville as a 15 year old. He has very good size as is starting to fill out, which has helped him a lot with his physical play. He's much more confident this year, and it shows -- he's initiating more physical contact, and enjoying it, too. He even battles a bit after the whistle. He'll take his man out fairly well along the boards and crosscheck and chop opponents in front of his net. He is aware in his own zone but must improve his quickness so he can get into position before it's too late. He receives a lot of ice time in all situations throughout the game. He will block shots. He doesn't play up high much, he more often waits for the play to come to him. He is a good, smooth skater straight ahead, but his long legs limit his mobility.  

He plays the right point on the power play, has a good shot, and moves the puck adequately in the offensive zone. He'll skate with it, too, but his feet and hands need to be quicker to give him more time to make a play. Often, he'll have the right destination in mind, but just can't get the puck there. He needs to make crisper passes that are on the tape. He tends to slap or push the puck ahead. A shorter stick may help him in this area.

Cook has come a long way from where he was last year, but he needs to improve his mobility and his hand speed in order to be picked earlier than the 4^th round.

Steve Hoar 1982 RW 6'1 195 Bowmanville Jr.A

Hoar played last year for North York bantams. He has very good size now that he has filled out. His skating has really come along, too. He has quick feet and always keeps them moving. He has good speed and is an excellent checker because he doesn't stop skating or working. He forces the play well and is on his man quickly. He is a very good hitter and he finishes all his checks. He is the first forward back into his own zone to cover an opponent. Because he is usually in the play, he picks up a lot of  loose pucks. He also likes to drop the gloves. He's a gritty competitor.

Offensively, Hoar has some ability but he needs more confidence at this level in order to put up better numbers (thus far, 1 point in 8 games). He does break up ice well and is usually in good position for a pass. He handles the puck decently but appears to want to get rid of it as soon as possible. He rushes things a bit. His shot, however, is very good.

Hoar is a safe pick because you know what you are getting. If he starts to show more confidence offensively, he could go higher than the third round.

Cory Stillman 1983 LW 6'2 180 Lindsay Jr.A

Stillman played last year for Central Ontario bantams. He has good size, with room to fill out. He is a good skater who, once he's in stride, shows some speed. In order to stay in the play more, he needs to improve his quickness, especially when the puck is turned over.

He plays on a veteran team, so he doesn't receive a lot of ice time. However, his stats are quite respectable (8 points in 11 games).  In some areas of the game, Stillman appears a bit hesitant.  For example, when chasing an opponent he often slows down and tries to use his stick to slow down his man. Only rarely does it work. He's much more effective when he keeps his feet moving, catches up with his opponent, and throws a hard hit to finish his check.

Stillman has solid puck skills. A good stickhandler, he protects the puck well and is difficult to knock off the puck. He is good along the boards and effective at cycling. He has a good shot, and gets the puck on net. He plays a bit on the power play and shows a willingness to head for the net and, once there, take punishment. He reads the play fairly well, which makes him very effective on the penalty kill as well as 4-on-4 situations.

Stillman should be a first rounder on draft day. He shows flashes of brilliance and his confidence and consistency will only improve as he becomes more comfortable with his new surroundings.

Ryan Stewart 1982 LC 6'0 170 Milton Jr.A

Stewart played last year for Toronto Marlies bantam. He needs to add more strength in his upper body to be able to handle the physical play at a higher level. He has a wide skating stride but shows good speed and quickness. He's a great checker -- he's on his man quickly and forces the play well. He is not a heavy hitter but he does finish his checks. He stays with his man in his own zone. When the puck is turned over to his team, he reacts well, jumping to  open ice and creating offensive chances. Hence he's an excellent penalty killer. Stewart is a very skilled centreman. He has confidence carrying the puck up ice, but needs to handle it more consistently in traffic. He moves the puck well. He made a great play that resulted in a goal when he flipped a rolling puck over a sliding defenceman to an open teammate on a two -on-one.

With a couple of  big wingers, Stewart could be a very solid player two-way player in the OHL. He should go in the top three rounds.

Carter Trevisani 1982 LD 6'1 185 Milton Jr.A

Trevisani played last year with Kitchener Jr.B. He is an outstanding skater -- very smooth, and he can practically dance on ice. He's quick-footed and a great backwards skater. He has very good speed and mobility. These traits help him to be a dominant player in a lot of areas.

In his own zone, Trevisani is very aware. He kills penalties and likes to crosschecks opponents in front of his net. He uses his quickness to force the play and throw good open ice hits. He enjoys the physical game and he throws a good hip check, too. He is very good as the point man on the power play, showing great mobility and confidence with the puck. He moves it very well in the offensive zone and has a good, low shot from the point.

Trevisani is also a very good stickhandler and he shows confidence carrying the puck up ice. The only negative we found in his game is his decision-making while breaking out of his own zone. Often he makes the simple and safe play by advancing the puck to an open teammate up ice. However, sometimes he tries to make a more difficult pass and turns it over. He occasionally will dump the puck off the glass and cause an icing even though better options are available. He often appears to be trying too hard and reacting too quickly when he has the puck. If he slows things down a bit, and plays a more controlled game with the puck, he could be even more effective. .

Trevisani is a great defenceman who would have been a first round pick last year but, like Rowan, he opted out of the draft. He could be a high first rounder this year, but is reportedly  considering the college route

Chris Rowan 1982 LW 6'3 195 Milton Jr.A

Rowan played last year for Don Mills bantam (his first year of AAA hockey). He is a very big -- and strong -- player who seems to enjoy the chippy side of the game. He likes to throw his weight around. He is a very good skater with speed. He is new to higher competition, so he has to learn the game in order to be more effective without the puck. He has a good shot and can get the puck on net in a variety of ways. He plays a bit on the power play, but he's on a talented team so his ice time is cut down. Rowan, who has very good hands, handles the puck well. He often carries it with one hand on the stick while muscling his way around the defence. He sees the ice well and moves the puck with authority. He knows where to distribute it. He consistently goes hard to the net. His stats are not impressive -- yet. But once he scores a few, a lot more will follow.

Rowan is an impressive player. He could have been a high pick last year as an underage but he opted out of the draft. If he chooses the OHL, he should be a first round pick.

Matthew Albiani 1983 RC 6'0 165 Sudbury Bantam

Albiani played for this same major bantam team last year. This year he's the captain. He is a slender player who needs to bulk up, not only to improve his strength but also to gain confidence in handling the physical aspects of the game. Right now he can be knocked off the puck: this needs to improve if he is to be effective at a higher level. He is an excellent skater -- very smooth -- with good speed and quickness. This helps make him an effective penalty killer. He needs to improve his intensity without the puck as he seems a bit disinterested. He is a very talented offensive player. He can handle the puck at top speed and make end-to-end rushes. He has excellent hands in tight as he can stickhandle in traffic and get the puck into scoring position and use his good shot. He protects the puck well and tries things with it. He's also very quick on faceoffs.

Albiani is a skilled player. He will most likely will be drafted as an underage in the first four rounds.

A.J. Greco 1983 LW/LC 6'2 185 Buffalo Selects Midget/St.Joseph's H.S.

Greco played last year for the Buffalo Saints Bantams. He is the only '83 birth on this team of high school selects, yet he is an assistant captain. He has very good size which he uses to battle along the boards. He is a physical and intense player who throws heavy hits to finish his checks. He needs to improve his strength on his skates as he goes down too often for a player of his size. He is not the smoothest skater as he has a long kick-back skating style and often leans too far forward. He needs to improve his mobility and quickness. He needs to keep his feet moving because he knows where to go but he sometimes can=t get there in time. After the first couple of strides his skating is fine. These are things that should improve throughout the year. Once this happens, his offensive and defensive games will only get better. He kills penalties because of his smarts and long reach. Offensively, he is a good puckhandler but his hands also need to get quicker. He protects the puck well and he won't give it away, he would rather pin it for a faceoff. He has good puck skills and will show some imagination. He also moves the puck fairly well.

Greco is a player to watch as he is only going to get better. Right now, we see him as a solid 4^th round pick.

Tyler Johnson 1983 LC 5'11 180 Guelph Bantam

Johnson, who's the captain of his team, carries a bit too much weight for his height. His skating is very good but his legs appear a bit thick which slows him down a touch. This is really the only fault we could find in his game. He is an intense, complete hockey player. He plays every shift with passion, and doesn't leave the ice until he has thrown at least three good hits. An effective player along the boards, he usually comes away with the puck, and he even appears to enjoy being hit. He blocks shots. He plays a lot and in all situations. His ability to read the play is exceptional. He seems to know where the puck is going to go. Because of this, he is a great checker at the bantam level. Even though he is not fast, he keeps his feet moving, and is at the right place to force the play, and then finish his check.

Johnson is a very good puckhandler with some imagination. He knows what to do with the puck, is able to protect it, breaks to open ice smartly, and has a good shot. His lack of speed may affect his offensive game a bit at a higher level.

We think Johnson could go higher than the fourth round if he improves his speed. He is one of the smartest and most competitive players around. Any team would love to have a player like him.

Chris Martin 1983 LD 6'3 195 Guelph Bantam

Played last year for Mississauga Senators minor bantams. This year, Martin will occasionally play for the Guelph Jr.B team. He has excellent size with plenty of room to fill out, which will help because, for a big player, he still can be knocked off balance. For his size and long legs, he is a very good skater. His turns need to smoothen out (this should come in time), but straight ahead he displays a strong wide stride with some speed. He has good mobility backwards. He needs to play with more passion and intensity. Maybe because he is so big he appears to be coasting. He often has to be provoked to show some grit. It will be interesting to see his intensity level in Jr.B hockey. He kills penalties but, here again, he needs to show more authority in front of his net. He will slide to block the pass across.

Martin is a very good -- and confident -- puckhandler. He can rush it, shows good hands, and can deke past opponents. He can spin to elude a check, and uses his long reach to protect the puck. When he isn=t in any hurry carrying it up ice, he'll sometimes get caught and hit. He has a good passing touch (moves the puck well) and a good shot.

Martin has a lot of upside. If he plays well at the Jr.B level, he could go higher than the third round.

Chris Bolognino 1983 LD 6'0 170 Team Illinois 83's

Played AA hockey last year. This is Bolognino's first year of higher competition and he is the captain of his team. His coach says he gets better every game and he is starting to realize how good he is (he can dominate at this level). He has good size but is surprisingly stronger than he looks. He uses this strength to effectively take out players along the boards when he finishes his checks -- and he can throw some heavy hits. He is an excellent skater with great mobility. He has a wide stride but still displays good speed and quickness. He plays the 2-on-1 effectively as he stays in between the two oncoming skaters and can time his slide to block the pass across. He plays up high and forces the play well. He gets caught up ice once in a while but he has the speed to get back. He will take a hit to make a play. In the offensive zone, he keeps the puck in the zone effectively, and is very good at moving the puck to open teammates. He has a good low shot from the point.

When he is on the ice (which is 2/3 of the game), he is his team's breakout. He sets up behind his net, reads the ice, then either hits an open teammate with a pass or carries the puck up himself. His lead pass is exceptional -- he really fires it and it is usually on the tape. He always seems to find an open teammate, no matter how much distance is between them. He likes to join the rush. Often he uses his smooth puckhandling abilities to confidently carry the puck up ice.

Bolognino has come a long way in a short time. He has a very good upside and should be an underage draft pick this year, perhaps in the first four rounds.

Mark Wires 1982 LC 5'11 170 Wexford Jr.A

Wires, like Rosa, played for Don Mills bantams last year. He has other similarities with Rosa. Both are very good skaters, though Wires has a wider and shorter stride than Rosa. Wires has speed and reads the play well. He is a smart penalty killer who forces well and can cause turnovers. He backchecks hard, will chop his man, and uses his momentum to throw effective body checks. He is quick on draws, and is a very good stickhandler who doesn=t slow down when he gets the puck -- he's confident with it. He shows good change of direction and is creative in the offensive zone.

Wires also would make a very good college or OHL player. He could go in the top three rounds of the draft.

Marco Rosa 1982 LC 5'11 175 Wexford Jr.A

Rosa, who played last year for Don Mills bantams is an an outstanding skater with a powerful yet graceful stride. He exhibits tremendous speed and quickness, forces the play, and is an effective checker. He is not a punishing hitter, but will take his man out. He is an offensive player who shows good defensive awareness.

Rosa is a gifted puckhandler with quick hands. He's an excellent stickhandler in tight, and exhibits a lot of  confidence carrying the puck. He's elusive, and can change direction quickly, often spinning to elude a check. Rosa is not afraid to take a hit to make a play. He takes the puck off his skate and breaks to open ice very well. On the power play, he goes to the net well, shows good imagination with the puck, and is a crisp accurate passer.

With his skating skills, Rosa projects to be a very good college or OHL player. He could go in the first two rounds of the draft.

Eric Reitz 1982 RD 6'1 185 Leamington Jr.B

Reitz played last year for Detroit Little Caesar's bantams. He is a big defenceman who uses his strength to physically dominate opponents in his own zone. He is mean and tough, and he pounds anyone in his way, all night long. He will use his stick to chop or crosscheck opponents. He is an effective penalty killer, who clears the front of his net well. He is very aware on the ice, but sometimes gets out of position in his own zone as he tries to cover too much territory. He plays a fair bit in defensive situations. He is a very good skater for his size, and has good mobility. This allows him to play up higher and force the play early. He doesn't  show a lot of imagination with the puck, though, mostly shooting it off the boards to clear the zone.  He appears smart and determined, and, as he becomes more confident in the league, will likely improve his play with the puck.

Reitz is a reliable defensive defenceman who puts fear in the other team -- any team drafting him will know exactly what they are getting every time he steps on the ice. He could go in the first three rounds.

Tim Gleason 1983 LD 6'0 170 Leamington Jr.B

Played last year for Honeybaked (Michigan) bantam. Good size, lanky, needs to fill out to better handle physical play. Incredible skater, dances on the ice, so smooth, has quick strong feet and outstanding mobility, great lateral movement, excellent backwards skater. He is so confident in his skating that he plays up high, and not only doesn't get beat, but gains a tremendous advantage as forwards have no time or room to make a play in. He's just on them too fast. He jumps up wisely to force the play and he can throw a big open-ice hit. He doesn=t hesitate, either. He's very good one-on-one as he stays with his man and pokechecks well. He can throw a hipcheck. Kills penalties but needs strength to move opponents out from in front of the net. Plays on the power play --- he's outstanding on the point, with a very good shot and the ability to dangle with the puck across the blueline. He moves the puck well in the offensive zone, and knows when to sneak into the slot. An outstanding stickhandler, he's also very mobile with the puck.  He will also take a hit to get the pass off.  While he has the ability to carry it with speed, he seems hesitant to do so -- this should change as he gets more comfortable in this league. The same applies to his lead pass. Right now, he's only dumping it off  the boards, not hitting the breaking forward. This indecision in his own zone affects his options.

It will be hard to find a better skater. He has tremendous upside. He should be a first round pick if he chooses the OHL.

Jason Penner 1983 LC 6'2 180 Leamington Jr.B

Played for Leamington as a 14 year old last year. Tall and lanky, he'll get stronger as he fills out. Very good skater for his size. Not fast, not smooth, but he does gets there. Has a long stride, so it's fair to expect he'll continue improving.

Penner has tremendous work habits. Never stops hustling. Kills penalties. Backchecks consistently. Forces the play. Reads and reacts well.  He's a very physical player who always gets a piece of his man, either with body contact or with his stick. Finishes all checks -- just rubs guys out. He has great reach, which enables him to slow others down with his stick. Plays shorthanded 3-vs-5 --  he's excellent without the puck. Logs a lot of ice time, playing on the top line, on the power play, and in defensive situations. Will stand in front of net, screen the goalie, and take the punishment without backing  down. Will take a hit to make a play. Very good along the boards, where he will withstand a lot of physical abuse. He won't  give away the puck, though -- he would rather pin it and get a whistle. He has very good puck skills. Can carry the puck up ice. Is a very good stickhandler, though he could improve with a shorter stick. Sees the ice quite well, is unselfish, moves the puck, gets the puck on net.

Penner is a lot like Jay McClement (though not as smooth yet). He's as complete a 15-year-old player as you will find. He's also a team player who wants it badly. We see him as a future pro and a very high first round pick.

Daniel Sisca 1983 LC 5'8 160 Markham Jr.A

Sisca played minor bantam in Vaughan last year. He's a small player who can be knocked around -- if you can catch him. However, that doesn't happen much -- Sisca is a tremendous skater -- speedy and quick -- and uses his skills very effectively. As a checker, he's on his man quickly, forcing the play. He uses his stick effectively to slow down opponents. He kills penalties, blocks shots, and is good on draws. He's a team player who plays well without the puck, and is extremely gifted with it. He has his head up as he carries the puck at top speed,  and is a creative type who can stickhandle to elude checkers and buy time. He has great ice vision, and can spot the open man. Excellent playmaker...agile with the puck...good one on one. Sisca has skills that you can=t teach. He's also unselfish and unafraid. He'll take a hit to make a play. He'll protect himself, too -- he's feisty. Resembles Sean Avery of Owen Sound.

Sisca's an exciting player to watch. If he chooses the OHL, he could lead his team in scoring in his second year.

Steve Eminger 1983 RD 6'0 175 Bramalea Jr.A

Played major bantam last year in Toronto. Has good size, but needs to get stronger. An intense player who initiates a lot of contact. Relentless checker in his own zone, though he gets a bit out of position at times. Outstanding skater -- very mobile, excellent backwards, and has  quick feet. A good one-on-one player -- he stays in front of his man and is an effective pokechecker. Not afraid to take a hit to make a play. Unbelievable confidence and poise with the puck for such a young defenceman. Sees the ice very well, and is a great passer -- he finds the open man. He's also a great puckhandler who can carry the puck up ice, spinning to elude checks, making room for himself. His mobility with the puck is very impressive -- he can dance with it on his stick. Not surprisingly, he logs a lot of ice time.

Eminger is definitely a player to watch -- skilled defencemen who are 6'0 are not easy to find. He could be a high pick.

Mike Cammalleri 1982 LC 5'8 170 Bramalea Jr.A

Last season, Cammalleri led Bramalea in scoring as a 15 year old, averaging close to two points a game. Short and stocky, with a bent-over skating style. Very good skater. Has speed, and wants the puck. For good reason, too -- he has tremendous puck skills and the agility to elude checkers, or dish off to his wingers. Very unselfish, but not to the point that he'll pass up a good opportunity to get the puck on net. Has imagination. Will make fancy moves off his skates that not many others can do. Fights through checks. Plays in traffic. Protects the puck well. Plays in all situations. Good on draws.

Cammalleri is going to the University of Michigan next year. Otherwise, he would be a first round pick. He will be a high scorer wherever he plays.

Jay McClement 1983 LC 6'2 190 Kingston Jr. A

Played for Kingston last year as a 14 year old. Has size and strength -- possesses a powerful stride, hence good speed. Works hard in all three zones. Finishes checks. Hits and takes hits. Receives tons of icetime and plays all situations. Very aware -- anticipates well, and forces the play. Back checks. Competes every shift. Good stickhandler who protects puck well, and is willing to try things, but is not the type who'll finesse his way through opponents. Just look for him go hard to the net -- and get off a good shot.

Has all the makings of a future pro. Even if he isn't a top scorer, he will be a good scorer with the ability to dominate all other areas of the game. He should be one of the top picks in the draft.

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