A year ago, 4th year university Sport Management student Scott Campbell developed an idea to give hockey fans free information about hockey prospects from all ranks.  Now just one year later, TSR has blossomed into a reliable one stop source for insight to hockey prospects across the world. As a whole we could like to thank you all for visiting our site. Campbell is extremely impressed with the momentum that TSR has generated over the past year. “It’s been really exciting to watch this site really come to fruition in such a short time-frame. I’ve gotten a ton of help from some great guys from across North America, and we’re looking to build off that for next year. Obviously we have some cosmetic changes coming in, but we’re also working on developing new strategies behind the scenes to provide even better content for hockey fans worldwide.”

Have something to say? We want your feedback on what you; our readers would like to see implemented within the new design.  The best feedback comes from people outside of the organization, and we would like your help. Contact Scott Campbell at scottcampbell@thescoutingreport.org, Web designer Scott Boulet at sboulet@thescoutingreport.org. or leave a comment for us!

Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, at facebook.com/thescoutingreport
As well as Twitter at twitter.com/TSRhockey

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#1. Taylor Hall | LW | Windsor (OHL)

Date of Birth: November 14th, 1991
Height: 6.01
Weight: 185lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 57GP 40G 66A 106P 56PIM
Playoffs | 19GP 17G 18A 35P 32PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 1 | Position Rank: 1st Forwards
League Rank: 1st OHL | Country Rank: 1st Canada

Taylor Hall would have been ready to be drafted last season, but his late 1991 birth date forced him into 2010 draft eligibility.  The 18-year old used his extra season in the Ontario Hockey League to cement himself as one of, if not the, top player in the 2010 NHL draft class.  Taylor Hall experienced every possible level of hockey available to him this season playing in the OHL, OHL playoffs, Memorial Cup, and lastly the World Junior Championship where he did not disappoint.  It would be understandable for a player’s production to eventually drop off after playing that much hockey in a season.  Hall’s did not, and with the exception of the World Juniors, he did the same thing last season.  Hall excelled under pressure in both Memorial Cups where he was relied on to produce and produce he did, winning Memorial Cup MVP both seasons.

Hall is immediately going to make a franchise better.  He is the complete offensive package.  The ability he has playing at top speed is incredible, and for Taylor Hall that speed in immense.  His quick reaction time on the ice combined with his soft hands are two abilities that can really make opposing players look foolish on the ice.  Some players look as though they have pre-thought the move they are going to make on the defenseman, but for Taylor Hall he reads the play and then reacts, which really sets him apart from other players.  Hall’s hands and speed are not the only qualities that make this player such an elite talent.  His shot placement is incredible, and mixed with his hard, quick release, he can make goaltenders pay if they are one inch out of position.  Based on his on-ice attributes alone, passing on Hall with the first pick of the draft would be an incredible tough decision.

There are only a couple of knocks on Taylor Hall’s play.  One is the defensive component of his game, but realistically he will be brought in to score goals, that will be his major addition. A defensive game can come with times, and as long as he is not a constant liability in his own end, it is a trait that will fly under the radar. The second is the amount of giveaways he can produce in a game.  He is obviously an extremely talented stick handler and combined with his drive he can hold onto the puck a little too long at times, causing a turnover.  This is one attribute within a very small list that Hall will need to continue to get better at in order to become the elite player we all expect.

As previously mentioned, Hall has played a lot of hockey over the past two seasons playing against the most elite players of his age group, and he has yet to show any ill effects.  This can only make his transition into the NHL that much smoother as he is used to playing well into May.  His play at the Memorial Cup is something that really gave Taylor Hall the edge down the finishing stretch and he tops TSR’s Final 2010 NHL Draft Rankings.

Pros: Skating, overall offensive flair, determination/drive

Cons: Two-way hockey

Skillset Comparison: Marian Gaborik

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Related posts

• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (1-30) (10)
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• OHL Set to Dominate the NHL Draft Yet Again (0)

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#2. Tyler Seguin | C | Plymouth (OHL)

Date of Birth: January 31st, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 186lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 63GP 48G 58A 106P 54PIM
Playoffs | 9GP 5G 5A 10P 8PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 2 | Position Rank: 2nd Forwards
League Rank: 2nd OHL | Country Rank: 2nd Canada

When Tyler Seguin was drafted ninth overall by the Plymouth Whalers in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, everyone knew that he was a player that had a little bit extra, but to this magnitude, questionable. Seguin surpassed goals set in his rookie season with the Whalers scoring 68-points in 61-games finishing third in the rookie scoring race, only behind Evgeny Grachev and John Carlson, both of which were two years older. Moving into his draft year, Seguin was mentally and physically stronger, and dealt with the added pressure. With his strong 2009-10 campaign the media caught hold of the talented duo, Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin; Tyler vs. Taylor. It just so happens that the projected top two picks tied in points this year with 106. Seguin finished the season with an impressive 48-goals, more than doubling his rookie campaign output.

Not to add hype to the circus that is Tyler vs. Taylor, it is realistic to believe that Seguin could find himself playing for either the Edmonton Oilers, or the Boston Bruins next season. Seguin is a player that a franchise can really build a team around. Potentially having the highest hockey IQ of any draft eligible player this season, and it shows constantly on the ice. He is able to dominate the game by forcing opposing teams to play at the speed he sets. In combination with his hockey IQ Seguin is just as talented with regards to finishing the play, as he is starting the play. His overall offensive ability is magnificent, which is the main reason he is a concrete top two pick come this weekend. Seguin’s hockey IQ really allows him to excel in all three zones of the ice. He is not only a player who can put goals up on the score sheet, but can prevent them as well. The speed that he possesses is a real asset when speaking of his two-way abilities. He is able to rush the puck up the ice, while be the first forward back on the back check All of Seguin’s traits lead to him being a natural centerman; two-way hockey, natural hockey intelligence, and is always a weapon with the puck.

To refrain from only mentioning Seguin’s on ice abilities, his off ice qualities really set him apart from other candidates in the draft. His determination, competitiveness, and drive make him dangerous, not only every night, but every shift. He is also a player who does not crack under pressure, nor that gets down on himself when something doesn’t go smoothly. When the hype of “Tyler vs. Taylor” was full fledged, Seguin wasn’t phased by the increase of public attention. He continued to play his game, while doing what he does best, putting up points. Again, being cut from Canada’s 2010 World Junior Championship team did not phase the young star. Like a player with a good head should, he used it as motivation, and is a sure lock for the team next season if by chance he is back in the OHL, or released for the duration of the tournament.

In conclusion, Seguin is a player that is only going to continue to improve. Continuing to push himself to be stronger, faster and overall a better hockey player is going to ensure that he becomes a star in the NHL. Regardless of whether he is selected number-1 or number-2, Tyler Seguin is only going to make the franchise stronger.

Pros: Speed, Hockey IQ, Determination
Cons: Continue to develop his defensive game
Skillset Comparison: More talented Paul Stastny

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Related posts

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• OHL Set to Dominate the NHL Draft Yet Again (0)
• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)

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#18. Jeff Skinner | C | Kitchener (OHL)

Date of Birth: May 16th, 1992
Height: 5.10
Weight: 182lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 64GP 50G 40A 90P 72PIM
Playoffs | 20GP 20G 13A 33P 14PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 20 | Position Rank: 12th Forwards
League Rank: 7th OHL | Country Rank: 8th Canada

Jeff Skinner would have found it tough to out do his 51-point rookie campaign last season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League where he notched a team leading 27-goals. Although Skinner emerged as a top goal scorer on his respective team last season, this season he emerged as a top goal scorer, not only league-wide, but nation wide. His outbreak in points forced NHL scouts to look at what he can do, and has now materialized in to a legitimate first round prospect.

Although it would appear that Skinner would be a gem if selected with the 18th pick in the draft, there are some concerns about him that would have some General Managers hesitant about selecting the Markham, Ontario native in the first round. Standing at only 5’10” 182 pounds, his skill is not stunted in the junior ranks, but when he makes the leap to the next level, playing against stronger, faster, and more talented defensemen, will he be able to make the adjustment is the question. The debate once again arises about the quickness of players and whether other attributes are able to offset this short coming. It is no different with Skinner. His skating ability, and first step acceleration will need to come a long way if he is to succeed in the NHL.

This is not to say that Skinner does not deserve to be considered as a first round talent. His offensive ability is uncanny and is a very dominant player in the offensive zone. With a wicked wrist shot, and quick release Skinner is able to deceive opposing goaltenders, and make them pay for leaving even an inch open. His determination and competiveness level are two attributes that really offset his size disadvantage. He never appears to back away from physical play and is willing to compete for every inch of ice. Playing with a team that was not supposed to make a large post-season run, Skinner brought his play to another level, finishing the playoffs with 33-points only behind Taylor Hall. 20 of his 33-points were in the goal column, tying Adam Henrique for the OHL playoff goal scoring race.

This speaks for his character and the fact that he does not crack under pressure. If his playoff performance isn’t enough, scoring his 50th goal of the season against the Owen Sound attack with only 11-seconds left in the 3rd, to clinch a 5-4 win in regulation is what can be expected. Skinner has a knack for scoring timely goals, and it is a great quality to have.

Every prospect has their flaws, no prospect is perfect. Skinner is a player who could excel at the next level and make the General Manager who selects him look like a genius. Size and strength are his major flaws, but overall, his offensive ability is gaudy, and is worth all the rave at 18th on TSR’s Final NHL Draft Rankings.

Pros: Offensive IQ, quick release, timely goals (clutch)

Cons: Size, strength, defensive game

Skillset Comparison: Derek Roy

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Related posts

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• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (1-25) (5)
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• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)
• #9. Mikael Granlund – 2010 Scouting Report (1)

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Although the standings indicate that the Ottawa 67’s are a bottom dwelling team, the team possesses quite a bit of talent, and are particularly strong with 2010 Draft Eligibles. Tyler Toffoli, Petr Mrazek and Ryan Martindale will be closely watched by scouts this season for the upcoming draft in June, while former 2008 first round pick Tyler Cuma will be looking for a shot to crack the Minnesota Wild next season. 1993L Cody Ceci, Ottawa’s first round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection is another prospect to watch, but he will not be eligible until the 2012 Entry Draft as a result of his December birthday.

LD Tyler Cuma

2008 1/23 MIN

OTT | 6.02 | 192 lbs. | Jan. 19, 1990

Cuma is a player who has had a lot of ups and downs since being selected 23rd Overall by the Wild back in 2008. He’s a big defenseman who is extremely mobile for his size. His skating is his most definite asset, as he has a powerful stride and good agility on the ice. Beyond his skating, Cuma is an extremely raw prospect. His offensive instincts are average at best, and he doesn’t see the ice as well as some would like to believe. He has a good shot, but he has problems utilizing it to his advantage and often settles for weak shots to the net. There is no doubt he’s a solid OHL defenseman, which you would expect out of a 19 year old first round pick, but moving forward there will certainly be some speed bumps. Cuma has lost some key development time due to injury, and he could be a player that either struggles to adapt to the next level, or thrives, it’s just a matter of how much he’s willing to compete.

LC Ryan Martindale

2010 Draft Eligible

OTT | 6.03 | 190 lbs. | Oct. 27, 1991

Ryan Marindale is an interesting prospect who has been flying under the radar so far this season. A late 1991 birthday allows him to be eligible for the 2010 draft, where he should be late first or early second round pick next summer. He’s not a flashy player, does not try to do too much, and finds success in his simplicity.  He has a good stride for his size, and uses the 6’ 3” frame to make room for himself in the slot. This often leads to scoring chances where he does a good job of using his talent to capitalize on his opportunities. One thing that could add another level to his game, would be to play with an edge, and use his frame to create energy. He has the build for a power forward, and should use it to his advantage.

G Petr Mrazek

2010 Eligible

OTT | 5.10 | 170 lbs. | Feb. 14, 1992

Petr Mrazek is an import player for the 67’s and this is the first time I have seen the Czech native in game action. In this contest he was not overly tested, but was able to make some big saves when he was called upon. He appeared to have great lateral movement, and a quick glove, but may need to work on controlling his rebounds. His 5’ 10” frame may scare off some NHL scouts, but Mrazek has likely played himself onto the NHL draft radar.

RW Tyler Toffoli

2010 Eligible

OTT | 6.00 | 181 lbs. | Apr. 24, 1992

Toffoli is a dynamic offensive player and is starting to break out of the funk he was in to start off the season. He shows great poise with the puck and is very patient around the net, which makes him a scary player over the opposition’s blue line. If defense give him the room to skate and get comfortable with the puck, he has the hands to move around defensemen with ease. His defensive game will need some refinement, and he needs to learn how to play a smart two-way game, while continuing to be a dangerous player offensively. After being pegged as  sure-fire first round pick after his rookie season, Toffoli is on the bubble now and will need to remain consistent throughout the season to hear his name called in round one.

RD Cody Ceci

2012 Eligible

OTT | 6.02 | 190 lbs. | Dec. 21, 1993

Cody Ceci was Ottawa’s first round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, and looks to be steadily developing into a very good player. Ceci already has NHL size standing at 6’ 2” and 190 pounds, which is even more impressive considering Ceci is still only 15 years old. As a rookie, Ceci is playing in all situations, power play and penalty kill, and doing it effectively. This shows the confidence coach Chris Byrne has in his young defenseman, as well as the kid’s versatility. The Orleans, Ontario native has great speed for his size and is rarely beaten by quick skaters. He’s effective in the offensive zone, and is finding some success by keeping things simple and not over-thinking the game. There is no question that Ceci has the raw ability to play hockey at a high level, and he’ll have the next two seasons to develop his game before he becomes draft eligible.

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During last night’s game between the Kitchener Rangers and the Erie Otters, Rangers’ defenseman, Ben Fanelli took an awkward hit from Otter’s forward Michael Liambis behind the Ranger’s goal. His helmet was removed during the hit, and his head hit one of the partitions in the glass. The Rangers released news this morning that Fanelli is currently at Hamilton General Hospital, and is in intensive care. They are stating his current condition as critical, but stable.

Fanelli, 16, was a third round selection of the Rangers in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection last May. He has played seven games with the team this season, assisting on one goal.

Here at TSR, we would like to extend our best wishes to Ben, and his family. Our prayers are with you guys, and we can only hope that he can make a full recovery at this point. Good luck, Ben.

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OCTOBER 25, 2009

I had the opportunity last weekend to watch the Guelph Storm face off against the Owen Sound Attack. The Storm were coming off a three game weekend, while the Attack faced the Kitchener Rangers the night before. There was some solid potential in the game despite the faltering record of the Attack. There is not much to report about this season’s draft crop when analyzing the Storm, but the Attack have a few players that may hear their name called come June. Here is the link to the game summary: http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16116

GUELPH STORM

LD #7 Ben Chiarot (ATL)

2009 4/120 ATL

GUE | 6.03 | 222 lbs. | May 9, 1991

Ben Chiarot received a lot of ice time in this game and is a work horse for the Storm. Standing at 6.03, 222 pounds, Chairot is a player who already has NHL size at this point. He has limited offensive upside, especially at the next level, but looks to create momentum with his body. The weakest part to Chairot’s game is his skating ability, and having to compensate for his lack of natural speed. One of the two penalties he received in the game was because he was burned in a one on one, which forced him to take a hooking penalty. Chairot finished the game with a +1 rating and four penalty minutes.

LC #13 Peter Holland (ANA)

2009 1/15 ANA

GUE | 6.02 | 195 lbs. | Jan. 14, 1991

Holland was easily the player with the most pro potential on the ice. His above average speed, and top tier wrist shot make him a threat any time he’s on the ice. Holland is a player who can play the penalty kill and the power play and can be equally effective on both. His vision on the ice translated to multiple chances for the Storm, but on one particular play, his fake slap shot, to saucer pass resulted in a brilliant chance for Michael Latta. Holland has the build for a power forward, but does not play an overly physical game. He grinds in the corners when needed and his soft hands allowed for excellent board play. Holland finished up the game with two assists, a +4 rating and four penalty minutes.

RC #17 Michael Latta (NAS)

2009 3/72 NAS

GUE | 5.11 | 205 lbs. | May 25, 1991

Michael Latta played out of position in this game, playing the right wing with Taylor Beck and centered by Peter Holland. Latta played an exceptional game as he was named the first star of the contest. When Latta is on his game, he can be a very effective player, but at times attempts to do too much on his own and ends up as a turn over. He also needs to work on his skating if he wants to be successful at the NHL level. Latta can be a pest for the opposing player, and it is the role he should be expected to play in the NHL. Latta tallied one goal and two assists, with a +4 rating and four penalty minutes.

LW #19 Taylor Beck (NAS)

2009 3/70 NAS

GUE | 6.01 | 202 lbs. | May 13, 1991

Taylor Beck is a player who has improve significantly from last season. His offensive vision is decent and compares closely with Phoenix Coyotes’ forward Brett MacLean. Beck attempts a lot of moves beginning at the top of the circle in order to beat the defender, but can often become predictable in the offensive zone. Beck is beginning to adapt to a team game and is sacrificing his body and back checking, pieces that were absent from his game last season. Beck was named the game’s third star and finished with two goals and two assists with a +4 rating.

RW #22 Cody McNaughton (’10)

Eligible 2011

GUE | 5.09 | 173 lbs. | Oct. 16, 1992

Cody McNaughton was the Guelph’s first round selection from last season, but he’s always had to compensate for his lack of size. He is a player that is dedicated to a defense first system, but has limited offensive upside. While he is considered a small player, even at the OHL level, McNaughton plays big and does not shy away from a physical game. His potential is slight at the pro level as his skating is fairly average for his size, which leaves him vulnerable at the next level. He is not eligible until the 2011 NHL Draft due to a late 1992 birthdate, but will need a strong season this year and next to be considered for the draft. McNaughton was held off of the score sheet and was a -1.

RW #23 Zack Mitchell (’11)

Eligible 2011

GUE | 5.11 | 158 lbs. | Jan. 7, 1993

Zack Mitchell is an interesting player. He was considered to have some of the top hands from the ’93 OHL draft class, but has had limited success this season. He has decent size for a forward, but needs to add a lot of muscle in order to play his game at this level, as his lack of strength has been a big problem thus far. Another problem, which was shown against Owen Sound, is his lack of confidence with the puck. He went from being a go to guy, to a third or fourth liner with the Storm, and it appears as though he is afraid to make a mistake. If Mitchell gains the necessary muscle he may receive some consideration for the 2011 draft in the mid rounds.

LD #24 Adam Comrie (FLA)

2008 3/80 FLA

GUE | 6.04 | 213 lbs. | July 31, 1990

Adam Comrie was acquired in the off-season by the Storm to be the team’s number one defenseman. He has been superb offensively with his heads up plays and bullet of a slap shot, but shows no urgency in his game. He continually causes turnovers and is often out of position on the opposition’s counter attack. At the end of the game, against Owen Sound, Comrie potted the empty netter on a selfish play. He shot the puck from Guelph’s blue line, which luckily went in. Had the shot missed, the face off would have been in Guelph’s zone, and may have caused a game-tying goal.

OWEN SOUND ATTACK

RD #12 Jesse Blacker (TOR)

2009 2/58 TOR

OS | 6.02 | 185 lbs. | Apr. 19, 1991

Jesse Blacker was a very talented defenseman on the ice for the Attack, and was no question their best player in this game, which was highlighted with a beautiful slap shot goal that beat Matt Hoyle. Blacker is a gifted skater, who makes heads up passes and is reliable in his own end. After being traded from the Windsor Spitfires only a week ago, he’ll be given a very good opportunity to further his development with more ice-time in Owen Sound.

LW #17 Garrett Wilson (LA)

2009 4/107 FLA

OS | 6.02 | 205 lbs. | May 30, 1991

Garrett Wilson is developing into a very good forward in his second full year in the OHL. He plays a gritty, high tempo game, while having decent offensive talent. Wilson competes hard in the corners for lose pucks and often wins those battles. At the NHL level, Wilson’s role will not involve him putting up huge points, but playing in the bottom six and being a momentum builder for his team. In the game Wilson scored one goal on an awkward shot that beat the Guelph net minder.

LC #19 Steven Shipley (’10)

Eligible 2010

OS | 6.02 | 204 lbs. | Apr. 22, 1992

Steven Shipley is a player that seems to be building some hype around him moving into the NHL Draft. In this game, he was in on two tallies, one on a broken play and the other was from crisp passing on the power play. Shipley uses his size to his advantage as was driving the net on numerous occasions. He was able to make room for himself in the offensive zone, which allowed him to make smart decisions with the puck, but was by no means a dominating force in this game. With Joey Hishon out, the Attack will depend on Shipley even more to supply offense, which will call for Shipley to be a consistent point producer.

RD #26 Geoffrey Schemitsch (’10)

Eligible 2010

OS | 6.01 | 180 lbs. | Apr. 1, 1992

Geoffrey Schemitsch is a rookie to the OHL after being undrafted in the 2008 Priority Selection due to an injury in his draft year. He played a fair amount in the second and third periods and displayed good vision at both ends of the ice. His first pass out of the zone was crisp and accurate, and he was rewarded with a lot of power play time. His skating could use a bit of work, but he uses his high hockey IQ to compensate against faster skaters. This is the first time I have watched Schemitsch, but he should be a mid rounder right now, with the potential to rise throughout the season.

G #40 Scott Stajcer (NYR)

2009 5/140 NYR

OS| 6.02 | 195 lbs. | June 15, 1991

Scott Stajcer was less than impressive in this game. He let in two goals on his first two shots faced, and was pulled out of the game to mentally regroup before being put in shortly after. Two of the four goals scored on him in the game were particularly poor, as he misplayed a weak shot, and left a huge rebound which was deposited. The other goal was a shot from behind the net, which banked off Stajcer and then went in. Despite the weak start, he definitely has some legitimate upside to his game, but he’ll need to work on his rebound control if he wants to be successful at the next level.

Overall the game was an intriguing one, as the Storm were able to pull away with just minutes left on a great play by Michael Latta, beating out Owen Sound defenseman Mike McGurk and sending it to Mathew Sisca for a tap in. Unfortunately, Matt Kennedy (GUE), Joey Hishon (OS) and Roman Berdnikov (OS), were left off the roster due to injuries.

All images are the property of their respective team/website. These logos and photographs are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos and images. Special thanks to Blitzen Photography.

Related posts

• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (51-75) (1)
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Wes O’Neil, a second overall draft pick to the Kingston Frontenac’s in the 2002 OHL Priority Selection, is an example of someone who damaged his hockey career by making the wrong decision. The former midget star decided against the OHL, and committed to Notre Dame. This proved costly as O’Neil’s stock continuously slipped until he was a fourth round selection to the New York Islanders in 2004. Since his graduation to professional hockey, O’Neil has played in three NHL games notching zero points, and 105 AHL games totaling twelve points in two campaigns. For a player who had so much potential, his career has been diminished to nothing more than a career AHL player.

On the other hand players can succeed through NCAA. Nick Petrecki, of Boston College, and Brendan Smith, of Wisconsin, were high selections in the OHL, but decided on the college route. Both players have had successful careers in college and have reaped the rewards of being first round selections in the NHL Drafts. Brendan Smith is a highly touted point man for Detroit, while Petrecki is a defenseman of the future in San Jose. With those examples in mind, we’ll take a look at three tier two players who all have important decisions to make in regards to which development path they will elect to pursue.

D – Luke Juha

5’10, 175lbs.
Mississauga, ON
Burlington Cougars (CCHL)

When Luke Juha was scouted for the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, the scouts said that he is a defenseman will tremendous offensive upside, will not over complicate the game and always makes the smart pass. Juha has been said to make passes that other players his age would not attempt, which supports the fact that the Mississauga native, has outstanding vision.

So far Juha’s play has done nothing but support that fact that this kid may be an offensive genius on the blue line. Playing in the Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL) for the Burlington Cougars, Juha has already notched twelve points in only seven games this season, six of them coming on the power play. His vision on the ice is uncharacteristic for a player of his age, and means nothing but good things for the Toronto Marlboro graduate. Through these seven games, there have only been two where Juha has not registered a point, and had a tremendous six point game against the Dixie Beehives. The numbers that Juha has put up are outstanding, and not only for a defenseman, but for a 1993 defenseman.

A fifth round pick of the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm, Juha attended training camp, but left before his NCAA grace period was over. He is still contemplating playing NCAA hockey and it has always been his and his parents’ agreement that he would play a year of Teir II Jr. A hockey, then assess his options.

D – Dylan DeMelo

6’0, 187 lbs.
London, ON
Mississauga Chargers (OHJL)

Dylan DeMelo’s, of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Mississauga Charges, play can be compared to that of Luke Juha. He is an offensive minded defenseman, who has great vision and rarely make’s poor decisions with the puck. Overall he is an offensive force for the Chargers. A 2^nd round draft choice of the St. Michael’s Majors, was signed by Mississauga in the off-season. The London native was sent down to Mississauga to work on his overall game and adapt to playing with people who are older and stronger than him.

DeMelo never second guessed his decision to play in the OHL, and is adapting well in the OJHL. Currently he sits with two points in four games for the Chargers, and has missed six games with an undisclosed injury. It will be expected that Dylan DeMelo will suit up for the St. Micheal’s Majors next season, while the fans have every reason to get excited for the offensive blue liner.

LW – Lucas Lessio

6’0, 170 lbs.
Woodbridge, ON
St. Michael’s Buzzers

Lucas Lessio, a first round pick of the Niagara Ice Dogs, had a very unconventional start to his professional career. Due to his commitment with the Michigan Wolverines NCAA program, Lessio left Niagara’s training camp before his 48 hours was up. With concern of Lessio never playing in the OHL, the Niagara Ice Dogs dealt Lessio to the Oshawa Generals with conditional picks based on how long he plays in the OHL. This is but another situation where a player has a very tough decision to make.

The 6’0, 170 pound Lessio was the seventh overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, and with good reasoning. Lessio is a power forward with a lot of offensive potential. He plays a very strong board game, while being able to make space in tight situations. Along with his finesse game, there is a gritty-side to him that makes him such an asset. Oshawa may have given up a lot of assets for Lessio if he decides to report in the 2010-11 season, but for a player of his stature the benefits should warrant the cost. Along with Boone Jenner, and Kevin Bailie the team could be poised for a run in a couple seasons.

As much attention as this topic deserves, and receives, it is a tough decision for a fifteen or sixteen year old to make. The decision of whether to receive an education or focus solely on your hockey career for four years is something parents and players spent hours upon hours discussing.

Of course the OHL wants to limit the amount of players that claim to be going NCAA just to play where they want to in the OHL, but it is a tough issue to crack down on. The league continues to make small rule changes to avoid players cheating the system, but it comes at a risk. The OHL could potentially lose a lot of talent if they made players play where they are drafted. Sam Gagner, Patrick Kane, Cam Fowler, Jeremy Morin, and John Moore are recent players that have tasted the United States hockey, but have opted to play in Ontario later in their careers. While both paths will continue to be a viable option, every year brings new life to this issue, and ponders the question in hindsight if the right decision was made.

For TSR, I’m Mike Kloepfer.

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