Justin Sefton | RD | 6.03 | 199lbs | 04/14/93 | 2011 Eligible

2010/11 - 10GP 0G 0A 0P -4 17PIM

This was a better showing from the 5th Overall Pick in 2009, as Sefton looked a lot more comfortable out on the ice. He was able to do a good job of throwing his weight around and play the physical and nasty style that he has become revered for. Offensively he was a lot more proactive and he was able to utilize his heavy shot a couple of times, although he still looks a little uncomfortable having the puck on his stick in that area of the ice. Skating is still an issue for Sefton as he lacks catch up speed and explosiveness which has been a primary cause for him getting exploited by opposing forwards. He still has a lot of work to do this year, and it’s pretty clear that he’s not going to be the first round pick many once thought he would be, but he’ll still hear his name called next June, it’s just a matter of where.

Ben Chiarot | LD | 6.03 | 222lbs | 05/09/91 | Atl ’09 (4/120)

2010/11 - 9GP 1G 2A 3P -1 19PIM

Chiarot’s play has been a little disappointing this season as it’s very evident he’s trying to do way to much out on the ice. If Chiarot finds a role at the next level, it will be as a stay at home defenseman that can bring a physical game to the ice. On the contrary, Chiarot seems to be playing more like a puck moving, offensive defenseman, and it’s clear that his game is not tailored to that style of play. He got caught on a couple of real bad turnovers in the game and really needs to work on simplifying his game.

Samuel Schutt | LW | 5.10 | 170lbs | 04/13/94 | 2012 Eligible

2010/11 - 10GP 1G 3A 4P -3 0PIM

My first look at Schutt in the pre-season revealed a tentative player who really didn’t engage in the play whatsoever. The second viewing was a lot more promising, however, and it’s nice to see that Schutt is adjusting to the pace of the OHL game. A second rounder this past summer, Schutt is an undersized winger that has real good wheels and decent offensive ability. He’s still lacking a lot of strength, but he has done well in a limited role thus far with the Wolves and he’ll need to continue to learn the game to effectively use his speed to contribute on the score-sheet.

Kristoff Kontos | LC | 6.01 | 203lbs | 12/06/93 | 2012 Eligible

2010/11 - 10GP 4G 6A 10P +1 0PIM

It’s been a breakout year thus far from the 2nd rounder in 2009 as Kontos has emerged as one of the Wolves’ most consistent forwards this season. With a late December birthdate, Kontos isn’t actually eligible for the NHL Entry Draft until 2012, so he will have another year after this to showcase his skills for NHL scouts. After having a very limited role last year, he’s been seeing top line minutes this season as well as time on the first powerplay unit. Kontos doesn’t really have any defining skills but he does compete hard and has good offensive awareness which has allowed him to be in good spots to convert on opportunities. At this point, Kontos’ skating is going to be one of the things that really makes or break his draft stock. He really lacks explosiveness and high end speed which are two components that will really impede his upside at the NHL level. With a long way to go before 2012, however, Kontos will have plenty of time to work on improving that aspect of his game.

Frank Corrado | RD | 6.00 | 188lbs | 03/26/93 | 2011 Eligible

2010/11 - 10GP 0G 3A 3P -4 14PIM

The 17 year old has shown a big leap in his calibre of play this season, playing as one of the anchors on a defense that has encountered a lot of unforeseen troubles. Corrado has added a lot of much needed bulk and muscle to his frame this season and looks a lot more comfortable out on the ice. He’s a very good puck moving defenseman that skates well and is very agile on the ice as well as being elusive to fore-checkers. Corrado sees a lot of powerplay time in Sudbury this year, but his offensive game is still developing in that regard as you can see he isn’t a prototypical powerplay quarterback and hasn’t quite lived up to my point expectations for him thus far. He’ll need to continue to show that he can be a reliable defender and as his offensive game comes around, he should re-enforce his position as a draft prospect for next June.

Matthew Campagna | LC | 5.11 | 170lbs | 03/09/94 | 2012 Eligible

2010/11 - 10GP 1G 3A 4P -3 2PIM

Sudbury’s first selection in 2010, 5th overall, has had a bit of an inconsistent start to the 2010 season thus far but is showing signs of finding his game. After being one of the top scorers in Minor Midget a year ago, Campagna has been stiffed for the most part this season as he’s struggled to find the same time and space he enjoyed with the Toronto Nationals. In this particular game against Barrie, he looked a lot better off the rush, as he really created some nice chances with his linemates Andrey Kuchin and Josh Leivo. He needs to show that he is willing to compete more and engage in the play, and also resist the urge to slam his stick on the ice to call for the puck every shift. It’s clear that his impact will likely be fairly limited this season, making next year an extremely important one for him.

Charlie Dodero | RD | 6.01 | 188lbs | 10/01/92 | 2011 Eligible

2010/11 - 10GP 1G 2A 3P +2 8PIM

This was my first good look at Dodero and I was pretty impressed with his play on the blue-line. After seeing some very limited ice-time on a deep Kitchener defensive corps, Dodero has been much more prevalent in the Blue & Grey as he’s been logging significantly more time on the ice. I didn’t find any particular aspect of his game to be overwhelming, but he just played a real steady, smart hockey game and was rarely caught out of position. He showed that he could move the puck effectively, and if he can produce some respectable numbers, I could definitely see him being a late round draft pick next June.

Marcus Foligno | LW | 6.03 | 216lbs | 08/10/91 | Buf 09′ (4/104)

2010/11 - 9GP 6G 5A 11P E 15PIM

So far this year it looks like Foligno will enjoy a breakout season offensively as he looks to make the final steps to prepare himself for the AHL next season. More or less a man playing with boys now, Foligno is one of the biggest hitters in the OHL today and can really set the tone of the game with his physical play. He’s also a very adept player with the puck and is a pretty creative player in small spaces and is especially effective controlling the puck down low deep in the offensive zone. At this point, the only thing holding him back from an eventual role in the NHL will be his skating, which has improved considerably since he broke into the league. At this point, he looks like he’ll develop into a real quality physical third line winger at the NHL level, but he does have some offensive upside which could allow him to contribute a bit on the scoresheet as well.

Brody Silk | LC | 6.00 | 175lbs | 11/30/94 | 2013 Eligible

2010/11 - 11GP 0G 1A 1P -3 16PIM

Silk is one of the youngest players in the OHL this season so it’s tough to put a ton of stock in his production thus far. He’s a smooth skating guy that can also play the wall and has some untapped offensive potential. He also plays with a bit of a chip and competes pretty hard, especially for a 16 year old, finishing checks when he gets the chance. Silk needs to really work on adding strength to his frame and it’s clear that the Wolves are going to need to be patient with him, but he does have the potential to be an effective Top 6 OHL player down the road.

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.

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