#10 LC Steven Shipley | 6.03 | 212lbs | 04/22/92 | BUF 10′ (4/98)

20GP 7G 11A 18P +6 8PIM

The former 3rd overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, Shipley spend the past two seasons in Owen Sound before being moved to Niagara in a blockbuster off-season move. Expectations were high for Shipley this season, but thus far the Ildterton native has struggled to find some consistency and elevate his game. Frankly, it’s been a disappointing year for Shipley and he has just never been able to materialize into the player many thought he could be when he played minor hockey for Elgin-Middlesex. Last night Shipley showed a lot of what I’ve seen from him his entire career. His skating is still very average, and he lacks the explosion you’d like to see out of a player like him. His competitiveness is a big question mark and he often looks disinterested in the game as well.

Overall, he’s just one of those guys that is a very frustrating player to watch. He has the offensive skills and awareness to be a productive player at this level, but I really can’t envision him being a legitimate NHL prospect at this point as he lacks a role at the next level. Unless he begins to show signs that he’s willing to pay the price and be a physical guy that could adapt to a third line role in the NHL, I doubt that Buffalo fans can expect to see him in a Sabres jersey.

#13 LW Freddie Hamilton | 6.01 | 190lbs | 01/01/92 | SJS 10′ (5/129)

22GP 10G 13A 23P +5 11PIM

Hamilton is a guy I’ve been pretty high on and I really like the steps he’s taking this year. I was pretty surprised that he slipped through to the 5th round last season and I think the Sharks got a tremendous value pick when they nabbed him where they did. The older brother of teammate Dougie, he’s a guy that just does a lot of things well but doesn’t have any elite skills. He’s a big player that has good hockey sense and knows where to be positionally. He’s very effective in tight spaces and can create a lot of time and space for his linemates as well as being a great player on the cycle.

He’s also not afraid to go to the net and take his lumps and is a very crafty player in the slot. I would like to see a little more grit out of him as he’s a little hesitant to play the body as much as he could, but it’s something he can overcome because he does compete well. I don’t think Hamilton will ever be a dynamic NHL player, but he could be a guy that will be a very effective and responsible up and down winger that can play on the third line and maybe even be a bit of a 2nd/3rd line tweener in his prime.

#18 RC Ryan Strome | 6.01 | 183lbs | 07/11/93 | 2011 Eligible

22GP 10G 24A 34P +6 25PIM

Coming into the year if you read my stuff you’ll see I was extremely high on Strome and called him the sleeper of the draft from the OHL. 22 games later and Strome has exceeded my expectations and quickly generated some considerable exposure for himself as many are talking about Strome being a potential Top 15 pick or even a Top 10 guy. Even NHLCS has notably placed Strome as their fourth best OHL prospect in their recently published Preliminary Rankings. As much as I love what Strome brings, I’m really leery of where some of the talk is going with her he is projected to go.

Strome is a very good offensive player. He’s a creative player who sees the ice very well and makes some special plays in the offensive zone. As I’m sure many have seen from his recent YouTube phenomenon goal, he also is a shifty player that can make elite moves in a game environment. With that being said, I think putting Strome up there is pretty risky at this point. Some of the major concerns I have with him is that he is still extremely weak. Strome loses a lot of puck battles and can be neutralized by physical defenseman. He’s also not a pure scorer which doesn’t negate some of the risk that he bears with being a slight player. There’s still a lot of hockey left to go, but I think I’d be more comfortable putting him in the 25-35 range right now as opposed to that 10-15 range, because while his game might sparkle at the OHL level, when you project him at the NHL, there is some legitimate cause for concern.

#27 RD Dougie Hamilton | 6.04 | 193lbs | 06/07/93 | 2011 Eligible

21GP 2G 11A 13P +13 31PIM

Like Strome, Hamilton has also been getting considerable praise this season and is rapidly vaulting up the consensus charts for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. With some talk of him working his way into the Top 10 or even Top 5 of the draft, I have to say that I don’t quite share that opinion. I’ve had quite a few live looks at Hamilton, and I do like his framework of skills, but I’m not really convinced what his role is going to be that justifies where people are putting him. On the surface, he’s a big and imposing guy that skates pretty well and has good puck moving skills. That’s certainly going to warrant some attention, but the more I see him, the less I’m convinced about what he’s going to be as an NHL player.

For instance, last night I watched him really struggle QB’ing the Ice Dogs powerplay. He was very indecisive and made a couple of very poor decisions including one pass that was intercepted, giving the Majors a two on one short handed breakaway. I also question the amount of grit he has. I saw him lose several puck battles on the boards to smaller forwards like Riley Brace and watched him get flustered by a Majors forecheck. I haven’t had enough looks at him this season to throw all my chips in, but from what I have seen, I really question what type of role he’s going to have in the NHL. Is he an offensive defenseman? I wouldn’t say so. Is he a shut-down guy? Maybe? I’m not sure he’s that physical and his anticipation still needs work. So what is he? Right now he’s a big guy that can move the puck pretty well and skate well. Is that enough to be considered as a Top 5 pick? I’m not so sure if I’m an NHL team.

#29 G Mark Visentin | 6.02 | 201lbs | 08/07/92 | PHX 10′ (1/27)

8-4-1 2.55GAA .911SV% 1SO

On paper Visentin had a good game last night, but he still has a long way to go before he wants to be an NHL goalie. The good things that he does have is that he’s got a big frame, he does a good job of challenging shooters and he’s what people in hockey like to refer to as a quality “puck blocker” which basically means he does a good job technically as opposed to being more of an athletic type of goalie. Now while those are all good qualities in his game, his lateral movement is still something that really concerns me and effects his rebound control. I counted several times last night where he would slide one way and then struggle to get back in place for a second save. He also was caught moving the wrong way and gave out some very generous rebounds which are symptoms of his game that I continue to see everytime I see him. He’s a long-range guy at this point so the Coyotes will need to be very patient with him, which they will be.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

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#51. Johan Larsson | LW | Brynas Jr. (SELIT)

Date of Birth: July 25th, 1992
Height: 5.10Weight: 200lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 40GP 15G 19A 34P 80PIM
Playoffs | 5GP 1G 1A 2P 2PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 38th Forwards
League Rank: 2nd SELIT | Country Rank: 3rd Sweden

Larsson isn’t the most flashy player, but his supreme work ethic and willingness to compete are both attributes that make him a quality prospect. He was exceptional in the Under 18′s for Sweden, notching 14 points in only 5 games, and could see his stock climb even higher on draft day as he’s a player who has really made a name for himself recently.

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#52. Geoffrey Schemitsch | D | Owen Sound (OHL)

Date of Birth: April 1st, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 62GP 4G 36A 40P 26PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 40 | Position Rank: 12th Defensemen
League Rank: 14th OHL | Country Rank: 23rd Canada

One of the big surprises of the 2009/2010 OHL Season, Schemitsch had a tremendous season after seemingly coming out of nowhere. He’s one of the better puck moving defensemen in the draft and has tremendous poise and composure. There are still some flaws in his game, such as defensive positioning and adding strength, but he has a ton of upside moving forward.

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#53. Tom Kühnhackl | RW | Landshut (GERD2)

Date of Birth: January 21st, 1992
Height: 6.02Weight: 175lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 38GP 12G 9A 21P 38PIM
Playoffs | 6GP 0G 0A 0P 2PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 51 | Position Rank: 39th Forwards
League Rank: 1st GERD2 | Country Rank: 1st Germany

He’s a big forward who moves well and has a solid goal scoring touch. Some may have expected more from the German this season, but he still managed to produce well playing in a Men’s league. He’ll be transitioning over the pond to Windsor next year, where many North Americans will have a better gauge on his development.

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#54. Brandon Davidson | D | Regina (WHL)

Date of Birth: August 21st, 1991
Height: 6.02
Weight: 194lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 59GP 1G 32A 33P 37PIM - Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 54 | Position Rank: 13th Defensemen | League Rank: 13th WHL | Country Rank: 24th Canada

Davidson is a player who you probably won’t notice much on the ice, which caters well to his style of play. He’s not overly physical and he won’t blow you away with any puck skills, but he simply does a good job of executing his role. He moves the puck well up the ice, is rarely caught out of position, and is a dependable defenseman who can be effective in any situation.

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#55. Brock Beukeboom | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Date of Birth: April 1st, 1992
Height: 6.02
Weight: 199lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 66GP 7G 19A 26P 64PIM
Playoffs | 1GP 0G 0A 0P 0PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 44 | Position Rank: 14th Defensemen
League Rank: 15th OHL | Country Rank: 25th Canada

Beukeboom exploded out of the gates this season before cooling down and now settling in as a projected late second round pick. He’s got a lot of good skills, but has struggled to find an identity in his game. When he uses his size and physicality more, he’s a lot more effective as a reliable two-way defenseman who can chip in offensively as well.

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Beuekeboom is the son of former NHLer Jeff Beukeboom. Photo (The Hockey News)

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#56. Mark Alt | D | Cretin-Derham (HS-MIN)

Date of Birth: October 18th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 199lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 22GP 6G 9A 15P 12PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 15th Defensemen
League Rank: 3rd HS-MIN | Country Rank: 18th USA

The Cretin-Derham defenseman is still very raw despite being a late 91, although it won’t be a huge concern for NHL teams. His combination of size and ability to dictate the pace of the play are both qualities that give him a lot of potential moving forward. He’ll be attending the University of Minnesota where he will be best served with at least three years of development.

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#57. Curtis Hamilton | LW | Saskatoon (WHL)

Date of Birth: December 4th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 202lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 26GP 7G 9A 16P 6PIM
Playoffs | 5GP 2G 1A 3P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 40th Forwards
League Rank: 14th WHL | Country Rank: 26th Canada

Has flown somewhat under the radar this season, especially after missing substantial time with injuries, including a broken collarbone. He’s a big forward who moves well and projects to be an effective third line winger who can compete hard and bring a physical element to his team.

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#58. Steven Shipley | C | Owen Sound (OHL)

Date of Birth: April 22nd, 1992
Height: 6.02
Weight: 200lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 68GP 23G 40A 63P 32PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 41st Forwards
League Rank: 16th OHL | Country Rank: 27th Canada

Shipley’s stock has been hit or miss this season, despite having a very productive sophomore year. His offensive skill level is pretty high and he does have good size, but his skating is a major concern when assessing his NHL potential. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him go a touch higher than this, but he’ll really need to work on his skating the next couple of years if he wants to be a legitimate NHL prospect.

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#59. Maxim Kitsyn | LW | Novokuznetsk (KHL)

Date of Birth: December 24th, 1991
Height: 6.02
Weight: 194lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 21GP 1G 1A 2P 12PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 42 | Position Rank: 42nd Forwards
League Rank: 3rd KHL | Country Rank: 6th Russia

One of the more talented forwards in the draft with some of the best hands, Kitsyn has been a bit of an enigma this year. Once considered to be a surefire first round talent, Kitsyn bounced between the KHL and MHL this season and wasn’t overly impressive at the World Juniors. Despite the typical Russian concerns, Kitsyn could be a high reward type selection in the second round.

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#60. Kent Simpson | G | Everett (WHL)

Date of Birth: March 26th, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 183lbs.
Catches: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 22-9-1-0 2.26GAA .925SV% 1SO
Playoffs | 2-3-0 2.62GAA .908SV% 1SO
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 3rd Goalies
League Rank: 15th WHL | Country Rank: 28th Canada

Simpson is a very solid technical goalie who doesn’t have an abundance of weaknesses in his game. He was very steady for Everett this year, and parlayed his strong play into an appearance with the Canadian Under 18 team. Despite some shaky play there, he has solidified himself as the third best goalie available and should go in the late second round as a result of a weak draft for goaltenders.

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Simpson was strong in goal for Everett this year as a 17 year old.

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#61. Devante Smith-Pelly | LW | Mississauga (OHL)

Date of Birth: June 14th, 1992
Height: 5.11
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 60GP 29G 33A 62P 35PIM
Playoffs | 16GP 8G 6A 14P 20PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 38 | Position Rank: 43rd Forwards
League Rank: 17th OHL | Country Rank: 29th Canada

Smith-Pelly made some big strides early, almost putting himself into first round contention, but slowed down a bit as the season progressed. He’s got some grit in his game, and is willing to pay the price occasionally, but his consistency is a bit of a concern. His fitness level has been questioned by some, and will be another concern he will need to address in the near future.

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#62. Jakub Culek | C | Rimouski (QMJHL)

Date of Birth: September 7th, 1992
Height: 6.04
Weight: 195lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 63GP 13G 34A 47P 54PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 6G 3A 9P 4PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 35 | Position Rank: 44th Forwards
League Rank: 5th QMJHL | Country Rank: 2nd Czech Republic

He has a prototypical package of great size, good speed and potential moving forward, but failed to put it together as the season wore on. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft, however, and will be a solid addition to any prospect pool at this point in the draft.

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#63. Martin Marincin | D | Slovakia U20 (SLO)

Date of Birth: February 18th, 1992
Height: 6.04
Weight: 187lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 24GP 2G 3A 5P 30PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 16th Defensemen
League Rank: 1st SLO | Country Rank: 1st Slovakia

Made some head waves for himself after a good showing at the Under 18′s this year, and has put himself back on the prospect radar. He also appeared in the World Juniors as a 17 year old for Slovakia. Marincin is a big defender who can play with a physical edge and could even hear his name in round two if a team really likes the package he brings to the table.

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#64. Dalton Smith | LW | Ottawa (OHL)

Date of Birth: June 30th, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 195lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 62GP 21G 23A 44P 129PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 3G 3A 6P 27PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 55 | Position Rank: 45th Forward
League Rank: 18th OHL | Country Rank: 30th Canada

His name has been tossed around at a lot of different places in the draft, but it’s hard to envision a team letting him slip much further than this. His skating is a major concern, but it has been improving, but there’s a lot more to his game. Smith is a very physical player and will drop the gloves whenever he has to. He’s got some offensive skill and is willing to take the puck to the net. He’s a player with good upside moving forward and has a pro style game.

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#65. Stephen Silas | D | Belleville (OHL)

Date of Birth: June 26th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 190lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 66GP 4G 45A 49P 61PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 56 | Position Rank: 17th Defensemen
League Rank: 19th OHL | Country Rank: 31st Canada

A very similar player to his teammate, Shawn Lalonde, Silas is also going to project to go around the same point in the NHL Entry Draft as Lalonde. He’s a very smooth skater with great puck moving capabilities, which are especially emphasized on the big ice in Belleville. His defensive game needs considerable refinement, however, which will be the likely catalyst that pushes him to the early third round.

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Silas was productive after taking on a much bigger role with the rebuilding Bulls. Photo (bellevillebulls.com)

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#66. Brandon Archibald | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Date of Birth: March 31st, 1992
Height: 6.03
Weight: 200lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 68GP 5G 28A 33P 81PIM
Playoffs | 5GP 1G 1A 2P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 53 | Position Rank:18th Defensemen
League Rank: 20th OHL | Country Rank: 32nd Canada

An intriguing prospect who logged a lot of big minutes for the Greyhounds last season. He’s a good skater who found a bit of an offensive touch this year with a bigger opportunity. He’s an effective stick checker, but is still prone to over committing on the man in the defensive zone. He’ll definitely be a player that will be worth following in the next couple of seasons.

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#67. Ryan Martindale | C | Ottawa (OHL)

Date of Birth: October 27th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 182lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 61GP 19G 41A 60P 37PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 4G 5A 9P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 45 | Position Rank:46th Forward
League Rank: 21st OHL | Country Rank: 33rd Canada

Martindale has first round skill coupled with late round competitiveness. At times he can dominate a game, and at other times, you will struggle to realize he’s on the ice. Martindale could be a steal if he can find some passion and drive in his game and utilize his size, but if he doesn’t he’ll have a rough adjustment to professional hockey.

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#68. Austin Madaisky | D | Kamloops (WHL)

Date of Birth: January 30th, 1992
Height: 6.02
Weight: 199lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 65GP 7G 20A 27P 74PIM
Playoffs | 4GP 3G 3A 6P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 58 | Position Rank:19th Defensemen
League Rank: 16th WHL | Country Rank: 34th Canada

Madaisky has had a good opportunity to raise his awareness after being dealt to the Kamploops Blazers in a mid-season deal. He’s a very reliable player defensively, but really showed his offensive side in an increased role with the Blazers.

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#69. Justin Faulk | D | USNTDP (USHL)

Date of Birth: March 20th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 196lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 21GP 9G 3A 12P 46PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 52 | Position Rank:20th Defensemen
League Rank: 8th USHL | Country Rank: 19th USA

Faulk’s fitness level has been something that has dogged him all year despite a fairly noteworthy season. He’s got great offensive tools, including a good shot, and makes very good decisions with the puck. He’ll be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he’ll have a good opportunity to play against stronger players which will help aid his development.

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#70. Kevin Sundher | C | Chilliwack (WHL)

Date of Birth: January 18th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 188lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 72GP 25G 36A 61P 101PIM
Playoffs | 6GP 3G 2A 5P 4PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank:47th Forward
League Rank: 17th WHL | Country Rank: 35th Canada

Another prospect that really flew under the radar despite an impressive season, Sundher is a guy that projects to be a good professional player. He’s pretty creative and was one of the only offensive catalysts on a weak Bruins team this year. He also has some grit in his game, and isn’t afraid of the dirty areas on the ice.

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Sundher was one of the biggest brightspots on the Chilliwack Bruins. Photo (whl.ca)

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#71. Andrew Yogan | C | Erie (OHL)

Date of Birth: December 4th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 202lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 63GP 25G 30A 55P 97PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 60 | Position Rank:48th Forward
League Rank: 22nd OHL | Country Rank: 20th USA

Like Martindale, Yogan is another player with first round skills that will likely slip a bit in the draft. He’s a great skater for his size and has good offensive tools, although his finish is questionable. The main factor that will dog his draft stock is his lack of hockey sense and inability to effectively use his teammates.

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#72. Connor Brickley | C | Des Moines (USHL)

Date of Birth: February 25th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 190lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 52GP 22G 21A 43P 68PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 49th Forwards
League Rank: 9th USHL | Country Rank: 21st USA

Brickley has size and offensive ability which could elevate him into the top two rounds. He does, however, need to work on competing harder for loose pucks and battling in the corners more. He’s committed to the University of Vermont for the fall of 2011, and is a player who still has a lot of potential to improve in the next few years.

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#73. Ivan Telegin | LW | Saginaw (OHL)

Date of Birth: February 28th, 1992
Height: 6.03
Weight: 185lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 51GP 26G 18A 44P 20PIM
Playoffs | 6GP 1G 1A 2P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 34 | Position Rank:50th Forward
League Rank: 23rd OHL | Country Rank: 7th Russia

Telegin was a bit of a revelation at mid-season, but struggled to keep up his strong goal scoring pace throughout the second half. He’s a big guy who isn’t afraid to stand in front of the net and generates a lot of his offense from that area. His overall effectiveness, however, is a bit of a concern, and will likely hinder where he is selected.

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#74. Joonas Donskoi | RW | Karpat Jrs (FINJR)

Date of Birth: April 12th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 18GP 14G 15A 29P 2PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 5G 10A 15P 4PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank:51st Forward
League Rank: 1st FINJR | Country Rank: 3rd Finland

Donskoi has been hidden beneath the shadows of Mikael Granlund and Teemu Pulkkinen this year, but has still developed into a solid prospect. He was very strong in the Jr A. SM-Liiga and also saw time with Karpat in the SM-Liiga as his quality offensive skills allowed him to make the jump to a higher level as a 17 year old.

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#75. Patrick McNally| D | Milton Academy (HS-MA)

Date of Birth: December 4th, 1991
Height: 6.02
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 27GP 14G 20A 34P
Playoffs |n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank:21st Defensemen
League Rank: 2nd HS-MA | Country Rank: 2nd USA

McNally showed considerable signs of improvement in his game this year, developing into an effective defenseman with good offensive skills. He’s currently committed to Harvard University in 2011, and will be a long-range prospect.

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Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

With nearly half of the 2009/2010 OHL Season completed, here is TSR’s look at how the 2010 Draft Crop from the OHL is beginning to stack up. We’ve managed to get multiple viewings at every player on this list, and as always we’re taking into account a combination of current ability as well as potential, and projecting player’s abilities to be strong pro players. Please note that we have ranked Goaltenders as a separate entity from the skaters, and you can see the Goalie list at the bottom, after the Skaters table. If you have any thoughts or comments, feel free to post a comment or send us an email!

Skaters

Goaltenders

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.

Tyler Toffoli

6'0" | 181lbs | April 24th, 1992 | Shoots: Right

Toffoli came into the OHL last season as a player with the potential to make an impact right away, and he certainly lived up to the billing. After a dominating Minor Midget year with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Toffoli quickly established himself as one of top scoring threats on the 67’s and quickly gained league wide notoriety for his strong two way play. After putting together a very solid 17 goal, 46 point regular season, Toffoli elevated his play to another level in the playoffs where he was one of Ottawa’s best players in their seven game loss to the Niagara Ice Dogs. With 2 goals and 8 points along with a +3 rating, Toffoli looked like he was on the verge of a breakout this season.

However that has not been the case thus far, as Toffoli has yet to hit the score-sheet and currently sports an unsightly -3 plus/minus rating. Pegged as a consensus Top 15 NHL pick coming into the season, it’s hard to tell what’s been plaguing Toffoli right now. The 17 year old Scarborough native is a good skater who sees the ice well and has a good offensive skill set. Perhaps the loss of players like Logan Couture and Corey Cowick could be hurting Toffoli as he is now more of a focus to opposing hockey clubs, but it’s clear that he’s been uncomfortable through his first four games. Either way, Toffoli will continue to see a lot of ice-time with a young Ottawa team, and if he can get out of this early season funk, he could be poised for an offensive breakout.

Steven Shipley

6'2" | 204lbs | April 22nd, 1992 | Shoots: Left

The former 3^rd overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection is another highly touted player that has had a bit of a struggle so far this season. Coming into this season, it was hopeful that Shipley would be able to improve his skating to the point where it was no longer a liability for him. While he does have a great combination of physical size and talent, his foot speed has been a problem and was the primary reason for why he was cut from Canada’s Under 18 team this summer.

Shipley was solid in his rookie season with the Attack, picking up 16 goals and 39 points in 63 games, but his progression this season has been limited. With 4 assists through 5 games, the numbers aren’t bad, but his skating is still a major concern at this point. The Ilderton native will be able to get by at this level based on his sheer talent level, but after being pegged as a Top 60 pick for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, if he can’t show signs of improvement this season and his numbers don’t come around, he might be a player that slips through the second round.

Joey Hishon

5'10" | 190lbs | Oct 20th, 1991 | Shoots: Left

A late 1991 birthday, Hishon has been a player that has really flown under the radar playing in Owen Sound the past two seasons. After a very productive 47 point rookie season, Hishon really broke out last year with 37 goals and 81 points for the Attack, good enough for 12^th in OHL Scoring. Being undersized, it was unsure where Hishon would slot into the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but he was still generally regarded as being a mid to late first round pick if he could take another step forward and show that he is an elite forward in the OHL.

Thus far, that hasn’t been the case. Like Shipley, Hishon has also had a poor start to the 2009/2010 Season with 1 goal and 4 points through the first 5 games along with a dreadful -4 plus/minus rating. While it is clear to see that Hishon has a full arsenal of offensive flare and has the ability to make plays that very few others can make, it might not be enough. The combination of being undersized and his tendency not to use his teammates will certainly be a major concern for NHL Scouts. If Hishon learns to make better use of his line-mates, not only will the numbers come, but it will also alleviate a lot of problems with his game, which is something he’ll need to do in order to solidify a spot in Round 1.

Besides having slow starts in common, the one thing that these three players also have in common is that they all have a lot of talent, and even more potential. Like every prospect, these players all have their strength’s and flaws to their game, and facing some early season adversity will go a long way towards finding out if they can overcome it and show improvement to their games. For that reason alone, it will be very interesting to see how they respond to a slow start as the season continues to progress.

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.