GUELPH STORM V. KITCHENER RANGERS

September 26^th, 2010 – Sleeman Center

OVERVIEW:

It is always a highly competitive game when the Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm meet.  Generally both teams are competitive in the Western Conference and wear their hearts on the sleeves when they match up.  Tensions were high in the game, where the Rangers were able to comeback in the third period after some undisciplined 3^rd period hockey.  Below are short bios on the 2011 NHL eligible prospects and the top picks from the 2010 Ontario Priority Selection.

GUELPH STORM:

3. LD Andrey Pedan | 6.04, 196 lbs. | July 3^rd, 1993 | Moscow, Russia | 2011 Draft Eligible

Andrey Pedan was Guelph’s first round selection in this past season’s CHL Import Draft and he appears to be the first great selection they have made in a few years. At the current time it would appear that Pedan would slot somewhere in the middle rounds of this season’s NHL draft, but that stock could rise or drop depending on his progression this season.  Pedan is an offensive minded defenseman with a good stride to go along with his 6.04 frame.  He does not shy away from the physical game and is willing to drop the gloves if necessary. The import player enjoys playing a high risk – high reward game as he will sometimes plays the risky pinch or make the risky pass.  If Pedan adapts well to the North American game and simplifies his game, he could make a real impact for the Storm this season.

4. LD Matt Finn | 6.00, 197 lbs. | February 24^th, 1994 | Toronto, Ontario | 2012 Draft Eligible

Matt Finn was Guelph’s first round selection in the OHL Priority and has the potential to become a top talent in the OHL.  In minor midget Finn was a two-way defenseman, but moving forward in the OHL he will be relied upon to play more of a shutdown role.  Already possessing decent size for this level, he could use another couple inches and a few more pounds to really solidify himself as a dominant presence. Finn is clearly in a adjustment period as he is getting used to the speed of the OHL. Moving forward there is no question he will need to work on his foot speed in order to keep up to the pace of the new league.

22. RW Cody McNaughton | 5.10, 180 lbs. | October 16^th, 1992 | Petawawa, Ontario | 2011 Draft Eligible

Cody McNaughton is a wildcard of sorts right now.  He is not someone that is touted to get drafted, but he may be on some team’s radars come the 6^th or 7^th round.  Being listed at 5.10 is likely generous, but he plays as though he is 6.02.  He is not afraid to throw the body, defend a teammate by dropping the gloves, and has a tireless work ethic.  A major issue is that he does not possess the speed to offset his size to be a legit NHL prospect.  If he can find some of the offensive flair he possessed in minor midget this season, he could find his name being called in June 2011.

23. RW Zack Mitchell | 6.00, 174 lbs. | January 7^th, 1991 | Caledon, Ontario | 2011 Draft Eligible

Like McNaughton, Zack Mitchell is a bit of a question mark.  I had high hopes for Mitchell coming into the 2010-2011 season, but it doesn’t appear as though he put on the necessary strength to be a threat in the OHL this season. In his rookie year he put up 10 points in 59 games, and 2 goals in 5 playoff games.  He has the potential to be a dynamic goal scorer, but he needs to add the necessary strength to his frame, and work on his first two steps in his stride to reach his potential.

25. LW Carter Sandlak | 6.02, 190 lbs. | May 18^th, 1993 | London, Ontario | 2011 Eligible

Carter Sandlak likely has the most potential out of any Guelph Storm player eligible for the coming 2011 NHL Draft.  After a modest 15-point rookie season that saw him play for the Ontario U-17 team, the sophomore is looking to have a break out season.  Sandlak possess all the tools to play a complete game of hockey.  With size, a decent stride, and the ability to read the play in the offensive zone he could really become a threat at both ends of the ice. In an interview in the summer, Sandlak mentioned that he was looking to work on the quickness of his shot in order to become a greater offensive threat.

KITCHENER RANGERS:

9. RW Tobias Rieder | 5.10, 172 lbs. | January 10^th, 1993 | Landshut, Germany  | 2011 Draft Eligible

Tobias Rieder will need to have a strong showing this season in the OHL in order to prove to NHL clubs that he can be a top prospect at the next level. At the next level Rieder will be considered a small forward, but he does have top offensive skills and instincts. He scored a goal in this game from just inside in the blue-line with a shot that handcuffed Brandon Foote of the Storm.  The shot went bar in, the quickness of the release was elite.  As long as Rieder is able to make the adjustment to North Americian hockey there is no reason why he wont excel and have his name listed under the top 20 scorers.

24. RD Ryan Murphy | 5.11, 178 lbs. | March 31^st, 1993 | Aurora, Ontario | 2011 Draft Eligible

Ryan Murphy is a top fledged offensive minded defenseman in the OHL at the young age of 17. He is already able to quarterback a power play at the OHL level and will be relied upon heavily in Kitchener this season.  There are only two real set backs to his game at this time. His size and strength will be a cause for concern moving forward sitting at 5.11, 178-pounds he can be overpowered in his own end against larger opponents.  Also Murphy will need to improve the velocity of his slap shot which will allow him to be more flexible on the power play.  Murphy will be a “wanted” player come June, and will likely hear his name called early in the first round.

91. RC Matia Marcantuoni | 6.00, 189 lbs. | February 22^nd, 1994 | Toronto, Ontario | 2012 Eligible

There will be a lot of pressure and attention on the 16 year-old Toronto native.  After being hyped to be a top 3 pick in the OHL Priority selection, he slipped to the end of the first because of NCAA concerns.  After eventually landing in Kitchener, he will join a supporting of one of the most dynamic offensive corps in the league.  Marcantuoni has top speed, a quick release and great offensive instincts.  Marcantuoni seems to lack the ability to “finish” and will need to find that touch in order to live up to his high expectations.

92. RW Gabriel Landeskog | 6.01, 207 lbs. | November 23^rd, 1992 | Stockholm, Sweden | 2011 Eligible

Gabriel Landeskog is touted to go in the top 10 of this season’s NHL Draft and with good reason.  The 6.01, 207 pound winger already has molded a game suited for North America.  Possessing good offensive talent, tireless work ethic, not to mention his gritty style will have most NHL general managers licking their lips, there is no question Landeskog’s position in the draft is his to relish or lose. Landeskog will not be the prototypical goal scorer at the next level but will be a safe pick to play a solid two-way game and add energy to a 2^nd line.

I had my first opportunity to check out OHL hockey this season on September 9th at the Barrie Molson Centre as the hometown Colts played host to the Guelph Storm in their third pre-season game of the year. While I generally don’t like to put too much stock into pre-season games, here’s a recap of how things went in Guelph’s convincing 6-1 victory.

From the outset it’s clear to see that this will be a long year for the Colts, as even considering the absence of Kyle Clifford, Taylor Carnvevale, Peter Di Salvo and potential overagers Darren Archibald and Dalton Prout, this team is a shell of its 2009/2010 edition. While Barrie managed to outshoot Guelph in the game, the Storm dominated the scoring chances category and looked superior the entire game.

Garrett Sparks (1993) played the full game for Guelph but wasn’t really tested often throughout the game. He’s a big guy, but you could see he was fighting the puck out there as he faced OHL shooters after playing AAA last year in Chicago. The game was dominated by the Guelph trio of Michael Latta (1991 – Nashville 3rd 09), Peter Holland (1991 – Anaheim 1st 09) and Taylor Beck (1991 – Nashville 3rd 09). After each of them scored at a higher clip last year, they simply dominated this game, combining for 5 goals, with three being of the highlight variety. While the competition was pretty weak out there, this line has to be an early favourite to be among the most dominant in the league and all three of these guys will likely find their way to the top of the OHL Scoring Leaders.

Aside from the big line, it was a good opportunity to see some of Guelph’s 93s and 94s in action with a chance to log some ice. Carter Sandlak (1993), was Guelph’s first round pick in 2010, and looks like he’s added a lot of muscle to his 6’2″ frame. He was skating well out there and made some things happen driving the puck to the net. He’s certainly not the most talented player, but his willingness to battle and play a physical game should garner some attention as a mid to late round pick. I was hoping for more from Zack Mitchell (1993) as he definitely has some skill but he still looks weak out there. He had a couple of nice plays, but a few times he was caught trying to do too much and turned the puck over including one very poor turnover at the Barrie blue-line that resulted in an odd man rush the other way. Russian Import Andrei Pedan (1993L) had a decent showing, as the 6’4″ blueliner showed some good speed and willingness to play physically, he’ll be a guy worth following this year to see how he progresses as he’s still very raw.

Of Guelph’s 94′s, first round pick Matt Finn was definitely the best. He looked reliable out there and made some great decisions moving the puck. You could tell the speed of the game got to him a couple of times, but those are adjustments you expect out of any rookie. Scott Kosmachuk and Brock McGinn both had a couple of good opportunities but look a lot like Zack Mitchell from a year ago. They’ll both likely crack the opening night lineup but will see reduced roles this year as Guelph looks to ride their veterans towards a deep playoff run as there are high expectations for the Storm this season.

On the Barrie side, the team is definitely lacking the offensive prowess from last season and the defense is very inexperienced. Goaltender Clint Windsor, the team’s 4th round pick in 2009, played the whole game which was certainly one to forget. While a couple of the Storm’s goals were no doubters, Windsor looked like he was struggling with his lateral movement and wasn’t seeing the puck well. His rebound control was also below average and he was really fighting the puck out there. It will be interesting to see how Barrie handles their goaltending situation with Di Salvo, McGrath and Windsor all in the mix.

As I alluded to, the team is lacking a lot of skill, but there were a couple of players who stood out and will be bright spots for the Colts this season. Recently acquired winger Steven Beyers (1992) was definitely the most dangerous player in blue. After spending the last two seasons battling injuries in Orangeville, Beyers elected to pass up the NCAA route after he was dealt to Barrie by the Sudbury Wolves. While he still needs to add some strength, there were a lot of great things that Beyers did. You could tell he was more than willing to fight for the puck down low, and his agility and stick handling allowed him to elude Storm defenders. He was very creative off the rush and made a couple of real nice heads up passes to set up his linemates. While there was times where he showed some rust, it was a real good showing for him and I think he’s a player that will definitely be one of the go-to players for the Colts this season.

The Colts also have a couple of 93′s who look to get much bigger roles in the OHL this year as well. Center Zach Hall who lit up Jr. A last year in Couchiching and managed a few games with the Colts was very dangerous all night. He’s got a wide skating style that might remind you of Alexander Burmistrov and there are even similarities to their games. He’s got a quick release and had a few real nice chances. He still needs to bulk up, but he could be a guy that scores at a solid clip this year. Center Mark Scheifele who was just brought in from Saginaw was another 17 year old that really impressed. He was strong on the puck and did a god job of taking it to the traffic areas and generated a couple of good chances in the high slot by himself. He took a few big hits and he’ll need to fill out his 6’3″ frame, but he’s a guy that will certainly make his way onto the NHL radar. Dylan Smoskowitz is another fairly touted player for the Colts, coming off a 62 point season in Jr. A as a 16 year old, but he wasn’t much of a factor at all in this game.

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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