By Steve Fitzsimmons /
It’s always a fun time of year when Hockey Canada releases their invite list for the 2009 Canadian World Junior team camp. It gives media types and fans tons of fodder to discuss. It also promises that the World Juniors are just around the corner. From an OHL standpoint, there will be several teams who will lose players, but none more so than the Windsor Spitfires who could have six key players playing in the tournament if they all make it. (Hall, Nemisz, Henrique and Ellis for Canada, Panik for Slovakia and Fowler for the U.S.).
Should they all play, it will be interesting to see how the club does in their absence.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Windsor Spitfires
The team currently has three of the top five scorers in the OHL on the club, with Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz. All three will suit up for Team Canada at the World Juniors as well. It’s been a few years since any team has challenged to have the top three scorers, but in 2004/05 the London Knights came close with Corry Perry, Dylan Hunter and Rob Schremp finishing 1-2-4 in the OHL Scoring race...The World Juniors will present a big opportunity for the likes of Eric Wellwood and Justin Shugg to be the go-to-guys on the club. Look for both of them to get a huge increase in ice time.
Kitchener Rangers
You could call LW Chris McKinnon the Rodney Dangerfield of the OHL, as it seems he doesn’t get much respect. His numbers rank him fourth in OHL scoring with 20 goals and 49 points in 33 games and this is his fourth team of putting up solid offensive numbers, yet you seldom hear anyone mention him among the best OHL players...C Jeff Skinner is on a solid role, with 25 goals and 43 points in 33 games, after having 51 points in 63 games in his rookie year last year. Ranked 15th by NHL Central Scouting among OHL prospects, he’s looking to raise his draft stock higher and looks to be doing his part, with six points in his last three games.
London Knights
After taking some criticism for his mediocre play to start the OHL Campaign, C Nazem Kadri has come out firing, with 20 goals and 36 points in 27 games, which puts him 19th among OHL players in points. Only three weeks ago, he was 47th among OHL players, but with 12 points in his last six games, he’s put himself in position to be among the top 10 scorers in the league. He also made the roster of the Canadian World Junior team.
Soo Greyhounds
A nice hometown story is emerging, with Soo-native C Brett Thompson becoming one of the team’s best and most consistent players. In 35 games, Thompson has fashioned 19 goals and 33 points. This comes after a 14-goal and 27-point campaign last year in 65 games. He is on a serious role right now, with 12 points in his last seven games, as the Soo has climbed back up the standings with some key wins.
Saginaw Spirit
Rookie C Ivan Telegin has caught the eyes of many around the OHL and of NHL scouts with his strong play. The 6-3, 185-pound native of Novokyznetsk, Russia currently leads all OHL Rookies in scoring, with 18 goals and 31 points in 32 games, but is also quite sound defensively with plus-7 rating. Eligible for the 2010 NHL Draft, he is currently ranked ninth among OHL players by NHL Central Scouting for the Draft.
Plymouth Whalers
C Tyler Seguin continues his domination of opposing goalies, with 26 goals and 51 points in 29 games. He is currently third among OHL scorers and is ranked first by NHL Central Scouting among OHL players for the 2010 NHL Draft. He also received an invite for the selection camp of Team Canada for the World Juniors, but was cut... Recent recruit C Robbie Czarnik is starting to find his groove in the OHL, with three goals and five points in nine games.
Owen Sound Attack
The team eagerly awaits the return of C Joey Hishon, who is still nursing a broken foot, but should return to the team very soon. Hishon was also a surprise omission on NHL Central Scouting’s Top 25 OHL Prospects...C Steven Shipley has been doing the job offensively for his club, with 35 points in 36 games. Last year as a rookie, he had 39 points in 63 games. Shipley is ranked 19th on the Central Scouting list.
Erie Otters
Diminutive C Mike Cazzola is carving out a nice OHL career for himself with the club. The 5-7, 165-pound Guelph-native has notched 14 goals and 29 points in 33 games. This is on pace to more than double his 27 points in 58 games last year. He is clearly a beneficiary of the ice time available from Ryan O’Reilly making the NHL and is making the most of his opportunity.
Guelph Storm
The team has been struggling recently. A combination of injuries and sub-par play from several key players has left the team playing catch-up in the standings. Changes could be in the offing, with several players rumored to be on the trading block…One player who is playing up to his vast potential is RW Taylor Beck. The Niagara Falls native has tallied 47 points in 31 games and is plus-9. The Nashville Predators third round pick looks like a major steal by the NHL club.
Sarnia Sting
The team has been active holding off-site practices in surrounding communities, with great success and fanfare. They have held an open practice in Strathroy and plan to have one in Thedford, Wallaceberg and Point Edward in the near future. This is an excellent public relations initiative, allowing neighboring communities more up close access to the players and fostering new fans.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Barrie Colts
On a dominating streak of 19 wins and a shootout loss in their last 20 games and are finding all kinds of ways to get victories. When a team goes on a run like this, they get contributions from all over the lineup and guys reach levels of production that they’ve never previously reached. One such example is C Taylor Carnevale. With a previous career high of 40 points last year, Carnevale has turned it up a notch while still playing a very solid two-way game, with 15 goals and 35 points in 32 games and is plus-18. This puts him on pace to hit the 80-point range and double his previous best.
Mississauga St. Mikes Majors
LW Devante Smith-Pelly has been a force for the team, already smashing his point totals of last year, with 18 goals and 35 points in 31 games and is plus-18. Last year, in his rookie season, he tallied 13 goals and 25 points in 57 games...G Chris Carrozzi continues to lead all OHL Goalies in goals against average at 2.00 and has fashioned an impressive 12-2-2-1 record with three shutouts and a .927 save percentage.
Peterborough Petes
RW Pat Daley has always been a solid OHL player and team guy in his previous four OHL seasons. But in this his fifth year, Daley has found another gear offensively for his club, with 17 goals and 42 points in only 32 games this season. His previous career high for points in 57 last season, with Daley currently on pace for 85-plus points this campaign.
Ottawa 67’s
D Tyler Cuma was brought in to Team Canada’s World Junior training camp to replace an injured player. The 2008 first round pick of the Minnesota Wild was invited last season and made the club, but was unable to play due to injury, but couldn’t make the club this year, being one of the final cuts...LW Anthony Nigro has returned from injury to post solid numbers, with eight goals and 26 points in 27 games. The St. Louis Blues draft choice has the skill to be among the top offensive players in the league when playing his best.
Brampton Batallion
In spite of setbacks, the Battalion continue to roll on towards a potential playoff spot. D Ben Alavie is lost to the team indefinitely with Mono. At first, it was thought that he had H1N1, but tests revealed it was mono when he wasn’t recovering quickly…C Cody Hodgson informed Team Canada he would be unable to play for the team due to on-going problems with his back. Given that news, it’s unlikely he’ll be suiting up for the Batallion in the near future either.
Kingston Frontenacs
D Erik Gudbranson has caught the fancy of many in the scouting fraternity with his strong play. Ranked fourth by NHL Central Scouting on their preliminary OHL prospect list, Gudbranson has been playing a solid defensive and physical game, with some offensive upside, tallying two goals and 17 points in 25 games this season and is plus-7, after finishing minus-22 last season. He also is using his 6-4, 195-pound frame very well in being physical and shielding the puck from opponents.
Oshawa Generals
RW Alain Berger has been a revelation of late to the club. The 1990-born-import from Burgsdorg, Sweden has created huge offence lately, with 15 goals and 27 points in 32 games this season and has 14 points in his last seven games. Even though he’s a 1990 birth-year, at 6-4, 205-pounds, he’s catching the eyes of NHL scouts...D Calvin de Haan was able to make Canada’s World Junior team. de Haan has evolved significantly in the last year, going from an unknown to a first round pick of the New York Islanders and almost making the team before being sent back to junior.
Sudbury Wolves
A team that is struggling to score and does it by committee, with only C Eric O’Dell among the OHL’s top 60 scorers. Although RW Jared Staal is starting to show his potential, with six goals and 29 points in 27 games and is even in plus minus, a significant improvement from the minus-27 of last year. The work on the defensive side of his game is starting to pay dividends.
Belleville Bulls
Coach/GM George Burnett is one of Junior hockey’s best at helping players reach their potential. He’s doing an excellent job in bringing along C Adam Payerl, who is developing well this season. In 35 games, Payerl has notched eight goals and 26 points, with Burnett showing confidence in the third year player, playing him in key situations. He has evolved from seven points his first season, to 17 points last year with Barrie, but is on pace for 50-plus points at this point.
Niagara Ice Dogs
A team struggling to keep their heads above water and get into the playoff race. They do have some bullets to fire, as LW Chris DeSousa and D Jay Gilbert are at home waiting to be traded. They should fetch a strong return, with solid interest in both around the league...They also have D Alex Pietrangelo who they can move, with some possibility that he gets returned to the team from the St. Louis Blues at some point. |