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2014 NHL Draft: Top 5 body checkers – Ritchie a runaway freight train

Best Bodychecker 
Nick Ritchie of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images 
Much like NHL teams dealing with Milan Lucic in Boston, OHL teams have learned that you are often best advised not to "awaken the giant" that is Nick Ritchie.  The burly Peterborough winger may already be the hardest hitter in the CHL.  "When he's on his game, he's like a runaway freight train out there," notes one NHL scout.  "He hits to knock you down hard, and with his girth and strength, he doesn't lose many physical battles." Johnathan  MacLeod never turns down an opportunity to step up with a big hit, as several unfortunate opponents discovered during the U-18's. Jake Virtanen combines mass with speed when he makes his hardest hits, and he packs plenty of wallop. Joe Wegwerth uses his size and strength to move bodies along the wall, and Anton Karlsson loves to punish his opponents with heavy hits.  Jake_Virtanen feature
 
1. Nick Ritchie
2. Johnathan MacLeod
3. Jake Virtanen
4. Joe Wegwerth
5. Anton Karlsson