2015 OHL Priority Selection – McKeen's Hockey

Youngblood: 2015 OHL Priority Selection Reflection

Brendan Ross — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:31:16 +0000

David Levin (middle), Gabe Vilardi (right) and Owen Tippett (left) were three of the top four picks in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection presented by State Farm on Saturday April 11, 2015. (Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

The 2015 OHL Priority Selection has been completed with 302 players being selected and after having time to digest the picks, we can reflect with some thoughts on each team’s draft. Of course, it’s impossible to conclude one team had a better draft than another because these players will all need to time to develop their skills. However, comparing team-by-team picks to my own opinions coming into the draft can provide some context to, at least, my own personal analysis down the road. It’ll be much more important and valuable to revisit the 2015 draft class in two or three years time to truly analyze how each organization did in identifying talent at different spots throughout the draft with more development time under these player’s belts. And that will certainly happen but until then, let’s take a look at how each team did last Saturday.

While there were several teams who had very good drafts in my opinion, I don’t think any team had a poor draft at all. Teams did very well in identifying talent and value at different points throughout the draft and added important building blocks for their future. It’s always interesting the importance different teams place on player’s skills and attributes when making their picks.. Sault Ste. Marie fancies skilled players with strong possession games. Hamilton (formerly Belleville) and Peterborough tend to lean towards a balance of skill and physical/powerful forwards. Kitchener, Erie and Sarnia appear to target skilled players early. The London Knights do a good job at grabbing competitive skilled players and then aren’t shy in taking chances with some high-end American players with their success at getting them to report. North Bay and Oshawa Generals are attracted to rangy players and tend to build their teams around big players who think the game well. Whatever the recipe is for success, I think every OHL front office should be proud of the future pieces they added on April 11th.

The following is a team-by-team breakdown of noteworthy picks and talents. It’s important to note that I have not seen every player drafted and only comment on those that I have. There’s a good chance that some teams hit the jackpot with some of their picks that I am not familiar with. I have listed the teams in order from those I thought had an excellent draft to those that had good drafts. Again, on first initial observations, it was a good year across the league for drafting and not one team falls into the “poor draft” category.

To conclude, following the team-by-team analysis, I listed three selections from each round that I really liked.

Revisit my OHL Draft Rankings here.

TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Text book drafting continues in Sault Ste. Marie as the ‘Hounds scouting staff had a fantastic draft. With almost every pick that came due, the Greyhounds took my top ranked player remaining on my draft board – including Liam Hawel (selected 22nd, ranked 13th), Anthony DeMeo (selected 61st, ranked 20th), Morgan Frost (selected 81st, ranked 50th), Corson Green (selected 101st, ranked 26th), Calvin Martin (selected 121st, ranked 54th), Taylor Carlson (selected 141st, ranked 39th), Ryan Horvath (selected 161st, ranked 72nd) and Isaiah Payne (selected 221st, ranked 70th). It really was astonishing watching them pick off such great talent at every point in the draft. To no surprise, many of the players selected excel in possession hockey. Calvin Martin was a favourite all season long with his smart puck decisions. Liam Hawel owns some of the best pro potential in the draft. Morgan Frost is a hard to play against pivot out of Barrie. Demeo is a dynamic defender who instantly revitalizes the Greyhounds blueline if he commits considering Nurse and DeAngelo will graduate. The ‘Hounds stellar draft didn’t end there as they added highly regarded American Randy Hernandez, Theo Calvas and Perry Winfree late. Defenseman Zach Taylor and centreman Alex Daigle are two underrated possession players who have great supporting qualities and an ability to play a number of roles as well. Best drafting team in 2015.

Owen Sound Attack – Blessed with two very valuable first round selections due to the Victor Mete compensation pick, Owen Sound stuck gold getting two work horse players in Markus Phillips on defense and Nick Suzuki in the centre position. They had to wait until the third round to select again and added Matthew Struthers and athletic netminder Riley Daniels. It was through the middle rounds that Dale DeGray’s team did the most damage scooping up two energy skilled players from the Toronto Titans in Regan Kimens and Zach Sheedy, both high in my rankings. Furthermore, Mackenzie Warren, another top rated defender in my opinion, and Nick Pryce were two high value picks. Pryce was often the straw that stirred the Marlboros drink a lot of times this season. Kenneth Chisholm and defenseman Nicholas King were two smart picks out of the Alliance with both owning OHL potential. Joey Berkopec has some puck moving skills and his mobility showed very well in a quiet yet effective way. The Attack grabbed NOHA Player of the Year, Cayse Ton, in the 11th and then finished by selecting GM Dale DeGray’s son, Michael with their final pick in the 14th round. Solid draft!

London Knights – The Knights had 15 selections in the draft and I personally liked everyone of them. Oakville’s defenseman Evan Bouchard started things off in the opening round when everyone was thinking they’d go to Don Mills. Robert Thomas was next on the Knights list and that should come as no surprise since he plays a “Knights’ style” of hockey – excelling in possession and competitiveness. Finn Evans was selected in the third which was one of my favourite selections of the draft. London added Brady Tkachuk, brother of Matt who the Knights also own rights to. One of the draft’s top defenders Ian Blacker, committed to Western Michigan, was a gamble that might just pay off in the 4th. Cole Tymkin will add some grit to the system while Vinagradov, Turko, Di Cicco and Clarke are all local London kids with good OHL upside. Two of my sleepers of the draft were scooped up by London with Formenton and Dennison landing in the “Forest City”. Sean Dhoogie is a 5-foot-2 dynamo that is a gamble due to his commitments and Jacob Golden is rumoured to have options south of the border but is a great puck moving Top 75 defender.

Peterborough Petes – Loaded with a league-high 18 picks, Peterborough had a lot of flexibility in their draft plan and did well to lock up some good building blocks for the franchise. A bit surprising, Peterborough opted for Zach Gallant, a two-way forward with a lot of intangibles, with their 5th overall selection. Gallant will certainly become a key fixture for the Petes moving forward and should have an immediate impact in the lineup. Next up was Nicholas Grima, a defender I was higher on than most and one that fits the Petes’ hard-working game approach well. Gritty skilled winger CJ Clarke and hard hitting defender Cole Fraser offer a tough-to-play-against style that’s common at the Memorial Arena in Peterborough. Simon Boyko is a sniper who will surely help Jonathan Ang (2014 1st round selection) put up goals. Perth Swick is a big defender with some shutdown upside while Nick Isaacson is a forward I was particularly high on because of his rangy skilled style. Peterborough added Bryce Misley, Luke Wyatt, Cameron Crotty, and Colton Kalezic through the middle rounds which will improve their organizational depth and give them options. Josh Barraclough is a Petes’ style of burly forward and was snatched up in the 9th round. Logan Buchanan and Peterborough native Will Hickey were two energy forwards with skill added later. Mix in the gambles on Americans Logan Hutsko and Logan Cockerill and the Petes had a very good day at the draft table.

Kitchener Rangers – The blue shirts likely walked away from the draft very happy after landing Greg Meireles, a top 10 talent, with their 12th pick. The smooth skating Elijah Roberts was their 2nd round target and then Kitchener turned to the undersized skilled dynamo Joseph Garreffa in the 3rd followed by calm poised goaltender Luke Richardson in the 4th. Meireles’ teammate Nick McHugh was added in the 7th and Kitchener selected a few local skaters in Nick Duralijla (Hamilton) and Andrew McIntyre (Kitchener) later. Ryan Kula, Dylan Seitz, Alex Peterson, and Scott Del Zotto were shrewd selections as well. If Adam Scheel decides to come to the OHL over the NCAA then the Rangers could have another John Gibson on their hands.

Saginaw Spirit – The Spirit had one of the better drafts in 2015 and it started with high character, versatile pivot Brady Gilmour being selected 6th overall. Gilmour’s leadership and competitive hunger are the type of qualities team build championships around. Saginaw improved their blueline with the additions of Robert Proner (30th), Carson Pearce (9th round), Jaxon Camp (11th), Brady Enman (12th) and reentry Fedor Radukov (14th). With two 2nd round picks, Saginaw made the smart move by rolling the dice on Kirill Maksimov, a high potential yet inconsistent forward who owns game-changing qualities. Brendan Bonello was surprisingly available in the 4th round and the Spirit may have hit the jackpot here. Nick Campoli is a high energy skilled forward that was great value in the 6th round while adding Matteo DiGiulio was a worhwhile investment as he’s flashed some noteworthy skill. Gianluca Fuoco and Jacob Sutton are buzz saw forwards that’ll add some agitating presence to the system. Saginaw took some calculated risks on Americans they’ll attempt to recruit including Cole Coskey, Brock Hill and Michael Pastujov a top 3 talent who just happens to be the younger brother to highly touted Saginaw 2014 pick Nick Pastujov. If the Spirit can get the Pastujov brothers to report, watch out!

Guelph Storm – The Storm excelled in the top half of the draft with their selections of Ratcliffe, Stevens, Deakin-Poot, Schnarr, Hanna, Popovich and Ralph – all players with different personas that should fill out different roles well. In addition, Guelph took a flier on the top ranked defensive prospect in David Farrance giving them a potential star if they can convince him to report. More smart selections were made to end the draft with Jakob Lee, Noah Benjamin and Michael Mannara as a few other names that came aboard.

Oshawa Generals – The Gens got off on a good foot in my books after selecting my 8th ranked skater in Jack Studnicka in the 21st spot. Studnicka, in my opinion, owns some of the best upside in this draft and it was nice to see him land inside the opening round after I applauded his talents all season long. Without a pick until the 4th round, Oshawa turned back to the US-based teams and took Kyle MacLean from the New Jersey rockets giving them a two-way competitive forward who has top-nine potential. Waterloo’s Sullivan Sparkes, London’s Jaimen Allison, Quinte’s Keegan Ferguson and Soo Thunderbirds’ forward Gage Stephney all received good reviews this season in my notes. I especially feel that Ferguson and Stephney were two players who own some untapped upside. Oshawa rounded out the second half of their draft getting great value with their picks – Mathieu Franche (9th), Barrett Mundell (11th), Matt Stoia (12th), Tyler Dam (13th) and Shelby Rienstra (15th).

Niagara IceDogs– Similar to the Knights’ draft, Niagara nailed down almost every one of their picks. Ben Jones is one of the most OHL-ready prospects in the draft and Hayden Davis was the top ranked player at one point so the ‘Dogs did very well in the opening round. Cal Davis is a smart rangy winger with a lot of upside, Cameron Bisson is a sizeable winger who also has a lot of room to develop while Colton Incze was among my top ranked goaltenders. Max Khull might have been the most underrated Northern player and Mitchell Crevatin had a quiet yet excellent year with Sun County. Matthew Philip isn’t flashy but he’s got a smart mind for the game and knows how to play a good support possession game. Special stick tap to the Niagara IceDogs for selecting Benjamin Fox with the final pick of the draft, making the young lads’ dream come true after he suffered a stroke that has left him partially paralyzed. Classy move by Niagara and the OHL!

Erie Otters – Knocked their first six picks out of the park by adding Lodnia, Neumann, Wainman, Celotti and Ryan Martin. The Otters appeared to nab their guys in their expected projected rounds which resulted in them adding a lot of quality depth. Middle round pick Derek McVey is a rangy forward with some promising tools and a player to watch moving forward. The Otters went with some unknown American prospects with some of their later picks but due to the unfamiliarity, I cannot comment on their upside/skills. Dylan Latty and Adam Pys were two solid gets later in the draft.

Mississauga Steelheads – Owen Tippett wasn’t the McLeod brother that they may have expected to draft but Tippett is an excellent and equally as dangerous talent to build around. With an OHL-calibre shot, Tippett should help Mississauga in the goal scoring department very soon. The ‘Trout had a quietly good draft and seemed to like the Ottawa and Quinte areas picking up forwards Aiden McFarland, Matthew Titus, Darcy Walsh, Scoley Dow and defenseman Ryan O’Connell. Jack Lyons, Ryan Radisa, Chris Garbe, Harrison Toms and Maxime Fortin were good value picks. One of my top ranked defenseman in the draft was Ryan Wells, who was taken in the final round so I certainly approve.

North Bay Battalion – The troops in North Bay did a splendid job locking up talented northern kids while mixing in smart value picks throughout the draft. North Bay native Brady Lyle was their first round selection after the offensive rearguard tore it up with Shattuck St. Mary’s scoring at a near point-per-game pace. Jacob Ball is a rangy shoot-first winger with some promising skills that was nabbed in the 3rd round. Sudbury’s Brady Chenier owns some of the most tantalizing talent of any northern kid and will surely develop into a solid player. North Bay scooped up Don Mills minute-eating goaltender Matthew Woroniuk in the 6th (great value), projected Top 30 defenseman Josh Maniscalco in the 7th (a worthy gamble) and Joseph Franzin, Max Wright, Daniel Walker, Stefan Palatsidis and Kameron Shearer were good value picks after the mid-rounds. Eric Allair was an under-the-radar defender from North Bay and grabbing Curtis Abbott in the 15th was a smart move as he represented one of my favourites from the Alliance this season.

Kingston Frontenacs – Robbie Burt was the Fronts first round pick which was surprising to a lot of draft watchers but he certainly flashed high-end talent with the Rebels from time to time. Kingston grabbed Jacob Paquette in the second round (a favourite of mine) and then continued a nice string of selections in Jakob Brahaney, Jason Robertson, Tyler Burnie, Nick Kiriakos, Mario Peccia, Colin VanDenHurk, Sean Michaud and Brad Cocca. Kingston did very well grabbing value in every round and it should pay long-term dividends.

Hamilton Bulldogs – Impressive draft for the Hamilton Bulldogs as they targeted tough to play against competitors. Matt Strome is a nice piece to build around and they flanked him with some good talent in two-way defender Reilly Webb, intriguing puck moving defender Fedor Gordeev and hard hitting blueliner Noah Lugli. Add in Zachary Jackson, Jesse Burger, Maddux Rychel and Skyler Brind’Amour – all players who have loads of potential and room to develop – and the ‘BDogs have stocked their cupboards. Mackenzie Entwistle is a player teams will win with and Brett Willits, Jake Durham and local defender Brandon Scanlin were some of the more underrated prospects.

Windsor Spitfires – Warren Rychel went with the best player available and snatched up Gabe Vilardi with the 2nd pick of the draft. Vilardi is a high-end playmaker who can dominate possession time. He will fit in nicely with the other big bodies in Windsor and likely elevate the play of his linemates with his distribution skills. To no surprise, Windsor addressed their lack of goaltending depth by grabbing local netminder Michael DiPietro, who played all season with Rychel’s son Maddux. With their second pick of the 2nd round, the Spitfires scooped up smooth skating defender Kyle Auger out of the Thunder Bay Kings program. Windsor was the first to draft a re-entry player in EOJHL standout Cole Carter in the 4th round. The GTHL was targeted by Windsor with their 8th and 9th round picks taking versatile defender Declan Graham from the Marlies and industrious winger Cole Purboo from the Mississauga Rebels, respectively. Thomas Stevenson is a projectable defenseman with promising raw tools and a nice get in the 10th. William Sirman isn’t the biggest or most dynamic skater but his hockey sense and effectiveness in possession will make him a nice OHL prospect. Devlin Shanahan was an OHL Cup standout in my books as a player who knows how to make an impact, showing advanced understanding of the game and the resolve to just get things done.

Sudbury Wolves – David Levin was my top ranked player and rightfully went 1st overall to the Wolves giving them an exciting dynamic player to build around. With Andrew Shaw in charge, it Sudbury performed very well drafting well out of the Alliance including smart possession winger Shane Bulitka (2nd round), opportunistic scorer Owen Lane (3rd), two-way workhorse defender Donovan Cowan (6th) and sparkplug forward Kier Cumming (15th). Barrie’s Macauley Carson was taken with the last pick in the 2nd and will provide a big physical presence who shows good skill in traffic. Conor Ali was an underrated puck mover and a good pick up while Ben Garagan, Adam Panacci and Declan Hilton all provide some long-term potential up front. Adrian Bilic was a quietly good selection as he logged a ton of valuable minutes with the Jr. Canadiens. Jake McGrath and Evan Fear (if he’d report) were two solid goaltender picks for Sudbury.

Sarnia Sting – To no surprise, Sarnia went Stateside and adding a skilled forward with Euro ties in Sasha Chmelevski from the always dangerous Detroit Honeybaked team. After trading away one of their three second round picks, Sarnia opted for Southern Tier’s Ryan McGregor and towering London goaltender Aidan Hughes in the second round. McGregor was taken slightly higher than many expected but he offers skill in a similar fashion as rookie standout Jordan Kyrou did last season. He has the creativity, soft handling ability, and strong skating package to develop into a special player. Aidan Hughes was Mr. Steady Eddie all season long posting impressive crease numbers and the given fact that he’s both huge and extremely athletic, he has some outstanding potential. With their 3rd round selection, Sarnia drafted another Hughes in Toronto Marlboros’ defenseman Quinton Hughes who was ranked 4th overall in my rankings. Hughes has a University of Michigan commitment and is expected to play with the US NTDP program. Kelton Hatcher apparently plays a similar game as his father Derien Hatcher and could offer Sarnia a big minute shutdown defender in a year or two. Matthew Kellemberger is a smooth skating puck moving defenseman that was a smart selection in the 7th round. American Colton McKenna displays a good north-south attack game and a noteworthy shot. Holden Hrysko is a gritty hard working two-way forward who isn’t afraid to get physical but also owns some solid puck skills. Anthony Bertucca was a very good selection in the 11th for Sarnia as he showed very well for the Quinte Red Devils, winning them an OMHA championship. Heading back to Southern Tier, Sarnia grabbed Curtis Egert in the 13th who is a good framed kid who loves to hit and packs a good shooting arsenal.

Ottawa 67’s – Austen Keating has been a ’99 to watch for several years and the 67’s selected the skilled pivot with the 16th overall. Ottawa looked to improve their blueline with their next two picks drafting Noah Hoefenmayer and Hudson Wilson from Don Mills and Vaughan, respectively. Wilson was a very underrated defender who plays a complete game while “The Hoef” has shown to offer some promising offensive tools. Corey Andonovski was a shrewd selection in the 4th round as this talented winger really had a strong second half and could develop into one of the better ‘99s. Marcel Berube (5th) is a hard to play against physical winger, Kody Clark (son of Wendel Clark) was a good support player on the Marlboros and Ben Evans was my 43rd ranked skater so he was a solid get in the 8th round. Ottawa added some good local talent in North Central’s Matthew Prucha, Jr. 67’s defender Erik Ross and Titans puckstopper Jacob Smith in the 9th, 10th and 11th round. Highly touted Americans Thomas Miller and Charlie Dovorany were grabbed with two of their final three selections.

Flint Firebirds – Made the first controversial pick by nabbing Ryan McLeod third overall after talks that he was headed to Mississauga to join his brother Michael. Credit to their staff for drafting McLeod and grabbing the best available player at that position. Flint took some calculated risks on Americans with commitments. Firebirds did well to add some tough players to play against through the middle rounds in Jack Phibbs and Drayton Duckett.

Barrie Colts – Strong first seven picks including Tortora, Willms, Aidan Brown, Christian Propp, Jaden Peca and Kade Landry. It will be interesting to see what Jake Tortora opts to do as much of the Colts draft success depends on this first round selection. If he reports and opts out of his collegiate commitment, he’s a game changer. Goaltender Carter Pearen had a strong season with Elgin and was a great pick in the 12th round. Likewise, Kyle Heitzner flashed some natural scoring skills and could develop into an impact forward as a 11th round selection.

ROUND-BY-ROUND FAVOURITE PICKS

There were three players noted in every round that I consider above-average picks based on their skill and value moving forward. There are several rounds with an additional player listed (in italics) because a team took a calculated gamble on a player with NCAA commitment in a draft spot that could prove extremely valuable.

Round 1
Ryan McLeod (3rd to Flint)
Jack Studnicka (21st to Oshawa)
Liam Hawel (22nd to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 2
Nicholas Grima (25th to Peterborough)
Jacob Paquette (31st to Kingston)
Mackenzie Entwistle (40th to Hamilton)

Round 3
Quinton Hughes (49th to Sarnia)
Brett Neumann (53rd to Erie)
Finn Evans (60th to London)
Anthony DeMeo (61st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 4
Simon Boyko (66th to Peterborough)
Ian Blacker (70th to London)
Corey Andonovski (75th to Ottawa)
Luke Richardson (79th to Kitchener)

Round 5
Nicholas Celotti (63rd to Erie)
Quinn Hanna (94th to Guelph)
Corson Green (101st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 6
Jaden Peca (102nd to Barrie)
Donovan Cowan (105th to Sudbury)
Matthew Woroniuk (108th to North Bay)
David Farrance (114th to Guelph)

Round 7
Jack Phibbs (133rd to Saginaw)
Cedric Ralph (140th to Guelph)
Taylor Carlson (141st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 8
Nick Pryce (143rd to Owen Sound)
Ben Evans (155th to Ottawa)
Ryan Horvath (161st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 9
Cole Purboo (163rd to Windsor)
Kyle Waters (164th to Flint)
Matthew Philip (172nd to Niagara)

Round 10
Jordan Di Cicco (196th to London)
Tyler Gratton (199th to Erie)
Brad Cocca (200th to Kingston)

Round 11
Alex Formenton (216th to London)
Barrett Mundell (220th to Oshawa)
Isaiah Payne (221st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 12
Skyler Brind’Amour (228th to Hamilton)
Scott Del Zotto (231st to Kitchener)
Matt Stoia (240th to Oshawa)

Round 13
Devlin Shanahan (243rd to Windsor)
Curtis Egert (249th to Sarnia)
Sean Dhoogie (256th to London)
Eric Allair (257th to North Bay)

Round 14
Adrian Bilic (262nd to Sudbury)
William Sirman (263rd to Windsor)
Liam Dennison (276th to London)

Round 15
Ryan Wells (285th to Mississauga)
Jacob Golden (295th to London)
Curtis Abbott (297th to North Bay)
Benjamin Fox (302nd to Niagara) – Classy Move!

UNDRAFTED TOP 250 RANKED PLAYERS

The following players were ranked in my personal Top 250 (not including Americans without viewings) who did not get draft this time around.

G - Kristian Hufsky

G - Michael Leach

G - Garrett Boyonoski

D - Eric Sutherland

D - Zach Hart

D - Jordan Russell

D - Adrien Bisson

D - Justin Freeman

D - Daniel Marchese

D - Bryan Brant

D - Ben Derrough

D - Blake Kryska

D - Elliott MacDermott

D - Ben Schoch

D - Jackson Oswald

D - Brendon Clavelle

D - Jackson Brown

D - John MIllar

D- Robert Haak

D - Kyle Lefebvre

F - Tanner Hertel

F - Brenden Stanko

F - Jonathan Lakhani

F - Ryan Shaw

F - Steven Agriogianis

F - Kole Scott

F - Karter Renouf

F - Mark Tassone

F - Mackenzie Lowry

F - Adam Johnston

F - Zach Bramwell

F - Oliver Castleman

F - Lucas Stefano

F - Felix Cote

F - Nick Hoey

F - Jon Sanderson

F - Jacob Brown

F - Vincent Bonailuto

F - Robert Welsher

F - Sean Josling

F - Travis Yawger

F - Michael Cabral

F - Joshua Battistella

F - Eric Eschweiler

F - Harrison Craffey

Youngblood: 2015 OHL Draft Guide & Rankings

Brendan Ross — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 21:49:16 +0000

David Levin (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

With the Sudbury Wolves scheduled to announce the winner of the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded annually to the 1st overall selection, a new face of the frachise will don the Sudbury jersey in need of some electrifying talent. All signs point to that player being skilled winger David Levin of the Don Mills Flyers but that will need to be confirmed at their press conference on Friday, April 10th at 11am EST.

Born in Israel and a late beginner to the game of hockey, David Levin is a player with an interesting back story. He started the game as an inline player who eventually moved to the Toronto area to live with family in order to chase his dreams of playing in the NHL. Despite his fascinating and journey outside of the rink, Levin's dazzling skills on the ice are the true grounds for excitement. His ability to create offense with elite level puck skills, paralyzing one-on-one skills and breath-taking passing abilities will surely be welcomed in Nickel City, who are eager to add a game-breaking forward talent.

Unlike the 2014 OHL Priority Selection when Jakob Chychrun was the unanimous choice as the top ranked skater, David Levin is only one player in a tightly packed group at the top of many draft rankings. Levin is joined by top rated skaters Gabriel Vilardi, Ryan McLeod and Owen Tippett as potential 1st overall selections. On the blue line, Hamilton's Hayden Davis, Brampton's Ian Blacker and Toronto's Quinn Hughes draw the most praise from scouts. For teams eyeing help between the pipes, look for Titans' puckstopper Brendan Bonello, Canada Winter Games' standout Michael DiPietro, North Central's Luke Richardson or London's Aidan Hughes to draw interest early.

The 2015 OHL draft crop is a unique group as the variance of opinions is quite extensive. Simply put, as teams call out their selections be prepared for the unexpected because draft lists and rankings lack any sort of consensus. Regardless of the 1999-crop being void of that "can't-miss" prospect, it does provide good depth and will certainly be a fun group to follow as they journey through their development. Years down the road when the selections can fairly be analyzed, we many later picks match the success of earlier selections, at least - more than we traditionally expect.

April 10th will mark an exciting day for players and their families as over 300 prospects get drafted into the Ontario Hockey League, taking the next step in their hockey careers.

After spending long days and many weekends in the rink and on the road travelling to scout the '99 age group, I can proudly present readers of "Youngblood Hockey" with my personal rankings, observations, lists and much, much more in the 2015 Youngblood OHL Draft Guide. Inside readers will find my Top 250 ranked players, 50 candid scouting notes, and an additional 200+ Players to Watch (including Americans without personal viewings). In addition, Youngblood Hockey has included "Sleeper Lists", "Best Of.." groupings and a two-round Mock Draft.

It's been a fun year! Enjoy and good luck to all of the players!

DOWNLOAD (FREE): Youngblood Hockey - 2015 OHL Draft Rankings

Brendan Ross

@RossyYoungblood

Youngblood: OHL Cup Hits Primetime

Brendan Ross — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 18:16:08 +0000

The 2015 OHL Cup Championship game was held at Mattamy Arena, formerly Maple Leafs Gardens, between the Don Mills Flyers (left) and Toronto Marlboros (right)
(Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

One of the best parts about sports, and specifically hockey, is that it always delivers on the entertainment factor – regardless of the league. Six-year-old newcomers to hockey can be equally entertaining as 20-year veterans of the game. No scripts are needed. A sheet of ice and two teams driven to prove their worth are the only necessary ingredients.

Over the past week, twenty teams from across Ontario and northern USA converged on Toronto’s Scotiabank Pond (Buckingham Arena) looking to capture the OHL Cup, a showcase tournament for the provinces’ top teams and regional winners. Mixed in among the hundreds of scouts and agents were eager hockey fans looking to get a glimpse at the next superstars of hockey - Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty and soon to be NHL-star Connor McDavid are just a few of the OHL Cup alumni group.

The OHL Cup peaked on Monday night as the Don Mills Flyers and Toronto Marlboros took the ice at Mattamy Athletic Centre as the last two standing teams in front of Sportnets’ national cameras. Leading up to the Championship event was a week of emotional highs and lows including a nervous few hours for the defending champs (Toronto Marlboros) as they waited to hear whether they’d advance into the quarterfinal games after a three-way deadlock in the Nash Division. Fortunately for the Marlboros, they held the tiebreaker over the Mississauga Reps and would move onto playoff rounds where they eventually picked up steam.

Fast forward to Monday’s thrilling OHL Cup Championship game and it was a rematch of the GTHL Championship series between Don Mills and the Marlboros. That previous series went the distance needing all eight games plus two overtime periods before Toronto’s Elijah Roberts played hero sending the blue and white into celebration. On Monday, March 23^rd, the Flyers scored a late goal to send the OHL Cup into extra time but again, it was the Marlboros who’d eventually win as Matthew Strome, younger brother to Islanders forward Ryan and 2014-15 OHL scoring champion Dylan, found the back of the net to cap off an outstanding week of hockey and thrilling year of minor midget hockey.

Aaron Bell/OHL Images

That was the Toronto Marlboros second consecutive OHL Cup championship.

Now that the tournament is behind us and all eyes have turned to the OHL Priority Selection draft on April 11^th, it’s a perfect time to take a look at the players who impressed over the course of the week.

Notes: The following is not a draft ranking but rather a list of players who performed particularly well at the 2015 OHL Cup. The 2000-born prospects were not included in the ranking.

There is a Top 10 for the 2000-born OHL Cup performances at the end of the article.

OHL Cup Top 50

Toronto Marlboros' Ryan McLeod was named GTHL Player of the Year and OHL Cup MVP (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

1. Ryan McLeod, C, Toronto Marlboros

For a player who’s struggled with consistency in his production over the course of their draft season, McLeod certainly found a great time to peak. After an outstanding Canada Winter Games showing and a dominant GTHL playoff run, McLeod has vaulted himself into discussion as a potential top overall selection. He rightfully won MVP honours at the OHL Cup which he can add to his GTHL Player of the Year honours that he captured last Thursday. McLeod is a two-way pivot who excels at playing at a high pace, showing crafty hands and a pro-level shot.

2. Jacob Paquette, D, Ottawa Jr. 67’s

In my opinion, Jacob Paquette had one of the most eye-opening OHL Cup performances from start to finish. An extremely poised defender with no panic threshold, Paquette exudes a calming influence throughout the Jr 67’s lineup. Uses a long powerful smooth stride to propel himself up ice and he isn’t afraid to jump into the rush. His skating stride looks very similar to Sean Day’s in the way that it’s effortless. Showed outstanding gap control and never allowed attacking forwards to gain the zone, closing the gap at the blueline. Paquette found open seams under pressure and senses pressure well, using reversals or spinning off and regrouping. Simply put, this low-maintenance, big-minute defenseman had an outstanding tournament.

Jacob Paquette (Dan Hickling/Hickling Images)

3. Jake Tortora, LW, Don Mills Flyers

Easily my favourite player in the draft despite owning a 5-foot-6 slender frame, Tortora is a game-breaker who plays the game at an unrelenting pace. His jack rabbit-like acceleration is driven by quick sharp edges that reach top speed instantaneously. His ability to gain the offensive zone is impressive and he’s shown to be one of the most creative passers in the draft. It’s astonishing to see this small (yet very feisty) forward knock around players 8-10 inches taller than him. He has a knack for drawing defenders in and then blasting by them. Tortora masks his intentions well and certainly prefers to operate as a playmaker. Tortora is committed to Boston College but remains VERY high on my personal rankings.

4. Nick Suzuki, C, London Jr. Knights

After watching Suzuki all season, it was nice to see this highly intelligent center have an outstanding final tournament showing off the potential we’ve all believed him to have. There were times during the OHL Cup when Suzuki single-handedly took his team on his back and lifted them to victory showing elite defensive skills to force a turnover and elite offensive skills to capitalize the other way. It was exactly the type of showing that Suzuki needed to show scouts that he’s a top round player.

5. Quinton Hughes, D, Toronto Marlboros

Hughes missed Saturday’s playoff action because of he was in Ann Arbor at the US Under-17 NTDP camp but when he was in the lineup, he proved to be an absolute game-changer. Arguably the most intuitive puck-moving defenseman in the draft, Hughes’ ability to dissect the opposition and attack the middle of ice with speed is unmatched. In many ways, this University of Michigan commit reminds me of a younger Anthony DeAngelo (OHL’s leading defensive scorer).

6. Kyle Auger, D, Thunder Bay Kings

Right-handed shooting defenseman, Kyle Auger, was a shoe-in as a Top 10 OHL Cup performer after impressing with his smart puck rushing ability. Quick and deceptively agile on his skates, Auger navigated about the ice with ease showing an outstanding aptitude for gaining the zone. He utilizes subtle misdirection and fakes as he attacks through the neutral zone and certainly improved his draft stock.

7. Greg Meireles, RW, Ottawa Jr. 67’s

Meireles sat atop the OHL Cup scoring ranks for the majority of the tournament and finished there in a tie with five others (nine points). The projected Top 10 pick did nothing to hurt his draft stock and continued to play a hard-to-contain high-paced game. Continually impressed with his effort on both sides of the puck and it’s quite clear that his competitiveness may be unmatched in this draft. With Meireles, an OHL team is going to get an offensive player with high-end upside who just happens to be a determined defensive player as well.

Anthony DeMeo of Elite Hockey Group (Dan Hickling Photography)

8. Anthony DeMeo, D, Elite Hockey Group

The top skater on the Elite Hockey Group team, Anthony DeMeo is a gifted puck rushing defenseman whose ability to gain speed in possession and enter the offensive zone virtually untouched is elite. Elusive in four-ways and blazing top speed make him almost impossible to contain in flight. He appeared to struggle in identifying options once he gained the zone but that could also be a result from the lack of chemistry on this “all-star” team. DeMeo owns first round talent and has not committed to a college.

9. Matthew Woroniuk, G, Don Mills Flyers

There’s value in goaltenders who step up and shine in big games and Woroniuk did exactly that down the stretch in the GTHL playoffs and then again in a long OHL Cup run. When Woroniuk is on his game, he’s extremely focused tracking pucks with ease. He’s a big goaltender who takes up a lot of the net and his lower lateral coverage stems from quick pad reflexes that resemble pinball flippers. He does wander out of position occasionally but has the athleticism to make that much needed game-saving stop in recovery.

10. Jaden Peca, LW, Toronto Marlboros

The Marlies’ do-it-all winger had one of the more impressive OHL Cup performances. Peca battles for pucks and gets his nose dirty, forcing turnovers with his hounding competitive drive. His quick stick and strong routes collapse quickly on defenders and it opens up a lot of space for his linemates to operate. Peca led the Marlboros in scoring with eight points in the OHL Cup.

11. Nick Celotti, C/RW, Toronto Jr. Canadiens

Celotti is another personal favourite prospect for the 2015 OHL Draft and it stems from his ability to dictate the offensive pace. His first step quickness is excellent and at top speed, he is difficult to contain. He has the ability to drive wide on defenders and cut hard to the net or pull up and hit a trailing teammate. He tends to operate more as a distributor than a shooter but with his skill he will flank a top-six line.

12. Aidan Hughes, G, London Jr. Knights

One of the biggest goaltenders available in the draft finished off a great second half with one of the best OHL Cup crease performances. He looked dialed in all tournament long and led this team to a semi-final showing. Few goaltenders can combine the size and mental focus as well as Aiden Hughes.

13. CJ Clarke, RW, Toronto Marlboros

When the Marlboros were desperate and needed goals, CJ Clarke answered the bell. Without Clarke’s two big goals against the Ottawa Jr. 67’s, Toronto may have never found the momentum they needed to get their offense on track and earn a quarterfinal berth. Clarke is a competitive and aggressive winger who uses sheer determination in puck pursuits. He engages, operates well on the cycle and can strike quickly walking off the half-wall. He uses his length well to protect the puck and knows how to use defenders as screens during attacks.

Jack Studnicka of TPH Thunder (Dan Hickling/Hickling Images)

14. Jack Studnicka, C, TPH Thunder

Studnicka entered the OHL Cup as one of my favourite first round sleepers, mainly because he’s such a talented player who owns some raw attributes that can easily be developed. The Belle Tire leading scorer oozes hockey sense and relies on his vision and anticipation skills to exploit time and space accordingly. He’s a big body with great length to his game, using his wide wingspan and long stride to shield off checkers. Because of his reach, Studnicka has the ability to hold the puck out wide and then quickly pull it in for a swooping toe-drag or fluid windup for his wicked shot. He prefers to be creative inside the top of the circles and is prone to passing when he should be utilizing his shot in that scoring area. His frame can carry a lot more muscle and when he physically matures, he should be a force to contain. Stylistic wise, Studnicka reminds me of Mark Scheifele.

15. Matthew Strome, LW, Toronto Marlboros

The OHL Cup hero after scoring the championship winning goal (adding an earlier goal too), Matt Strome is known best as the younger brother of Ryan Strome (Islanders budding star) and Dylan Strome (projected Top 5 NHL Draft pick) but he’s got skills of his own. A clever passer who reads the ice very well, Strome owns the offensive instincts to develop into an impact player. He continues to work on his skating, which is definitely a work in progress, but beyond that concern, there’s a lot to like with his game. At the OHL Cup, Strome strung together some great games when it mattered most and was very good at utilizing his size advantage to work the possession game and drive to the net.

16. Colin VanDenHurk, D, Quinte Red Devils

The Red Devils lean on VanDenHurk in all situations which is a testament to his overall hockey intelligence. He walks the blueline with his head up, always surveying his options, and promptly identifies his options. He is a flawless passer who supports the puck extremely well. With improved pace, VanDenHurk has the potential to become an extremely valuable top-four defenseman. His one-timer was especially effective at the OHL Cup and his overall playing style compares to a younger Chris Bigras (Owen Sound/Colorado Avalanche).

17. Skyler Brind’Amour, C, TPH Thunder

The son of former NHL star Rod Brind’Amour, Skyler was one player who immediately caught my eye at the OHL Cup. He’s a big kid with a great frame to build on and he owns some solid fundamental skills. At 6-foot-1, Brind’Amour has good length and he uses it as an advantage in his attacks. His puck skills, especially in traffic, are very impressive showing very little panic. His on-ice reads were excellent identifying soft areas and playing to them. Brind’Amour plays an OHL-style of game using quick touches and can extend possession time with his confident puck handling abilities. He came into the tournament as an unknown for me but quickly climbed my draft rankings.

18. Nick Isaacson, LW, Mississauga Reps

Tall and rangy winger with tantalizing long-term potential, Nick Isaacson flashes creative puck touches, a strong powerful stride and the hunger to score. Isaacson enters the zone at top speed and drives wide on defenders before cutting hard to the net, shielding off defenders using his reach and long stretched-out legs. He is one of the drafts most appealing projects on forward because technically he has the raw physical tools but also combines that with smart instincts and elements of creativeness.

19. Robert Thomas, C, York Simcoe Express

Thomas is the spark-plug that drives the YSE offense and he’s the type of player that can make an offensive impact every time he touches the ice. His start-up gear instantly gets him to top speed and the agility he displays in flight is a bonus for a smaller player. Thomas utilizes quick cuts and tight curl-offs as he enters the offensive zone and then identifies his options, setting up as the quarterback. He owns a separation gear and one-on-one creativity to beat defenders as well.

20. Devlin Shanahan, LW, Mississauga Reps

From a pure upside perspective, Devlin Shanahan won’t immediately jump out at you but he’s the straw that stirs the drink on the Reps. He’s the type of forward that makes things happen all the time and he’s always around the puck. Shanahan isn’t blessed with paralyzing quickness but his sheer determination and puck pursuit suffocates the opposition and forces turnovers. In possession, Shanahan makes smart passes moving the puck crisply and most importantly, never concedes possession. He’s more likely to throw the puck into his feet if out of options and battle or send it to an open area to be retrieved by a teammate. Shanahan likely won’t be selected in the top rounds but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be that late round pick that has a solid OHL career.

21. Noah Benjamin, LW, Waterloo Wolves

22. Carter Pearen, G, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs

23. Michael Leach, G, Ottawa Valley Titans

24. Nicholas Grima, D, Toronto Titans

25. Liam Hawel, C, Ottawa Valley Titans

26.Jason Robertson, RW, Don Mills Flyers

27. Simon Boyko, RW, Toronto Jr. Canadiens

28. David Levin, LW, Don Mills Flyers

29. William Sirman, C, York Simcoe Express

30. Max Wright, G, Waterloo Wolves

31. Matthew Rehding, LW, Toronto Jr. Canadiens

32. Brenden Stanko, LW, TPH Thunder

33. Ryan Wells, D, Mississauga Reps

34. Nathan Schnarr, C, Waterloo Wolves

35. Owen Lane, LW, Kitchener Jr. Rangers

36. Kole Scott, LW, North Central Predators

37. Donovan Cowan, D, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs

38. Jason Willms, C, Kitchener Jr. Rangers

39. Sullivan Sparkes, LW, Waterloo Wolves

40. Max Vinagradov, RW, London Jr. Knights

41.Eric Sutherland, D, Ottawa Valley Titans

42. Matthew Philip, C, Elgin Middlesex Chiefs

43. Matthew Stoia, D, TPH Thunder

44. Keegan Ferguson, D, Quinte Red Devils

45. Steven Agriogianis, C, Elite Hockey Group

46. Matthew Titus, RW, Ottawa Valley Titans

47. Cole Tymkin, RW, Thunder Bay Kings

48. Thomas Stevenson, D, Ottawa Jr. 67’s

49. Noel Hoefenmayer, D, Don Mills Flyers

50. Matthew Struthers, C, Halton Hurricanes

51. Alex Peterson, D, Thunder Bay Kings

EDIT: The original list was edited after it failed to paste one player in correctly, explaining the 51 players instead of 50.

Top 10 OHL Cup Performances from Underage Players (2000-born)

Ryan Merkley, D, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Eric Guest, C, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
Allan McShane, C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Blade Jenkins, C, TPH Thunder
Ryan Bangs, D, Ottawa Valley Titans
Aidan Dudas, C, North Central Predators
Jacob Goldowski, G, Elite Hockey Group
Brady MacDonald, D, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
Nathan Dunkley, RW, Quinte Red Devils
Dennis Busby, D, Don Mills Flyers

Honourable Mentions:

Jake DeBoer, F, Elite Hockey Group *son of Peter DeBoer*

Ian Vucko, RW, York Simcoe Express

The Youngblood series will return prior to the April 11th OHL Priority Selection Draft to post Brendan Ross' final draft rankings.

Feel free to follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter for your OHL Draft needs

Youngblood: OHL Cup – Players to Watch

Brendan Ross — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:53:05 +0000

A weekend capped off with several championship celebrations from the minor midget AAA loops across the province can only mean one thing – the OHL Cup week is upon us. The past weekend witnessed the Quinte Red Devils capture the OMHA AAA Gold medal defeating the York Simcoe Express, the Toronto Marlies clinch the GTHL Championship in a gruelling eight-game series against a skilled Don Mills Flyers squad, and the Waterloo Wolves grab their second straight Alliance Championship after knocking off the talented London Jr. Knights. The Ottawa Valley Titans topped the Ottawa Jr. 67’s earlier in the week to take the OEMHL Championship as well.

Belleville Bulls' 1st round selection, Brandon Saigeon, competes at the 2014 OHL Cup for the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

With the 2015 OHL Cup scheduled to begin on St. Patrick’s Day, twenty of the top teams in the loop will be looking for their share of luck as they take the ice at Buckingham’s Scotiabank Pond in hopes of winning the illustrious event. The annual showcase tournament is home to hundreds of scouts for the week-long event as they attempt to get their final looks at players before the April 11^th OHL Priority Selection Draft. If you are in the Toronto Area, this is your chance to see many of the NHL's future stars.

OHL Cup Participants

The 17^th edition of the OHL Cup includes 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States, with 17 of the 20 spots guaranteed through league competition. The 17 guaranteed spots include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship. Three teams from the ALLIANCE will be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals. The OEMHL Champion and Finalist will also be guaranteed spots in the tournament, along with two United States entries, one HNO representative, and one NOHA representative.

As introduced last season, the final three Wild Card spots will be determined among six teams that will play a one game 'win and in' scenario. The six competing teams aiming for the final three tournament spots will include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series, and four teams named by the Tournament Selection Committee based on regular season, playoff, and tournament play. All three Wild Card matchups and times of play will be determined by random draw among the six competing teams.

Last season the Toronto Marlboros captured their fourth OHL Cup title in 10 years with a 5-0 win over the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.

Teams/Players to Watch

ALLIANCE

Waterloo Wolves (ALLIANCE Champions)

Nathan Schnarr,RC – Powerful pivot with good north-south attacking speed…successful when moving his feet at top speed and shooting off of the rush…lacks quickness in start-up and isn’t overly agile on his edges… prone to tunnel vision as he prefers to unleash a high volume of shot … displays good touch around the crease ...projects as an opportunistic shooter who complements a player well.

Sullivan Sparkes, LC – Offensive winger who excels with the puck on his stick, showing confidence and poise under pressure ..strong puck control and creative handling features good use of misdirection and fakes…isn’t overly quick or explosive limiting his overall impact on the rush but compromises with clever use of space as he waits for options to open up…accurate shooter …excellent in-tight handling ability and good in board battles, using his stick and feet.

Other Wolves to Watch: Trent Lamarche, Nicholas King, Max Wright, Noah Benjamin, Drayton Duckett

London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE Finalist)

Nick Suzuki, RC – Cerebral pivot with a lethal snap shot and two-way acumen coveted in a top-six pivot…wavering impact on the offensive side of the puck causes some concern as it appears he`s capable of giving more … processes the game extremely well and intelligently anticipates the flow of the game…excelled as a powerplay quarterback on the point in the playoffs…capable of another offensive level makes him a shrewd Top 20 selection.

Isaac Ratcliffe, RW – Left shooting rangy winger who suffocates defenders with his north-south attacking speed…high volume shooter on the rush or off of the half-boards, Ratcliffe`s shot features outstanding release velocity but needs some work in accuracy…prone to tunnel vision in possession…drives the net well and has the frame to add a ton of muscle mass…high potential winger will surely be taken in the opening round.

Ryan Martin, LD – Mobile athletic two-way defenseman has shown great progression this season…Martin has honed his “riverboat gambler” approach to the puck rushing game, showing better decision making…great lateral agility and quick acceleration allows him to cover the offensive blueline well, keeping plays alive…could stand to improve his quickness in decision making but overall, Martin owns some intriguing top-four upside.

Max Vinogradov, RW – High paced short and stocky possession winger who’s offensive drive is quite apparent…loves to have the puck on his stick and being in control of the pace…prone to trying to do too much, overlooking easier passing options for a high-risk dangle…possesses the individual skill to be a game-breaker but would maximize his effectiveness by utilizing teammates more…great shooting release.

Other Knights to Watch: Aiden Hughes, Jordan Di Cocca, Isaiah Payne, Jackson Brown, Marcel Berube, Brett Willits, Alex Turko, Tyler Arndt, Jaimen Allison

Kitchener Rangers (ALLIANCE Semi-Finalists)

Owen Lane, LW – Skilled scoring winger playing in his second straight minor midget season…entered the draft season identified as one of the top skaters …displays good offensive instincts, anticipating plays unfolding and exploiting soft spots on the ice…lacks second-chance determination after his attempts are failed…good but not outstanding skater …possesses good puck control but not overly creative or dangerous in one-on-one attacks…excelled early and is coming off a good playoff showing but figuring out his role at the next level is most difficult…could use a strong OHL Cup performance.

Jason Willms, LW – With Owen Lane, Willms formed the one-two offensive punch that Kitchener relied on…also playing in his second minor midget season, Willms’ best tool is a strong shot that features accuracy and quickness to keep goaltenders on their tools…owns decent power in his stride to perform well in the corners and in short offensive attacks but lacks the top end speed to strike fear as an individual threat on the rush…uses his reach and body position to gain prime shooting position…playmaking doesn’t come naturally.

Other Jr. Rangers to Watch: Sam Shaw, Peter Cascagnette, Andrew McIntyre,

GTHL

Toronto Marlboros (GTHL Champion)

Cliff Pu, drafted by the Oshawa Generals in the 1st round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, helped the Marlboros capture the 2014 OHL Cup Championship (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Ryan McLeod, LC – Elite skater who has shown a good ability to create using his feet and strong puck skills..production has been fairly inconsistent this season but McLeod has improved that area tremendously in the final rounds of the GTHL playoffs and during his performance at the Canada Winter Games.

Quinton Hughes, LD – Smooth skating defenseman who controls the pace of the game from the blueline..blessed with outstanding vision and poise, Hughes never panics under pressure often relying on his skating ability and confident puck skills to escape pressure…gamebreaker from the blue line who’s committed to the University of Michigan..son of Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Player Development – Jim Hughes.

Ben Jones, LC – Smart and instinctive centerman who plays both sides of the puck very well...great shooting arsenal who can unleash it very quickly, often coming off the half-boards or from the corner .. top six forward with untapped offensive upside.

Matthew Strome, LW – Yes, Matt is the younger brother to Ryan Strome (NY Islanders) and Dylan Strome (projected Top 5 selection for the 2015 NHL Draft)…similar to his brothers in the way that he sees and reads the ice…very talented playmaker who relies on his astute vision to set up teammates…skating is a work-in-progress but he may be worth a first round selection.

Other Marlboros to Watch: Mackenzie Entwhistle, Elijah Roberts, CJ Clarke, Jaden Peca, Jonathan Duchesne

Don Mills Flyers (GTHL Finalist)

David Levin, LW – Top candidate to be selected 1^st overall owns dazzling puck skills and is a true game-breaker…elite level vision and anticipation sets Levin up with an ability to find teammates well before defenders can mark them ..elevates linemates play simply because he processes the game quicker than his peers ..developing skater who’s offensive creativity is entirely unpredicatable…entertaining player to watch…born in Israel and recently deemed eligible for the draft.

Brett Neumann, RC – One of the GTHL’s top pivots …intuitive forward who excels in the possession game, moving it quickly and then timing his arrival into scoring areas perfectly…neither big nor strong, Neumann’s best attributes are his hockey sense allowing him to survive by out-smarting the opposition…top 10 candidate.

Jacob Tortora, RC – Slight forward who plays as though he’s 6-foot-2, engaging himself physically and heading into the gritty areas without fear…slick possession forward who loves to create on the rush …tends to operate as a playmaker more than a shooter (almost to a fault) ..willing to contest larger opponents in the physical game and often succeeds ..committed to Boston College.

Jason Robertson, RW - Big powerful winger with a high-end shot makes life difficult for opposing defenders…bull in a china shop mentality during battles .. skating is a work in progress but he’s very difficult to contain in the cycle and sets up well as a net front presence.

Other Flyers to Watch: Matthew Woroniuk, Brad Cocca, Noel Hoefenmayer, Bryce Misley, Liam Dennison

Toronto Titans (GTHL Semi-Finalist)

Markus Phillips, LD – Athletic and confident defenseman capable of playing multiple roles…Phillips is a strong rearguard who displays a great competitive edge, engaging physically and demanding the puck for scoring opportunities…end-to-end rushing ability but he can also stifle attacks with a dedicated defensive game… Top 10 candidate.

Joseph Garreffa, LC – Small dynamic pivot who excels with the puck, never relinquishing possessing unless all other options are exhausted…outstanding poise and confidence with the puck on his stick, Garreffa’s ability to create is his best attribute…elusive and quick skating skills allows him to excel as an undersized forward…potential first round selection.

Reilly Webb, RD – Blue-collared defender willing to adapt his game to whatever role is needed…projects as a two-way defenseman who will log big defensive minutes…enjoys engaging in the physical game …good mobility and solid offensive instincts but he’s still rounding out his decision making at times…Projected top 40 selection.

Robert Proner, LD – Minute munching shutdown defenseman who’s very difficult to play against with his suffocating defensive play…intimidating physical presence at times with his ability to cue a mean streak..,prone to taking himself out of plays looking for the big body-check and has some work to do containing outside speed…very strong defensive game when he has his opposition in check and in tight quarters, relying on his physical strength to contain. Projected top 40 selection.

Brendan Bonello, G – Battling to be the top selected goaltender in the 2015 OHL Draft…intimidating size and presence in his net eliminates shooting options…sound technical movements in a fluid and mobile butterfly style…prone to losing his net at times and overplaying pucks…projected starting OHL goaltender.

Other Titans to Watch: Zachary Jackson, Nicholas Grima, Regan Kimens, Zachary Sheedy

Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL Semi-Finalists)

Kirill Maksimov, RW – High potential forward with the size, shooting arsenal and playmaking abilities to excel as a top-six forward…struggled with game-to-game consistency but when he’s ‘on’, he’s among the best of the draft…most effective when moving his feet … struggles with physicality for a big winger…features an outstanding array of shooting options…one of the draft’s true wildcards .

Simon Boyko, RW – Undersized sniper who played his second year of minor midget hockey…lethal release on his shot finds the net with regularity…slippery in motion with his slick hands and elusive skating abilities…lacks strength and is prone to forcing shots…could show more patience in possession…projected Top 40 selection.

Scott Del Zotto, RC – Energetic pivot with an outstanding motor, showing tons of resilience in puck pursuit…doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas and thrives in traffic because of his overall compete level, deliberate puck handling ability and quick processor…strength and durability will be concerns moving forward because he’s not overly large but he’s got the necessary tools to survive and succeed.

Other Jr Canadiens to Watch: Nick Celotti, Kristian Hufsky, Nick Campoli, Jack Lyons

OMHA

Quinte Red Devils (OMHA Champions- Gold medalist)

Brady Gilmour, LC – Skilled, high-character pivot who has all the makings of a player that coaches will lean on …high-end hockey sense and impressive work ethic are his best attributes…resourceful forward who can be trusted in all situations…lacks a dynamic offensive game but he’s always around the puck with great positioning and good touch in possession…future leader and a lock for a Top 10 selection (potentially as high as 1^st overall).

Jakob Brahaney, LD –Offensive defenseman with admirable four-way mobility…jumps into the rush as a fourth forward and operates the powerplay well as a quarterback…walks the blue line with his head up surveying options with his above-average vision…showing improvements in his defensive responsibilities but they’re certainly up-to-par…prone to over-complicating decisions with the puck…projected Top 30 selection.

Aiden McFarland, LW – Sturdy hard-nosed winger with strong scoring abilities from his off-wing…operates more as a finisher than a playmaker…heavy footed skating stride will need to improve to reach a top-six level…excels on the forecheck and during board battles, using his strength and soft stick skills to force turnovers…forms a dangerous duo with Brady Gilmour.

Other Red Devils to Watch: Keegan Ferguson, Mackenzie Warren, Scoley Dow, Anthony Bertucca, Shelby Rienstra

York Simcoe Express (OMHA Finalist- Silver medalist)

Corey Andonovski, LC – Two-way forward with intriguing upside…untapped potential pegs him as a potential sleeper to watch…displays strong offensive instincts in the offensive zone with an ability to quickly identify options and exploiting them…impressive touch and patience around the net and in traffic … big fan of his game and think the best is yet to come.

Luke Wyatt, LW – Speedy north-south hard-working winger with good tools for a rangy forward…at his best when using his speed to get in on pucks and keeping things simple in possession…shows good hand-eye coordination in and around the net...plus physicality.

Robert Thomas, RC – Smart undersized pivot who served as the leader for the Express …slashing skater who plays at a high pace…creative puck skills and one-on-one abilities make him a offensive threat but he will need to work on his shot moving forward.

Other Express to Watch: Aidan Brown, Liam Ham, Grady Noonan, Connor smart, Josh Battistella

Halton Hurricanes (OMHA – Bronze medalist)

Nick Deakin-Poot, LC – Big powerful pivot with an impressive north-south attacking game…good possession tools including the ability to maintain control and outpower defenders using his length, power and strength…doesn’t project as a dangler or creative playmaker but rather appears to be an opportunistic shooter who can complement those types of players…needs to better utilize his size and strength advantage, specifically in the physical game.

Matthew Struthers, RC – Versatile industrial middle-man who uses his reach and strong feet to drive wide and to the net…understands what his best skills are and utilizes them accordingly…projects as a support player who makes smart decisions and competes hard on both sides of the puck…must continue to play at a high-intensity to carve out an impact role…projects as a middle-six forward…struggled with injuries this season.

Kyle Waters, RW – Another north-south forward competing on the Hurricanes…determined big winger with the will to succeed…lacks finesse but should be applauded for his work ethic and ability to impact the game…pursues the puck hard and can strike fear burling into the corners for loose pucks…packs a heavy shot …skating is a work in progress as it lacks refinement and fluidness…projects as a bottom six power winger.

Other Hurricanes to Watch: John Vezina, Christian Propp, Zach Snow, Cameron Lavoie, Evan Stull, Matt Pigat

Oakville Rangers (OMHA – 4^th place)

Evan Bouchard, LD – Lead the Rangers’ offense from the blueline…strong possession defenseman with good vision and puck moving abilities…unconventional upright skating stride limits his power in explosiveness and puck readiness … despite awkward skating stride, Bouchard manages getting around the ice fine .. appears to lack the urgency that top pairing defensemen possess…with refinements to his skating and attention to detail, Bouchard could develop into one of the better ’99 defensemen.

Derek McVey, RW – Lengthy forward with good skating ability – featured around a long, fluid stride…imposing outside speed can create space for linemates…lacks the control, vision and creativity to pose as a one-on-one threat…operates well as a support forward who moves the puck quickly and then sets up as a shooting or tipping option.

Other Rangers to Watch: Jack Ricketts, Josh Hiebert, Jaden Luik

OEMHL

Ottawa Valley Titans (OEMHL Champions)

Liam Hawel, RC – Big lanky rangy pivot who flashes both creativity and power in his game, but has not perfectly blended the two...good two-way awareness…enters the zone and draws defenders in before using his length and puck protection skills to shield them off and find open linemates..naturally identifies open areas in tight quarters and stickhandles too them, buying himself extra time..prone to over-handling the puck, leading to turnovers…owns a very deceptive release point ..first round potential forward.

Cole Fraser, RD – Nasty physical defenseman who intimidates every time he steps onto the ice…feared checker capable of bone-crushing hits at centre ice…moves the puck well up ice hitting teammates in stride…owns a outstanding point shot that is heavy and very efficient at finding its way through traffic…great gap control and support in the defensive zone…forces turnovers and then quickly turns the play up ice…big minute top-4 defenseman.

Ryan Horvath, LC – Smaller pivot with impressive determination…blessed with good skating ability and his creativity with the puck is underrated…challenges defenders one-on-one and has a pretty good success rate …uses change in pace to shake off defenders and set up in the offensive zone…projects as an early-to-mid round pick and a team may get great value with his offensive upside.

Taylor Carlson, LD – Smaller puck-moving defenseman with good mobility and smart possession skills…dictates the pace of the game with confident puck abilities…prefers to draw checkers to him before eluding them and kickstarting the breakout with his feet/outlet pass…attacks the middle of the ice particularly well and gaining entry to the zone…defensive game is still a work in progress as he continues to work on positioning, necessary for a player of his size.

Other Titans to Watch: Kris Lalonde, Logan Buchanan, Eric Sutherland, Jacob Smith, Matthew Titus, Cameron Bisson

Current Plymouth Whaler rookie, William Bitten, was a product of the Ottawa 67's program (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Ottawa Jr. 67’s (OEMHL Finalist)

Greg Meireles, RC – One of the draft’s top forwards plays the game at an extremely quick pace…elite skating ability features top-end speed created through quick crisp crossovers.. attacks at full speed using outside speed almost impossible to contain…improving puck creativity and patience in possession has added another layer of attack…previously, resorted to a perimeter attack where he’d finish with an outside shot…quick hands and capable of receiving passes in all positions in full flight…needs to focus on becoming more predictable at the next level…good overall two-way compete. Top 10 talent.

Erik Ross, RD – Big physical and, sometimes, nasty defenseman who’s been in and out of the lineup this season…played with the ’98 squad in 2013-14 and entered the season as a OEMHL defenseman to watch…owns some decent offensive ability but likely projects as a shutdown physical defenseman at the next level…plays his best hockey when he keeps decisions simple and moves the puck quickly.

Other 67’s to Watch: Thomas Stevenson, Darcy Walsh, Nicholas McHugh, Declan Hilton, Oliver Castleman, Ryan O’Connell

NHO

Thunder Bay Kings (HNO)

Cole Tymkin, RW – Competitive two-way forward who will skate through a wall for his team…Thunder Bay Kings offensive leader…outstanding puck pursuit and physicality make him difficult to play against and a welcomed addition on any team…understands how to use his size advantage to get into prime shooting position, shielding off defenders…effective wrist shot…needs to improve his skating technique, specifically his edge work.

Other Kings to Watch: Kyle Auger, Maxime Fortin, Alex Peterson, Jacob Brown, Jake Robinson

NOHA

Team NOHA (NOHA)

Bradley Chenier, LW – Playing with the Sudbury Wolves this season, Chenier is one of the more underrated two-way forwards in the draft…great compete level and two-way awareness…not overly flashy in possession, Chenier uses clever puck placement, chips, give-and-gos (similar to Bulitka) to attack and free up space…good net drive and overall hunger to make an impact…should be one of NOHA’s better forwards.

Lucas Stefano, LW – Small winger with a non-stop motor played with the Soo Greyhounds AAA program…younger brother of Windsor Spitfires forward Anthony Stefano, an undersized pivot in his second OHL season…Lucas doesn’t possess the blazing speed that’s ideal in smaller forwards and he isn’t overly creative but he’s willing to grind in the tough areas.

Mark Tassone, LW – Another Soo Greyhounds product, Tassone blends hockey sense and solid playmaking skills to operate as the team’s best offensive catalyst…uses misdirection and disguises intentions well to gain more space and time…long term investment type of prospect.

Other NOHA players to Watch: Brandon Clavelle, Max Khull, Steven Khull, Karter Renouf, Keegan Gillis-McAnulty, Ryan O’Bonsawin

Elite Hockey Group (USA)

Cayden Primeau, G – Big 6-foot-1 puck stopper who excels in positioning…son of former NHLer Keith Primeau…employs a butterfly style and uses his lengthy range and good athleticism to make reflex saves… rebound control is a work in progress for the Philadelphia Revolution goaltender…committed to Northeastern University and will challenge for a roster spot on USA’s NTDP U17 program.

Anthony DeMeo, LD – Dubbed a skilled defenseman with high-end skating ability, DeMeo is a possession defenseman who dictates the pace from the backend…gifted skater with an effortless stride and elite four-way mobility, DeMeo does have a tendency to overskate plays at times, drawing out of position…projects as an offensive defenseman capable of running a powerplay but his future may lie south of the border.

Colton McKenna, LC – Buffalo Regals forward blends size, speed and a strong possession game very well…length in his stride works to his advantage in north-south attacks and also in puck protection, as he boxes out defenders extending possession time…meat and potatoes type of player with the puck excelling in the tough areas and employing a power net drive attack.

Steven Agriogianis, RW – New Jersey native playing with Delbarton’s prep school is an energetic smaller forward with some dazzling puck skills…very elusive with his puck handling abilities and slashing skating style…prone to settling into a perimeter attack at times…no NCAA commitment.

Other Elite Hockey Group Players to Watch: Chris Garbe, Kyle MacLean, Tyler Gratton, Ty Shafer,

TPH Thunder (USA)

Jack Studnicka, RC - One of the OHL Draft’s true sleepers playing out of the Detroit Belle Tire program, Windsor native Jack Studnicka plays an OHL-style of game….younger brother of Ottawa 67’s forward Sam Studnicka…Jack is a power pivot who displays a methodical stick handling attack, using subtle puck placement over dangling options…very good at exiting traffic and unleashing a quick accurate shot…strong two-way player with good possession tools… Ranked outside of the first round by most, Studnicka is a 1^st rounder in my books.

Blade Jenkins, LC – Born with arguably the best name in hockey, underage Blade Jenkins (born in 2000) will suit up with TPH at the OHL Cup, allowing many of us scouts to get our first viewings of the University of Michigan commit…known for his great hands, good anticipation and hockey sense, Jenkins will be one of the attractions of the week.

Nick Donofrio, G – Compuware U15 netminder, Nick Donofrio, is a sizeable (6-2, 175) butterfly goaltender who displays sound positioning…relies on good technique over athleticism and desperate reflexes to block shots...expected to receive strong American interest, hindering his OHL draft stock.

Other Thunder to Watch: Skyler Brind’Amour (yes, Rod Brind’Amour’s son), Jonathan Lakhani, Brenden Stanko,

OHL Cup Wild Card Play-In Game Participants

Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs (ALLIANCE Semi-Finalists)

Shane Bulitka, LW – Skilled winger who’s risen more than any prospect out of the Alliance this season…teams seeking possession players will covet Bulitka as he dominates puck time, manipulating space with the best of them…lacking ideal quickness, Bulitka uses smart puck movement to get defenders moving, exploiting them in pivots and transitions to gain personal space…effective coming off the half-wall and identifying options low or back door…strong control of the puck and effective (not dazzling) puck handling, again, using placement rather than flashy moves. Projects as a Top 30-40 selection.

Donovan Cowan, RD – Right-shot defenseman with intriguing upside as a two-way steady blue liner…despite not being the most refined skater, Cowan is extremely poised and confident as a puck mover…skating is coming along and work in transitions/pivots will eventually complement his power well..uses smart positioning to contain attacking forwards…reminiscent of Guelph’s Levi Tetrault selection in 2014.

Carter Pearen, G – Athletic goaltender who posted some very strong numbers in the Alliance…displays strong mental focus with an ability to come up with a big saves in between long lapses of action…employs a quick butterfly stance and shows good lateral agility…prone to allowing the odd “bad goal” in but overall, provides a calming influence to his teammates.

Other Chiefs to Watch: Nathan Langlois, Kenneth Chisholm, Jeff Clarke, Carson Pearce, Curtis Abbott, Matthew Philip, Tim Fallowfield

Mississauga Rebels (GTHL Wild Card Invite)

Zach Gallant, LC - Oakville’s Zach Gallant is a centerman who can play up and down the lineup because of his advanced two-way game… long powerful skater with good four-way agility …always hounding down the puck, showing outstanding pursuit….projects as an all-situations forward who will be leaned on by his OHL coach…there’s some intriguing offensive upside too.

Finn Evans, RW – Skilled two-way winger with a blue-collared worth ethic…experienced a lot of growth in his game this season, adding more and more offensive tools…thrives in the physical contact game…provides defensive back pressure and never cheats when teams push back...projects as a middle-six winger who can complement the skilled guys well with his in-tight puck skills and burly physical game.

Colton Incze, G – Underrated goaltender who’s shown a flair during big games…calm and poised regardless of the onslaught of shots he’s facing…lacks ideal size but makes up for it in his natural athleticism and quick reflexes…flexibility allows for Incze to make the reactionary and desperation saves when called upon…very good lower coverage using a fluid side-to-side slide.

Alex Formenton, LC – Rebels pivot Formenton is one of the true sleepers for the draft…extremely intelligent and slippery in possession, Formenton owns a confidence about him that can’t be taught…understands his opponents and envisions plays unfolding well in advanced, Formenton can react quickly…moves the puck effortless under pressure and owns real touch…slight in his build, he might be the one true hidden star in a few years’ time.

Robbie Burt, RW – Outstanding skater with some jaw-dropping puck skills …featured around a strong north-south attacking game, Burt has the ability to ramp up his play and dominate…struggled with game-to-game and shift-to-shift consistency but he has the tools to be a star if he can find his comfort zone.

Other Rebels to Watch: Cole Purboo, Noah Lugli, Jacob Golden, Nick Kiriakos

Mississauga Reps (GTHL Wild Card Invite)

Nicholas Isaacson, LC – Big two-way industrial winger capable of providing hounding puck pursuit and good net front touch to go with his noteworthy physical presence…lacks finesse in his puck skills and there’s work to be done in his acceleration and agility but his overall impact is well-suited as a middle-six forward…type of player that coaches are comfortable throwing out to provide an impact in all three zones.

Other Reps to Watch: Jesse Burger, Mario Peccia, Jacob Rayner

North Central Predators (OMHA – 5^th Place)

Luke Richardson, G – Composed and confident goaltender was the back bone of the North Central Predators…appears unfathomable at times in the crease sucking in pucks at will…tall goaltender with sound positioning and well-established technique is the basis for his success…can often get stuck playing too deep in his crease…Richardson is one of the better Ontario ’99 goaltenders.

Matthew Prucha, LD – North Central’s pace setter from the blueline…Prucha is a two-way defensive with solid offensive instincts…lacks fluidity, speed and agility in his stride to become a true “puck-rusher”…concerns with his skating potential, lack of size and no true standout quality may limit his OHL potential but he’s been among the better defensemen in the OMHA-ETA.

Other Predators to Watch: Kole Scott, Kyle Heitzner, Andy Baker, Parker Bowman, Kyle Chiallis

Toronto Red Wings (GTHL Wild Card Invite)

Owen Tippett, RW – The Red Wings may be in tough as it appears Tippett will miss the must win play-in game as he nurses an injury…dynamic scoring winger with game-breaking ability…outstanding offensive ability with the puck on his stick but he lacks the same determination without the puck…increasing shift-to-shift intensity would go a long way in improving his draft stock …potential 1^st overall selection.

Fedor Gordeev, LD – Big 6-foot-4 defender with tantalizing OHL upside…shows flashes of brilliance on both sides of the puck but hasn’t truly settled into his role…projects best as a two-way defender who takes care of his defensive end first, mixing in some howitzers from the point and jumping into the rush , when it presents itself safely…good mobility …struggles under pressure and when he attempts to do too much…Gordeev is one of the more interesting prospects because of his array of abilities.

Other Red Wigs to Watch: Griffin Lewicki, Daniel Lowe, Gianfranco Cassaro, Sean Josling, Matteo DiGiulio

Whitby Wildcats (OMHAWild Card Invite)

Joseph Franzin, LD – Physical shutdown defenseman that leaves it all on the ice…unrefined skater who lacks lateral mobility …clunky stride might limit his abilities at the next level…bruising hitter who contains well in tight quarters but struggles as attackers separate from him…punishing defender in front of the crease where he makes attackers earn their spot…projects as a ‘project’ shutdown defenseman and will require some seasoning.

Other Wildcats to Watch: Andrew Poulias, Mathew Rogowski, Stefan Palatsids, Justin Kyle, Jacob Sutton, Alex Wisco

For more on schedules, full rosters and other OHL Cup information please visit the OHL Cup website.

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