Matt Finn – McKeen's Hockey

Leivo excites, Nylander electrifies at Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament

David Burstyn — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:38:51 +0000

LONDON, ONT. -- Toronto's top draft pick from this summer didn't need much time to leave a big impression. William Nylander suited up for just one of Toronto's three games at the Rookie Tournament - and electrified the proceedings with his creative playmaking and dazzling stick skills. Second-year pro Josh Leivo was also a standout at the tournament and arguably the best player in camp for the Leafs.

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William Nylander -- Only dressed for one game however electrified with his outstanding puck skills and ability to manufacture offence .. highly creative and constantly pushing the pace to get pucks on goal and makes plays .. showed little regard for his own safety as he willingly attacked the net; driving wide on defenseman who were upwards of 7 inches and 50 pounds heavier than him .. showcased some sizzling moves in close .. able to penetrate scoring areas with a quick flick of the wrist and solid acceleration courtesy of an explosive first step .. shifty and elusive as he can dangle in tight quarters and always seems to make a play .. on the other hand, he struggled defending and was easily pushed off pucks when players were able to catch him .. substantial upgrades to his strength levels will be mandatory as he weighs a slight 170 pounds and is physically weak .. nevertheless, he has all the ingredients to be a first-line NHL player capable of piling up points.

Frederik Gauthier -- Played primarily on the second line and saw ample ice time in penalty-killing situations .. an extremely big body who uses his expansive frame to cut down angles as he plays a determined and spirited two-way game .. his strength lies in his ability to shut down others as he is an ideal match-up type player .. his skating has shown considerable improvement .. not a burner quickness wise - yet can reach a fast top gear by virtue of large powerful strides and a wide stance that digs in and swallows up ice .. his turns and crossovers have become smoother as he steadily rounds out his stride mechanics .. can be a bit of a puck chaser in the offensive zone; does a good job of setting up the play upon entering the zone but can be slightly lost when the play develops .. needs to continue to hone his offensive game however his calling card will be his attention to detail and tenacity away from the puck .. possesses third-line centre potential if he can improve on his offensive totals; otherwise he will be a very talented fourth-line centre.

Josh Leivo -- Arguably one of the best players in camp for the Leafs, Leivo owns a good set of hands and can defend well as he reads plays and anticipates well in all three zones .. his skating has improved in leaps and bounds and is now considered a strength .. a solid lower body aided by increased muscle mass has allowed him to become powerful in his initial bursts - and he now uses his edges well to cut into the ice .. highly skilled and instinctive inside the offensive zone; his passes spring line mates into the clear .. clever at deploying fake shots and a series of moves to inch his way closer to the goal .. his shot can handcuff goalies as he sports a deceptive release often taking the shot off the tip of his blade .. his snap shot is his best weapon .. his overall decision making inside the offensive zone has also developed and matured - displayed poise and a calculated approach as he was dangerous every time he gained the zone .. a complementary third-line player who has the propensity to put up 35-40 points in a few short seasons as long as he exhibits game-to-game consistency.

Matt Finn -- Came into camp in tip-top shape as he looked lean and muscular .. a driving force on the back end as his decision making and patience with the puck made him a threat every time he crossed the red line .. played within his limitations but recognized when to pinch and generally made good decisions so as not to get caught at the line .. positioned himself well to unleash his booming point shot .. his defensive game marked maturity as he allowed plays to come to him .. still struggles laterally when forced to move across but disguises his weakness by pushing players into bad spots with his stick and body positioning .. smart in terms of knowing his connection with respect to the developing play - and is rarely caught out of position .. played with unbridled confidence to make a play with the puck - appears on his way with some AHL seasoning.

Tom Nilsson -- A simple, two-way defenceman who prides himself more on taking care of business in the defensive zone yet showed healthy puck skills to launch a play up ice .. possesses good range and plays with some physicality .. threw several body checks and plays an irritating style of play that both infuriates and intimidates the opposition .. demonstrated proper use of his frame in order to contain players along the glass .. possesses a slight gallop to his stride but is a qualified skater who can make plays with the puck without breaking stride .. spearheaded a few rushes and was able to maintain pressure inside the zone .. pinched deep on the power play as he dropped down well below the blue line .. displayed the potential to be a steady, cost-effective third-pairing type as he does a little bit of everything.

Youngblood: Live From Toronto Maple Leafs Development Camp

Brendan Ross — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:31:59 +0000

Toronto Maple Leafs Development Camp 2014 (Photo: Brendan Ross)

The MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence opened its doors to media on Wednesday to take in both the new and familiar faces within the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect system. Headlining the group was 8^th overall selection, William Nylander, and third year camp participants Connor Brown (led the CHL in scoring with 128 points), Matt Finn (captained his Guelph Storm to an OHL Championship) and Swedish defenders Viktor Loov and Tom Nilsson. There are high hopes for this handful of players as each offer a tantalizing skill set that the Maple Leafs hope to see featured in their lineup soon.

With blue and white brass watching closely from the stands, 29 hopefuls took the ice in various skill development drills scheduled on day 3. Yours truly had the pleasure of taking in some of the actions and I would be remiss not to pass on my own observations and opinions. Before diving headfirst in and releasing the information to eager Leafs fans ready to tear apart or build up the hot topic prospect, I want to preface these observations with caution. Many of these players haven’t played competitive hockey for months and with a rest and recovery period following lengthy hockey seasons, it is expected that many of the participants at Maple Leafs Development Camp were rusty and that should be taken into account. Furthermore, the on-ice sessions on Wednesday featured mainly skill development and did not include scrimmages making it all the more difficult to assess anything other than individual basic hockey skills.

Goaltenders

Antoine Bibeau (#72; 172^nd in 2013), Matthew Mancina (#82; invitee) & Jack Flinn (#73; invitee)

With the Leafs opting not to select a goaltender at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, two of the three netminders were invites who went undrafted in their first go ‘round. Considering camp sessions were mostly focused on skill development for the skaters, it wouldn’t be fair to grade the men of the crease too critically. However, both Bibeau and Mancina had solid showings while I noticed that 6-foot-7 Owen Sound goaltender Jack Flinn seemed to struggle with his timing. Seeing as though he played sparingly this past season, it’s not unexpected to see him battle with his game but I was concerned a bit that this massive puck stopper didn’t appear to play that “big” between the pipes, offering some sizeable holes in his coverage.

Defensemen

On Toronto’s main roster, much of the focus is on its underwhelming defensive depth but if prospect camp holds any value, expect to see the tide change on the back end. I was incredibly impressed with Swedes Viktor Loov (#80; 209^th in 2012) and Tom Nilsson (#96; 100^th in 2011). Both defenders are extremely mobile and showed a willingness to close the gap quickly during 2-on-2 rushes. Nilsson displayed an impressive first few steps in his stride and showed great confidence in turning the puck up the ice in drills. Nilsson quickly eliminated time and space using a combination of swift skating and unexpected stick checks. He stepped up once on invitee Bobo Carpenter to lay a nice hit and separate the puck at the blue line.

Drafted with the third last pick in 2012, Loov owns admirable size (6-foot-3) and physicality but it was his ability in possession that captivated me. He was a beast in battles and while he didn’t get the chance to showcase his physicality much in these drills, Loov certainly flashed the strength and two-way presence that will make him a candidate to crack the roster…very soon.

The Leafs have waited on these two Swedes and it’s a patient scheme that will certainly pay off as I foresee a very bright future for both blossoming defenders.

Matt Finn (#76; 35^th in 2013) participated in the drills and when paired with Tom Nilsson during the 2-on-2 rushes they stifled the attack. As a third year player at the camp, Finn was expected to be among the best and he didn’t disappoint. The issue with Finn is that he definitely needs to continue to improve his skating as he appears sluggish in his first few strides. He was among eight defensemen that worked with Barbara Underhill during the second hour of the morning skate and his lack of foot speed was evident. He certainly has made improvements in his skating, notably his pivots and transitions, but it’s the one area that is separating him from being an elite defensive prospect in my mind.

Rinat Valiev (#83; 68^th in 2014) is a player I was eager to observe and his physical strength and positioning were notable pluses in his game. However, he appeared overwhelmed at times (not uncommon during initial camps) and struggled with his pivots and transitions when speedy forwards forced him onto his heels during line rushes.

Kayle Doetzel (#75; invitee) played for the Red Deer Rebels and was brought into camp as an invitee and didn’t look out of place. Showing smart decisions and executing safe plays, Doetzel was the lone defensive invite that turned my head based on his steady simple play.

Cody Donaghey (#69), Jeremie Fraser (#74) and Dorian Saeftel (#86) were solid in action but not noteworthy through the morning sessions.

Forwards

William Nylander (#62; 8^th in 2014), Frederik Gauthier (#54; 21^st in 2013), Fabrice Herzog (#94; 142^nd in 2013), Andreas Johnson (#95; 202^nd in 2013) and Dominic Toninato (#77; 126^th in 2012) were part of a small group that spent the first hour working with Barb Underhill on the adjacent rink. More on Nylander later but the remaining four forwards weren’t observed today due to their isolated instruction.

With no live viewings of J.J. Piccinich (#84; 103^rd in 2014), it was a clean slate for Piccinich heading into camp for me. Feeling his way through his first pro camp after posting near point-per-game numbers with Youngstown (60-27-31-58), it was easy to see that he is a shot-first type of player. Not overly aggressive on the attack, I feel as though there is more vigor in his game than he showed today and as he gains experience and confidence, I would expect that to be released. He’s a confident puck handler with a lively stride and when the puck lands on his stick, it’s quickly unleashed thereafter. With a short “practice” viewing, I’d be foolish to rubber stamp his future based on this showing but it’s clear that there’s some long-term potential to be discovered here but patience will be required as his development will take some time.

Dakota Joshua (#85; 128^th in 2014) is another unknown prospect from Toronto’s draft day haul but he was certainly one of the most intriguing players during the morning skate. Blessed with good size and a frame to grow into, I was quite impressed with his overall hockey skill set. He can skate well, albeit a stride that could use some refinement, and he seemed to show all of the abilities to project him as a future possession player. He worked the corners well using his reach and powerful first steps but also displayed some nice scoring ability in tight as he drove to the net. His shot owns both quickness and accuracy. Again, Joshua is a long-term prospect probably close to four or five years from action but colour me impressed with his game after this initial observation.

Next up is Nolan Vesey (#87; 158^th in 2014) from the South Shore Kings where he tallied 66 points in 48 games after going undrafted in 2013. Vesey had good jump in his game and while he didn’t dazzle with speed or elite puck skills, he was sound in almost every area. During the 2-on-2 rushes, Vesey showed great timing and positioning opening up to receive passes or driving the net for rebounds. He’s not a dazzler but he’s adept at handling the puck at top speed showing flashes of creativity as a passer on some of the attacks. The one element I was most impressed with was Vesey’s ability to change directions to throw off defenders and attack quickly in the other direction. Time will tell what type of player Toronto has in Vesey but I’m thinking he could be a quality energy player.

Pierre Engvall (#97; 188^th in 2014) was Toronto’s final selection a few weeks back and I am eager to see this lanky forward in game action. During camp drills, Engvall’s skating stride struck me as awkward with his upright skating posture. On the other hand, when pucks were introduced into the drills, Engvall showed some slick handling ability and a deceptively quick shot release. As Engvall fills out his frame and strength is added, his offensive skill set could certainly be maximized.

Connor Brown (#78; 156^th in 2012) appears to be destined for AHL action after tearing apart the OHL. He appears to have bulked up and his game is overflowing with confidence. He and Carter Verhaeghe were the standouts in the 20+ skater group Wednesday and he appears ready to take the next step in his development.

Tony Cameranesi (#90; 130^th in 2011) had some of the best jump in his game today as he buzzed all around the puck. He took a slight step backwards in offensive production at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2013-14 but his shooting skills, skating ability and drive was evident in his third Leafs camp.

Bobo Carpenter (#65; invitee) is the son of Leafs’ Development Coach Bobby Carpenter (former NHLer). He is an undersized forward who had a solid day but didn’t do too much to get noticed. He isn’t quick or strong but he worked hard and was always in the right position. At times, Bobo appeared anxious as he bobbled (pun intended) several times during possession. It will certainly be a valuable experience for Carpenter to partake in this Leafs camp.

Zachary Pryzbek (#70; invitee) owns great size but his skating is poor. The Brown University commit battled to keep pace throughout the drills and looked overmatched. Chalk it up to nerves possibly but Pryzbek didn’t muster up much on his shot attempts either, lacking both velocity and accuracy.

Matt Rupert (#86; invitee) entered his third development camp with the Leafs as an invite and while practice isn’t the ideal situation for Matt to showcase his agitating ways, he still had a solid showing. At this point in time, Matt Rupert has the tools to be signed to a pro contract and would certainly be an impact player at the AHL level. He’s an intelligent forward with the awareness to suit up in several different roles so we will have to wait to see if he’ll eventually sign on with an AHL club.

From my observations, Ryan Rupert (157^th in 2012) was not on the ice during the morning sessions.

Sven Senteler (#91; invitee) was the oldest participant at camp as a 21-year-old invite. With no notes on the Swiss forward, he was actually quite impressive and displayed a good scoring touch on many of his shots on goal. During the breakaway competition between the defensemen and forwards (which the blueliner group won, by the way), Senteler was very successful on several of his attempts. As a mature participant, Senteler had an aura of confidence about his game and it was noticeable in his creative attacks. Senteler scored four goals and nine points for the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s National League A (NLA).

Carter Verhaeghe (#72; 82^nd in 2013) appears poised to become a big-time OHL scorer next season for the young contending Niagara IceDogs. He’s bursting with confidence making the game around him slow down. Today, Verhaeghe flashed creativity in his passes attempting to set up camp rookie Bobo Carpenter several times. Verhaeghe’s shot looks improved in both quickness and frequency as he found the back of the net multiple times. He found the high percentage shooting areas and exploited them on several occasions. Flashback a few years and you’d be astonished how far Verhaeghe’s game has come and it’s a development that can be contributed to both opportunity and an increasing confidence in his game. Expect big things from him in 2014-15 as he enters his fourth (and likely final) OHL campaign.

Rounding out the forwards is Samuel Vigneault (#89; invitee), a tall and productive centerman from the QCHL that posted 28 goals and 60 points in 37 games. He was among the most impressive invites from today’s sessions showing good puck handling ability, strong skating skills (especially given his 6-foot-4 frame) and advanced vision. He could certainly stand to improve his shot but there’s a lot to like about this kid and once he adds some strength, he could find a role at the next level.

All Eyes on William Nylander

Nylander spent the first hour working with skating coach Barbara Underhill before joining a larger group led by skills consultant Derek Popke. It wasn’t the most ideal platform to showcase what his skills truly have to offer but he certainly appeared more than capable in all testing areas. Nylander was having a good time, laughing and joking with coaches and fellow draftees throughout the skills development session, which was kept very loose and fun.

Nylander Camp Footage: Video 1, Video 2, Video 3

With simulated scrimmages scheduled for Friday, I look forward to seeing William Nylander and these other prospects in more game-like action.

Feel free to follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter

Youngblood: 2014 Memorial Cup – Prospects to Watch

Brendan Ross — Wed, 14 May 2014 14:58:07 +0000

We are mere hours away from the puck dropping on the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup and the City of London is gearing up to welcome one of the most competitive fields in recent years.

Returning for their third straight Memorial Cup appearance are the tournament hosts, London Knights, after the injury-riddled squad was bounced in the second round of the OHL playoffs by the eventual OHL Champions, Guelph Storm. Joining the Guelph Storm and London Knights are the Champs of the WHL in the Edmonton Oil Kings, and QMJHL victors, Val d’Or Foreurs, both freshly off game seven wins that punched their ticket to the illustrious major junior competition.

The past three Memorial Cups have been hoisted by the QMJHL representatives after Saint John Sea Dogs (2011), Shawinigan Cataractes (2012) and Halifax Mooseheads (2013) each tasted victory.

The Edmonton Oil Kings are looking for their first Memorial Cup Championship since 1966 when they captured it as members of the Central Alberta Hockey League.

Quebec’s Val d’Or Foreurs have participated in the Memorial Cup twice (1998 and 2001) but have yet to walk away victors, coming close in 2001 when the Foreurs lost to the Red Deer Rebels in the finals.

The Knights will be participating in their fourth Memorial Cup event and the team is hoping for similar results as when they last hosted in 2005, the year the Knights skated away as Memorial Cup Champions.

With four previous attempts at winning the Memorial Cup, the Guelph Storm are rolling into their fifth tournament red hot looking to take home the 95-year-old hardware.

Regardless of which team skates off Budweiser Gardens’ ice as Champions, the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup is loaded with talented major junior players looking to take the next step in their development. As the electric atmosphere takes over London, Ontario, here are several players to watch throughout the tournament.

Edmonton Oil Kings

Curtis Lazar (Senators – 2013, 17^th overall) Arguably the best leader in major junior, Lazar will eat up a ton of minutes, taking important faceoffs and seeing top line offensive minutes along the way.

Tristan Jarry (Penguins – 2013, 44^th overall) Jarry’s 2.19 GAA and .925 save percentage are impressive stat lines but his ability to make the clutch save behind a strong defense core allows the Oil Kings the opportunity to play a stifling defensive game.

Griffin Reinhart (NY Islanders – 2012, 4^th overall) He’s got great draft pedigree and has slowly progressed with each passing game to become a suffocating shutdown defenseman, utilizing his large wingspan and strength against top WHLers.

Henrik Samuelsson(Coyotes – 2012, 27^th overall) Playing a gritty-in-your-face style of puck that would make his father Ulf proud, Henrik has balanced his aggressive attack and skilled offensive bursts well. Led the Oil Kings in playoff scoring with 23 points over 21 games.

Mitch Moroz (Oilers – 2012, 32^nd overall) Not the prettiest skater or the most refined skilled player, Mitch Moroz’ offers a nice blend of size and soft touch around the net to create room and offensive chances. His size could prove to be an asset against some larger Guelph Storm players when the two teams face off Saturday afternoon.

Brett Pollock(2014 NHL Draft) Industrious and versatile, Brett Pollock forced his way up a veteran laden Oil Kings’ depth chart to find a home in the top six, posting near point-per-game numbers during Edmonton’s WHL Championship run.

Dysin Mayo (2014 NHL Draft) An emerging offensive defenseman, Dysin Mayo has earned the trust of Head Coach Derek Laxdal and his game-changing rushes are only improving his draft stock.

Aaron Irving (2014 NHL Draft) Edmonton’s 9^th overall 2011 selection, Aaron Irving is one of the defensive pillars on the Oil Kings’ blue line who has made life hell for intruding forwards with his physicality and nastiness.

Cody Corbett (Signed by Avalanche, 2014) The third year defenseman played his way to a contract with Colorado after posting 61 points in 65 games from the blueline.

Mads Eller and Ashton Sautner (Re-entries for 2014 NHL Draft) – Two mobile skaters, forward Mads Eller (younger brother of Canadiens’ Lars Eller) and defenseman Ashton Sautner use their speed and edge work to force opponents into uncomfortable positions.

Val d’Or Foreurs

Anthony Mantha (Red Wings – 2013, 20^th overall) Big time sniper brings his 81 combined regular season and playoff goals, the most by any CHLer, to Bud Gardens for all to witness. He will be the focus of defences as the tournament’s most natural goal scorer. It is hard to believe that Detroit traded down to acquire this stud prospect.

Ryan Graves (NY Rangers – 2013, 110^thoverall) Brought over from Charlottetown in trade to boost their blue line, Graves has provided a stabilizing presence using his size and strength to contain opposing team’s top forwards.

Antoine Bibeau (Maple Leafs – 2013, 172^nd overall) Selected in his second attempt at the NHL Draft, it appears the selection of Antoine Bibeau has been a shrewd move after the big goaltender earned QMJHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (2014 NHL Draft) Taken 7^th overall by Val d’Or in 2012, Aubé-Kubel’s offensive emergence has provided the team with secondary scoring and this skilled responsible forward looks to use the Memorial Cup as one final showing before heading to Philadelphia for the draft.

Louick Marcotte(Re-entry for 2014 NHL Draft) Fourth year forward, Marcotte, nearly doubled his production playing on the Foreurs’ top line and his 42 goals and 100 points may be enough to draw interest at the draft.

Guillaume Gélinas (Undrafted) Undersized overager who dominated every offensive category by a defenseman in both regular season (67GP-23G-92P) and playoffs (24GP-11G-34P) is also playing for a professional contract.

Anthony Richard (2015 NHL Draft) Diminutive speedy centerman with a case of danglitis experienced a breakout sophomore campaign after being selected 16^th overall at the 2012 QMJHL Draft.

Julien Gauthier (2016 NHL Draft) Selected 6^th overall, rookie Julien Gauthier is a budding power forward to watch heading towards the 2016 NHL Draft as he learns how to use his size and strong shot to take over the offensive zone.

Guelph Storm

Kerby Rychel (Blue Jackets – 2013, 19^th overall) Windsor GM Warren Rychel traded his own son, along with LA Kings’ prospect Nick Ebert, at the deadline to Guelph. The Storm may be forever in debt with Windsor after Kerby buried the tying goal and game winner to clinch the OHL Championship.

Zack Mitchell (Signed by Wild, 2014) The Guelph Storm journeyman has bled maroon and grey in his five years of service and after being rewarded with an NHL contract back in March, Mitchell is keen on capping off his OHL career with a Memorial Cup Championship.

Scott Kosmachuk(Jets – 2012, 70^th overall) Among the OHL playoff scoring leaders, Kosmachuk was one of only three players to clear the century mark in points during the regular season and is called upon when the team needs a goal or a big hit.

Brock McGinn (Hurricanes – 2012, 47^th overall) After returning from an eight game suspension, Brock McGinn scored points in all but two playoff games while playing his usual irritating brand of hockey.

Jason Dickinson (Stars – 2013, 29^th overall) Drafted in the opening round in 2013 as a unfinished lanky prospect, the third year Dickinson has really came into his own learning how to use his size as a skilled power forward. Dickinson is one of five Storm players who recorded over a point-per-game in the post-season.

Matt Finn (Maple Leafs – 2012, 35^th overall) Awarded the Mickey Renaud Trophy as the league’s most dedicated and passionate captain on and off the ice, Matt Finn is a true leader and a stabilizing presence on the blue line.

Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings – 2013, 58^th overall) Ironically, the Red Wings traded down at the 2013 draft to select Anthony Mantha and received the 58^th pick as a result. That pick was used to select agitating forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Now, Foreurs’ Mantha and Storm’s Bertuzzi will be competing, at all costs, to take home the Memorial Cup. Mark it, Bertuzzi will be a thorn in the side of opposing defenses.

Nick Ebert (Kings – 2012, 211^th overall) Nick Ebert wasn’t the centrepiece of the trade that brought Kerby Rychel to Guelph but he’s been, arguably, the most crucial piece. Leading the team in playoff scoring from the backend, Ebert elevated his game as a member of the Storm.

Zac Leslie (Kings – 2013, 178^th overall) Drafted into the Ontario league in the middle rounds from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s, Leslie has improved on his production with each passing season giving the Storm depth on the blueline and a dangerous powerplay option.

Ben Harpur (Senators – 2013, 108^th overall) The towering 6-foot-6 blue liner will wreak havoc on attacking forwards as he wields his active stick and staples trespassers to the boards.

Robby Fabbri (2014 NHL Draft) No player has experienced a larger potential draft rise than Robby Fabbri, who is coming off OHL Playoff MVP Honours. The undersized yet competitive and skilled forward refuses to lose and his draft rise is reminiscent of former Kitchener Rangers’ forward Jeff Skinner after his 2010 standout playoff performance.

Phil Baltisberger (2014 NHL Draft) Another player exceeding expectations in his draft year, Swiss import Phil Baltisberger displays a strong two-way game with an ability to push the pace with his smooth skating stride. Eats up big minutes on the blue line.

Justin Nichols (Undrafted)and Matt Mancini (2014 NHL Draft) Acquired from Sault Ste Marie prior to the season, Justin Nichols’ game hasn’t been perfect every night but this undersized goaltender has had some of the most electrifying performances in the league. He’s getting noticed just as his understudy, Matt Mancini, is. Mancini is a highly touted young goaltender who continues to learn the intricacies of the game

London Knights

Max Domi (Coyotes – 2013, 12^th overall) Coming off a disappointing post-draft season, albeit by Domi’s standards, the Knights’ leading scorer was medically cleared to play after injuring his shoulder in the post-season. Look for the refreshed Domi to put on an offensive clinic as London attempts to prove their team is deserving of the Memorial Cup host spot.

Bo Horvat (Canucks – 2013, 9^th overall) The astute two-way forward with underrated offensive skills may be playing in his final OHL season and would love to add the elusive Memorial Cup title to his resume. With a history of scoring big goals, Horvat will be leaned upon in every possible situation.

Chris Tierney(Sharks – 2012, 55^th overall) Living up to his 2^nd round NHL Draft status after many questioned San Jose’s thought process, Chris Tierney went on an absolute tear during the playoffs ringing off 17 points in just nine games attempting to single-handedly advance the Knights.

Josh Anderson (Blue Jackets – 2012, 95^th overall) Anderson is a big bodied winger who won’t always fill up the game sheet but his heavy, physical approach and strong cycle game could tire out opposing defenses in a long intense tournament.

Ryan Rupert (Maple Leafs – 2012, 157^th overall) A skilled agitator in every sense of the word, Ryan Rupert, along with twin brother Matt (Undrafted), provide the Knights with outstanding depth as they make an impact by crawling under opponents’ skin or by crashing the net for a goal. The home fans will enjoy them but the road teams certainly will not.

Gemel Smith (Stars – 2012, 104^th overall) A true sniper who relies on his shot and blazing speed, Gemel Smith has had an okay transition to the Knights after coming aboard mid-season but he’s eager to pick up where he left off after a better OHL playoffs (12 points in nine games).

Michael McCarron (Canadiens – 2013, 25^th overall) The big power forward experienced a rather slow transition to OHL life but Michael McCarron has stepped up his game over the final few months showing the skill set that gave Montreal reason to draft him in the first round.

Mitch Marner (2015 NHL Draft) In a similar mold as Guelph’s Robby Fabbri, Marner is a sneaky player who makes an impact on every shift. No player does more with limited playing minutes as Marner and his ability to dance around defenders and find open teammates is only one reason he’s considered a top 2015 NHL Draft prospect. He’s been London’s best player, as a rookie, on most nights.

Christian Dvorak(2014 NHL Draft) One of several Knights returning from the infirmary, Dvorak is hoping to suit up for the first time since December 14^th when he injured his knee. His draft season viewings were limited but positive before being sidelined.

Nikita Zadorov (Sabres – 2013, 16^th overall) The only NHL drafted player on the Knights with NHL experience (seven games), Nikita Zadorov is undoubtedly the most crucial defender on their blueline. His offensive game has progressed to new heights and he’s still capable of intimidating with his bone-crushing open-ice hits.

Brady Austin (Sabres – 2012, 193^rd overall) Cleared to play after battling mononucleosis, overage defenseman Brady Austin is a huge returnee to what was a spotty blue line. After dealing with his illness and the passing of his father, Austin and his teammates will be playing inspired hockey.

Zach Bell (Undrafted) Bell is a bruising defenseman that has his own feel-good story after quickly recovering from a broken leg and his presence will be felt defensively.

Brett Welychka (Undrafted) It wouldn’t be a stretch to consider Welychka one of the most versatile players in the league, after the forward logged big minutes on the blue line when injury struck the Knights’ backend. Look for Welychka to return to the front lines adding to London’s incredible offensive depth.

Anthony Stolarz (Flyers – 2012, 45^th overall) Flying under the radar somewhat is the fact that Anthony Stolarz’ eight-game suspension for his slashing incident was reduced to six, after the Knights were knocked out of the playoffs early. Whether right or wrong, London’s biggest returnee for the Memorial Cup is between the pipes in Stolarz because he is capable of stealing games.

The 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup action begins Friday evening with the London Knights taking on Val d’Or Foreurs.

Follow @RossyYoungblood for all the #MemorialCup action.