Mississauga Steelheads – McKeen's Hockey

Alex Nylander leaving family’s shadow behind ahead of 2016 draft

Scott Wheeler — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:00:08 +0000

The heir to one of Swedish hockey’s thrones is playing his way out of his family’s shadow and into the spotlight.

You’re easily forgotten when your father, Michael Nylander, is a two-time World Championship gold medalist and Sweden’s 13th highest scoring NHL player of all-time and your older brother, William, is the Toronto Maple Leafs’ next big thing.

But Alex, the youngest of the Nylander clan, is making a name for himself away from home ahead of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Now 17, Alex has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Mississauga Steelheads.

A rookie, Alex came to the OHL to get noticed in one of the NHL’s biggest feeder leagues.

Back home, everyone in the Swedish hockey world knows who the Nylanders are. Even Alex’s uncle Peter – a 356-game veteran of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Sweden’s top professional level – is famous.

Sweden wasn’t always home though. Born in Calgary while Michael played for the Flames, Nylander grew up playing in North America. That familiarity has helped ease his transition to the OHL according to Steelheads head coach James Boyd.

“He (Alex) doesn't have to get used to the ice surface or the culture, he speaks perfect English,” Boyd said in an interview before Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa 67’s.

The transition hasn’t distanced him from his family either. Michael has joined the Steelheads as an assistant coach and William, an eighth overall pick to the Leafs in 2014, plays nearby with the Toronto Marlies.

That familiarity, and having his dad behind the bench, has made the transition seamless, Boyd said. In fact, Alex is the team’s leading scorer.

“He’s got a very accurate shot, he’s got great hands, he’s poised with the puck, he’s an elusive skater, he can twist and turn in tight and get himself out of trouble,” Boyd said, adding that comparisons to his brother are warranted. “He’s very much like his brother William with his skillset – exciting to watch.”

Wednesday night, the 67’s saw it first-hand.

Used on the penalty kill (rare for a top prospect), Nylander broke up two Ottawa chances early in the first period. And he was just getting started.

A shift later, Nylander intercepted the puck behind the net and carried it out in front, spinning and firing a shot off his backhand under the crossbar to give the Steelheads the 1-0 lead.

After the teams traded goals, with Drake Rymsha and Montreal Canadiens prospect Jeremiah Addison scoring for the 67’s and fellow top 2016 NHL Draft prospect Sean Day for the Steelheads, Nylander took over again.

On his first shift of the second period, Nylander nearly scored his second of the game with a shot that just missed the crossbar before creating chances for teammates Austin Osmanski and Josh Burnside a shift later.

After his team regained the lead in the third, Nylander could be seen bouncing on the bench as he waited for his next shift. That intensity, it turns out, runs in the family.

“Mike’s an intense, intense dude,” Boyd said of his new assistant coach, raising his eyebrows. “He’s passionate about hockey.”

Late in the third, Nylander was rewarded for his enthusiasm with a goal on a delayed penalty. With it, the game finished just as it started with a Nylander goal.

Despite the two-goal night though, the young Swede was tough on himself.

“I played okay today but our team was playing really good,” Alex said following the win, noting that he’s lucky to have played at last year’s Under-17 World Championships in Sarnia, Ont., where he was able to acclimatize himself to the North American game.

67’s head coach Jeff Brown was more complimentary.

“He’s (Alex) a good player, skilled player, you’ve got to be hard on him, you've got to finish checks on him,” Brown said. “It’s disappointing to have a guy like that come into our building and I don’t think we finished a check on him once tonight.”

That focus from opposing coaches like Brown can be challenging night to night and handling the distractions in a draft year can be tough for a top prospect like Alex, according to Boyd.

Michael credited his son for his work ethic and overall handling of the transition.

“He’s a pretty good all around player and he works like everyone else on his team so that’s what’s exciting about it,” the 920-game NHL veteran said before the game.

As he approaches the draft, Nylander intends to show people he’s an offensive threat and a two-way player. Though his brother might disagree, according to Michael.

“They (Alex and William) like to chirp each other when they see each other play when there’s something they don't like.”

Now with 16 points in 11 games, good for third in OHL scoring, it looks like Alex may not need his brother’s advice.

Kats Krunch: Max Domi & Michael McCarron London M&M’s

Gus Katsaros — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:30:19 +0000

The London Knights rolled through Mississauga to take on the Steelheads in a recent Sunday matinee. London lost 6-2 completing their third game in three days - losing all three matches.

I had the opportunity to check out two drafted players in Knights silks and filed this report.

Max Domi, C (Arizona)

Multi-faceted skilled speedster has added another dimension in his defensive game, used in all-situations including as a penalty killing forward .. showed off his exceptional skating skills at various speeds, with quickness off the mark and to engage puck carriers forcing plays .. good decision-making to maintain an improved semblance of defensive responsibility, hanging back in the play instead of charging the net after gauging the possibility of the play quickly turning the other way in a board battle at the top of the zone while shorthanded .. skates his way out of trouble with speed and first-step acceleration .. chased down pucks and forced the play up the wing by forcing rusher onto the desired side .. still, there’s a tendency to curl away from plays without the puck, instead of quick stop/starts if he’s not directly involved .. high energy play in the offensive zone, regardless of whether he’s stealthily looking for open ice, or working along the boards .. benefitted lining up with draft-eligible Mitch Marner who’s lighting it up in November and December .. also, lines up as a winger with Michael McCarron (see below) as a pivot – while also forming a PK unit .. contributed 17 points in conjunction with McCarron and earned 22 points with Mitch Marner earning a point .. taken his offensive game to another level, however don’t sleep on the defensive improvements .. 1st round pick in 2013 (12th overall) certain to provide offensive spark desperately needed by the goal-starved Coyotes as early as next season.

Michael McCarron, RW (Montreal)

Habs 1st round pick in 2013 (25th overall) has matured in his second season in a Knights uniform after a pedestrian regular season 2013-14 debut .. the 6-foot-5 giant’s skating shows marked improvement from his draft year, yet the still maintains a shuffling gait in his stride .. size and presence in front of the net is very evident and effective against OHL competition – something he’ll want to bring with him to the pro game .. scored first London goal pushing off his defensive check into the soft area just above the crease one-timing a far side shot .. excellent faceoff skills, exploiting size discrepancy among OHL centers, using a very low center of gravity and arm strength .. seems clumsy at points, a victim of size and imbalance issues on his blades .. a late second period fight left him frustrated as he got off the ice, throwing his helmet down in disgust behind him as he headed to the Knights bench and locker room .. produced some excellent touches with the puck close to his body, protecting it with strength holding off checks and moving it to players in better positions .. incorporates good vision and distribution however doesn’t carry the puck much, preferring a support role as opposed to setting the tone in offensive rushes .. formed a formidable penalty killing unit with linemate Max Domi .. signs show a positive progression, however, there’s a sizable gap in offensive ability at the junior level to one experienced in the pros .. work in progress.

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Kats Krunch: Sonny Milano – Plymouth’s Rock

Gus Katsaros — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:41:28 +0000

Massaapequa, New York native was chosen in the 1st round (16th overall) in 2014 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The talented 6-foot, 190 pound winger relinquished enrollment to Boston College, confirming the speculation after dodging many questions about his commitment to the US College. Instead, he signed an entry level contract with the Blue Jackets, then subsequently placed in Plymouth to develop in the Ontario Hockey League, a 3-hour, 325 kilometer distance north of Columbus, with the added bonus of keeping close ties to his draft team.

The Plymouth Whalers rolled through Mississauga on December 5, 2014, squandering an early 2-0 lead to end up in a 4-3 loss to the Steelheads. Below are notes from the game performance for Milano, who ended up with one goal and two assists in a losing effort.

Sonny Milano, LW, Columbus (2014)

Photo by Toms Sorensen.

Superb skating ability and explosive acceleration on display from his first shift .. exceptional stamina over long shifts especially while playing at a high tempo for the first few shifts, looking just as energetic late in shifts (like a late shift rush up ice, racing at high speed to get into scoring position) as when first stepping on to the ice .. assisted on the first goal with a solid cross-ice pass to a streaking Matt Mistele .. effortless skater, despite a sloppy skate lace set up that would suggest more of an ankle burner stride than explosiveness .. sprinkled in quick hands and elite stickhandling similar to the documented superb skills from the 2014 Scouting Combine (see video embedded below) .. works in a high tempo setting the pace of play in the neutral and offensive zone .. deft one-touch pass under forechecking pressure to an open teammate, directing the puck through the forecheckers legs in a dangerous part of the ice .. executing on that play is notable, but demonstrating the resolve to pull it off in that dangerous area added dimension to the play .. natural tendency to get the puck to the front of the net if there isn't an immediate play – especiallt if he’s running out of real estate .. scored off a breakaway pursued by a determined backchecker using stick and arms to interfere, and timed the protection of the puck with a swinging stick check maintaining control and speed to flick a backhand over stretched out goaltender .. lacked some strength in board battles, bouncing off bigger opponents .. better suited as the support player than the player battling for the puck along the wall .. despite the elite skating and stick skills, displayed a tendency to skate himself into dead ends if he doesn’t have an angle wide for a skating lane .. impressive showing, notwithstanding the loss.

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OHL: Kitchener Rangers – Just the Faksa

Gus Katsaros — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 04:15:09 +0000

The Kitchener Rangers fell 4-1 to the Mississauga Steelheads and dug an even deeper hole with a 4-10 record, entrenched in last place in the Midwest Division, with their eight points represent the bottom of the OHL.

They’ve dropped six straight games, the last win on Thanksgiving weekend.

During that period of time, their leading scorer Radek Faksa has one goal (6-1-2-3) and second leading scorer (6-1-2-3) all garnered in their last three games, including the Sunday November 3 loss to the Mississauga Steelheads.

The Rangers have allowed 30 goals in that span, scoring only 12 with one shutout in the mix. It’s been a trying time for the club since winning three of their first four games to start the season and only one win in the following 10 games.

The following reports are only based on the single live viewing.

Radek Faksa, C

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images

It’s hard to find positives for the Dallas Stars pick in 2012 (13th overall) and Kitchener Import .. scoreless with one assist in the past four games leading the last place Rangers scoring (13-8-3-11) .. intelligent decision-making with good defensive support on the backcheck, but lacked the normally structured and dependable defensive game .. seemed less enthusiastic about defensive duties as a center and positioned a touch high in the defensive zone for a pivot, trying to cheat a little out of the zone in attempts to get an early jump up in transition .. hunched over skater with a wide stride, lacks startup speed yet makes up for it when up to speed .. holds the stick at a very low point during faceoffs - his right hand choked halfway down for leverage .. could have shown a little more compete, despite it being a Sunday game after a .. limited battles after initial rebuffs and took too much time with the puck at times .. generally failed to generate at peak energy and effectiveness lurking in the shadows of the game instead of taking an active part in the play .. a good candidate to be moved from the rebuilding Rangers.

Justin Bailey, RW

Sabres 2nd round pick in 2013 (52nd overall) scored the Rangers first and only goal (his first in nine games) .. hurried the Steelheads defensive pairing, pushing them back deeper into the zone with quick pursuit and slight physical contact at the end and forcing a turnover, pouncing on the turnover in the slot .. skating stride is an ongoing issue .. wide base, heads up while carrying the puck but sluggish on startup and with hops on the first few strides – also prevalent in crossovers and when trying to accelerate .. did show great bursts at higher speed, showing various operating gears .. work ethic lacked consistency, especially after the score started getting run up and the game out of hand .. was expecting to see more of an impact, considering he was second in scoring entering the game, and came feeling slightly disappointed in the overall effort aside from occasional spurts of focused compete.

Matia Marcantuoni, LW

Towers at 6-foot and 202 pounds, the Penguins 4th round pick in 2012 (92nd overall) had one of the better showings for any of the drafted players in Rangers blues .. displayed small area quickness, like controlling the puck along the boards during the PP attracting penalty killers before quick flicks and passes to open space .. protected the puck well in most situations, while allowing some panic to settle in on others where he had more time and/or space to maneuver .. made some plays without bereft of consequence and reacted more than anticipated .. showed better playmaking initiative free flowing off the rush than on the structured power play .. stayed slightly in the perimeter with little effort to get into scoring areas .. played in all situations including penalty killing duty .. similar to Bailey, he also hops slightly at startup in a hunched over skating stride .. lined up as a center with Bailey and Pedersen as wingers .. one of the better skaters, with good length and deceptive quickness .. one of the most consistent working forwards in the game overall.

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Erie Otters: Drafted Player Scouting Reports

Gus Katsaros — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 16:42:44 +0000

The Erie Otters skated to a Thanksgiving Day 7-0 matinee rout over the Mississauga Steelheads. The win capped off three games in four nights, scoring 17 goals en route to a perfect 3-0 record - remaining undefeated in five October games. Below are notes on three drafted prospects for the Maple Leafs, Capitals and NY Islanders.

Mississauga defenseman Trevor Carrick (Carolina 4th rnd, 115th – 2012) is the lone Steelheads player featured. The talented blueliner has scored six goals and tied for the team scoring lead with Dylan Smoskowitz, while building on a 2012-13 season where he scored double digit goals (10 – six at even strength) and 0.55 points-per-game.

Connor Brown, RW (Toronto - 2012)

Freshly anointed OHL Player of the week, Otters captain recorded helpers on the opening two goals – both by Dane Fox - lining up alongside Connor McDavid .. worked hard along the boards winning the puck battle before passing it to the middle finding Fox for the first Erie goal .. skated on the first penalty killing unit – and the lone PK forward in a 5-on-3 situation - showing usage versatility and coach’s trust, appearing in every situation .. patient with heads up vision, looking for options, however guilty of the occasional overhandle – including a circling around the zone and along the blueline in a show of excess .. lined up on the left side despite being a right winger .. backchecks with purpose supporting the defense with an active stick and quick feet .. can sometimes play too deep covering the center duties instead of as a winger high in the defensive zone .. pushes the pace with acceleration and quickness.

Andre Burakovsky, LW (Washington - 2013)

Finesse winger, oozed stickhandling and puck control skills, starting on his off wing and lining up on the right side - occasionally drifting back towards to the left .. glides on a wide skating base with quick feet and long extension in an efficient stride .. capable of quick cuts and lateral shifts .. couple with first two-step quickness, he closes gaps defensively, or gain separation with another gear while cradling the puck .. played a transitional role in that he looked like he would cheat a bit to get the quick jump on the offense and push back the point men into center ice to create breakout space .. sets up defensive coverage just enough to maximize turning up ice quick .. tight turning radius, particularly with the puck .. strong and compact release on a sizzling wrist shot .. first inclination upon engaging players is stick checks and as ‘the layer’ behind puck battles in defensive zone duty looking for loose pucks .. lacks natural belligerence and doesn't really engage physically, but he’s deceptively strong on his skates, and difficult to knock over, standing up multiple aggressors off the rush .. a slight upgrade in edge will make the jump to the NHL.

Adam Pelech, D (NY Islanders - 2012)

New York Islanders 3rd round pick in 2012 (65th overall) extended his point streak to an OHL career high, five games (5-1-5-6), quietly amassing two assists in the 7-0 trouncing of Mississauga .. offensive production didn’t set him apart in this contest, receiving heavy ice time, with some shifts taking short breaks in between before jumping back on the ice for a crucial play or game condition – like killing penalties .. used in all situations including first unit PK and PP duty .. small peeve, he holds stick at his waist in almost all situations including in the defensive zone which costs him the ability to wrangle pucks that come close to him slipping through the delay to get his stick from the waist height to the ice .. almost had a shot deflect off his stick into the net with the Otters shorthanded, but the puck hit the post softly .. good positional instincts .. rarely jumped into the rush – not that it was required in this game – but maintained good presence on the point with pressure in the offensive zone .. solid, yet quiet two way performance.

Oscar Dansk , G (Columbus - 2012)

Relatively untested with excessive pressure, and very few second attempts, typical of a 7-0 rout facing one off shots and some power play pressure .. received some help from his defensemen clearing the few rebounds and keeping his viewing lanes fairly unobstructed .. generally trapped pucks to negate second chance opportunities .. covered his angles well while challenging shooters by coming up to the top of the crease .. showed size when facing potential shooters, becoming a target with few holes .. recovers back to his feet quickly from the butterfly and gets good pushes from post to post as the play moved behind the net .. good, quick glove hand .. generally an average appearance in an unchallenged blowout.

Mississauga Steelheads

Trevor Carrick, D (Carolina - 2012)

Carolina 4th round pick in 2012 (115th overall) has already scored six goals in 10 games (10-6-4) only four shy of his 10 goals in 2012-13 OHL career high and much more involved in the offensive zone on an anemic Steelheads offense .. plays with a little bit of a nasty edge, subtle in movements with undertones of purpose in intention .. victimized by the high end skill of the Otters first line, no different than teammates that struggled to keep up with the superior puck movement .. defensively sound, gaps are tight and can angle off opponents to cut their space quickly .. quick off the hop, his first two-step acceleration is excellent .. heads up vision and long outlet passing was exhibited with a long bomb from just above the face-off circle catching a teammate at the opposition blueline, tape to tape, hard and crisp .. balanced, agile and very strong on his feet .. mature sense of when to jump in deep off the point and when to join the rush .. a difficult game to gauge the offensive end of his game without much opportunity to score, but not fair to judge defensively based on the team lacking the defensive acumen to stop the potent and skilled Otters front lines.

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Travis Konecny’s day at the OHL draft

Sean Lafortune — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:20:51 +0000

The Ottawa 67’s may have found Sean Monahan’s successor in the supremely-talented Travis Konecny.

The 67’s went with the smooth-skating, offensive workhorse from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs with the first-overall pick. Konecny, a cousin of 2013 NHL draft eligible Bo Horvat, carries a toolbox brimming with the tools to succeed and become a premier player in the OHL in the near future.

The Erie Otters are surrounding exceptional player Connor McDavid with another gem in Dylan Strome. The younger brother of New York Islanders prospect Ryan, Dylan was chosen with the second pick in the draft and should create quite the dynamic duo with McDavid in the not-too-distant future.

The first defenceman was taken with the third pick, but it wasn’t Sean Day. The Peterborough Petes instead opted for Matthew Spencer, whose impact won’t always be reflected in the box score.

Day’s slide ended with the next pick, No. 4 to the Mississauga Steelheads. The fourth player to be granted “exceptional player” status to play in the league at 15 and third in three years, Day will carve up the ice in the Toronto suburb for at least three seasons before being eligible for the NHL draft in 2016.

The Kingston Frontenacs rounded out the top five with Konecny’s teammate, left winger Lawson Crouse. The big and powerful winger will be a handful to contain once he realizes his immense potential.

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Travis Konecny (C, 2015), Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs - 5'9" – 161 pounds - March 11, 1997

Drafted first-overall by the Ottawa 67’s

Konecny shone as a standout on Team Hall at the Allstate All-Canadians camp .. dynamic skater with natural speed and fluidity .. generates significant initial thrusts with his first steps and start up .. the slick pivot possesses soft, articulate hands with excellent playmaking vision .. makes the biggest impact when he pushes the pace of play and competes aggressively at both ends of the ice .. composed in possession and excels in making crafty plays in motion, aided by fine in-close puck skills and cleaver lateral mobility .. makes split-second decisions and can execute his game-plan smoothly in top gear .. can play with a physical edge and be a physical force .. delivers impactful open-ice hits and can terrorize opposing defencemen on the fore-check .. excels in traffic; comfortable with body contact and protecting the puck as he finds open space .. shows intuitiveness at sensing danger, knowing when to hold onto the puck for that extra second and when to distribute .. possesses a dynamic snapshot with an unpredictable release point that keeps goaltenders guessing .. consistency can waver, as he can get frustrated when given extra attention by the opposition .. his role next year may be tied to the future of Sean Monahan in the nation's capital, but the expectations are that Konecny will come into the league as a top two centre, while working on adding some strength to his frame and continuing his development .. has the ability to be one of the top players in the league in two years.

Dylan Strome (C, 2015), Toronto Marlboros - 6'2" - 165 pounds - March 7, 1997

Drafted second-overall by the Erie Otters

Quickly became known as the most dangerous playmaker in his age group .. puck skills and vision are his best assets .. a gifted passer, displays an ability to carve defences with no-look passes ranging from five to 20 feet in little-to-no space .. exhibits great imagination with the puck in the offensive zone, driving the net or finding teammates in open ice .. soft, quick hands make him one of the more dangerous players around the net .. well-sized for a player of his age and continuing to grow into his body .. still needs to work on adding bulk to his large, 6’2 frame .. not an elegant skater, as he is somewhat stiff and heavy footed .. increasing the length and fluidity of his stride will make him a stronger, more mobile player .. projects as a number one centre at the next level .. will probably slot into a top-six role initially with the Otters .. much like McDavid last year, look for the Otters to play him with finishers such as Dane Fox or Stephen Harper, where he can truly utilize his puck skills .. a power-play tandem of McDavid and Strome may become one of the most dangerous in the league in the coming seasons.

Matthew Spencer (D, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'2" – 185 pounds - March 24, 1997

Drafted third-overall by the Peterborough Petes

A responsible, well-rounded workhorse .. plays in all situations and thrives in each .. extremely-effective at closing down space in both the neutral and offensive zones .. gap control is top notch, aided by his deceptive quick feet and strong stick-work .. extremely tough to beat one-on-one, specifically when backing up and defending the rush .. sustains tight gaps and takes away space from opposing puck-rushers .. proficient at getting his stick into passing lanes and deflecting shots on net .. underrated in the offensive zone .. displays an ability to join the attack while making accurate lead passes .. composed under pressure and dissolves fore-checking pressure by making quick, decisive decisions with the puck .. packs a sizzling slap-shot with a hard, heavy one-timer .. has the ability to fake a shot, walk the line and alter a shooting lane .. could be more adventurous as a puck-mover, as he tends to be a bit conservative offensively .. will need to continue to bulk up and add muscle to his already large frame .. won't be judged on the score-sheet, but more so on his adjustment to the league this year .. should play more of a depth role defensively, seeing some time on the penalty kill and perhaps on the second power-play .. as he matures, expect him to be a leader who can positively contribute at both ends of the ice.

Sean Day (D, 2016), Detroit Compuware U16 - 6'2” - 200 pounds - January 9, 1998

Drafted fourth-overall by the Mississauga Steelheads

Assertive and confident beyond his years .. takes charge of situations and always strives to be a difference-maker .. an innovative, highly-skilled workhorse with great hands and elite mobility .. blessed with an explosive skating stride and backed by excellent footwork .. edges slash into the ice, generating a quick start-up bust and terrific turning speed .. paralyses opponents with dynamic lateral shifts and clever toe-drag moves .. plays the game with remarkable tempo in possession, moving effortlessly with the puck and displaying outstanding one-on-one elusiveness .. hands are fast and skilled .. boasts tricky in-close puck-possession abilities, backed by tremendous focus .. makes sharp, accurate passes and also packs a quick, hard shot .. can play tough, although that really isn’t his forte .. will skate himself into trouble at times, and run out of room .. needs to learn to improvise on the fly while better utilizing his teammates .. must also continue to make gains in his structure and consistency .. will be put in every position to succeed and learn from mistakes by playing top-four minutes following potential graduations of Stuart Percy, Dylan DeMelo and Alex Cord .. has the ability and talent to be one of the best offensive-minded defenders that we have seen in the OHL in some time.

Lawson Crouse (LW, 2015), Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs - 6'3" - 189 pounds - June 23, 1997

Drafted fifth-overall by the Kingston Frontenacs

A skilled and competent puck-handler thanks to strong hands and an ample wingspan .. deceptively quick off the mark, leaps in crossovers and initial steps before setting into a wide, lunging skating stride .. may lack elite mobility, however, but is a strong skater with surprisingly effective agility and lateral mobility .. hard to contain as he enters the offensive zone, using his large frame to protect the puck as he drives to the net .. possesses an elite-level snapshot with an unpredictable release point .. increasing his playmaking tempo and intensity .. misses some vision, but distributes effectively when operating on the sideboards .. at his best when powering through the offensive zone, gaining positioning on opposing defenders through his determination levels .. thrives when working without the puck, getting into open-ice and allowing a teammate to find him driving the net .. forces defenders to back off as he hits top speed, using his combination of agility and power to intimidate .. gets caught flat-footed watching defensive sequences, must stay active and strive to stay involved .. has the frame to be a powerful force, but needs to physically mature while adding strength and mass to his core .. should be an offensive leader for the Frontenacs while developing his defensive zone awareness and physical maturity .. high potential forward has the tools to be an impact forward at the OHL level .. will be initially placed in a depth role of the Frontenacs, learning about the game and adjusting to the speed, but don't be surprised if he’s in the team's top six by the second half of the year .. should mesh well with ’96-born centre Sam Bennett.