Owen Sound Attack – McKeen's Hockey

OHL: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound – Vegas)

Scott Crawford — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 14:40:55 +0000

Currently tied for third in OHL scoring after 23 games, Nick Suzuki was Vegas Golden Knights second pick in the 2017 NHL Draft and 13th overall. Distinguished by his effortless skating he brings versatile package of abilities and plays on both special teams, on the point on powerplay. Scott Crawford provides a detailed breakdown of Suzuki's game illustrating why he is such an exciting prospect.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Nick Suzuki	2017 Draft (13th - Vegas Golden Knights)
Position: C, Shoots: R	H/W: 5-11", 185 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Owen Sound Attack, OHL (23-16-25-41-8)

Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Skating: Suzuki is one of the best NHL prospects taken in last year’s draft, especially at 13^th overall by the Golden Knights. One of the reasons why he is top three in scoring in the OHL is because of his skating. His skating is among the best in the OHL because of the effortless way he moves around the ice. He can move North-South and West-East no problem and he barely breaks a sweat. When he transitions, he transitions quickly. If his team causes a turnover, he is the first one there to challenge the opposing player or if his team takes away the puck he is the first one up the ice for the open outlet pass. Overall, he is quicker than most players in the OHL and he is hard to stop once he gets going with the puck. Grade: 65

Shot: Suzuki’s shots are quick and hard to notice through traffic. His wrist shot can be used in any scenario, whether he is skating up the ice to shoot on goal or if he is picking up a loose puck and firing it on net. He is dangerous around the net as he likes to skate around the net, move along the half boards then move out in front of the net without the goaltender knowing where he is aiming to shoot. He likes to move and shoot when he is creating scoring chances for himself, and there will be rare times where he will sit and wait for the puck. Grade: 60

Skills: It is not everyday where you can get a forward like Suzuki who can move the puck like a forward at even strength, but then move the puck like a defenseman on the power play. Suzuki is counted on to bring the puck up ice or help control the puck into the offensive zone when he is playing forward. However, on the powerplay he is relegated to the defense position to help control the puck at the blue line more efficiently. His coaches also rely on his skill to carry the puck into to the offensive zone on the powerplay. He has an excellent cross over and can use his backhand to steer the puck from opposing players who try to stick check him and when he has created enough space for himself he will use his crossover from his backhand and go to his forehand. Has annoying habit of flipping the puck past his opponent and skating around him, but the trick usually does not work half the time he is pulling it off. Grade: 60

Smarts: One of the smartest players in the OHL, Suzuki’s intelligence is counted on at 5v5, on the powerplay and the penalty kill. Away from the puck he understands where he needs to be if he needs to challenge players, come back and support a defenseman who is distributing the first puck from his own zone or act as a support player for a teammate who is cornered and forced to throw the loose puck away. He is one of the best penalty killers in the OHL, he squares up opposing players shoulder to shoulder with his stick out in front ready to take the passing lane away. He will sacrifice his body to block the puck from hitting his net and he has a keen eye for sensing when his teammates will take the puck away from the opposing forwards. Grade: 60

Physicality: Suzuki is surprisingly showing some grit in his game. He scans his opponents with the puck and pins them to the boards with the proper positioning. He still has issues skating into traffic with bigger players. If he is taking on a defenseman who is 6-2” or bigger he will skate to the side instead of going right at him like he normally does. Not one to take part in the corner battles, Suzuki still acts as the teammate who will clean up the loose puck once it is free from the scrums. Grade: 50

Summary: Nick Suzuki is a highly skilled forward playing in the OHL and he will be a highly skilled forward when he enters the NHL. There is a bright future for him as he will continue to skate fast and move the puck around to create scoring chances or make plays for his teammates. He is smart enough to develop his skillset for the next level of his career and he is creative enough that his offensive output will continue to be consistent. To be the ultimate player he needs to continue working on his physical play as he displays signs of playing physical along the boards, but needs to be more active when his teammates need help. The Vegas Golden Knights have a good prospect and he should have been taken in the top ten in the 2017 NHL draft.

Whalers patient, OHL picks 16-19

Sean Lafortune — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:04:39 +0000

In our fourth and final installment of the OHL draft, scouting reports highlight the final four picks of the first round.

The Plymouth Whalers are proving patience is a virtue after drafting the highly-skilled forward Jordan Greenway with the 16^th pick. Greenway is heading to the USNTDP, which means he won’t make his Whalers debut for two more years, but once there, he should be worth the wait.

The Owen Sound Attack took Ethan Szypula with the next pick. Szypula is a wizard with the puck, but plays with a chip on his shoulder and a burning desire to make a difference.

Justin Lemcke (pictured), a big and fluid skating defenceman, followed in the 18^th pick. The Bulls took a player that will be hard to play against who could also emerge as a future leader in the Quinte region.

The London Knights closed out the first round with the supremely-skilled, but diminutive forward Mitchell Marner. The future Knight will have time to grow in a depth role on a skilled team and should emerge as a scoring sensation in the not-too-distant future.

Photo courtesy of Paul Kidd

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Jordan Greenway (LW, 2015), Shattuck St Mary’s U16 – 6’5" – 205 pounds – February 16, 1997

Drafted 16^th overall by the Plymouth Whalers

Greenway has been developing at the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s prep hockey program over the past few years, a program that has had such graduates as Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews over its storied history .. Potsdam, NY native has the rare combination of size, mobility and puck skills that make him a real appealing option for OHL teams .. protects the puck like few at this age group, holding off checkers and dishing out seeing-eye passes .. most effective when driving the net courageously, looking to unload a heavy, accurate snap-shot .. gets his blade on tip-ins and rebounds due to his sharp hand-eye coordination .. not an elegant skater, he is somewhat stiff and slightly heavy-footed .. continues to ad fluidity and length to his skating stride .. shows flashes of a gritty, physical edge to his game, yet lacks that natural aggressive streak .. continues to add muscle and core strength to his massive frame .. still lacks defensive zone awareness at times, as he takes poor angles and doesn’t sustain consistent positioning .. currently uncommitted to a U.S. college, Greenway has multiple options at his disposal .. has reportedly committed to the USNTDP U17 program, where he will play an important role for the squad .. had the ability and potential to be a top-5 selection for the OHL Draft, but fell due to his USNTDP commitment .. the selection of Greenway seems reminiscent of the Saginaw Spirit selecting Brandon Saad in the 2009 OHL draft, where the Spirit felt that two years with Saad would be more valuable to them then other options.

Ethan Szypula (C, 2015), London Jr. Knights – 5'9" – 154 pounds – January 28, 1997

Drafted 17^th overall by the Owen Sound Attack

A shifty skater who can create space using a deceptive change of pace and tricky stick-handling .. insightful playmaker, cleaver passer with sneaky hands plus a good, undersized shot .. soft hands, a strong puck-handler and cleaver “in close” skills .. a crafty and talented passer, has a knack for creating space and finding open lanes .. accelerates swiftly and attains good top speed from a long and powerful skating stride .. a threat in transition, generates a burst with each step, and on crossovers to produce excellent diagonals speed .. adept at holding the puck, exploiting his poise and patience .. competes -- chippy and aggressive -- willing to do what it takes to win .. gets caught flat-footed watching defensive sequences and must strive to stay involved with the play in his own zone .. prone to over-handling the puck at times .. reluctant to drive his slight frame at defenders and will peel off and relinquish possession under the threat of contact .. filling in and adding strength and mass to his frame will aid him as he moves forward .. will play an immediate depth role, and may see some select power-play time .. however, he will have to adjust to the pace and speed that the OHL brings, while also physically maturing .. once he makes that adjustment, he has the ability to be a front-line offensive force for the Attack, while also bringing a high compete level and willingness to do what it takes to win.

Justin Lemcke (D, 2015), Whitby Wildcats – 6'1" – 192 pounds – February 13, 1997

Drafted 18^th overall by the Belleville Bulls

Captain of the Whitby Wildcats .. tall, poised rearguard is an attractive skater for his size .. fluid with good range .. reaches top gear quicker having added power to a long, smooth stride .. more agile and stronger on his edges and gradually improving his turning speed .. still can lose time on his pivots and transitions .. misses elite start-up and top-end speed .. displays an understanding for when to integrate himself into the attack, aided by good puck-handling skills and a booming shot .. strong on the puck, patiently waits for outlets to open and makes a good first pass .. sustains strong gap control, defending the rush with poise while relying on his active stick .. can be overtaken time to time with his average backwards speed, as opposing skaters have the ability to skate wide on him .. lacks assertiveness in physical battles, needs to learn how to better use his frame and exploit his excellent strength .. competitive, difficult to play against, uses his thick frame to lean and grind down on opponents below the defensive red line .. can still waste energy running around and chasing the puck in his own zone .. most effective when focusing on proper execution .. must continue to bulk up his spacious frame while upgrading his offensive tools .. can struggle in possession, not making quick enough reads in the offensive zone .. should come into Belleville and play an immediate depth role for a re-tooling Bulls squad .. has the ability to be a defensive-focused player who logs a significant amount of hard minutes .. will not be a pure puck-mover, but could act as an effective trigger-man on the power-play.

Mitch Marner (C, 2015), Don Mills Flyers – 5'8" – 130 pounds – May 5, 1997

Drafted 19^th overall by the London Knights

Marner played his first year with the Don Mills Flyers after spending his bantam year with the Vaughan Kings .. used as an affiliate player for the St. Michael’s Buzzers of the OJHL, playing top-9 minutes and adding some important secondary scoring for the Buckland Cup champions .. gifted passer and shooter, imaginative, he has an excellent sense for how to create offence .. possesses some paralyzing one-on-one moves, accentuated by remarkable in-tight escapability .. dynamic, undersized speedster hunches forward and generates a blistering pace .. generates a strong start-up burst and accelerates to top gear within seconds .. opens up lanes via explosive lateral cuts at high speed .. dangerous off the rush, hard to contain gaps on .. plays a brave game in spite of a diminutive frame, displaying resilience and persistence .. continues to work on upgrading his defensive zone play .. still gets erased by bigger, stronger defenders who successfully contain his time and space .. balance and strength will be an issue moving forward .. struggles to maintain his edges and protect the puck when engaged .. has put on weight and is maturing, however needs to continue to add core strength to his slight frame .. projected as a skilled, top-6 forward at the next level whose future may be tied into his ability to upgrade his strength .. may play a depth role for the Knights next year, given the team’s deep returning forward core .. once matured, Marner has the ability to be one of the top scorers in the OHL, based on his individual puck skills and high offensive ceiling.

Prospect Update: Laughton, Kosmachuk, Leivo, Ceci

Saeed Atcha — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:08:01 +0000

Scott Laughton (Philadelphia Flyers), C, Oshawa Generals

6’1, 190 lbs, DOB: May 30, 1994

If it becomes difficult to define Scott Laughton’s role with the Oshawa Generals, there is good reason for it. Laughton has done just about everything for his team this season. The Flyers prospect excels as a number two centre providing secondary offence yet one might take him for a third line checking forward with the physical play and defensive acumen that Laughton provides. Laughton’s tenacity on the forecheck and his appetite for throwing hits at every turn allows the Generals to pressure their opponents in the offensive zone for the length of his shifts. Laughton’s defensive efforts are rewarded with ample penalty killing minutes which he further justifies by taking away time and space from his opponents. Laughton is a 200 ft player and not surprisingly is very effective through transitions and zone entries. Laughton’s puck skills are often overlooked but his stick handling and speed allows him to bring the puck up the middle of the ice while his vision allows him to find linemates to create scoring opportunities. Earlier in the season, Laughton filled in as the number one centre for the Generals and executed the task admirably, displaying his ability to quarterback the team’s first powerplay unit as well as showcasing his skills in finishing scoring chances.

Scott Kosmachuk (Winnipeg Jets), RW, Guelph Storm

5’11, 187 lbs, DOB: January 24, 1994

As the Guelph Storm’s leading scorer and engine behind the team’s top line, Scott Kosmachuk provides a dynamic offensive presence, particularly in the attacking zone. Kosmachuk’s offensive talent is driven by strong puck skills and the ability to execute with very little time and space. Kosmachuk thrives in corners and crowded ice and is able to maintain the Storm’s offensive zone presence by either stickhandling his way out or by firing a pass to a linemate. While playmaking is a strength, finishing plays comes naturally as well – two traits evident when observing Kosmachuk perform during powerplays. Kosmachuk can be effective when the game becomes gritty and he is able to offer a strong presence in the slot. While not a two-way forward in the traditional sense, Kosmachuk’s quickness with his stick allows him to be effective without the puck as well. Developing a larger identity in the defensive zone would provide the Storm with a more potent transition game.

Josh Leivo (Toronto Maple Leafs), LW, Kitchener Rangers

6’1, 191 lbs, DOB: May 26, 1993

The leading scorer for the Kitchener Rangers, Josh Leivo is often the architect behind their top line offence. An exceptional playmaker, Leivo is methodical and calculating with his execution – allowing him to see the ice very well. Leivo can create offence off the rush but his vision allows the Rangers to establish a presence in the offensive zone and manage the pace of the flow with the opposition drawn to him. Leivo is comfortable setting up at virtually any location within the offensive zone, adding creativity to the Rangers attack, all the while keeping opponents on their toes. Naturally, Leivo excels on the powerplay. His vision and dynamic puck movement allows him to direct the Rangers powerplay from various vantage points from which he can surgically deliver passes to the goal line creating scoring chances. Leivo has developed better consistency in the defensive zone and this has progressed to being able to initiate plays from the back end, rounding him into a more responsible player.

Cody Ceci (Ottawa Senators), D, Owen Sound Attack

6’3, 215 lbs, DOB: December 21, 1993

In their trade with Ottawa, Owen Sound received one of the league’s top producers from the blueline. In particular, Ceci’s play on the powerplay has been exceptional. With limited skating involved with the man advantage, Ceci’s hockey sense and shot boosts Owen Sound’s chances of netting a goal. The Senators prospect uses his massive frame to protect the puck and uses north-south movement on the powerplay to give the Attack dynamic properties. Ceci plays the point with his head up and moves methodically seeking shooting lanes giving teammates an opportunity to move into high percentage scoring areas. Ceci is quite comfortable acting as quarterback for an umbrella powerplay which allows him to use a heavy one-time shot. Ceci is deceptive in his ability to join the rush constantly providing Owen Sound with odd man rushes. As a defender, Ceci is difficult to beat on rushes without lateral movement as he allows very little maneuvering space along the boards. Physical when needed, Ceci provides his goaltenders with breathing room, using his mass to box out attacking forwards. Developing his footwork would further advance Owen Sound’s attack.

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Owen Sound’s Chris Bigras adding flavour

David Burstyn — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:11:54 +0000

'Too bland, too vanilla', was the initial scouting assessment on Chris Bigras.

However, since being drafted by the Owen Sound Attack in the second round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection (41st overall), the Elmvale, Ontario native has gradually added flavour to his game.

His progress has been particularly acute this season - building on the confidence he gained from winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament last August.

A dependable, low-maintenance blueliner, Bigras excels at playing a 'vanilla' game in terms of keeping it simple and playing within his skill set.

Tied for sixth in the league in plus-minus (+32) - and second among OHL defensemen behind Attack teammate Nathan Chiarlitti - Bigras has also hit career highs and sits third among this year's draft-eligible rearguards with 31 points - behind Jordan Subban and Darnell Nurse.

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Chris Bigras (D, 2013), Owen Sound

Notes: Runner-up for the 2011 Ivan Tennant Memorial Award given to the Top Academic High School Player .. also earned 'Scholastic Player of the Month' honors for November this season .. lost some valuable power-play time when Cody Ceci was added at the January trade deadline, yet continues to contribute.

Scouting: Supports the breakout effectively - makes sound decisions with the puck and can deliver crisp passes out of the zone .. stays cool and composed in possession .. his puckmoving and outlet play have improved significantly since the start of the season .. now takes an extra second to evaluate options - and rarely throws it away or does not see a play .. prefers to make a quick pass and then dart into open ice as opposed to lugging the puck out himself .. lacks the breakaway skating ability to be a prime puckrusher, but is smooth in transition due to his vision and game-reading abilities .. understands when to jump in and out of a play .. shown marked improvement in his passing skills and ability to contribute to the attack .. effective on the power play - will pinch forward as he sees a play unfolding, going to the net to redirect a pass .. his slapshot and wristshot are okay, nothing spectacular, and used more to create tips and deflections .. generates a decent enough thrust from short, economical strides .. must keep working to improve his first step quickness - and to be clean up some busy footwork sequences that reduce efficiency .. a slight bow-legged skating stance hinders his ability at times to pivot and make a play, however he does have good speed and mobility and also generates a solid burst in crossovers .. logs key minutes for the Attack in all situations and is steadily progressing as a defender .. committed, sticks with plays .. uses a decent-sized frame as a method of containing down low, albeit is not overly aggressive by nature and will have to optimize his strength potential to hold his ground against pro opponents .. plagued by the occasional let-up in intensity and focus .. needs to keep making gains in overall positioning .. can lose his man to the outside by playing the gap too high in the zone .. also gets caught up ice chasing offensive plays as he is prone to over-reacting and forcing things especially when his team is trailing.