Adam Ruzicka – Sarnia Sting – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 202 pounds

Date of birth: May 11, 1999

Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia

Position: Center/Left Wing/Right Wing

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 2, 107th overall, 2016 CHL Import Draft

Versatile Slovakian and Sarnia Sting forward, who can play all three forward positions, Adam Ruzicka played in the Czech Republic a season ago for HC Pardubice in both the Under-18 and Under-20 leagues. Two seasons ago he competed in the Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20. Last season in the Under-20, he was a point-per-game player on 14 goals and 16 assists in 30 games while also putting up 39 penalty minutes.

Adam Ruzicka of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Adam Ruzicka of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Ruzicka also has a wealth of international experience having represented his native Slovakia at the Under-16, the World Hockey Challenge Under-17, World Junior Championship Under-18, World Junior Championship Under-20 and two Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournaments. In total, he has 34 international games under his belt, scoring 18 goals and 16 assists.

It wasn’t a smooth and easy transition into the Ontario Hockey League for Ruzicka with 2 goals and 5 assists (3 of those coming on opening night versus the London Knights) in his first 14 games. But in the 46 games since, he has 23 goals and 15 assists.

The big bodied Ruzicka’s – he already has an NHL frame – number one issue is finding consistency in producing. He scores in bunches, having gone twice without a goal in 7 consecutive games. Scoring in bunches is what most goal scorers do, but prolonged scoring droughts can be a concern for a player known as a goal scorer.

Complimenting his size is the strength he also possesses. Combined, he’s hard to knock off the puck and allows him to keep possession. He needs to become more proficient at using those strengths along the walls. He’s also a very good skater with very good puck handling skills who can take the disc to scoring areas and release a very good shot.

Ruzicka has very good vision and hockey smarts. Earlier in the season he was prone to making some ill-advised decisions but part of that can be attributed to becoming more accustomed to the smaller ice surface. As the season moved along, he has shown some very good improvement in limiting those bad decisions.

Ruzicka was ranked 29th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Adam Ruzicka

This is the profile page of Adam Ruzicka at Elite Prospects

 

Islanders’ Daniel Sprong named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Daniel Sprong of the Charlottetown Islanders is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 12 after recording nine points in three games including five goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-7.

Sprong tied an Islanders franchise record on Wednesday with a seven-point performance including four goals and three assists as first star of a 12-3 win over the Moncton Wildcats.  Not only were the seven points a career-high, but the four goals were also a first following three hat-tricks earlier this season.  Sprong was held off the scoresheet in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs but turned things around Saturday with a goal and assist in a 6-3 road win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.  The Islanders are currently fourth in the QMJHL’s overall standings with a 45-17-3-0 record and have won nine of their last 10 games.

A native of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sprong turns 20-years-old on Friday when the Islanders host the Sea Dogs in another Maritimes Division battle before the regular season wraps up on Saturday.  Playing in his fourth season in Charlottetown, Sprong was chosen 13th overall in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft before being selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft.  Since returning from injury in January he’s tallied 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points in just 28 games played.

Also considered for the award this week was Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack scoring four goals and four assists for eight points in three games, and 2017 NHL Draft prospect Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks scoring five goals with three assists for eight points in four games.

2016-17 CHL Players of the Week:

Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown Islanders)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Christophe Boivin (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Alexis D’Aoust (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Vitalii Abramov (Gatineau Olympiques)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander Katerinakis (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Bobby MacIntyre (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cameron Askew (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown Islanders)

CHL Leagues

Sea Dogs’ Callum Booth named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Vaughn

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Carolina Hurricanes prospect Callum Booth of the Saint John Sea Dogs is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 12 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962.

Booth turned aside 51 shots last week for the first place Sea Dogs in a pair of victories to stretch the club’s winning-streak to seven and point-streak to 13 which includes 11 victories in that span.  Booth earned first star honours last Tuesday with a 24-save performance in a 3-1 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, then was named third star on Friday with 27 saves in a first place showdown in the Maritimes Division defeating the Charlottetown Islanders by a 5-1 score.  The Sea Dogs enter the final week of regular season action with a chance to secure first place overall carrying a 46-13-5-1 record with three games remaining.

A 19-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, Booth is playing in his fourth QMJHL season.  Originally chosen by the Quebec Remparts in the third round of the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft, Booth played 126 games for the Remparts over three and a half years before being acquired by the Sea Dogs in December.  The fourth round pick of the Hurricanes in the 2015 NHL Draft currently leads all QMJHL goaltenders with 30 wins, holds the league’s second best save percentage with a mark of .910, and has the fifth best goals-against-average at 2.65.

Also considered for the award this week was Tyler Brown of the Regina Pats who posted a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory making 93 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.67 and save percentage of .949.  In the OHL, rookie Christian Propp of the Barrie Colts made 66 saves and posted a 1-1-0-0 record including his first career shutout victory carrying a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .957.

2016-17 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Callum Booth (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Brodan Salmond (Kelowna Rockets)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Matthew Welsh (Charlottetown Islanders)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Francis Leclerc (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Griffen Outhouse (Victoria Royals)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Patrick Dea (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Reilly Pickard (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ryan Kubic (Vancouver Giants)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Flodell (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Liam Herbst (Guelph Storm)

CHL Leagues

OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

GTHL’s Mississauga Rebels, ALLIANCE’s London Jr. Knights win league titles, Cambridge Hawks officially qualify.

Tuesday action includes 4 Wild Card Play-In Games beginning at 2:00 pm, and 4 Round-Robin contests starting at 7:00 pm.

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the thirteenth and final edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

The weekly rankings are determined by a panel of OHL Central Scouting Staff and represent the top teams that are competing to play in the annual year-end championship tournament which takes place March 14-20, 2017.  All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 20.

Final Minor Midget Rankings for the 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour – Week 13

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 London Jr. Knights* ALLIANCE 1 13
2 Whitby Wildcats* OMHA 2 13
3 Mississauga Rebels* GTHL 4 13
4 Toronto Marlboros* GTHL 3 13
5 Vaughan Kings* GTHL 5 7
6 Quinte Red Devils* OMHA 6 8
7 Waterloo Wolves* ALLIANCE 7 10
8 Brampton 45’s* OMHA 8 4
9 Ajax-Pickering Raiders* OMHA 9 13
10 Toronto Jr. Canadiens* GTHL 10 4
         
  Honourable Mention      
  Toronto Titans GTHL – 0
  Mississauga Reps GTHL – 10
  Cambridge Hawks* ALLIANCE – 0
  Mississauga Senators GTHL – 8

*Officially qualified for 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour

Minor Midget playoff action wrapped up over the weekend in both the GTHL and ALLIANCE with the Mississauga Rebels and London Jr. Knights emerging victorious in their respective league finals.  The Rebels overtook the Toronto Marlboros 8-6 in points, while the top ranked Knights defeated the Waterloo Wolves 7-1 in points.  The Cambridge Hawks also became the final team to secure an OHL Cup berth defeating the Kitchener Jr. Rangers 2 games to 0 qualifying as the ALLIANCE’s third entry.

The 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour begins on Tuesday afternoon with four Wild Card Play-In Games followed by four Round-Robin contests.  The schedule for the Wild Card Play-In Games has been revised from the original release to accommodate travel in the anticipated inclement weather.

The original Wild Card 1 matchup between the Grey Bruce Highlanders and the Toronto Nationals scheduled for 10:00 amwill now be played at 3:15 pm, while the Wild Card 2 matchup between the Mississauga Senators and the York Simcoe Express originally scheduled for 12:00 pm will now be played at 5:15 pm.  Both games will now be played on Rink 2 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Pond.

2017 OHL Cup Wild Card Play-In Schedule:

Tuesday March 14, 2017
WC 3 – 2:00 pm – Mississauga Reps (GTHL) vs. Halton Hurricanes (OMHA) – Rink 1
WC 1 – 3:15 pm –  Grey Bruce Highlanders (OMHA) vs. Toronto Nationals (GTHL) – Rink 2
WC 4 – 4:00 pm – Toronto Titans (GTHL) vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers (ALLIANCE) – Rink 1
WC 2 – 5:15 pm – Mississauga Senators (GTHL) vs. York-Simcoe Express (OMHA) – Rink 2

The four winners of the Wild Card Play-In Games will join 16 other clubs who earned their qualification through league play and regional representation.

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour Alignment:

Nash Division:
Mississauga Rebels (GTHL Champ)
Quinte Red Devils (OMHA Bronze)
Cambridge Hawks (ALLIANCE 3rd)
Elite Hockey Group (USA Invite)
WC1

Subban Division:
London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE Champ)
Brampton 45s (OMHA Silver)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL Semi-Finalist)
TPH Thunder (USA Invite)
WC2

Shanahan Division:
Toronto Marlboros (GTHL Finalist)
Ajax-Pickering Raiders (OMHA Semi-Finalist)
Eastern Ontario Wild (HEO Rep)
Thunder Bay Kings (HNO Rep)
WC3

Lindros Division:
Whitby Wildcats (OMHA Gold)
Waterloo Wolves (ALLIANCE Finalist)
Vaughan Kings (GTHL Semi-Finalist)
Team NOHA (NOHA Rep)
WC4

Tuesday March 14, 2017 Round-Robin:

Scotiabank Pond 1
7:00 pm Quinte Red Devils vs. Mississauga Rebels
8:45 pm Whitby Wildcats vs. Vaughan Kings

Scotiabank Pond 2
7:15 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. London Jr. Knights
9:00 pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. Toronto Marlboros

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

History:

Last season the York Simcoe Express captured their second OHL Cup title and first since 2004 with a 2-1 overtime win over the Toronto Marlboros.  Current North Bay Battalion rookie Rhys Forhan scored both Express goals, while goaltender Andrei Berezinskiy earned tournament MVP honours playing to a 5-0 record with a 2.09 goals-against-average.

The 2016 OHL Priority Selection featured 12 players chosen in the first round who competed in the OHL Cup including Ryan Merkley (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 1st overall Guelph Storm), Owen Lalonde (Windsor Jr. Spitfires – 2nd overall Sudbury Wolves), Danil Antropov (Toronto Marlboros – 6th overall Oshawa Generals), Kirill Nizhnikov (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 7th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Barrett Hayton (Toronto Red Wings – 9th overall Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Peter Stratis (Mississauga Rebels – 11th overall Ottawa 67’s), Akil Thomas (Toronto Marlboros – 12th overall Niagara IceDogs), Adam McMaster (Niagara North – 13th overall North Bay Battalion), Tyler Weiss (Don Mills Flyers – 15th overall Sarnia Sting), Nathan Dunkley (Quinte Red Devils – 17th overall Kingston Frontenacs), Allan McShane (Toronto Marlboros – 19th overall Erie Otters), and Jack McBain (Don Mills Flyers – 20th overall Barrie Colts).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Mitch Marner (Vaughan Kings/Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Robby Fabbri (Mississauga Rebels/St. Louis Blues), Max Domi (Don Mills Flyers/Arizona Coyotes), Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames), Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/New Jersey Devils), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), P.K Subban (Markham Islanders/Nashville Predators), and Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning).

This season the OHL and GTHL announced a new three-year partnership with Under Armour that includes title sponsorship of the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament.  The OHL and GTHL have also announced a five-year partnership extension ensuring the event will continue to be hosted by the GTHL through 2021.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

Attack’s Petrus Palmu named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 12 after leading the league with eight points in three games scoring four goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Palmu recorded a pair of multi-point performances for the Attack who picked up a trio of victories last week moving up to third place in the Western Conference standings with a 45-15-2-2 record.  He began the week by matching a season-high with four points on Thursday including a goal and three assists as second star of a 6-4 road win over the Niagara IceDogs.  On Saturday night Palmu scored in a 4-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit, then finished the week with two goals and an assist on Sunday afternoon in Sarnia as first star of a 9-3 win over the Sting.  Palmu now has points in eight straight games to match the Attack’s current point-streak that includes seven wins and an overtime loss in their last eight contests.

Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

A 19-year-old from Joensuu, Finland, Palmu is playing in his third season with the Attack who selected him in the first round of the 2014 CHL Import Draft.  He’s currently tied for fifth in league scoring with teammate Nick Suzuki recording 89 points in 58 games powered by 37 goals and 52 assists which are all career-highs.  Palmu represented Finland at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship and is the third member of the Attack to claim the league’s weekly honour following goaltender Michael McNiven and defenceman Santino Centorame who won back-to-back in January.

Watch video highlights of Palmu and the Attack against the IceDogs, Spirit, and Sting.

Also considered for the award this week was Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Boris Katchouk of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Los Angeles Kings prospect Matt Luff of the Hamilton Bulldogs who each produced seven points in three games including four goals and three assists.  In goal, rookie Christian Propp of the Barrie Colts made 66 saves and posted a 1-1-0-0 record including his first career shutout victory carrying a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .957.

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Petrus Palmu (Owen Sound Attack)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Joseph Murdaca (Erie Otters)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Spencer Watson (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Santino Centorame (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Nick Suzuki – Owen Sound Attack – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 183 pounds

Date of birth: August 10, 1999

Hometown: London, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 14th overall, 2015 Priority Selection

Owen Sound attack center Nick Suzuki played his minor midget hockey for the London Jr Knights during the 2015-2015 season where, in 31 games, he scored a league leading 34 goals and league leading 86 points. He would win silver at the OHL Gold Cup in which he registered 3 goals and 6 points in 5 games. He also played in 6 games at the OHL Cup scoring twice and adding 4 assists in 6 games. Suzuki would be named the Alliance player of the year.

The Attack would make Suzuki the 14th overall pick at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

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

Suzuki would go on to have an impressive rookie season and finish tied for 5th in goals by a rookie with 20. The coaching staff almost immediately had confidence in his abilities and he received top minutes 5-on-5 and on the powerplay. He scored 5 powerplay goals to go along with 4 assists. He also saw time on the penalty kill and scored a short-handed goal. He played for Team Canada White at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 scoring once, with 4 points in 6 games. He was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team.

Questions started to surface a year ago, about whether Suzuki had the size and strength to be successful at the NHL level. In some circles, there were questions about his defensive game and even his compete level when it comes to defence.

The 2016-2017 season began for Suzuki at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. He scored 1 goal and 3 assists in 4 games.

Just about every question regarding Suzuki – except the size issue – has been answered this season. He’s been about the most consistent forward from start to finish this season. He was my pick for Draft Eligible Player of the Month for November and February. At the end of February, he was among the leaders in a variety of statistical categories among draft eligible players.

Suzuki is a complete player with a high compete level at both ends of the ice. He’s an intelligent player on and off the ice – he was named Academic Player of the Month for October. He thinks the game so well and processes what’s happening even before it happens. His anticipation is off the charts good. Combining the asset with his high end passing abilities makes him an offensive threat whenever the puck is on his stick. I don’t think there are many players who can differentiate between what is the better scoring chance: taking the shot myself, or setting up a teammate.

Suzuki is also not afraid of the dirty areas. He has impeccable timing, getting to loose pucks in front of the goal to knock in rebounds without fear. He’s also willing to engage along the walls, but the lack of strength is a problem for him.

Here’s the thing though when it comes to Suzuki: With an August 1999 birthdate, he’ll be just 17 years old when drafted – one of the youngest players eligible for the draft. So, he has more room to grow than most. If he was 6’2”, we’d be talking about him as a top 10 pick.

Suzuki was listed on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch list as a B prospect in November. A B prospect is typically a second or third round pick. On their January mid-term rankings, Suzuki was ranked 16th among North American skaters.

Nicholas Suzuki

This is the profile page of Nicholas Suzuki at Elite Prospects

 

Morgan Frost – Soo Greyhounds – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 170 pounds

Date of birth: May 14, 1999

Hometown: Aurora, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 4, 81st overall, 2015 Priority Selection

Toronto Maple Leafs fans may recognize the last name. For those that do not, Sault Ste Marie center Morgan Frost is the son of former Leafs’ Public Address Announcer Andy Frost and the host of “Leaf Talk”, the post game Leaf radio show where fans could call in. Fans will certainly remember the legendary voice that echoed through the Air Canada Center from 1999 to 2016.

The younger Frost played his Minor Midget AAA hockey with the Barrie Colts during the 2014-2015 season and in 32 games scored 30 goals and added 25 assists. He would win a bronze medal at the OHL Gold Cup with Team OMHA Navy scoring once and adding 7 assists in 5 games. The Greyhounds would select him in the 4th round, 81st overall at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.

Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Frost played his OHL rookie season a year ago, on a deep Greyhounds roster. He finished 20th among rookies on points on 7 goals and 20 assists in 65 games. This season, Frost has played a huge role for the Greyhounds. Paired mostly with Zachary Senyshyn, he sits third in points (58), and third in assists (40).

Frost has been a steady riser on many lists, but that may have been because he was underrated in some circles coming in. Originally a B prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to watch list – typically a second or third round pick – Frost was ranked 29th among North Americans on their mid-term rankings released in January. When Europeans and goaltenders are added in, you’re looking at a solid mid-to-late second round pick.

Offensively, Frost is most dangerous on the powerplay (7 goals and 13 assists) – but it’s not limited to that. His ability to see the play develop and react to it is an indication of his vision and hockey smarts. He’s calm with the puck and plays patiently with it. He can maintain possession while his teammates get into lanes and with his superb passing, he usually gets the puck on their sticks. But he’s also a very good skater with excellent acceleration and will attack lanes if he sees one open. He can also play the point on the powerplay and is responsible enough defensively to be effective on the point.

From last season, one of the issues Frost needed to work on was his faceoffs. And he’s done that going from a 47.5% winning percentage to 52.5% this season. Secondly, he had to learn to become more selfish at times and use his underrated shot more. He went from 7 goals on 69 shots (10.1%) a year ago, to 18 goals on 131 shots (13.7%) today. Finally, adding more strength and speed were necessary and he’s accomplished that, but he still has a way to go to add more size.

Morgan Frost

This is the profile page of Morgan Frost at Elite Prospects

CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM RETAINS COACHING, MANAGEMENT STAFF FOR 2017-18 SEASON

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

Ducharme, Hunter, Knoblauch return behind bench, Bouchard in management

Hockey Canada

CALGARY, Alta. – A group of familiar faces will lead Canada’s National Junior Team into the 2017-18 season and the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y.

Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence Policy Committee, comprised of Hockey Canada Board chairman Joe Drago (Sudbury, Ont.), Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Tom Renney, Hockey Canada chief operating officer Scott Smith, OHL commissioner and CHL president David Branch, QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau and WHL commissioner Ron Robison, has announced that the entire coaching staff of Canada’s 2016-17 National Junior Team has been retained for the 2017-18 season, including the World Junior Championship. Joël Bouchard (Montreal/Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL) will also continue as the Program of Excellence management group lead for Canada’s National Junior Team next season. Bouchard and Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations and national teams, confirmed that Dominique Ducharme (Joliette, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL) would be reprising his role behind the bench as head coach.

Ducharme is returning to Canada’s National Junior Team coaching staff for the third consecutive year, having acted as assistant coach in 2015-16 and head coach in 2016-17. Rounding out the coaching staff are returning assistant coaches, Tim Hunter (Calgary/Moose Jaw, WHL) and Kris Knoblauch (Regina/Erie, OHL).

The group helped lead Team Canada to a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in January.

“This is a very unique opportunity to return an entire coaching staff that came within a shot of winning gold last year,” said Salmond. “The Program of Excellence Policy Committee unanimously agreed that it was in the best interest of the program to keep this coaching staff together and that their experience will provide us the best opportunity of winning gold in 2018.”

Bouchard has been a member of the POE management group since 2013. He has been president and general manager of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for the past six seasons, and took over as head coach in August 2014 after three seasons as an assistant coach. The Montreal native played 15 professional seasons, including parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League with eight teams. As a player, Bouchard made three appearances with Team Canada, winning gold each time.

Ducharme’s coaching experience with Hockey Canada also includes winning gold with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament. He is coming off his first season as head coach and general manager of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL, a position he took after leaving the Halifax Mooseheads, who he led to their first-ever Memorial Cup championship in 2013. Ducharme played professionally from 1995 to 2002 in the ECHL, AHL, and in Europe.

Hunter won a bronze medal as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship, and is in his third season as head coach of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. Before joining the Warriors, Hunter coached more than 1,000 games over 14 seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and San Jose Sharks. As a player he appeared in 815 NHL games over 16 seasons with the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and Sharks, and won the Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989.

Knoblauch has coached in the Canadian Hockey League since the 2006-07 season, spending his first six seasons in the WHL – first as an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders, then in the same role with the Kootenay Ice until taking over as head coach in 2010. As head coach, Knoblauch led the Ice to their third WHL championship in 2011 and first Memorial Cup appearance since 2002. In 2012-13, Knoblauch was hired by the OHL’s Erie Otters as head coach where he has since been awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL coach of the year. Knoblauch was also head coach of Team Canada Red at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, and Twitter.

Final Schedule Released for 2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL Cup

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the final schedule for the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Games will be played March 14-18 in Toronto at Scotiabank Pond, until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday, March 20.

The action begins next Tuesday morning at 10:00 am with the first of four Wild Card ‘Play-In’ Games where eight teams will compete for the final four tournament entries. All matchups were randomly drawn last night, Tuesday March 7, with eligible teams determined by the Tournament Selection Committee.

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Wild Card Play-In Schedule:

Tuesday March 14, 2017
WC 1 – 10:00 am Grey Bruce Highlanders vs. Toronto Young Nationals
WC 2 – 12:00 pm Mississauga Senators vs. York Simcoe Express
WC 3 – 2:00 pm Mississauga Reps vs. Halton Hurricanes
WC 4 – 4:00 pm Toronto Titans vs. Cambridge Hawks or Kitchener Jr. Rangers (TBD)

The four winning teams will join 16 other clubs who earned their qualification through league play and regional representation. The 40-game Round-Robin tournament commences next Tuesday night at 7:00 pm continuing through Friday evening, March 17, followed by Quarter-Final and Semi-Final action on Saturday, Mach 18, wrapping up with the Championship Final on Monday, March 20.

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour Alignment:

Nash Division:
GTHL (1) (Winner of Toronto Marlboros vs. Mississauga Rebels series)
Quite Red Devils (OMHA Bronze)
ALLIANCE (3) (Winner of Kitchener Jr. Rangers vs. Cambridge Hawks series)
Elite Hockey Group (USA Invite)
WC1

Subban Division:
ALLIANCE (1) (Winner of London Jr. Knights vs. Waterloo Wolves series)
Brampton 45s (OMHA Silver)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL Semi-Finalist)
TPH Thunder (USA Invite)
WC2

Shanahan Division:
GTHL (2) (Runner-up of Toronto Marlboros vs. Mississauga Rebels series)
Ajax-Pickering Raiders (OMHA Semi-Finalist)
Eastern Ontario Wild (HEO Rep)
Thunder Bay Kings (HNO Rep)
WC3

Lindros Division:
Whitby Wildcats (OMHA Gold)
ALLIANCE (2) (Runner-up of London Jr. Knights vs. Waterloo Wolves series)
Vaughan Kings (GTHL Semi-Finalist)
Team NOHA (NOHA Rep)
WC4

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour Final Schedule:

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Round-Robin: Scotiabank Pond 1
7:00 pm Quinte Red Devils vs. GTHL (1)
8:45 pm Whitby Wildcats vs. Vaughan Kings

Scotiabank Pond 2
7:15 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. ALLIANCE (1)
9:00 pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. GTHL (2)

Wednesday March 15, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
9:00 am ALLIANCE (2) vs. NOHA
10:45 am TPH Thunder vs. Brampton 45s
12:30 pm ALLIANCE (1) vs. WC2
2:15 pm WC3 vs. GTHL (2)
4:00 pm ALLIANCE (2) vs. Whitby Wildcats
5:45 pm WC1 vs. Elite Hockey Group
7:30 pm NOHA vs. Vaughan Kings
9:15 pm WC2 vs. Brampton 45s

Scotiabank Pond 2
8:30 am Eastern Ontario Wild vs. Thunder Bay Kings
10:15 am Elite Hockey Group vs. ALLIANCE (3)
12:00 pm WC1 vs. GTHL (1)
1:45 pm Vaughan Kings vs. WC4
3:30 pm TPH Thunder vs. Toronto Jr. Canadiens
5:15 pm ALLIANCE (3) vs. Quite Red Devils
7:00 pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. Eastern Ontario Wild
8:45 pm Thunder Bay Kings vs. WC3

Thursday March 16, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:30 am Quinte Red Devils vs. Elite Hockey Group
10:15 am NOHA vs. Whitby Wildcats
12:00 pm Brampton 45s vs. ALLIANCE (1)
1:45 pm ALLIANCE (2) vs. WC4

Scotiabank Pond 2
9:00 am ALLIANCE (3) vs. WC1
10:45 am Eastern Ontario Wild vs. GTHL (2)
12:30pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. WC3
2:15 pm WC2 vs. Toronto Jr. Canadiens

Friday March 17, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:00 am WC4 vs. Whitby Wildcats
9:45 am GTHL (2) vs. Thunder Bay Kings
11:30 am GTHL (1) vs. Elite Hockey Group
1:15 pm WC1 vs. Quinte Red Devils
3:00 pm WC4 vs. NOHA
4:45 pm ALLIANCE (1) vs. TPH Thunder

Scotiabank Pond 2
8:30 am TPH Thunder vs. WC2
10:15 am Vaughan Kings vs. ALLIANCE (2)
12:00 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. Brampton 45s
1:45 pm WC3 vs. Eastern Ontario Wild
3:30 pm Thunder Bay Kings vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders
5:15 pm GTHL (1) vs. ALLIANCE (3)

Saturday March 18, 2017

Quarter-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
10:30 am Quarter-Final 2 – 1ST Place Shanahan Division vs. 2ND Place Subban Division
12:15 pm Quarter-Final 4 – 1ST Place Lindros Division vs. 2ND Place Nash Division

Scotiabank Pond 2
10:00 am Quarter-Final 1 – 1ST Place Subban Division vs. 2ND Place Shanahan Division
11:45 am Quarter-Final 3 – 1ST Place Nash Division vs. 2ND Place Lindros Division

Semi-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
6:00 pm Semi-Final 1 – Winner Quarter-Final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 2
8:00 pm Semi-Final 2 – Winner Quarter-Final 3 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 4

Monday March 20, 2017

Mattamy Athletic Centre

6:30 pm Championship Final – Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2

Monday’s Championship Final will be broadcast live on Sportsnet Ontario. 

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week twenty-four edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2016-17 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 24

Week 24
Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Saint John Sea Dogs (44-13-5-1) 3 19
2 Erie Otters (45-14-2-1) 1 19
3 Regina Pats (45-12-7-1) 2 23
4 London Knights (41-13-3-4) 4 23
5 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (43-15-3-1) 5 14
6 Charlottetown Islanders (43-16-3-0) 8 4
7 Medicine Hat Tigers (47-19-1-0) 7 10
8 Owen Sound Attack (42-15-2-2) 6 8
9 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (40-15-2-5) – 21
10 Moose Jaw Warriors (41-17-7-1) – 1
Honourable Mention:
Everett Silvertips (39-14-8-3) 9 19
Lethbridge Hurricanes (42-17-4-3) – 0
Windsor Spitfires (39-15-5-3) – 17