2017 OHL Development Combine Recap

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL Combine

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League held its eighth annual OHL Development Combine April 1-2 at Oshawa’s Tribute Communities Centre providing 2017 OHL Priority Selection prospects the opportunity to showcase their abilities.

77 players (36 forwards, 25 defencemen, and 16 goaltenders) born in 2001 participated in the weekend events which featured both off and on-ice components with results distributed to every OHL member team General Manager to assist in their evaluation for this Saturday’s draft.

“It’s a great opportunity for the players to showcase their athletic abilities and is a big evaluation opportunity for our members teams,” said Joe Birch, OHL Senior Director of Hockey Development and Special Events. “The results provide a benchmark which gives players an idea of where they stand among their peers to help push their own personal development.”

Saturday’s off-ice drills included the traditional Broad Jump, Hand Grip, 20M Sprint, 5-10-5 Sprints, and Wingate, along with new skills tests this season which included Pull-Ups, Squat, Drop, and Counter Movement Jumps, and 1080 Sprint technology adding resistance to measure power and force.  On-ice testing drills included a 30M Sprint Forward with and without the puck, 30M Backwards with and without the puck, Weave Agility with and without the puck, and Transition Agility with and without the puck.  The 1080 Sprint technology was also introduced as a new on-ice component.  All tests were performed with players wearing Zephyr Heart Rate Monitors.

Sunday’s action featured both 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 competition bringing an end to the two-day event.  All four teams were joined behind the bench by special guest coaches that included OHL grads Paul Ranger, Luca Caputi and Matt Corrente as well as members of OHL Central Scouting and team personnel.

Team Subban was crowned 2017 OHL Combine Champions, accumulating the most points based on overall testing results combined with Sunday’s in-game play.

“I was proud of the way the guys pulled together,” said Team Subban coach Luca Caputi, an OHL graduate who now serves as an assistant coach with the Guelph Storm. “These guys knew it was their last chance to leave an impression on scouts and general managers before the draft and they all did a great job.”

The 2017 OHL Priority Selection takes place on Saturday April 8 beginning at 9:00 am.

2017 OHL Development Combine Testing Results:

Off-Ice Testing Top Performers:

Top 5 Forwards:
1. Ryan Campbell (Cambridge Hawks) (Team Lindros)
2. Kurtis Evans (Central Ontario Wolves) (Team Lindros)
3. Mitchell Russell (Barrie Jr. Colts) (Team Stamkos)
4. Jalen Balbosa (York Simcoe Express) (Team Stamkos)
5. Nicholas Porco (Vaughan Kings) (Team Stamkos)

Top 5 Defencemen:
1. Christian De Giorgis (Toronto Marlboros) (Team Lindros)
2. Robert Calisti (Toronto Nationals) (Team Ekblad)
3. Liam Ross (Mississauga Reps) (Team Subban)
4. Mark Woolley (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs) (Team Subban)
5. Duncan Penman (Mississauga Rebels) (Team Ekblad)

Top 5 Goaltenders:
1. David Cunti (Toronto Titans) (Team Stamkos)
2. Cameron Carvalho (Toronto Marlboros) (Team Lindros)
3. Aidan Pitre (Sun County Panthers) (Team Stamkos)
4. Matthew Dunsmoor (Guelph Jr. Gryphons) (Team Ekblad)
5. Cyrus Martin (Waterloo Wolves) (Team Lindros)

On-Ice Testing Top Performers:

Top 5 Forwards:
1. Mitchell Russell (Barrie Jr. Colts) (Team Stamkos)
2. Joseph Carroll (Carleton Place Canadians U18) (Team Lindros)
3. Ethan Keppen (Toronto Nationals) (Team Ekblad)
4. Nicholas Porco (Vaughan Kings) (Team Stamkos)
5. Kurtis Evans (Central Ontario Wolves) (Team Lindros)

Top 5 Defencemen:
1. Christian De Giorgis (Toronto Marlboros) (Team Lindros)
2. Mark Woolley (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs) (Team Subban)
3. Liam Ross (Mississauga Reps) (Team Subban)
4. Klim Georgiev (Mississauga Reps) (Team Lindros)
5. Mitchell Brewer (Halton Hurricanes) (Team Lindros)

2017 OHL Development Combine Game Results:

Game 1: Team Stamkos (Blue) 5 vs. Team Lindros (Red) 3

Stamkos Goals: Blake Murray (2) (Whitby Wildcats), Curtis Fabbro (Ottawa Jr. Senators U18), Jalen Balbosa (York-Simcoe Express), Evan Brand (Mississauga Rebels) — Luke Cavallin, 0 GA (Kemptville 73’s U18), David Cunti, 3 GA (Toronto Titans). Lindros Goals: Alex Dominique (Toronto Titans), Nicholas Chartrand (Cumberland Grads U18), Bill Constantinou (Toronto Marlboros) — Cameron Carvalho, 0 GA (Toronto Marlboros), Ethan Taylor, 5 GA (Quinte Red Devils)

Game 2: Team Subban (White) 6 vs. Team Ekblad (Orange) 5 – SO

Subban Goals: Brandon Coe (3, Shootout Winner) (Toronto Nationals), Nate Allensen (Waterloo Wolves), Ryan Stepien (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs) — Owen Say, 2 GA (London Jr. Knights), Zachary Paputsakis, 3 GA (Cumberland Grads U18). Ekblad Goals: Tye Kartye (Kingston Jr. Frontenacs), Jamieson Rees (Mississauga Reps), Connor McMichael (Ajax-Pickering Raiders), Ethan Keppen (Toronto Nationals), Alexandre Hogue (Cumberland Grads U18) — Matt Dunsmoor, 2 GA (Guelph Jr. Gryphons), Zach Roy, 3 GA (Toronto Nationals)

Game 3: Team Subban (White) 6 vs. Team Lindros (Red) 1

Subban Goals: Ian Martin (2) (Ajax-Pickering Raiders), Hayden Fowler (Kingston Jr. Frontenacs), Alex Johnston (Kanata Lasers U18), Andrew Horsley (Brampton 45’s), Jordan Stock (Hamilton Huskies) — Joe Howe, 0 GA (Toronto Jr. Canadiens), Christian Cicigoi, 1 GA (Thunder Bay Kings). Lindros Goals: Mason Dreger (Whitby Wildcats) — Cyrus Martin, 2 GA (Waterloo Wolves), Ethan Langevin, 4 GA (Whitby Wildcats)

Game 4: Team Ekblad (Orange) 11 vs. Team Stamkos (Blue) 6

Ekblad Goals: Jamieson Rees (4) (Mississauga Reps), Aidan Prueter (2) (London Jr. Knights), Alexandre Charlebois (Cumberland Grads U18), Ethan Keppen (Toronto Nationals), Tanner McEachern (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs), Connor McMichael (Ajax-Pickering Raiders), Alexandre Hogue (Cumberland Grads U18) — Brody Bernard, 3 GA (Smiths Falls Bears U18), Owen Robertson, 3 GA (Mississauga Rebels). Stamkos Goals: Ty Gilberds (Vaughan Kings), Mitchell Russell (Barrie Jr. Colts), Nicholas Porco (Vaughan Kings), Dennis Golovatchev (Mississauga Reps), Grayson Ladd (Chatham-Kent Cyclones), Carson Eden (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs) — Aidan Pitre, 5 GA (Sun County Panthers), Logan Stein, 6 GA (TPH Thunder U16)

Final Team Standings:
Team Subban (White) =  596 Testing + 130 Games = 726 Points
Team Stamkos (Blue) =  522 Testing + 95 Games = 617 Points
Team Ekblad (Orange) = 502 Testing + 45 Games = 547 Points
Team Lindros (Red) = 454 Testing + 60 Games = 514 Points

Standings are based on a point system where individual player testing results contributed to the team’s total score.  Players are ranked by position and scored according to rank (1-36 for forwards, 1-25 for defencemen, 1-16 for goalies). During Sunday’s games teams scored 10 points per half win, 25 points per game win, and 50 points per shutout.

2017 OHL Combine Champion Team Subban:

Goaltenders:

78 Joseph Howe (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
79 Christian Cicigoi (Thunder Bay Kings)
80 Owen Say (London Jr. Knights)
81 Zachary Paputsakis (Cumberland Grads U18)

Defencemen:
18 Nathan Allensen (Waterloo Wolves)
19 Mark Woolley (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs)
20 Liam Ross (Mississauga Reps)
21 Kyle Sullivan (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs)
22 Simon Rose (Pembroke Lumber Kings U18)
23 Drew Wawrow (Brampton 45’s)

Forwards:
24 Ethan Doyle (Whitby Wildcats)
25 Brandon Coe (Toronto Nationals)
26 Hayden Fowler (Kingston Jr. Frontenacs)
27 Ryan Stepien (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs)
28 Matthew Gordon (Guelph Jr. Gryphons)
29 Ian Martin (Ajax-Pickering Raiders)
30 Alex Johnston (Kanata Lasers U18)
31 Jordan Stock (Hamilton Huskies)
32 Andrew Horsley (Brampton 45’s)

 Coaches:
Luca Caputi (Assistant Coach, Guelph Storm)
Frank Evola (Head Scout, Oshawa Generals)

CLICK HERE FOR FULL #OHLCOMBINE ROSTERS

For more information about OHL Combine testing, please read the Sportsnet.ca article How the OHL is poised to change the way combines are run by David Singh.

Gabriel Vilardi – Windsor Spitfires – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 200 pounds

Date of birth: August 16, 1999

Hometown: Kingston, Ontario

Position: Center/Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 2nd overall, 2015 Priority Selection

Windsor Spitfires forward Gabriel Vilardi played his Minor Midget AAA hockey for the CIHA Voyageurs during the 2014-2015 season in which he scored 18 goals and 21 assists in 21 games. The CIHA is the Canadian International Hockey Academy, a premier hockey prep school in Eastern Ontario. He was named the Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) Player of the Year.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

At the OHL Gold Cup, Vilardi appeared in 5 games scoring 4 goals and adding 5 assists. He would win gold at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 with Team Canada White. In 6 games at the tournament, he scored 4 goals and added 3 assists. Windsor would make Vilardi the second overall pick at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.

Last season, his rookie year with Windsor, Vilardi appeared in 62 games and scored 17 goals while adding 21 assists. He received some quality powerplay time and scored 4 goals while adding 7 assists on the PP. He was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team.

Everything pointed to an excellent draft year for Vilardi. But a knee injury he suffered at Team Canada’s camp kept him out of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and delayed the start of his OHL season. On November 21, 2016, he underwent an emergency appendectomy and would miss the next 5 weeks.

Despite the time missed, Vilardi still managed to put up 29 goals and 32 assists in 49 regular season games and finished among the top ten among draft eligible players in goals, points and faceoff winning percentage. Despite being a natural center, he spent a lot of time on the wing for the Spitfires.

If he isn’t already, Vilardi is the closest draft eligible player in the OHL to being NHL ready. There are issues with his skating, but it isn’t a huge issue that can prevent him from success at the NHL level. Overall and first step speed is lacking, but if he puts in the necessary work, it’s an area that he can certainly improve.

Vilardi’s game is solid in all three zones. He puts the effort required in the defensive zone and puts himself in position to defend. In the neutral zone, he anticipates well and can create turnovers. Despite being above average defensively, his bread and butter comes from offense.

Vilardi’s vision and hockey sense is above average. He’s at his best with the puck on his stick as he can control the play in the o-zone. He has the size and strength to be able to keep control in battles along the wall or down low. And he has both the playmaking abilities to set up teammates or to score on his own. Simply, he makes everyone around him better.

The question that pops up most regarding Vilardi is: Is his game better suited for wing or center? There is no question he has the size, playmaking skills, vision and smarts to be a center in the NHL. If he can improve his foot speed, he’ll be successful at the position. I wouldn’t bet against him at any position.

Vilardi represented Canada at the Canada/Russia Super Series and participated at the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

On NHL Central scouting’s mid-term rankings, Vilardi was ranked third among North American Skaters. On Bob McKenzie’s mid-term rankings, Vilardi was ranked 4th overall.

Gabriel Vilardi

This is the profile page of Gabriel Vilardi at Elite Prospects

 

OHL Announces Disciplinary Action

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which took place in a playoff game played in Oshawa on the 31st of March, 2017, involving the Generals and the visiting Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a 5 minute major and game misconduct for cross checking assessed to player Michael Pezzetta of the Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club.

Based on a review of the incident, it is the position of the League that player Michael Pezzetta shall be suspended for two (2) games effective immediately.

Around the Ontario Hockey League

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Mike McKenzie named General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers

The Kitchener Rangers announced today that Mike McKenzie has been named General Manager of the Club, while Murray Hiebert will now assume the role of Director of Hockey Operations; effective immediately.

The role of assistant general manager previously held by McKenzie will remain vacant.

McKenzie was hired as an assistant coach of the Rangers in 2012 under then head coach, Steve Spott. He spent three seasons in that role before being promoted to assistant coach/assistant general manager ahead of the 2015-16 season.

As general manager, McKenzie will be responsible for all elements of Rangers’ scouting, including the upcoming OHL Priority Selection, OHL Under-18 Priority Selection and 2017 CHL Import Draft.

Further to those duties, McKenzie will oversee areas of player management, trades, and hockey operations staffing, as well as address any media obligations that arise.

As Director of Hockey Operations, Hiebert will continue to play a major part in Rangers’ scouting at both the OHL and OHL Priority Selection levels. He will also focus on the implementation and execution of player education plans, as well as serve as a liaison between the team and the Ontario Hockey League.

Full story 

Breaking down new benchmarks set in 2016-17

Several teams will have updates to make in their respective team record books over the summer after a number of new records were set across the league on team and individual levels.

The Erie Otters were in the headlines often throughout the 2016-17 campaign, seemingly setting new records every few weeks. Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat and Darren Raddysh all re-wrote franchise records as the Otters made Canadian Hockey League history, earning their second straight Hamilton Spectator Trophy and third consecutive Midwest Division title in the process.

There’s all that and more below! Here’s a look at new benchmarks set during this past season.

Full story

Owen Tippett – Mississauga Steelheads – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 204 pounds

Date of birth: February 16, 1999

Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 4th overall, 2015 Priority Selection

Mississauga Steelheads’ right winger Owen Tippett played his minor midget hockey during the 2014-2015 season and captained the Toronto Red Wings while potting 52 goals and 35 assists in 50 games. He represented Team GTHL at the OHL-Gold Cup where he provided 3 helpers in 5 games. The Steelheads would select Tippett fourth overall at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.

Last season, Tippett’s rookie season in the OHL, he scored 15 goals and 5 assists in 48 games. He was named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie Team at the end of the season. He also represented Canada White at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17. His 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 games helped Canada win gold and he was named to the tournament’s all-star team. He would also represent Canada at the World Junior Championships Under-18 and in 7 games scored once and added 2 assists.

Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Tippett’s 2016-2017 began last August representing Canada once again at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He scored one goal and one assist in 4 games. He would add to his international experience during the season as he represented the OHL at the Canada/Russia Super Series where he had 2 assists in the game.

Tippett also participated in the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects game and scored a goal and an assist for Team Cherry as his squad beat Team Orr 7-5.

Tippett would finish this season with 44 goals and 31 assists in 60 games for the Steelheads. Among the OHL’s draft eligible players, his 44 goals and 75 points were good enough for third in each category. He also finished eighth in plus/minus, had the longest goal scoring streak with 11 goals in 6 games as well as the longest point streak with 21 points in 12 games, and finished second in shots on goal.

In a recent nhl.com article, Tippett compared himself to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel.

Tippett may just be the hardest player to defend against when talking about the OHL’s draft eligible players. And there are some similarities to Kessel. His shot is elite level and he gets it off with an explosive release. He has power and velocity behind his shot with an ability to beat goaltenders cleanly.

Tippett is also an excellent skater possessing both an excellent first step and top end speed. He uses his speed effectively to force defenders back on their heels, beat them one-on-one, and then drive to the net. He also can release his lethal shot while at top speed. Without the puck, he uses his speed to separate himself from defenders and get himself into open ice allowing his teammates an option.

Pure goal scorers like Tippett are few and far between. And like most players at this stage, he doesn’t come without things he can improve on. While he has all the tools, and the size to go with it which makes him a force all over the ice, he doesn’t always make the right decisions. He could certainly use his teammates more effectively, and once he does that he could become an even greater offensive force. I think in some circles, his hockey IQ comes into question because of that, but I think he just needs to learn that he doesn’t always have to be the “go-to” guy, especially at the NHL level when he’s surrounded by talented players.

Throughout the season on various rankings, Tippett has been in a see-saw battle with Windsor Spitfires’ Gabriel Vilardi on who will be the first player chosen from the OHL. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Tippett was ranked fourth on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings among North American skaters in January. On Bob McKenzie’s mid-term rankings, Tippett was ranked sixth overall.

On January 19, 2017, Tippett appeared on OHL News – Radio Edition with Terry Doyle. You can listen to that here:

Owen Tippett

This is the profile page of Owen Tippett at Elite Prospects

 

OHL Writers Draft Eligible Player of the Month for March

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Yes, it’s April 1st, but this is no April Fools joke. My Ontario Hockey League’s draft eligible player of the month for March is Kingston Frontenac’s Jason Robertson.

This was a close one, and one thing tipped the scales in Robertson’s favor: The amount of the Frontenac’s offense he provided.

Jason Robertson of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Jason Robertson of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Robertson finished the regular season with 9 goals and 9 assists in 9 games for the month of March. He tallied a total of 42 goals and 39 assists while playing in all 68 regular season games. He was far and away the leader in goals and points for the Frontenacs while being tied for tops in assists.

What is truly amazing is that Robertson scored 23.5% of the Frontenacs’ regular season goals and he has been in on 45.3% of his club’s goals.

Robertson has carried on where he left off in the playoffs as the Frontenacs currently lead the Hamilton Bulldogs 3 games to two in the opening round. Robertson leads his squad with 3 goals and 5 assists through 5 games, leaving him tied for fourth in the OHL.

Robertson led the way in March with 12 goals and 14 assists through 14 games.

Not to be outdone however was Owen Sound Attack top prospect Nick Suzuki.

In the 9 games in the month of March to finish out the regular season, Suzuki found the back of the net 11 times while setting up his teammates for 6 tallies. He would finish the regular season with 45 goals and 51 assists. His 96 points were second only to Petrus Palmu (98 points) for the Attack.

Like Robertson, Suzuki continued where he left off during the Attack’s 5 game elimination of the Kitchener Rangers. Suzuki notched 4 goals and 6 assists and his 10 points are once again second on the club to Palmu.

Suzuki finished the month of March with 15 goals and 12 assists in 14 games.

Previously

February – Nick Suzuki – Owen Sound Attack

January – Owen Tippett – Mississauga Steelheads

December – Michael DiPietro, Windsor Spitfires

November – Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound Attack

October – Gabriel Vilardi – Windsor Spitfires

September – Greg Meireles – Kitchener Rangers