Height: 6’
Weight: 186 pounds
Date of birth: June 9, 1999
Hometown: Northville, MI
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
OHL Draft: Round 1, 10 overall (Sarnia) 2015 Priority Selection
Born in California and moving to Northville Michigan before becoming a teenager, Sasha Chmelevski is of Ukrainian decent and holds dual citizenship. Chmelevski was involved in some of the finest hockey programs in Michigan. He is a graduate of the Honeybaked Under-16 squad where he notched 10 goals and 14 assists in 25 games during the 2014-2015 season and becoming the 10th overall pick at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection by the Sarnia Sting.
After an excellent start for the Sting in which he potted 9 goals and 8 assists in 29 games, Chmelevski was involved in a blockbuster trade that sent OHL star Travis Konecney to the Sting. He would add 2 goals in 5 games for the 67’s. An injury in a game versus the Peterborough Petes in which a hit into the boards broke his collarbone ended his season prematurely.
The season also saw Chmelevski play in the U.S. Development Program where he had 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 games for the U.S. Under-17 National Team. He also Played for the Americans at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17. He scored twice and added two assists for the Americans at the International Tournament.
Chmelevski began this season in August with a superb performance at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. There, Chmelevski scored four goals and nine points in just 4 games. Carrying that performance into the OHL season would be paramount for him entering his draft season.
In his first 29 games of the season, Chmelevski has 14 goals and 11 assists. Eight of those goals have come with the 67’s having the man advantage. He’s been very good on the faceoff dot at 55.5% and is converting his shots into goals 16.3% of the time.
Chmelevski is a speedy pivot who is at his best with the puck on his stick. He’s not afraid to, and will, take on defenders one-on-one and will more often than not beat those defenders. Chmelevski has a good shot with a very good release and possesses a shoot first mentality but he also a more than capable playmaker.
Chmelevski has very high hockey senses and thinks the game incredibly well and quickly. Combined with his speed and shot, it can prove to be deadly for the opposition. But he will need to put those assets to use on a more consistent basis. That will improve in time.
Where Chmelevski needs to improve is when the puck is not on his stick. Whether its competing for pucks are being stronger on the forecheck, it’s an area to be worked on. There are times he’s waiting for the play to come to him instead of trying to force the play.
The injury bug has once again reared its ugly head, and Chmelevski has played just two games in the month of December, sidelined indefinitely with the dreaded upper body injury.
Alexander Chmelevski
OHL Writers 