Around the OHL

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 195 Pounds

Date of birth: September 28, 2001

Hometown: Barrie, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 4, 80^th overall, 2017 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting Rankings

Pre-season	November	Mid-term	Final
C Prospect	C Prospect	76 N.A.	114 N.A.

Sudbury Wolves blueliner Isaak Phillips (a.k.a. Isaac) played his Minor Midget hockey during the 2016-2017 season for the Barrie Colts. He appeared in 35 games and scored 6 goals and assisted on 17 others. The Wolves selected Phillips in the 4^th round, 80^th overall at the 2017 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Phillips would play Junior A hockey during the 2017-2018 season with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 52 games, Phillips scored 3 times and assisted on 8. There, Phillips had a bit of a growth spurt. He went from 5’10 and 149 pounds at the time of his draft to the 6’3” and 195 pounds. He got to play a lot of important minutes and develop into a fine skater while also getting to play in all situations.

In July of 2018, Phillips took part in an interesting and fun tournament, the Team Elite Hockey Prospect Showcase in Toronto for none other then Team Jamaica and helped the Jamaican’s skate away with the Championship. Team Jamaica was made up of players whose heritage is Jamaican, Caribbean or West Indies. Phillips paternal Grandparents hail from St Vincent Island.

Last season, Phillips made the Wolves opening night roster and recorded his first OHL point with an assist against the Niagara IceDogs on November 4, 2018. One night later, he would record his first OHL goal against the Erie Otters. He would finish the year with 3 goals and 11 assists while appearing in all 68 regular season games.

This year, when the season was ended due to the coronavirus, Phillips scored 9 goals and 17 assists while again appearing in every game – 63 at that point.

Phillips is an effortless skater with a long powerful stride who can cover a lot of ice in a short amount of time. He has good mobility and speed for a defender of his size and the growth spurt he had didn’t seem to affect his skating at all. His overall skating abilities are up there with the other defenders in the draft class.

With a September 28 birthdate, Phillips is one of the older defenders in the draft class, missing 2019 draft class by just 13 days. One can not ignore the improvements he displayed from year one to year two in the OHL, or the improvements from start to finish this season.

As the season progressed, Phillips became more involved in transition, skating the puck with confidence from his zone to offence, rather then dumping it out of the zone or passing it off to a teammate to accomplish. He also gained more confidence in joining the rush as the season progressed.

In the defensive zone, he uses his skating abilities and long reach to the maximum. He’s very good at closing gaps and keeping players to the outside and would often get the key defensive matchups. One area we wanted to see improvement on was in using his big body and strength more physically, and he showed signs of improvement there as well as the season progressed.

On NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, only 9 spots separated 5 OHL defenders on the list which includes Phillips and teammate Jack Thompson. However, on Central Scouting’s Final Rankings, he dropped 40 spots. This draft comes during a difficult time, so there is no telling how the draft will play out. One advantage they have is there were a lot of eyes on the Wolves as projected number two overall pick Quinton Byfield was drawing attention to Sudbury.

We asked play-by-play voice of the Wolves road games Mike Karafilidis (@MikeKarafilidis) to provide us some quick thoughts on Phillips on his improvement from star to finish and expectations for next year:

It was evident from the drop of the puck that Isaac possessed some high hockey IQ and displayed a high level of confidence from the start. There were no issues with his skating as he is a terrific skater. If there was one area, I would say that showed a big improvement it would be in his defending. As the season progresses, he played on the top pairing with Jack Thompson.

I expect Isaac’s offensive numbers to get better next season as he continues to gain confidence, play a more prominent role, and took take on a bigger leadership role next season.

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today conducted the fourth annual OHL Under-18 Priority Selection for Midget AAA hockey players in Ontario.

The annual Under-18 Priority Selection was held entirely online, adhering to all government and public health COVID-19 physical distancing guidelines at both the League and member team levels. This year’s unique approach to a very special day was conducted in the interest of ensuring the health and safety of prospects, their families as well as OHL member team and League personnel.

Eligibility for the 2020 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection included all Midget players (2002 and 2003 birth years) not currently on an OHL Member Team Protected List who were carded with an Ontario based Midget AAA Hockey Club within the Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Eastern Ontario or Hockey Northwestern Ontario in the current season.

A total of 56 players were selected from 34 different teams and included 30 forwards, 16 goaltenders and 10 defencemen. 55 of the 56 players selected were born in 2003 including 45 with birthdays before September.

“Congratulations to all 56 players selected today,” said OHL Director of Player Recruitment Kyle Pereira. “It’s an exciting day for players, family members, coaches and teammates to celebrate continued hard work and high performance throughout the Ontario Midget AAA hockey ranks. We’ve seen several players propel themselves into the Ontario Hockey League through the OHL Under-18 Priority Selection and for those players selected, this is just another opportunity to get better every single day, showcase yourself and further your development.”

For the first time in the four years of the annual event a forward was selected with the first overall pick as Oakville Rangers winger Kevin Henstock was taken by the North Bay Battalion. Netminders then accounted for the next three consecutive picks as the Niagara IceDogs selected Jacob Osborne of the Ottawa Senators U18 second overall, the Sarnia Sting took Anson Thornton of the Toronto Titans third overall and the Soo Greyhounds picked up Samuel Ivanov of the Vaughan Kings fourth overall.

All OHL member teams were required to draft a minimum of two players, however to enhance opportunities specifically for goaltenders, clubs selecting a goaltender with one of their selections had the option to select another player (skater only) in a third round.

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association had the most players selected with 26 chosen from 13 different teams led by the Whitby Wildcats with four followed by the Ajax-Pickering Raiders, Guelph Gryphons, North Central Predators and Oakville Rangers each with three. Hockey Eastern Ontario produced 13 selections from nine different teams led by the Brockville Braves with three. The ALLIANCE featured 10 different selections from six different clubs led by the Windsor Jr. Spitfires with four players selected. The Greater Toronto Hockey League had six players chosen from five different teams led by two from the Toronto Titans. The North Bay Trappers developed the NOHA’s lone player chosen in the Priority Selection.

The OHL Under-18 Priority Selection was conducted in partnership with HockeyTech as picks were submitted online by OHL member clubs and displayed in real time at ontariohockeyleague.com. The selections were also streamed live on the OHL’s YouTube channel along with accompanying audio.

Announced in January 2017, the concept of the OHL Under-18 Priority Selection was developed with full support from Hockey Canada’s three Ontario Branches including the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO), and Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO).

• Full Results
• Draft Show – OHL YouTube
• Gallery

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league. For more information visit http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/.

 

Toronto, Ont. – In the midst of what’s been an unprecedented season in the hockey world, the Ontario Hockey League is busily preparing for one of the biggest days on its calendar – the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore, which is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday April 4th beginning at 9:00am.

The annual Priority Selection is one of the highlights of the season as 300 players join OHL member team organizations, striving to grow their game while pursuing their academic endeavours in the world’s premier development League. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Priority Selection will be held entirely online, adhering to all government and public health physical distancing guidelines at both the League and member team levels. This year’s unique approach to a very special day will be conducted in the interest of ensuring the health and safety of prospects, their families as well as OHL member team and League personnel.

The League has reached out to prospects and their families to both explain the process and the program, and to remind them of the March 28, 2020 emergency order in Ontario prohibiting organized public gatherings and social gatherings of more than five people. Teams in Pennsylvania and Michigan are also following public health recommendations of local, state and federal governments.

All member teams have been advised of the guidelines and rules of the process including:

• League and member team staff cannot work from the premise of their hockey offices or arenas. All gatherings must adhere to the emergency order issued by the Ontario Government on March 28 prohibiting public or social gatherings of more than five people.
• All self-isolating or quarantined participants must respect those guidelines
• Proper protocols must be in place including: access to hand sanitizers, hand-washing facilities, etc.
• League staff, including Commissioner David Branch, will be working remotely and respecting the established health guidelines.
• The 2020 OHL Priority Selection will be conducted entirely online. In addition, the first three rounds of the event will be streamed on the OHL’s YouTube channel with player highlight footage and live updates. The League will also be gathering content throughout the event, engaging draftees, general managers and OHL Central Scouting personnel on virtual platforms.

Players, families and fans are invited to follow the first three rounds of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection streaming live on the OHL’s YouTube channel.

Follow the Ontario Hockey League on Twitter (@OHLHockey), Instagram (@ohlofficial), Facebook (@OHLHockey) and YouTube (@ontariohockeyleagueofficial) for complete up to the minute coverage of the 2020 OHL Online Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore.

For more information, visit ontariohockeyleague.com.

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2019-20 OHL regular season.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

In the Eastern Conference, the first place Ottawa 67’s led the way with eight players spread out over an impressive 17 different categories. Top 2020 NHL Draft prospect and OHL scoring champion Marco Rossi was included in six different fields, being voted the Conference’s Smartest Player, Best Playmaker and Best Shootout Shooter. Teammate Noel Hoefenmayer was a two-time first place finisher, being recognized with the East’s Hardest Shot and as the Top Offensive Defenceman. The Peterborough Petes featured seven different players in the final results covering 15 different categories. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and OHL goal-scoring leader Nick Robertson was included in six different fields, placing first as the Conference’s Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and Best Shot. Petes captain Zach Gallant was voted Best in Faceoffs, finishing in the top-three in that field for the fourth straight season. Overage Oshawa Generals captain Kyle MacLean also had a strong showing in the poll, being included in four different categories while being voted the East’s Best Defensive Forward and Top Penalty Killer. Mississauga Steelheads forward Keean Washkurak was voted the East’s Hardest Worker for a second straight year while teammate Thomas Harley took Best Skater recognition after placing second in 2018-19.

In the Western Conference, top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit led all OHL players with first place finishes in four different categories including Smartest Player, Best Playmaker, Best Stickhandler and Best Shootout Shooter. Teammate Damien Giroux placed first in two different categories including Hardest Worker and Best Defensive Forward. The first place London Knights and the defending OHL champion Guelph Storm each featured six different players in the results. London forwards Liam Foudy and Connor McMichael were both included in three different categories, with the former placing first as the Conference’s Best Skater and Best Penalty Killer while the latter was voted the West’s Best Shot and Most Dangerous in the Goal Area. The Storm had three players involved in three different categories headlined by Nico Daws who was voted Most Improved, Best Puckhandling Goaltender and second-best Shootout Goaltender, while Pavel Gogolev and captain Cam Hillis were also part of three separate fields. Windsor Spitfires captain Luke Boka was voted the Conference’s Best Shot Blocker for the third consecutive year. Flint Firebirds defenceman Tyler Tucker was voted the West’s Best Body Checker after earning the same distinction in the Eastern Conference last season.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference.  Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team allowing for a maximum of 45 possible points for each winner.

All 20 categories are listed below with Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners including their final point totals in brackets.

Most Underrated Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Luke Moncada, North Bay Battalion (28)
2. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (22)
T-3. Austen Keating, Ottawa 67’s (15)
T-3. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (15)

Western Conference:
1. Chad Yetman, Erie Otters (33)
2. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (20)
3. Eric Uba, Guelph Storm (11)

Most Improved Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (29)
2. Tyson Foerster, Barrie Colts (28)
3. Zayde Wisdom, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (45)
2. Tyler Angle, Windsor Spitfires (19)
3. Luke Evangelista, London Knights (16)

Smartest Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (41) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs (17)
3. Akil Thomas, Peterborough Petes (10)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (31)
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (27)
3. Connor McMichael, London Knights (22)

Hardest Worker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Keean Washkurak, Mississauga Steelheads (24) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (19)
3. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (15) – finished second in 2018-19

Western Conference:
1. Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (37)
2. Luke Boka, Windsor Spitfires (22)
3. Vladislav Kolyachonok, Flint Firebirds (11)

Best Playmaker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (45)
2. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Peterborough Petes (17)
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (16)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (40)
2. Ryan Merkley, London Knights (22)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (15)

Most Dangerous in Goal Area:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (36)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (27) – finished second in 2018-19
3. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (21)

Western Conference:
1. Connor McMichael, London Knights (36)
2. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (35)
3. Jonathan Yantsis, Kitchener Rangers (7) – finished third in 2018-19

Best Skater:

Eastern Conference:
1. Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads (30) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Brett Neumann, Oshawa Generals (19) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Declan Chisholm, Peterborough Petes (16)

Western Conference:
1. Liam Foudy, London Knights (35)
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (28) – finished tied for third in 2018-19
3. Jean-Luc Foudy, Windsor Spitfires (18) – finished tied for third in 2018-19

Best Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (38)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (25) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (18)

Western Conference:
1. Connor McMichael, London Knights (39)
2. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (31)
3. Jacob Perreault, Sarnia Sting (15)

Hardest Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Noel Hoefenmayer, Ottawa 67’s (41)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (24) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Brady Lyle, Owen Sound Attack (35)
2. Bode Wilde, Saginaw Spirit (22)
3. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (14)

Best Stickhandler:

Eastern Conference:
1. Joseph Garreffa, Ottawa 67’s (35) – finished second in Western Conference in 2018-19
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (17) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (16)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (31)
2. Evgeniy Oksentyuk, Flint Firebirds (24)
3. Aidan Dudas, Owen Sound Attack (15)

Best on Face-Offs:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (36) – finished second in 2018-19, second in 2017-18 and first in 2016-17
2. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (23)
3. Cole Schwindt, Mississauga Steelheads (12)

Western Conference:
T-1. Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (29) – finished first in 2018-19
T-1. Jason Willms, London Knights (29) – finished first in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Greg Meireles, Kitchener Rangers (9)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (8)

Best Body Checker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Navrin Mutter, Hamilton Bulldogs (29) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (18)
3. Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (14)

Western Conference:
1. Tyler Tucker, Flint Firebirds (23) – finished first in Eastern Conference in 2018-19, third in Eastern Conference in 2017-18
2. Kelton Hatcher, Sarnia Sting (15) – finished second in 2018-19
3. Mark Woolley, Owen Sound Attack (14)

Best Shot Blocker:

Eastern Conference:
T-1. Nikita Okhotyuk, Ottawa 67’s (21) – finished third in 2018-19
T-1. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (21)
2. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (18) – finished tied for first in 2018-19
3. Mason Howard, Niagara IceDogs (10)

Western Conference:
1. Luke Boka, Windsor Spitfires (25) – finished first in 2018-19 and 2017-18
2. Tyler Tucker, Flint Firebirds (19)
3. Fedor Gordeev, Guelph Storm (14)

Best Defensive Forward:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (24) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (21)
3. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (19)

Western Conference:
1. Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (25) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Liam Foudy, London Knights (21)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (15)

Best Penalty Killer:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (24)
2. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (16)
3. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (15)

Western Conference:
1. Liam Foudy, London Knights (41) – finished first in 2018-19
2. DJ Busdeker, Saginaw Spirit (12)
3. Keegan Stevenson, Guelph Storm (9)

Best Offensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Noel Hoefenmayer, Ottawa 67’s (45) – finished third in 2018-19
2. Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads (22) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Declan Chisholm (Peterborough Petes (18)

Western Conference:
1. Ryan Merkley, London Knights (41) – finished second in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (22)
3. Brady Lyle, Owen Sound Attack (15)

Best Defensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (45)
2. Nico Gross, Oshawa Generals (19)
3. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (17) – finished first in 2018-19

Western Conference:
1. Alec Regula, London Knights (28)
2. Michael Vukojevic, Kitchener Rangers (20)
3. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (17)

Best Puck-Handling Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kai Edmonds, Mississauga Steelheads (26)
2. Zachary Roy, Hamilton Bulldogs (17)
3. Christian Propp, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (35)
2. Jacob Ingham, Kitchener Rangers (33)
3. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (8)

Best Shootout Shooter:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (29)
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (23)
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (12)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (25)
2. Liam Hawel, Kitchener Rangers (21)
3. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (18)

Best Shootout Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Cedrick Andree, Ottawa 67’s (32)
2. Hunter Jones, Peterborough Petes (23)
3. Marco Costantini, Hamilton Bulldogs (14)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Ingham, Kitchener Rangers (39) – finished third in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (23)
3. Anthony Popovich, Flint Firebirds (8)

GENEVA, ILLINOIS — The Chicago Steel announced Wednesday the signing of forward Adam Fantilli of Kimball Union Academy to a USHL tender agreement for the 2020-2021 season. Perhaps the most highly-touted prospect in the 2004 birth year, the 6-foot-2, 181-pound forward will join the Steel this fall.

Source: FANTILLI BROTHERS COMMIT TO STEEL