OHL Draft Pick Sleepers: East Division
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 10:48AM by Brandon Sudeyko (@intheoradio)
Day 2 of OHL Draft review where ITO takes a look at the winners and the ‘super’ winners. Yesterday ITO took a look at the Central Division and today we look at the Eastern Conference Cousin, the East Division.
ITO Will take a look at the draft picks by each team from the 5th round to the 15th round and weigh in on how good of a pick it was for the team, especially at that draft position.
Today we take a look at the Central division consisting of the Belleville Bulls, Kingston Frontenacs, Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67s and Peterborough Petes.
Belleville Bulls
Maurizio Colella (York Simcoe Express, F) 5thth round – Colella got better as the year progressed and had several big moments this year. Maurizio arguably saved the best for last as he scored a couple clutch goals in the OHL cup where he really stood out. Maurizio is full of compete and if he doesn’t make the Bulls as a 16 year old, you will bet he has a successful season wherever he plays before ‘breaking into’ the lineup where he will make an impact.
Connor Hicks (Ottawa Senators, G) 7th Round – A big goalie who plays a big game. Connor finished the year with 9-2-4 record in the regular season but what stood out was his 1.64GAA. From his play down low to how he covers the top of the net, his strong post play and his compete level, You can expect to see Connor in the future as a year in the CCHL will be his most likely destination.
Christian DeDonato (York Simcoe Express, D) 12th round – Heart and soul leader who protects the back end with pride. Don’t let his size fool you, Christian is tough defensively with a good pair of skate beneath him and does anything he can to gain position and protect the goaltender.
Kingston Frontenacs
Aaron St. Pierre (Hamilton Jr Bulldogs, D) 9th round – Aaron is a solid defenceman who is difficult to move. A strong lower base and powerful strides helps him remove the opposition from the net and the puck almost at will. Has some offensive talent and a good shot from the point. The way Kingston is built, look for Aaron in the 2014/15 season after a year in the GOJHL.
Brendan McGlynn (Oakville Rangers, G) 11th round – Brendan was predominantly the starter with Oakville until the end of the season. He has a strong core and really good down low. He can sweep with ease, push off the posts and is able to stand his ground when the opposition crashes the net. Good stick, good glove and very stable in the pipes whether he is up or down. McGlynn has a strong connection to NCAA despite not having a commitment. His brother Conor is committed to Boston College and is also a draft pick of the Frontenacs.
Oshawa Generals
Stephen Templeton (Hamilton Jr Bulldogs, D) 6th round – Templeton is another Bulldogs defenceman who is tough on his skates. A strong lower body and his strong hockey IQ gives him an advantage against most opposition forwards. He is a physical defender who protects his territory and has no problem letting forwards know you have to go through him. He doesn’t have a great shot but he is able to move the puck quickly and spreading out the ice.
Matt McConnach (Don Mills Flyers, D) 15th round – Matt is a defenceman who stands at 5’11” and 160 pounds. But he plays like he is 6’3” 200+ pounds. A good skater, strong positionally, good behind the net and is able to protect the puck. Not a lot of offence to his game, but able to relieve pressure by being a solid defender and allowing his goaltender every chance to start the puck.
Ottawa 67’s
Matt Mercer (Halton Hurricanes, D) 6th round – Mercer is a big defenceman who loves to skate with the puck. He always seems to get better as the game progresses. He may cough the puck up early in the game while he is carrying it but by the third period you can’t get the puck off him. A great low shot that can give goalies trouble and his big frame makes him tough to play against in front of the net.
Ben Blacker (Brampton 45s, G) 7th round – Blacker is arguably the 3rd best goaltender in the age group. The reason that he fell this low is because he has a commit to Western Michigan. He loves to play above the crease and can really stymie the top offences in the age group. Quick feet and a strong glove earned him quite a bit of praise throughout the season. If for whatever reason he decides to not pursue the NCAA route, this is a good pick for Ottawa.
Brandon Zullo (Ottawa Senators, F) 7th round – Brandon can skate, shoot, pass and hit. Very versatile and effective forward who knows how to play on the top line and on the grind line. He isn’t the most offensive forward but he will get his fare share of goals and can generate offence from his physical game and his compete along the boards. Not one to shy away from any situation, the 6’2” 180+ pound winger will only get better with a year of CCHL under his belt
Peterborough Petes
Jack Webb (Toronto Marlboros, F) 5th round – The reason this pick is so good, is because Peterborough was able to snag his brother Mitchell in the 2nd round. The brothers are most effective together but different enough that it isn’t just replacing one with the other. They are mean and physical and have that edge the opposition doesn’t want to play against. An offensive touch near the net with an average shot, but it is his crash the net style that is where he is the most effective. Playing down low, and gaining possession of the puck is what make him valuable. The brothers may not start together next season in Peterborough, but if they don’t choose the NCAA route, you can see them paired in 2014 and have a ‘Ruperts v2.0’ type of feel.
David Lobsinger (Kitchener Jr. Rangers, G) 5th round – Lobsinger made his presence known through his tournament performances this year. His team wasn’t the best in the Alliance but with him playing large in the net, he was able to get his team noticed. His playoff performance was outstanding as he and the Jr Rangers were able to bounce favourites , the London Jr Knights-Gold in the second round. Strong post play and quick movements make him a strong candidate to be between the posts for the 2014/15 season.
Sam Hunter (Mississauga Senators, D) 10th round – Sam is an underrated defenceman who is a ‘throwback’ to defenceman of the past era. He has some good skates underneath him but he is better known for his hitting and his slap shot. Just a classic D in every sense. Strong on the boards and in open ice. If you want to go around Hunter you will have to do it the hard way as there is no easy pass on his side of the ice. Another future pick for the 2014/15 season, but should make a good impression at rookie camp.
