Oshawa’s Cassels shows versatility
Cole Cassels has been the man in the spotlight for the Oshawa Generals.
The versatile centre took most of the key faceoffs as the Generals beat the Quebec-champion Rimouski Oceanic and host Quebec Remparts in their opening two games at the MasterCard Memorial Cup.
Perhaps the biggest so far came late in overtime against the Remparts. Cassels’ draw back to defenceman Stephen Desrocher for the winning goal gave Oshawa a 5-4 win in a game it dominated but was in danger of losing thanks to Zach Fucale’s brilliance in the Quebec net.
The two had combined on a similar goal in a 4-3 win over Rimouski.
“We knew Steve has a great shot, and he gets it off quick,” Cassels said Monday. “It worked out twice for us.”
Cassels, 20, a Vancouver Canucks prospect whose father, Andrew, was an NHL centre, is playing his best at the right time for the Generals.
Linemates Bradley Latour and hulking Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Smith, as well as top defence pair of Josh Brown and Dakota Mermis, got much of the credit for limiting the damage from projected first-overall draft pick Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League final.
Coach D.J. Smith has the luxury of having two faceoff aces, Cassels and Montreal Canadiens’ firstround pick Michael McCarron, and decides before each game which one to match against the opponent’s top centre.
“A lot of winning faceoffs is digging in and battling, and he battles all the way through the draw,” Smith said of the six-foot-one 190-pound Cassels.
His offensive numbers have climbed in his four OHL seasons, all with Oshawa.
This year he had 30 goals and 81 points in 54 games.