A look At local players listed for the OHL draft
17 local players among those listed for OHL selection
Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League Draft could prove to be a busy event for local players. Seventeen players from Windsor and Essex County are rated for the 15-round draft, which is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Windsor Spitfires director of scouting and hockey operations Frank Evola gives his thoughts on the area prospects along with stats lines that include games played, goals, assists, points and penalty minutes for players and games, goals-against average and shutouts for goaltenders. While 17 area players are ranked, all midget players are eligible for selection in the draft.
Aleksa Babic
Team: Sun County Hometown: Tecumseh Position: Right defenceman Height: Five-foot-10
Weight: 150 pounds Stats: 33-2-23-25-34 Rated: Round 11 to 15 Comment: “Likes to jump in the play, had decent numbers and played on the power play,” Evola said. “Needs to work on his skating and his mobility to step into the league.”
Tate Bowden
Team: Chatham-Kent Hometown: Tilbury
Position: Left wing Height: Six-foot-two
Weight: 217 pounds Stats: 33-11-10-21-22 Rated: Round 11 to 15
Comment: “He can shoot the puck and he can distribute the puck,” Evola said. “He just has to slim down a bit.”
Brett Brochu Team: Chatham-Kent Hometown: Tilbury Position: Goaltender Height: Five-foot-eight Weight: 135 pounds Stats: 28 games, 2.39 goalsagainst average and three shutouts.
Rated: Round 11 to 15 Comment: “Real athletic, quick and was a stronger performer as the year went on,” Evola said. “He had a strong season. The problem is he’s undersized, but his dad is a good-sized guy.”
Braedon Caetano
Team: Sun County Hometown: Leamington Position: Left centre Height: Six-foot
Weight: 150 pounds Stats: 32-6-11-17-36 Rated: Round 11 to 15
Comment: “He got better as the season moved on,” Evola said. “Scored some big goals down the stretch. He’s an above-average skater and has a nice little touch around the net.”
Nic Chenard
Team: Sun County Hometown: Tecumseh Position: Goaltender Height: Six-foot-three
Weight: 175 pounds
Stats: 18 games, 2.39 goalsagainst average and five shutouts. Rated: Round seven to 10.
Comment: “A bit inconsistent at times, but showed glimpses,” Evola said. “Big, agile, takes up a lot of the net and pucks seem to hit him. He played some big games down the stretch and helped in the (team’s) OHL Cup run.”
ZaneDalpe
Team: Sun County
Hometown: Belle River
Position: Left wing Height: Five-foot-nine
Weight: 181 pounds Stats: 33-16-22-38-32 Rated: Round three to six
Comment: “As the season went on, he played a good role,” Evola said. “A junkyard dog that likes the physical type of game. Real engaging and a sneaky player with a quick snapshot that scored goals in tight.”
Ryan Gagnier Team: Sun County Hometown: Tecumseh Position: Left centre Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 170 pounds Stats: 31-19-11-30-47 Rated: Round three to six
Comment: “I think he’s going to be a captain down the stretch here,” Evola said. “A character player and a leader that plays a 200-foot game. Took important draws in the defensive zone, detailed and always in the right spot. His skill set showed more and more as the season went on.”
Brendan Kennette
Team: Sun County
Hometown: Belle River
Position: Left defenceman Height: Six-foot
Weight: 175 pounds Stats: 32-6-14-20-32 Rated: Round seven to 10. Comment: “He’s a modern-style defenceman that jumps in the play,” Evola said. “Tall, lanky and moves the puck. He has a good skill set on him, a little bit inconsistent, but I think he has a good chance to play in the league.”
Spencer Lecot
Team: Chatham-Kent Hometown: Harrow
Position: Right defenceman Height: Five-foot-11
Weight: 155 pounds Stats: 30-10-8-18-28 Rated: Round seven to 10 Comment: “Captain and played some junior B games,” Evola said. “A puck-moving defenceman that’s not overly big, but likes to jump in the play. Has a good brain and sees the ice fairly well.”
Darby Lemieux Team: Chatham-Kent Hometown: Tilbury Position: Left wing Height: Five-foot-11
Weight: 165 pounds Stats: 32-15-10-25-44 Rated: Round 11 to 15
Comment: “Real good, sneaky, scores goals and plays on the power play,” Evola said. “He’s a real working type of player. Hard on the forecheck, competes well and goes to the dirty areas.”
Matthew Maggio
Team: Sun County Hometown: Tecumseh
Position: Right wing Height: Five-foot-nine
Weight: 170 pounds Stats: 33-20-24-44-36 Rated: Round one or two Comment: “One of those kids that just scores,” Evola said. “He’s a shooter that has a shoot mentality. He can beat you multiple ways. He can deke you, he can go one-on-one or he can shoot. He’s got a great engine, good motor, great wheels and a low centre of gravity.”
Addison Major
Team: Sun County Hometown: Kingsville Position: Right centre Height: Six-foot-one
Weight: 160 pounds Stats: 33-9-11-20-14 Rated: Round 11 to 15
Comment: “A big, strong kid,” Evola said. “He needs to get quicker, maybe play with a little energy and be more assertive, but when you watch him you know there’s more there.”
Bryce Ryan Team: Windsor Hometown: LaSalle Position: Right centre Height: Six-foot-one
Weight: 165 pounds Stats: 30-9-11-20-22 Rated: Round three to six
Comment: “A tall and lanky kid with great wheels,” Evola said. “Played a little ( junior B) with LaSalle and I think, if he fills outs to his body, he could play a good role in the OHL.”
Matthew Sbrocca
Team: Windsor
Hometown: LaSalle Position: Goaltender Height: Six-foot-two
Weight: 200 pounds
Stats: 22 games, 2.77 goalsagainst average and one shutout. Rated: Round three to six Comment: “Big and athletic and squares up to the puck,” Evola said. “A great kid and a goodsized kid that takes up a lot of net.”
Kaleb Tiessen
Team: Chatham-Kent Hometown: Leamington Position: Left defenceman Height: Six-foot-two
Weight: 160 pounds Stats: 33-1-3-4-20 Rated: Round 11 to 15 Comment: “Great in a small barn,” Evola said. “He has good size, a long reach and size to his game.”
Tyler Tullio
Team: Vaughan Hometown: Lakeshore Position: Right centre Height: Five-foot-nine
Weight: 150 pounds Stats: 50-38-51-89-68 Rated: Round one or two Comment: “Very skilled, a goal scorer, a character kid and a leader,” Evola said. “The kind of kid you win with. He does his job, doesn’t say much and is a real coachable player that plays bigger than his size.”
John Ulicny
Team: Sun County Hometown: Tecumseh
Position: Left wing Height: Five-foot-seven
Weight: 145 pounds Stats: 33-13-11-24-16 Rated: Rounds 11 to 15 Comment: “A workhorse kid with a great engine and a great motor,” Evola said. “A great character kid that had an unbelievable OHL Cup, which I think is going to help him. Played a key role for that team and scored some highlight-reel goals that show he has a little more skill than people gave him credit for.”