With the 2016 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection around the corner, it's time to get familiar with some of the names we are bound to hear called or see pop up on our computer screen on Saturday morning.
While the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s entry at the OHL Cup didn't fair as well as they likely could have, the team was certainly not short on talent as the likes of Billy Moskal, Damien Giroux and Chad Denault all are expected to hear their names called early in Saturday's draft.
However the NOHA Team also featured a trio of local players in Eric Mondoux, Tye Lindeman and Dylan D'Agostino. The three were integral parts of Team NOHA as they all managed to make noteworthy impacts at some level.
Outside of the trio of local talent competing on Team NOHA, another trio of local products where competing with the Waterloo Wolves, Mississauga Rebels and Vaughan Kings, respectively.
Mason McMahon (Waterloo Wolves) - A highly competitive two way winger that brings a deceptive amount of offensive ability to the table. A player who shows a tenaciousness on the forecheck, McMahon likes to engage physically and can become quite the agitator with his aggressive style of play. A player who gets to the gritty areas of the ice, McMahon is arguably at his best below the goal line, working the half boards and cycle. An efficient skater with good speed, McMahon's offensive repertoire is still a work in progress,however he does boast an impressive shot that comes off a strong release and packs some velocity behind it.
Projects as a 7th to 10th round pick
Dylan Bond (Mississauga Rebels) - An intelligent two-way defender, Dylan Bond style of play may be sweet and simple, but it is also highly effective. A defensemen with good foot speed and strong mobility, Bond routinely relies on his quick feet to help him defend at a high level. Excelling as a stick on puck defender, Bond is rarely caught flat footed and shows excellent contain in both his own zone and off the rush. A defender who closes gaps quick and efficiently, Bond transitions well up ice and makes strong judgements when injecting himself into the offensive attack. While Bond won't wow you with end to end rushes or a booming point shot, he is a sound decision maker who can handles a forecheck well and makes an accurate first pass.
Projects as an 8th to 11th round pick
Bond told BayToday.ca that he can’t wait for the draft to begin.
“My thought going into the draft is honestly just hoping for the best,” Bond said.
“I am hoping to get drafted by a team who will be the best for my overall development, but in the end you don’t have a choice on where you get drafted. The past couple years I have been preparing for this moment just playing the best hockey I can and I’m very exited the day is almost here. The draft marks the end of my minor hockey career, which makes me sad, but at the same time it launches the next step in my journey to achieve my dream of playing in the NHL so I cant wait. I know from now on it will be a long and hard journey so I am just hoping for the best and keeping my head high no matter what.”
Jacob Gravelle (Don Mills Flyers) - An intriguing two-way defensemen that displays impressive foot speed and above average mobility, Jacob Gravelle possesses the ability to not only make a strong and accurate first pass, but also use his foot speed to beat a forecheck and skate the puck out of danger. Gravelle is effective as a puck carrying defensemen and can be elusive through the neutral zone, allowing him to gain the offensive zone with relative ease. Gravelle will contribute at the offensive end, although would not be considered a offensive minded defensemen. He keeps his game simple, making good decisions with the pucks, while also effective creating shooting lanes and getting pucks on goal. Defensively Gravelle contains well and shows a willingness to engage physically, however his awareness could improve as he does get locked in on the puck carrier at times.
Projects as a mid-round pick
Ty Lindeman (North Bay Trappers) - An undersized, but highly mobile defensemen with two-way capabilities, Ty Lindeman was another standout for Team NOHA at the OHL Cup. A player who shows a strong work ethic and excellent compete level, Lindeman's most notable skill is his overwhelming skating ability. A player who can skate the puck out of danger and transition up ice with effectiveness, Lindeman also has the ability to make an accurate first pass, displaying strong decision making and deceptively good vision along the way. While Lindeman gets up ice well, he could stand to be more aggressive and take advantage of opportunities at the offensive end of the pick. With the ability to effectively create shooting lanes and get pucks to the net, its only a matter of time until Lindeman's offensive game takes off. Defensively speaking Lindeman does have a bit of an edge to his game, however he relies on strong positioning and stick on puck defensive skills, that have shown to be effective throughout the 2015-2016 season.
Projects as a Mid to Late round Pick
Dylan D'Agostino (North Bay Trappers) - A competitive two-way winger with intriguing offensive upside, Dylan D'Agostino has taken exciting strides with his development throughout the season. One of Team NOHA's top players at the recently concluded OHL Cup tournament, D'Agostino was an effective player on both sides of the puck. A player who generates good speed and boasts a powerful stride, D'Agoistino uses a combination of speed and aggressiveness to force turnovers in both the attack and neutral zones. A player who show's intriguing positional awareness along with above average puck skills, D'Agostino boasts deceptively strong vision and playmaking skills that allow him and his linemates to succeed. A real dark-horse in this draft, any team who drafts D'Agostino will be getting a steal.
Projects as a Mid to Late round Pick
Eric Mondoux (New Liskeard Cubs) - The final member of the local products who represented Team NOHA at the recent OHL Cup, Eric Mondoux showed a strong compete level along with deceptively strong skating abilities and a physical edge to his game. While slightly undersized by OHL standards Mondoux plays bigger, as he battles hard and takes direct routes to puck, showing a fearlessness to his game. A player who boasts deceptively good puck skills, Mondoux is at his best when he keeps it simple and plays to his strengths. If Mondoux can remain consistent in his defensive zone play and add a pinch of offense to his game, he could round into a very solid and safe depth OHL quality defensemen.
Projects as a Late Round Pick
Now that we've taken a look at the local talents who are expected to be selected in Saturday's OHL Priority Selection, its's time to take a look at what the local club might do in the draft. The Battalion will select fourteenth overall on Saturday morning and with the team losing Mathew Santos to overage along with the expected departure of Mike Amadio to the pro ranks, it would not be a stretch to see the Troops go with a forward in round 1. Here are five players with first round potential that fit the Battalion style of play.
Daniil Antropov (Toronto Marlboros) - A big bodied forward with excellent hockey sense and tremendous on ice awareness, Daniil Antropov is the son of former Toronto Maple Leaf Nikolai Antropov. Antropov's skill set is very reminiscent of his father's as his skating while not a deterrent could certainly use some work. Still Antropov's sound positional play and elite hockey sense allows him to always been in position to make a play. A player who is heavy on the puck and protects it extremely well, Antropov boasts impressive vision and strong playmaking abilities, however his nose for the net is something to revel at. Possessing a lightning quick release, Antropov's show is extremely heavy and accurate. Antropov's combination of size, heaviness, skill and hockey sense make him an ideal fit with the Battalion as he is very much a Stan Butler type player.
Barrett Hayton (Toronto Red Wings) - A highly skilled offensively inclined winger with an ability to dominate possession, Barrett Hayton possesses quick strike ability. Hayton displays above average speed and overall skating abilities, that when combined with his excellent puck skills and change of pace/direction abilities make him very tough to contain in possession. Hayton has the ability to dictate the pace of play in possession but does have a tendency to become somewhat selfish in possession as he limits his overall effectiveness by eliminating his teammates as options. A high risk, high reward player that will need to add more awareness on the defensive side of the puck, Barrett Hayton could be a home run pick for the Battalion. With the coaching and direction from Stan Butler, Hayton's weaknesses could be quickly corrected and should not be looked at as a huge deterrent.
Nathan Dunkley (Quinte Red Devils) - An intelligent and gifted two-way forward that boasts explosive speed and high end offensive talents, Nathan Dunkley is effective in all three zones, brings a consistent compete level and can play a number of different styles of game. A player who is tenacious in puck pursuit, forces turnovers with his speed and the willingness to engage physically, Dunkley displays strong puck control along with impressive vision and playmaking skills. Sporting an impressive amount of creativity at the offensive zone, Dunkley takes care of the puck, making strong decisions and rarely turns pucks over. In his own zone he can be counted on in key situations, shows a willingness to clog shooting lanes and take a hit to make a play. A true leader, Dunkley captained the Quinte Red Devils to a cinderella run at the OHL Cup.
Adam McMaster (Niagara North Stars) - The first of the group of five players that isn't exactly in the North Bay mold. Adam McMaster is a slightly undersized, pure offensive threat. A player who possesses and explosive first step and elite straight line speed, Adam McMaster combines strong change of pace/direction abilities with high end puck skills to become extremely shifty and elusive. McMaster's speed allows him to create time and space, while his stick handling skills and strong edges allow him to maneuver in tight areas. However the highlight of McMaster's game is his nose for the net. Boasting a highly accurate shot that comes off a quick release and possesses deceptive velocity McMaster's quick strike ability may be the pure offensive threat the Battalion will need to replace the offense lost with Mike Amadio's likely departure.
Liam Foudy (Markham Majors) - Maybe the most underrated out of this group of five highly intriguing OHL Draft Prospects, the only reason Foudy may be considered underrated is because of the fact his Markham Majors did not often make noise on the biggest stages of minor midget hockey. Don't let that fool you as Foudy could end up being one of the best players selected in the 2016 OHL Draft once things are said and done. A player who possesses excellent creativity in the offensive zone, Foudy was forced to create offense for himself and his teammates on numerous occasions as the depth of the Majors was limited. Despite opposing teams keying in on Foudy the highly interlligent forward found ways to excel and produce. Foudy's combination of skill and smarts may be exactly what Stan Butler is looking for as it shouldn't take much for Foudy to step in and be effective.
