The Scouts are watching

Keeping their eyes on the prize. OHL scouts are drooling over Cody Hodgson, the Regional Tournament's version of Sidney Crosby. Photo by Julie Walker.

Dean Howard may not be the leading scorer in the Central Region Midget AAA Championships but he’s still being watched very carefully by a flock of OHL and Junior ”A” tier II scouts who have been regular spectators at this week’s event being held in North Bay.

“Well, the biggest thing about him is that he comes to play,” said longtime OHL scout Jack Ferguson who works for the Saginaw Spirit about the Sault Ste. Marie North Stars forward.

“I’ve talked to the coaching staff in the Sault and that’s what they like about him too. He’s a very talented young man, but he’s a very hard working player as well and the two of them together are going to take him a long way.”

Saginaw, which has met with Dean Howard’s parents, is one of the teams very interested in selecting him in the first round of the OHL draft this spring.

For Howard who had two assists in the first six games along with a goal which was awarded to a teammate not on the ice in their first game, he’s just trying to focus on the important thing; bringing a championship back home to Sault Ste. Marie.

“Nobody in the room is really worried about the scouts we are just trying to get the wins every night,” said Howard as his North Star team will meet the Jr. Canadiens in Saturday’s semi-final.

“I just try to take care of my own end as best as I can and I just try to put the puck in the net as best as I can.”

Unlike the Southern Ontario teams in this tournament the North Stars sport eight minor midgets who are eligible for the OHL draft. While Howard tops the list, there are still others who are catching the eyes of scouts.

One scout said defenceman Dylan King’s performance during the week has moved him up the scouting list.

“They’ve got a handful of 90’s and somewhat are up playing at a higher level like the midget AAA’s they bring it and they bring it to another level so as they say, and I’m anxious to see them,” said Oshawa Generals G.M. Brad Selwood about the talented young Stars.

North Stars head coach Michael Hall has the job of trying to keep his players focused on the games at hand.

“The biggest thing we’ve said to these kids all year is that individual things are great but it’s a team concept and we’ve pushed a team concept since the beginning of the year and nobody is bigger than this team including the coaching staff but we’ll just keep pushing,” Hall said.

The Next One?

The Markham Waxers forward Cody Hodgson has been this tournaments version of Sidney Crosby.

The speedy forward has already been talked about in the Hockey News Future Watch magazine and scored 10 goals and five assists in the six round robin games.

If he elects to play major junior hockey instead of U.S. College, he will likely be taken in the top five in the OHL draft. Some scouts say he could go as high as number two.

“My teammates have really done a great job they’ve really helped me out in this tournament they are doing a great job,” said the humble son of former Provincial Tory Cabinet Minister Chris Hodgson.

“He’s a great player, he scores goals, he’s a finisher he looks like a young Jeff O’Neill when he was a minor midget,” Selwood said about the flashy young forward.

“He can finish he sees the ice really well, he goes to the net, he’s got great hands and he plays well in all three zones as well and he’s a pretty complete hockey player and I think we’ve got him rated in the top six or eight in our league.”

Markham head coach Joe Cornacchia believes Hodgson has got the total package.

“Anytime you get a kid with his talents and his abilities and with his desire if he continues to improve the way he’s improving he will be a bona fide NHL star.”

The shy 15 year old is flattered by all the hype surrounding his game.

“I’m obviously pleased and happy but like you know I’m only 15 and I haven’t done anything special yet,” he said with a smile.

However all these young players realize that their play will be even more scrutinized as the playoff portion of the tournament begins.

That’s something all these players want to deal with after they win a regional championship.

Trapper Watch

According to a number of OHL scouts Trappers forward Joel Senecal is likely the only Trapper with an outside shot of being drafted in the OHL draft this spring.

However Trappers head coach Larry Keenan believes a handful of his graduating players like Kody Carnevale, Marc Senecal, and Kyle Radigan have created opportunities for themselves to play Junior "A" tier II hockey next fall.