Quick Recap: 2014 OHL Priority Selection

The 2014 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection took place yesterday. 300 young men were drafted among 20 member teams. The Otters made 16 selections, some of whom we may potentially see in Erie next season.

These are the sixteen players the Otters drafted yesterday.

Taylor Raddysh, RW, Toronto Marlboros, first round, 19th overall.

Taylor is the brother of current Otters D Darren Raddysh. Taylor stood out on the famous Marlboros squad this season, netting 25 goals and adding 27 assists for a total of 52 points over 31 games this past season. He led the OHL Cup tournament in scoring with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) en rout to the Marlboros championship.

Taylor Raddysh, seen here with Don Cherry, helped lead the Marlboros to the OHL Cup championship.

 

The Marlboros have produced a ton of talent over the past few years, including current Otters Connor McDavid, Connor Brown, Adam Pelech, Dylan Strome,  Darren Raddysh, and Michael Curtis. The team has also produced current NHL talent including John Tavares, Sam Gagner, and Ryan Strome,

Taylor has all the tools to continue the success of Marlboros alumni in the OHL.

Jake Lawr, G, Halton Hurricanes, second round, 28th overall.

The Otters are preparing for the day Oscar Dansk leaves for the professional ranks. With Devin Williams and Daniel Dekoning already in the fold, Lawr could be the third man for awhile. At 6’2″, he has the size to cover the net. If he has another growth spurt, that could be huge in boosting his potential. He has been one of the top goaltenders in his age group this season.

Of course, just who ends up between the pipes is unpredictable at this level of hockey. Many goaltenders drafted to the OHL never play a game whether it be a lack of talent or choosing a different path to the pros. It will be interesting to see how Lawr develops as he grows.

Shaun Bily, C, New Jersey, third round, 45th overall.

Bily is a Pennsylvania native who has speed, which is becoming more important in the OHL. Bily was the only American taken by the Otters in the draft.

Kyle Maksimovich, LW, Toronto Marlboros, third round, 59th overall.

The brother of current Otters F Quentin Maksimovich, Kyle is a winger with a ton of skill. He had 24 goals and 34 assists over 33 games for the Marlboros this season. In the OHL Cup, he had two goals and eight points. Kyle is projected to be a top-line player but his size is what sent him down in the draft. He stands only 5’6″. However, if he hits a growth spurt, he has the potential to become one of the top players in the OHL in the future.

Mitchell Byrne, D, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, fifth round, 85th overall.

Byrne had five goals and 23 assists in 33 games with the Jr. Habs this past season.

Taylor Egan, D, Ottawa Valley, sixth round, 119th overall.

Egan had five goals and 21 assists with the Titans last season. He can quarterback the power play and shows a great offensive mind.

Riley MacRae, RW, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, seventh round, 130th overall.

MacRae had seven goals and fifteen assists with the Jr. Bulldogs this past season. Has the potential to be a power forward in the OHL, much like Joel Wigle.

Zack Hoffmann, D, Clarington Toros, seventh round, 139th overall.

Hoffmann had eight goals and 17 assists with the Toros last season. Offensive minded defensman but can play well in both ends.

Jack Gill, RW, Upper Canada Cyclones, eighth round, 159th overall.

Gill had eight goals and 18 assists with the Cyclones this past season.

Cole Evans, D, Vaughan Kings, ninth round, 179th overall.

Evans had no goals and seven assists with the Kings last season. Has great size and plays smart defense.

Jordan Sambrook, D, South Central Coyotes, tenth round, 199th overall.

Sambrook had five goals and thirteen assists with the Coyotes this past season. Is a d-man who likes to join the rush. Comparable to Adam Pelech.

Christian Girhiny, LW, Southern Tier Admirals, eleventh round, 219th overall.

Girhiny had nine goals and 10 assists with the Admirals this past season.

Holdyn Lansink, LW, Huron Perth Lakers, twelfth round, 239th overall.

Lansink had 16 goals and 13 assists in 31 games with the Lakers this past season. Hard worker.

Bailey Newton, D, Halton Hurricanes, thirteenth round, 259th overall.

Newton had one goal and six assists with the Hurricanes this past season. Defensive-defenseman.

Colton Point, G, North Bay Trappers, fourteenth round, 279th overall.

Noah Tooke, D, London, fifteenth round, 299th overall.

Images from the GTHL were used in this article.

 

Otters Shoot Down Spits

The Erie Otters continued their steady flow of offense tonight, defeating the Windsor Spitfires 6-1 at Erie Insurance Arena.

Connor McDavid had two goals and two assists while Dylan Strome netted his first career multi-goal game.

The Otters were able to expose the absence of Windsor D Slater Koekkoek, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury. The Otters also got Jake Evans back after missing multiple games with a knee injury. Oscar Dansk stopped 16 shots in the victory.

F Jake Evans returned after missing several games due to injury.

The Otters found themselves down early as Windsor F Ben Johnson was able to blow a flaming wrister by Dansk on the Spits first shot of the game at 8:22. But the Otters were already outplaying the Spits in almost every way, as they already mounted ten shots on goaltender Dalen Kuchmey.

The Otters finally got on the board with four minutes remaining as Connor McDavid continued his magic, netting a rebound off a Troy Donnay shot at 15:57. The Otters took the lead after Dane Fox used a defender as a screen to put a shot over the glove of Kuchmey at 18:11.

Dylan Strome then beat the buzzer, scoring with less than a second left in the first to put the Otters up 3-1 and cementing the momentum in Erie’s favor.

“It’s exciting for the team that scores that goal but it’s also can be heartbreaking for the team that let’s it in,” said Otters head coach Kris Knoblauch. “They felt that they stuck with it and felt it could have been 2-1 going into the second. To let that goal in late, it can be a downer.”

It was then all Otters from there on out. Everything clicked for all four lines and the special teams. The Otters even found themselves creating offense while shorthanded, creating a couple of good scoring chances for Connor Brown and Brendan Gaunce.

The only goal of the second frame was scored by Andre Burakovsky of a feed from behind the cage by McDavid, who’s intellect with the puck was once again on display.

The third period was smooth cruising for home team. McDavid netted a power play goal and Strome added his second of the night for his first two goal game of his career.

The Otters peppered Kuchmey with 41 shots in the victory, spending most of the game in the offensive end.

Erie looks to continue the offensive flurry as they take on the Kitchener Rangers tomorrow at 7:05.

Erie Hosts Windsor in Potential First-Round Preview

Setting the stage.

After trouncing the Plymouth Whalers 11-2 on Wednesday, the Otters (47-14-2-0, 96 pts.) are back at it again at Erie Insurance Arena, this time to take on the Windsor Spitfires (36-24-3-0, 75 pts.) in what is a potential preview of a first-round playoff match-up.

The Otters gained confidence after blowing out their opponent two nights ago. However, they are running into a talented Spitfire team that tends to give Erie problems when they square off.

The Otters and Spitfires last met on January 12 with Erie cruising to a 9-0 victory. Dane Fox netted a hat-trick and Connor Brown added two goals and four assists. Connor McDavid added a goal and four assists as well in the offensive flurry. Oscar Dansk stopped 26 in the shutout victory. The only other meeting resulted in an 8-4 Windsor win in September, well before the Otters made the acquisitions to put the team they have now on the ice.

The Spitfires are 3-6-1-0 in their last ten games. They are coming off an 8-3 loss last night at home to Saginaw. They also lost 5-0 last week to Plymouth. Windsor is having such a tough time that even their team bus is riding the struggle bus as they had to borrow a ride from the Windsor Lancers to get to Erie.

Windsor is a talented team, however. They are currently fifth in the Western Conference standings. Erie is currently third, but only one point ahead of London. If London jumps Erie, there is a good chance this is the team Erie will draw in the first round. This shouldn’t be a cake walk for the Otters but with the way Windsor is playing right now, in addition to the short travel turnaround and the confidence Erie has after the big win Wednesday, expect the Otters to take advantage.

What to watch for.

There is still a massive buzz on the web over Connor McDavid’s ridiculous goal Wednesday night vs. Plymouth. If you haven’t seen it, here’s the video.

It’s also McDavid poster night. Expect the crowd to be even more on edge whenever McDavid touches the puck this evening.

Also, look for heavy doses of scoring yet again for the Otters. The Spits have given up 13 goals in their last two contests. If they can’t tighten up defensively, then Erie will have no problem repeating the result of Wednesday night’s game.

The goaltending question? Expect Oscar Dansk to start for the Otters tonight. On the other side, it should be Alex Fotinos getting the call. Dalen Kuchemy was the goaltender in the Spits loss last night.

Players to watch.

For Erie, watch out for the birthday boy, Dylan Strome. He turns 17 today and is meshing well on the revamped second line with Andre Burakovsky and Michael Curtis. Strome had a slick assist on a Burakovsky goal as well as two other helpers Wednesday night. The Erie fans are starting to see shades of his brother Ryan, who now plays for the New York Islanders after tearing up the OHL with Niagara. Strome has eight goals and 26 assists this season.

On defense, it will be all about Adam Pelech. The Islanders prospect has anchored the back end in Erie for three seasons. His solid defenseive play and his ability to jump up into the offensive action make him a dynamic player. Look for Pelech to get on the score sheet in some fashion tonight.

For Windsor, watch out for the highly touted Josh Ho-Sang. Ho-Sang played on the same bantam team as McDavid and much like the wunderkind, can dangle his way out of any situation. He has a wicked shot and blazing speed. He has 30 goals and 53 assists to lead the Spits in scoring this season.  Ho-Sang is expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Here is a taste of what Ho-Sang can do:

On the back end, look at Slater Koekkoek. Taken 10th overall by Tampa Bay in 2012, Koekkoek has 15 goals and 53 points this season, third among OHL defensemen. Koekkoek is a smart hockey player who will be in the NHL very soon. He should be fun to watch.

Quote corner.

Kris Knoblauch: “Windsor is hot and cold throughout the year. We saw them at the beginning of the year when they really gave it to us 8-4 and then we returned the favor. I don’t know what to expect because they can be very good. They’ve beat some good teams this year. I certainly expect that they will be on the top of their game.”

Connor Brown: “They had a tough travel day the last time we played them, so we’re gonna expect a different team this time. This is a potential first round match-up so I think they’re gonna go into it trying to knock us off and I think it’s gonna be a tough game.”

Random notes.

Game time is a 7:05. If you can’t be there, you can follow all the action with the live in-game blog right here on Otters Press Box. You can also follow live Twitter updates from Jeff Snyder at @RealJeffSnyder. Be sure to check Otters Press Box leading up to the game for updates.

Otters Come Home After Successful Road Trip

By Jeff Snyder

Setting the stage.

After a brief and successful road trip, the Otters (46-14-2-0) return to Erie Insurance Arena to take on the Plymouth Whalers tonight.

Erie gained two much needed victories on the road this past weekend, defeating Sarnia and Saginaw on Friday and Saturday respectively. The contest with the Sting saw Dane Fox being the hero yet again as he scored the game winning goal with :38 remaining in the 4-3 victory. The game in Saginaw was a little less eventful, with netting three in the first period to defeat the Spirit by a score of 4-2.

The two wins enabled the Otters to jump the London Knights for third in the Western Conference standings. With Guelph six points ahead of the Otters in the standings with five games to play, the Otters have a shot to take the top spot if everything falls into place.

Tonight, the Otters take on Plymouth, a team that is in what some would call a transition year. The Whalers are 25-30-0-7 this season, good for eighth in the Western Conference. Being ten points ahead of Kitchener heading into tonight’s game, they are almost guaranteed a playoff spot barring a major disaster. The Whalers are 5-3-0-2 in their last ten and are coming off a 5-0 win over Windsor on Saturday.

What to watch for.

Expect a competitive game despite the apparent mismatch on paper. This is the third meeting between the two squads this season, with Erie coming out on top both times (2-1 and 5-2, respectively). However, the two squads haven’t met since October 23 and a ton has changed for both squads since that time.

The Whalers should hold their own. Despite a lowly 172 goals scored this season (second to last in the OHL), the Whalers have goaltending on their side. They also have a few talented players on both ends of the ice. It will be interesting to see which Whalers squad the fans in Erie get to see tonight.

Again, the burning question of who will start in-goal for Erie is always glaring. Although Oscar Dansk got both victories over the weekend, I do think Devin Williams will get the call tonight to face the team from his home state of Michigan. Williams typically gets the nod in mid-week games.

Players to watch.

For the Otters, watch out for Dane Fox. After struggling against London, the Otters forward was the hero in Sarnia, netting two goals. If he can be in position tonight, it may make things tough the Plymouth defense. He leads Erie with a franchise record 58 goals this season.

On the point, look for Darren Raddysh to continue his stellar play. Raddysh has improved since being a mid-season call-up last year. A “C” level prospect according to NHL Central Scouting, Raddysh has three goals, 10 assists, and a plus 26 rating this season. He should be paired with Adam Pelech tonight.

For Plymouth, be on the lookout for Ryan Hartman. The two-time World Junior forward for the United States has 23 goals and 25 assists this season. He is a strong playmaker with a nose for the net. Hartman was picked in the first round by his hometown Chicago Blackhawks in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

On the back-end, watch for Gianluca Curcuruto. The seventh round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012 has six goals and 20 assists this season. He plays well in his own zone, helping out his goaltenders in any way he possibly can.

Speaking of goaltenders, Alex Nedeljkovic should be getting the call in net for Plymouth tonight. The Parma, OH native was recently named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week after posting a 2-0-0-1 record, including a shutout win, with a stellar 0.97 goals against average and a .973 save percentage. This is the second time he earned that honor this season. This year, the highly-touted 2014 draft prospect is 23-25-0-7 with a 2.91 GAA and a .925 SAV%.

Random notes.

Game time is 7:05. If you can not make it, Otters Press Box has you covered with a live in-game blog. You can also follow Twitter updates from Jeff Snyder at @RealJeffSnyder. Be sure to check Otters Press Box for updates leading up to tonight’s game.

Otters Interview Room: Postgame vs. London 2/26/2014

By Jeff Snyder

In our first edition of the Otters Press Box Interview Room, we speak to head coach Kris Knoblauch, forward Andre Burakovsky, and defenseman Adam Pelech following a 5-3 loss to the London Knights.

Kris Knoblauch:

Andre Burakovsky:

Adam Pelech: