New on the Patriots podcast, I talked to Coach Fortier about how his roster was progressing, including his thoughts in returning potential star Jacob Hayhurst and the move of new signing Dede Cato from defence to forward.
Click here for the podcast
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
The returnees (NYR goaltenders)
Before I get into North York's two returning goaltenders (yes folks, Andrew Cipollone is a returner), I should point out that the Toronto Patriots have no net minders back this year as Evan Buitenhuis is off to college and Jeremy Helvig is off to the Kingston Frontenacs. As a quick aside, Jeremy did dress in one game with the Frontenacs last year, in a wild 10-6 win over the Barrie Colts no less!
So, back to North York we go.
By now, any OJHL general manger worth their salt should know how good Gianluca Baggetta can be. He was unbelievable in the GTHL midget playoffs two years ago, and for the vast majority of last season he was as good as a rookie, if not better, than the veteran Jason Pucciarelli ahead of him. He came up as a double A goaltender, but took off once he started to take hockey a lot more seriously and despite his lack of size, he has parlayed athleticism, focus and a huge chip on his shoulder into a talent level as high as anybody in this season's goaltender class. That being said, he has not yet proven himself as a full-time OJHL goaltender and North York head coach Mark Joslin has tried to make it abundantly clear that ice time on his squad is a privilege and not a right. Therefore, keeping that chip on his shoulder will be important for Baggetta (because, as you will read in the next paragraph, there is a quality Chip right behind him!). I do predict that Gianluca definitely has what it takes mentally and physically to be an elite net-minder this season, no doubt aided by an upbringing and a family that really gets it (a very underrated factor in the development of young hockey players). But it's all up to him to take that next step.
Behind Baggetta will be a real classy kid in Cipollone. The man they call "chip" made his OJHL debut two seasons ago on Dec. 30, 2012, when he was rock solid in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Jr. Canadians at the ripe age of 16. How do I remember that exact detail? Maybe I'm a little crazy. Anyways, he won't complain at all about playing time this year and when he does go in, I guarantee that he'll play with his entire heart. He has been a loyal North York Ranger for years and with his attitude, I expect he'll be an excellent heart-and-soul addition to this club. Talent-wise, he was a big reason why the Rangers midgets made it the GTHL final last year and subsequently has proved he is ready for this level. He's the perfect type of guy to push Baggetta.
So, back to North York we go.
By now, any OJHL general manger worth their salt should know how good Gianluca Baggetta can be. He was unbelievable in the GTHL midget playoffs two years ago, and for the vast majority of last season he was as good as a rookie, if not better, than the veteran Jason Pucciarelli ahead of him. He came up as a double A goaltender, but took off once he started to take hockey a lot more seriously and despite his lack of size, he has parlayed athleticism, focus and a huge chip on his shoulder into a talent level as high as anybody in this season's goaltender class. That being said, he has not yet proven himself as a full-time OJHL goaltender and North York head coach Mark Joslin has tried to make it abundantly clear that ice time on his squad is a privilege and not a right. Therefore, keeping that chip on his shoulder will be important for Baggetta (because, as you will read in the next paragraph, there is a quality Chip right behind him!). I do predict that Gianluca definitely has what it takes mentally and physically to be an elite net-minder this season, no doubt aided by an upbringing and a family that really gets it (a very underrated factor in the development of young hockey players). But it's all up to him to take that next step.
Behind Baggetta will be a real classy kid in Cipollone. The man they call "chip" made his OJHL debut two seasons ago on Dec. 30, 2012, when he was rock solid in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Jr. Canadians at the ripe age of 16. How do I remember that exact detail? Maybe I'm a little crazy. Anyways, he won't complain at all about playing time this year and when he does go in, I guarantee that he'll play with his entire heart. He has been a loyal North York Ranger for years and with his attitude, I expect he'll be an excellent heart-and-soul addition to this club. Talent-wise, he was a big reason why the Rangers midgets made it the GTHL final last year and subsequently has proved he is ready for this level. He's the perfect type of guy to push Baggetta.
Monday, August 25, 2014
The returnees (TP defencemen)
As I said in my post on the Toronto Patriots' forwards, OJHL success almost always means serious roster turnover, period.
This is just as true for the Patriots defence-corps; gone are hugely important pieces like Mike Prapavessis, Robert Powers, Cory Lauer, and Tyler Enns. Those four guys are all hugely different and the diversity of high quality roles within the squad made the unit, in my opinion, the best D-corps in the league by a good margin last year. Then once you got through them, you had to figure out how to beat Evan Buitenhuis, so good luck with that.
That being said, the landscape of the 2014-15 OJHL season is such that general managers all around the league are scrambling like mad to scrape together defence-corps (i.e., that there are not a lot of quality defencemen to go around) and so, especially in terms of the quality of the two guys that are back for the defending champs, Toronto is actually in relatively good shape.
Here they are.
Niko Kovachis has the chance to be the absolute best defenceman in the league this year. He has a lot of skill, he has a cannon of a shot, he is a lead-by-example character type, and if he can play with more snarl to match his very solid frame (I believe around 6-foot-2, and 195 or so pounds), then look out. He played with Prapavessis in what was the OJHL's best defence pairing last year (only possibly matched by the Williams-Poldma combination in Aurora), and I would assume that coming off an RBC Cup run in which he was a hugely important piece, he will enter this year with a lot of confidence. I have no doubt that he could be an impact player in Major Junior right now if that was the route he took (and if the Ottawa 67's didn't give up on him), and if he doesn't get a high quality Division I scholarship this season I will be shocked; that is, if that's what he wants. He is almost certain to play big minutes, in all situations (as he did last year), and I truly am excited to see what kind of impact Niko will have this year.
The thing about Tyler Currie is that while he was steady last year, he, Fortier and those that know him, including myself, know that he is capable of being much more than just steady. Injuries have slowed him down so far in his full-time junior career, but what he meant on the inside of the Patriots organization last year was far more than I would assume people on the outside could understand. He has well above-average defensive awareness and intelligence, and his stick in the defensive zone makes him a very difficult player to break down. Unlike some other smaller defence men, he doesn't have blazing speed, but he is calm and collected on the puck and I expect him to be a much more effective player going forward this year than last. Like Kovachis, he played with an absolutely elite partner last year in Robert Powers, so it'll be interesting to see what happens should Fortier and co. elect to not play the two vets together and I personally expect that they won't unless they have to.
Monday, August 18, 2014
The returnees (NYR defencemen)
By all accounts, the Rangers really did try to take a run at it all last year and as a result they had five 20 year olds out of the seven defencemen on the regular roster. Therefore, while the returning guys, and the ones they have brought in are quite capable Junior 'A' defenders in my opinion, there are bound to be lingering question marks surrounding them until they prove themselves as a unit.
With that said, here are the returning North York defenders.
The fact that the Rangers had some of their best days when Jeremy Szabo was in the lineup last season was no fluke: he was outstanding. The offensive state sheet - one goal, six points - won't jump out at you, but the way he played with passion, with intelligence and with physicality truly lifted the club and provided elements that were sorely missed when he was hurt during the first round of the playoffs. Jeremy is the type of kid that cares a ton and though it is unknown how much his game on the puck will develop, the foundations of character and composure are there in spades. He'll be a key leader on this year's club.
Christian Zanetti found his way into 44 games last year (including playoffs) and quietly went about his business developing into a steady defender. I could tell he had a bit of difficulty keeping his game sharp while being thrown in and out of the lineup, but he can skate and has an attitude of doing whatever the club needs him to do. Where he fits in the grand scheme of things is really up to him, though through limited summer viewings I have definitely seen improvement in his lateral mobility and confidence on the puck.
That brings me to Max Novick, who I will call a returnee because he's been part of this club for the past two years, despite spending the majority of his time with the midgets. I have always loved Max's confidence level, he has never been daunted by any task the coaching staff gave him, and that kind of attitude is something coaches love. On the ice, Novick's tool kit is absolutely full. He can skate like the wind, he has some nice vision and just like his off-ice attitude, he is fearless. If he can digest the systematic elements of the game, and work to understand when to freelance and when to keep things simple with the puck on his stick, he can be a premier talent in this league. He has the pluck to make a real difference for this club.
With that said, here are the returning North York defenders.
The fact that the Rangers had some of their best days when Jeremy Szabo was in the lineup last season was no fluke: he was outstanding. The offensive state sheet - one goal, six points - won't jump out at you, but the way he played with passion, with intelligence and with physicality truly lifted the club and provided elements that were sorely missed when he was hurt during the first round of the playoffs. Jeremy is the type of kid that cares a ton and though it is unknown how much his game on the puck will develop, the foundations of character and composure are there in spades. He'll be a key leader on this year's club.
Christian Zanetti found his way into 44 games last year (including playoffs) and quietly went about his business developing into a steady defender. I could tell he had a bit of difficulty keeping his game sharp while being thrown in and out of the lineup, but he can skate and has an attitude of doing whatever the club needs him to do. Where he fits in the grand scheme of things is really up to him, though through limited summer viewings I have definitely seen improvement in his lateral mobility and confidence on the puck.
That brings me to Max Novick, who I will call a returnee because he's been part of this club for the past two years, despite spending the majority of his time with the midgets. I have always loved Max's confidence level, he has never been daunted by any task the coaching staff gave him, and that kind of attitude is something coaches love. On the ice, Novick's tool kit is absolutely full. He can skate like the wind, he has some nice vision and just like his off-ice attitude, he is fearless. If he can digest the systematic elements of the game, and work to understand when to freelance and when to keep things simple with the puck on his stick, he can be a premier talent in this league. He has the pluck to make a real difference for this club.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
The returnees (TP forwards)
Veteran leadership is often at the core of team success and last year's Patriots had more than its fair share. Jason Fortier, who inherited the role of general manager for this season, and new assistant GM Ryan Daniels have been working to re-stock the cupboards in all positions, and the forward corps is no exception.
That being said, the guys that do return have experience at the highest levels of Junior 'A' hockey, and armed with that knowledge, this Toronto club will be a pushover for nobody.
The first guy of note coming back is Jacob Hayhurst, a guy whose game I cannot help but get excited about when I discuss it. Hayhurst was so mature so quickly from the start of the season that by the RBC Cup he was playing with such a high amount of confidence that he hardly looked like a rookie all. In the post-season there were times that he was dominating players four years older than him and by using his speed, intelligence and skill, he was a key piece in the Patriots' game plan of wearing down the opposition over the course of 60 minutes. Now he's back and almost certain to get a big role in the Toronto club overall, something I expect him to be able to handle well.
Marcus Rose is so well respected and liked by the Patriots' brass that he is his own category of player in their estimation (example: when Toronto acquired Chris Maione this off-season from Jr. 'B' Brampton, they said: "he's a Rosey type of player"...high praise). Rose can play on any type of line, in any situation, and thrive. He plays his heart out, he can skate and his skill is maybe as underrated as anybody's in the OJHL. There is no doubt that his competitiveness and intangibles rubbed off on Hayhurst, with whom he played most of the season, and that chemistry is a huge plus for the club. Rose has not been given a real big offensive role in his two previous seasons with the team, though he has demonstrated his ability in the attacking zone, so it will be interesting to see what happens when Coach Fortier asks him to take that step (which I am assuming he will). If you were to ask me to bet on it, I'd say Rosey is poised for a great year.
How good can Nick Ursitti be? That is likely to be a hot topic around the Patriots entering this year. The speedy winger was fantastic at the RBC Cup and in my view was the Toronto player that raised his stock the most at that event. He dealt with some injuries last year and then took his time to find his groove, but with thatt kind of speed and intensity he can be a very effective junior player. A great kid as well, so I expect far bigger things for Nick than many pundits heading into the year.
Luke Carter and Quinn Syrydiuk are other extremely high character guys with loads of passion. It really is amazing how much they both flip a switch from being immensely friendly people off the ice to angry pitbulls on it. They both scored some big goals and played understated key roles for the club last year, so it'll be interesting to see which way they go this year.
That being said, the guys that do return have experience at the highest levels of Junior 'A' hockey, and armed with that knowledge, this Toronto club will be a pushover for nobody.
The first guy of note coming back is Jacob Hayhurst, a guy whose game I cannot help but get excited about when I discuss it. Hayhurst was so mature so quickly from the start of the season that by the RBC Cup he was playing with such a high amount of confidence that he hardly looked like a rookie all. In the post-season there were times that he was dominating players four years older than him and by using his speed, intelligence and skill, he was a key piece in the Patriots' game plan of wearing down the opposition over the course of 60 minutes. Now he's back and almost certain to get a big role in the Toronto club overall, something I expect him to be able to handle well.
Marcus Rose is so well respected and liked by the Patriots' brass that he is his own category of player in their estimation (example: when Toronto acquired Chris Maione this off-season from Jr. 'B' Brampton, they said: "he's a Rosey type of player"...high praise). Rose can play on any type of line, in any situation, and thrive. He plays his heart out, he can skate and his skill is maybe as underrated as anybody's in the OJHL. There is no doubt that his competitiveness and intangibles rubbed off on Hayhurst, with whom he played most of the season, and that chemistry is a huge plus for the club. Rose has not been given a real big offensive role in his two previous seasons with the team, though he has demonstrated his ability in the attacking zone, so it will be interesting to see what happens when Coach Fortier asks him to take that step (which I am assuming he will). If you were to ask me to bet on it, I'd say Rosey is poised for a great year.
How good can Nick Ursitti be? That is likely to be a hot topic around the Patriots entering this year. The speedy winger was fantastic at the RBC Cup and in my view was the Toronto player that raised his stock the most at that event. He dealt with some injuries last year and then took his time to find his groove, but with thatt kind of speed and intensity he can be a very effective junior player. A great kid as well, so I expect far bigger things for Nick than many pundits heading into the year.
Luke Carter and Quinn Syrydiuk are other extremely high character guys with loads of passion. It really is amazing how much they both flip a switch from being immensely friendly people off the ice to angry pitbulls on it. They both scored some big goals and played understated key roles for the club last year, so it'll be interesting to see which way they go this year.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
My chat with Mike Prapavessis
I did a podcast with new Dallas Stars and RPI Engineers defenceman Mike Prapavessis. A great kid, from a great family, with an incredible amount of talent, intelligence and character: it's hard to imagine him not succeeding at whatever he puts his mind to. It was an absolute pleasure watching this guy play last year, and as a 17 year old most of the season how he dominated guys three-to-four years older than him was nothing short of impressive. He is one of those guys that makes everyone around him better and treats everyone with professionalism and respect and for my money, he was the best defenceman in the OJHL by a long shot last season. So without further ado, here is the interview:
Click here for the podcast
Click here for the podcast
Friday, August 1, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)