What coaches want

So here we are in late November. In the OJHL, this is commonly the time of year when organizations are supposed to be beginning to understand where they stand in the grand mosaic of the league. Yet, the interesting part is that for most teams, especially those outside the East (with the exception of perhaps the Wellington Dukes), that is still a mystery.

I could go into where we stand in the league today, but to be honest it could change by the end of the weekend. It's the wild west out there!

So I thought I'd write about a few things that I've picked up from the coaching staffs of the respective teams that I work for, with a specific view on what they seem to wish their players would figure out.

1) Stop in front of the net.

It sounds so simple right? How many times do commentators talk about "going to the dirty areas of the ice to score goals" and "getting the greasy goal"? Take the Patriots game vs. Trenton last Saturday. Toronto forward Nico Gonzalez had two breakaways and both times he had a guy right behind him that stopped in front of the net. On one of the occasions, Marco Bozzo did the absolute right thing, stopped in a dangerous area, got a rebound as a result and scored. On the other, Gonzalez's backhand trickled past the line, but had it settled there, Marcus Rose was right there (though Rosy is almost always in the right spot).

Let's be honest here folks, the D in the OJ this year aren't exactly heavy laden with Zdeno Chara-esque monsters. One of my favourites in the year, and one of the under-the-radar guys, Nick Geiser, has 11 goals! He's like Phil Esposito circa 1975! He stops in front of the net. When he shoots the puck, he follows his own shot. Goalies love it when guys shoot and just circle the net, shaking their heads that they put it right on the logo. What they don't want is anyone right there in their face.

2) Finish your checks.

Look, I know you're probably 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, and maybe even have that bizarre and 100% false notion that if you're busy hitting, you can't get busy scoring. But if you finish your checks, at least three things happen.

One, you get physically engaged in the game. You get a jolt of adrenaline and a skip in your step, and some confidence, and maybe next time that puck comes to you in tight, you are mentally able to pull it to the forehand and jam that thing in! It's the psychology of doing something positive that you have full control of.

Two, the other guy probably won't like it. If you hit him, he has to deal with your check instead of heading up ice and helping with the offence. The guys on their team have to remember, and take into account, that you're going to come looking for a hit the next time you're on the forecheck, or in the corner. It's about being tough to play against, and giving the other guys more to think about.

Three, the people that are watching freaking love it. You want a college scholarship? I've heard many scouts say "he might not have the greatest hands, but he finishes his checks!" Showing an edge is a major feather in your cap to scouts, and to coaches. It gives your bench energy, so in a way you're doing a bit of a job for the coaches in that the coaches don't have to keep harping on "let's get going!" "let's get some energy here boys!", etc.

I'm not saying hitting is easy, but whether you're a first or fourth liner and you want to be a good teammate, get to the next level, and/or win when it counts (playoffs, Dudley, RBC Cup, etc.), start hitting today!

3) That line between appearing to care too little, and getting too rattled.

It's a fine line, no doubt about it. I've found that most players seem to have a hard time picking which direction they go after a tough game, or being scratched. I get it, you're a human teenager with strong emotions.

But here's a tip, chose to be a good teammate regardless, and when in doubt, air on the side of caring. It goes a long way in so many areas; trades, future scratches, how hard your teammates will battle for you. And, just as importantly, when a college scout is sitting in the coach's office after a game, one of the first questions they ask is "what's he like off the ice? is he a good teammate?". So we all have initial feelings, everyone hates being scratched or sat or having a bad game or screwing up. But choosing to be a good teammate, and choosing to have good body language even when you don't want to, can be serious money in your pocket later on.

4) Treat coaches, equipment managers, athletic therapists, and rink employees like gold.

This may seem obvious, but I'm serious. All these people can mean the world of difference for you on and off the ice, and beyond that, it's just as important to work at being a good person now as it is to being a good hockey player. A good general manager/head coach cares how their players treat the rest of the organization, and winning clubs almost always have that professionalism and respect from top to bottom. Look at him/her in the eye and say thank you to the person getting you your stick, or sharpening your skates or taping your ankles or even flooding the ice.

5) When in doubt, go north.

This is especially true on special teams. One of the biggest differences between Junior 'A' and the next level is that hunger to get pucks toward the net as quick as possible. I'm not saying lobbing wristers from Timbuktu, or disrupting a system, but guys hold the puck on their stick so long that it gives it time to bounce, or the other team time to close. And I mean it, this is an epidemic in the OJHL. Giver a blast! As Coach Fortier once said: "if he blocks you once, that's too bad. If he blocks you twice, then give him a freaking medal...he's a hero." Shoot the puck on the power play, and move your feet over blue lines. That's simple stuff, but it's next level.

6) Ask.

Coaches work hard at making systems and set plays for their teams, so work hard at understanding them. If you aren't sure, stay after practice and meet with a coach. This is all part of communicating that you care, that you are committed and that you want to win. It's also part of being a good teammate, because if your linemate knows and you don't, then you are making both of you look bad and you probably aren't going to be successful on that play.

My Thoughts on the OJHL All-Star Teams

So, it's been a while since I've posted some thoughts on here; but it's my blog, so deal with it.

The Ontario Junior Hockey League announced their four rosters for the 2014 Central Canada Cup on Monday, revealing the players that will represent the league against two teams from the Central Canadian Hockey League, two from the Quebec Junior Hockey League, and one from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The four squads were put together, I assume, in order to maintain as much of a competitive balance as possible; as opposed to by division or conference, as in past years. Each team has the name of a Hall of Famer attached to it - Paul Coffey, Dale Hawerchuk, Joe Nieuwendyk, and Adam Oates.

So here are my thoughts on each roster, some combos I'd be interested to see, and the strengths of each team.

Team OJHL Coffey

The first thing that stands out to me regarding the squad to be coached by Brian Perrin (the head coach of the Newmarket Hurricanes), is that there is some serious beef, and some serious spunk up front. The Wellington trio of Joe McKeown, Abbot Girduckis and Brandon Kosik are all skilled, but are tanks in the mould that Marty Abrams (Wellington's head coach and GM) loves. Add to them North York power forward Matthew Whittaker, and Cobourg youngster Dawson Theede, and this is a formidable and imposing group. On the other side of the spectrum, Gabriel Valenzuela, also of North York, is as shifty as they come in the OJHL, and look for Mississauga Charger Vince Figliomeni to continue to make a name for himself with his 200-foot, intensely competitive play.

On the back end, I'd love to see Whitby's Jon O'Hara paired with Aurora's Eric Williams, at the very least on the power play. That could be as dynamic a puck-moving defence-tandem as you can see in this league, and players in the Southwest that don't know, those two have cannons for shots. Wellington's Andrew Coupland is a very nice, composed option at the top of a power play as well.

Coffey is well situated in net with Andy Munroe of Aurora likely to draw the biggest games.

Team OJHL Hawerchuk

The biggest name on Aurora bench boss James Richmond's squad is Oakville defenceman Greg Campbell. A veteran of the World Junior A challenge, his coach on the Blades, Mike Tarantino, raves about the steps forward he's taken in the defensive zone. His offence has always been as good as anyone. Along with him on Hawerchuk's D-corps is Niko Kovachis, a Toronto Patriots d-man who is still trying to find his game this year. Yet those that watched him last year, and in flashes this year, know that he can be as good as it gets as a two-way guy in this league. His Toronto teammate Tyler Currie is wildly underrated in my opinion, as he is healthy and skating extremely well.

Up front, Brady Wiffen has been a man among boys so far this year, and especially in his own rink, he has been a machine. We will see how does on the big ice at MasterCard, but definitely as good as they come in terms of pure power forwards in the OJ. He is joined by teammate Zach deConcilys, who has electric hands and speed. Both of them have rocket shots. Interesting to see where Orangeville's diminutive and shifty Lucas Smilsky fits in among the league's elite...all the guy has done this year is score on a team that relies on him and his line to do so; and he's only a '97.

In goal, Hawerchuk is in a 1a, 1b situation with Team Nieuwendyk in terms of best goaltending in the tournament on paper, in my opinion. Daniel Mannella of Oakville has been excellent, profiting from Tarantino's introduction of far more defensive tactics to the often free-wheeling Blades. His confidence and athletic abilities are sky high. With him, Florida-born Trenton Golden Hawk Justin Kapelmaster has been excellent, and it means that Richmond can really go with either of them in big-game situations.

Team OJHL Nieuwendyk

To be 100% honest, and some people might not like this, but Nieuwendyk is my favourite to be the top OJHL all-star team at the event.

With Tyler Feaver of Whitby and Mathew Robson of the Toronto Patriots, head coach Curtis Hodgins (Cobourg Cougars) is seriously set in goal. Feaver has arguably been the best goaltender in the league since the start, and Robson has really burst on the scene with serious poise while tending the net for the defending champs.

Up front, the array and diversity of talent is extremely impressive. Toronto Jr. Canadian Anthony Repaci, and Cobourg Cougar Connor Armour have been terrorizing OJHL defencemen for years now, while Johnny Curran of Aurora has stepped into top-line duties with the Tigers and been as quick and dynamic as anybody in the circuit. The list is long of guys I really like on this forward corps, but one guy of very strong interest for me is North Bay Battalion prospect Cameron Morrison, currently of the Aurora Tigers, who brings a very fast game to an extremely big frame. He's been the best '98 born forward in the league so far, in my opinion. Former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound Ryan Kirkup, currently of Whitby, is as good a 200-foot player as there is in the league.

On defence, Georgetown's Liam Clare is certainly in the discussion for best blue liner in the OJ. Poised and so intelligent with the puck, the Sacred Heart commit is ready to show what he can do at this stage. Jeremy Wu has been a point-producing machine for the Whitby Fury on the back end, while Trenton's Braden Hellems looks every part the reliable, composed 20-year-old defender that he is.

Team OJHL Oates

The first thing that jumps out at me for Coach Jason Fortier's (Toronto Patriots) squad is that they have, in my estimation, the league's best player - Steve Hladin. The Georgetown Raiders' captain has looked, at times, like the league is far too easy for him, with his ability to read the play and dominate in any situation. He is full value by himself to go watch Team Oates.

On top of Hladin is a very balanced defence corps, with three quality offensive guys and three quality stay-at-home types. North York's rookie phenom Will Reilly is drawing NHL attention as a '97 birth-year with dynamic offensive abilities, to go with an excellent skating stride and a very nice, projectile frame. Aurora's Noah Delmas is a smooth skating, intelligent defender, while Colgate commit and Kingston Voyageur Rory McGuire, and Mississauga Charger Austin Broadhurst are both bulldozers.

Up front, Fortier will have an interesting time putting together compatible players. B.J. Salerno of Pickering has slowed down since his explosive return to the league from the USHL, but is still very speedy and dangerous on the attack. Kingston Voyageur Joey Beaudoin is similar to Salerno, while one of Fortier's own in Toronto, Jacob Hayhurst, is a bit of a swiss-army knife, as he can look comfortable and solid on any sort of line. Georgetown Raider Anthony Marra is one of the true underrated players in the league, and is an excellent running mate with Hladin.

In goal, Hamilton's Alexander Bishop has come out of almost nowhere to make a name for himself, and is a big reason that the Red Wings are finally back in the thick of the playoff hunt.