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.