OHL | CollegeHockeyPlayers

11May

Tom Wilson(10) Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2012 draft (#16 overall), right wing Tom Wilson(10) enjoyed his third and final season in juniors as assistant captain with Plymouth Whalers.

He scored highs in goals (23), assists (35) and points (58), more than doubling the numbers he put up the previous year and achieved a similar effect in the postseason striking for 9 goals and 8 assists in 13 games to help take his team to the OHL Western Conference Finals before falling.

The still only 19-year old 6’4″ 210 lbs. big body has no problem using his size advantage out there and bets are on that he’ll transition to the pro ranks with ease.

He was signed to a three-year entry level deal soon after he was drafted but without a season to start in the big league was reassigned back to juniors. He appeared in the Capitals brief training camp when the lockout thawed but was once again sent down.

He made his AHL debut with minor league affiliate Hershey Bears for the 2013 Calder Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, where he broke the ice with his first goal. But the Bears‘ fortunes were ended when they lost in the deciding game 5 of the series.

It was a given that he would continue his 2012/2013 playing time to at the very least participate as a member of Washington’s practice squad for their Stanley Cup playoff push, but when injury sidelined one of their top forwards he was recalled to join the team and play his first NHL game.

He skated 8 shifts for 6:24 of total ice time, registering one shot, one takeaway and dishing out 4 hits in the 2-1 OT win.

With the appearance, the young forward appeared in three leagues in one season.

10Apr

Cody Sol (41)

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Big as a redwood, Winnipeg Jets‘ rookie defenseman Cody Sol(41) scored his first AHL goal to go along with 3 assists in his 21st game for minor league affiliate St. John’s IceCaps.

He started his first pro season in the ECHL with Colorado Eagles (5 goals, 3 assists, 25 games) and has been recalled three times with the most recent one occurring in mid-February; and from there he’s stuck with the team.

The absolutely massive 6’6″ 242 lbs. d-man is signed for another season on a three-year entry level deal, one of which appears to have been paid even though he spent the season in his final skate in juniors with Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.

He was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ (r.i.p.) 5th round pick in the 2009 draft (#125 overall) and actually played a single game with then affiliate Chicago Wolves at the end of 2010.

At 22-years of age, there’s literally no where to go but up. He plays with all the grit and fight you’d want from a player with his size, but still seems to be finding the finer points of his game.

It’s still officially only his debut season and with the goal we’re sure more confidence follows.

02Apr

Mark Cundari(15) Calgary Flames

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3rd year undrafted defenseman Mark Cundari(15) was a key component in a trade deadline deal that saw him move from St. Louis Blues‘ system to Calgary Flames.

He was chosen to appear in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game, where he had one assist to help the Western Conference to a 7-6 win, in what has been his breakout campaign.

He’s appeared in 172 minor league contests scoring 10 goals and 59 assists, all with Peoria Rivermen.

The under-sized 5’9″ but solid as a rock, 200 lbs. agitator defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut but could net a recall from farm team, Abbotsford Heat before the current season wraps up.

He won back-to-back OHL and Memorial Cup titles in juniors with Windsor Spitfires.

The soon-to-be 23 year old is in the final season of his 3-year entry level deal and scheduled to become a restricted free agent as the end of 2012/2013.

As the Flames are rebuilding a more youthful future, he will undoubtedly be qualified with a contract extension.

14Feb

Tyler Toffoli(26) Manchester Monarchs

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#47 overall) rookie center Tyler Toffoli(26) has yet to realize an NHL call-up quite yet but it has to be imminent, unless all the players on the parent club perform well and stay healthy. He was one of the last skaters to be reassigned to start the shortened season.

He’s 2nd in scoring for AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs with 35 points, leading the team with 21 goals and a +15 plus/minus. He was also selected to play in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and collected a goal and an assist in the heart-breaking Eastern Conference loss.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward had three outstanding final three years of junior hockey and even led the highly competitive OHL in scoring for 2010/2011.

He’s signed to a three-year entry level deal that keeps him with the Kings through the 2015 season.

There’s little doubt that the 20-year old is going to blossom into a full-time NHL player but he’ll have to continue to excel on the farm and wait for his turn to prove he can step it up.

25Jan

Andrew Agozzino(11) Lake Erie Monsters

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Lake Erie Monsters‘ undrafted rookie left wing Andrew Agozzino(11) signed a one-year AHL contract with the team to start his pro career.

He’s quickly put up 13 goals and 22 assists in 42 games, which ties him for the team lead in scoring.

He is also a big +15 plus/minus.

At 5’9″ 185 lbs., he’s fairly unassuming out there but obviously sees the ice well and can get the puck to another player for a scoring situation or put the biscuit in the basket on his own.

The under-sized forward consistently put up points in the OHL and was Niagara IceDogs‘ team captain in his last two and a half seasons (one as an over-ager).

He also led them in scoring for three straight campaigns.

The 21-year old did attend a St. Louis Blues‘ prospect camp and suited up for their minor league affiliate Peoria Rivermen at the end of 2010 but that situation failed to go any further.

He was also invited to a Tampa Bay Lightning development camp.

Look for him to score an NHL deal (likely of the two-way variety), maybe not with parent club Colorado Avalanche, but he should latch on with some big league club, especially if he continues to tear up the scoresheet.

He was chosen to participate in the upcoming AHL All-Star Game.

22Jan

Mark Schiefele(42) Winnipeg Jets

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19-year old Winnipeg Jets‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#7 overall) center Mark Schiefele(42) initially started his pro career last season but was returned to his junior club Barrie Colts after 7 games. In the brief stint, he did manage to pot his first NHL goal.

After the end of the season OHL season for his team, he joined AHL affiliate St. John’s IceCaps for their deep bid at the Calder Cup. That bid ended at the Eastern Conference Finals.

In 10 postseason match-ups he had one helper to add to his pro scoring stats.

Starting the 2012/2013 campaign, he continued his development in juniors, where he is a more than a point per game player.

As soon as the lockout ended, the 6’2″ 184 lbs. forward was ushered to Jets‘ shortened training camp and once again impressed enough to be on the opening night roster with the big club.

In two games he has yet to reach the scoresheet but will likely stick at this level or be reassigned to help the slumping IceCaps.

27Nov

Mark Visentin(29) Portland Pirates

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Phoenix Coyotes‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#27 overall), goalie Mark Visentin(29) was a force in net in his last two seasons in juniors. Of his many accomplishments: he posted a 2011/2012 league best 1.99 GAA in 42 games and had 10 shutouts, establishing a new OHL record. The netminder also helped his team to the playoff finals, which was the furthest Niagara IceDogs had ever been in the postseason and even scored a goal for himself. Ironically it was the previous season he was named goaltender of the year.

The 20-year old has appeared in a few Desert Dogs‘ prospect camps and was in-line to participate another NHL training camp until everything was put on hold.

He, along with every other eligible player, was reassigned to start his pro career in the AHL with their affiliate Portland Pirates.

The young 6’2″ 205 lbs. goaltender has struggled a bit out of the gate in the minors but seems like a very centered personality that should ultimately help the farm team excel as the season wears on.

28May

Jared Knight(87) Boston Bruins

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Boston Bruins‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#32 overall) right wing Jared Knight(87) finished up his junior career with a trip to the Mastercard Memorial Cup Finals with his team, OHL’s London Knights. He had a few chances to put the game into either the lead or win column but was unable to put it by a red-hot goalie.

He was signed to a 3-year entry level deal before the 2011/2012 season but was sent back to juniors for his fourth season out of training camp.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward will be in Bruins’ Prospect and full training camps again before in all likelihood starting his pro slate with Providence. He appeared in the three games with them at the end of 2011 and picked up a pair of assists.

While not exactly the biggest guy out there, the 20-year old plays with a ton of spirit and determination that he’s bound to fight for a spot on the big club before too long.

15Apr

Boone Jenner (15)

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18-year old Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#37 overall), center Boone Jenner(15) picked up his first pro hockey goal with AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons in their last game of the regular season.

He’s skated in 5 games with the team since his juniors club was eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

In all likelihood he will be returned to his final year of juniors but already at 6’1″ 193 lbs. he’s big and looks to have all the right assets to play hockey with the bigger boys.

21Nov

Jordan Szwarz(12) Portland Pirates

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Rookie forward Jordan Szwarz(12) got that first professional hockey goal monkey off his back last week.

Phoenix Coyotes picked him in the 4th round of the 2009 draft (#97 overall).

He has played in 11 games for their AHL affiliate, Portland Pirates and has 3 points.

In juniors, he put up some very respectable numbers in the OHL for Saginaw Spirit (including a fantastic +33 plus/minus rating in 65 games) and was named their 2010/2011 team captain.