CHL prospects tested at NHL Draft Combine
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
Thursday June 11, 2015
With the 2015 NHL Draft on June 26-27 in Sunrise, FL, fast approaching, top prospects from across the globe descended on Buffalo, NY, for the 2015 NHL Draft Combine last weekend.
The event featured 120 players in total, with 72 CHL representatives on hand to put their best foot forward in one-on-one meetings with NHL clubs and the usual physical testing elements that measure a player’s athletic makeup.
Of the 72 CHL players participating, 25 came from the WHL, 24 were out of the OHL and 23 came from the QMJHL.
Several CHL players had standout performances in the testing, including Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Brendan Guhle who appeared in the top 10 in nine different exercises, including a pair of first place finishes in both the standing long jump and peak power output tests.
Regina Pats forward Jesse Gabrielle was another bright light for the WHL, finishing first in a trio of tests including the bench press, average power output and fatigue index tests.
Shifting to the OHL, Barrie Colts goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood put on one of the more dominant showings from a goaltender in recent memory. The big netminder was among the leaders in several different exercises, finishing third in the grip strength test and second in the standing long jump. Peterborough Petes defenceman Matthew Spencer was the OHL’s lone first place finisher, leading all players with a score of 70 in the VO2max stationary bike test.
While Spencer had the highest output, Gatineau Olympiques forward Yakov Trenin tied draft eligible American Jack Eichel for first in duration on the stationary bike. Trenin lasted an impressive 12:15 in the rigorous test. Other QMJHL standouts included Saint John Sea Dogs forward Samuel Dove-McFalls who was strong in the hand grip testing and Shawinigan Cataractes forward Dennis Yan who led all players with 14 pull ups.
The event, which was the first NHL Draft Combine to be held at Buffalo’s brand new HarborCenter, which is directly across the street from First Niagara Center, left a lasting impression on players and staff.
“I’ve watched Sabres games, but to actually be in this rink, its top notch,” Seattle Thunderbirds forward Mathew Barzal told NHL.com’s Joe Yerdon of his experience. “It’s unreal. Having the HarborCenter right here and everything’s so close, it’s a perfect setup for this kind of event.”
“Having the hotel right across the street makes it that much easier for the players and that much more comfortable,” Kingston Frontenacs forward Lawson Crouse added. “For the most part, I think the majority of the guys enjoyed the experience and it’s a huge learning experience for myself. I can take a lot away from it.”
Buffalo will host the 2016 NHL Draft Combine in addition to the 2016 NHL Draft next June.
Here’s a complete look at how CHL players fared in the various testing exercises:
GRIP STRENGTH
Right Hand
2. Samuel Dove-McFalls (Saint John Sea Dogs) 175
3. Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) 174
6. Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans) 168
7. Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs) 166
Left Hand
2. Samuel Dove-McFalls (Saint John Sea Dogs) 180
3. Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) 170
T-4. Evgeny Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) 165
5. Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) 165
6. Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans) 161
7. Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs) 160
10. Hayden McCool (Windsor Spitfires) 155
BENCH PRESS
1. Jesse Gabrielle (Regina Pats) 20
T-3. Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s) 16
T-3. Evgeny Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) 16
T-4. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 15
T-4. Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown Islanders) 15
STANDING LONG JUMP
1. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 122.0
2. Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) 118.9
3. Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs) 116.1
4. Austin Wagner (Regina Pats) 115.4
T-5. Chris Martenet (London Knights) 115.0
T-5. Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 115.0
7. Ryan Gropp (Seattle Thunderbirds) 112.2
8. Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s) 111.0
VERTICAL JUMP
1. Austin Wagner (Regina Pats) 28.74
2. Ryan Gropp (Seattle Thunderbirds) 27.44
3. Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) 27.28
4. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 26.77
8. Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs) 24.02
10. Gustav Bouramman (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 23.70
PULL UPS
1. Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes) 14
2. Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s) 13
T-3. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 12
T-3. Nathan Noel (Saint John Sea Dogs) 12
4. Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans) 11
PRO-AGILITY TEST
Left
2. Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4.38
3. Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4.42
T-4. Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) 4.43
5. Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals) 4.46
6. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 4.47
7. Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit) 4.48
8. Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts) 5.00
Right
3. Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4.29
5. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 4.39
6. Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals) 4.40
7. Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit) 4.42
8. Mathieu Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs) 4.45
9. Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) 4.47
WINGATE TEST – Average Power Output (watts/kg)
1. Jesse Gabrielle (Regina Pats) 13.8
2. Chaz Reddekopp (Victoria Royals) 12.5
T-3. Graham Knott (Niagara IceDogs) 12.4
T-3. Simon Bourque (Rimouski Oceanic) 12.4
6. Mathieu Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs) 12.0
7. Ryan Gropp (Seattle Thunderbirds) 11.9
T-8. Austin Wagner (Regina Pats) 11.8
T-8. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 11.8
WINGATE TEST – Peak Power Output (watts/kg)
1. Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) 19.9
2. Austin Wagner (Regina Pats) 19.4
4. Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) 19.2
5. Graham Knott (Niagara IceDogs) 18.6
6. Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes) 18.5
T-7. Ryan Gropp (Seattle Thunderbirds) 18.2
T-7. Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans) 18.2
WINGATE TEST – Fatigue Index
1. Jesse Gabrielle (Regina Pats) 26.4
2. Mitch Marner (London Knights) 39.1
4. Nicolas Meloche (Baie-Comeau Drakkar) 42.7
5. Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets) 43.4
6. Samuel Dove-McFalls (Saint John Sea Dogs) 43.6
8. Nathan Noel (Saint John Sea Dogs) 44.5
10. Anthony Cirelli (Oshawa Generals) 48.1
AEROBIC FITNESS – VO2max Test Max
1. Matthew Spencer (Peterborough Petes) 70.0
T-4. Kyle Capobianco (Sudbury Wolves) 66.6
7. Mathieu Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs)
8. Jansen Harkins (Prince George Cougars) 65.2
AEROBIC FITNESS – VO2max Test Duration
T-1. Yakov Trenin (Gatineau Olympiques) 12:15
2. Keegan Kolesar (Seattle Thunderbirds) 12:01
T-3. Paul Bittner (Portland Winterhawks) 12:00
4. Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi Sagueneens) 11:45
T-5. Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) 11:30
T-5. Jansen Harkins (Prince George Cougars) 11:30
T-5. Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes) 11:30
For more test results, stories and coverage of the 2015 NHL Draft Combine, visit NHL.com.