Five Sophomores to Watch in 2010-11

By Aaron Bell

The 2009-10 Ontario Hockey League season featured a bumper crop of rookies that are poised to make even greater gains in their second season in the OHL. Here is a look at five sophomores to watch this season:

Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes The Petes’ first round pick came into the OHL with loads of expectations and delivered on that promise by winning the OHL’s rookie of the year award. Puempel scored 33 goals and 64 points in 59 games with the Petes and was a key part of Team Ontario’s silver medal performance at the World Under-17 challenge at Christmas. Puempel scored his first OHL goal against the Oshawa Generals on Sept. 25 in his fourth OHL game. He finished the season with a seven-game point scoring streak and helped Canada win gold at the Under-18’s this summer.

Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals Jenner started his OHL career with a bang scoring a goal and an assist in his OHL debut against the Sarnia Sting on Sept. 18. He followed up with a pair of goals in his second game and was well on his way to proving why the Generals took him in the first round. Jenner, the younger brother of former Plymouth Whalers’ defenceman Leo Jenner, enjoyed a pair of five-game point scoring streaks before Christmas and was the captain of Ontario’s Under-17 team. He also helped Canada win gold at the Under-18’s in the summer.

Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers Murphy consistently chipped in on the scoreboard for the Rangers as a rookie and drew favourable comparisons to another Ryan – Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires. Murphy was the Rangers’ first round pick in the OHL Priority Selection and immediately enjoyed time on the powerplay for the rebuilding Rangers. By the end of the regular season, the smooth skating Murphy and the Rangers had dramatically improved and pushed the Windsor Spitfires to the brink of elimination in the Western Conference championships.

Tyson Teichmann, Belleville Bulls Teichmann become just the fourth goalie in the past decade to be selected in the first round of the OHL Priority Selection when the Bulls tabbed him with the 18th pick in 2009. He struggled at times as a rookie playing in his hometown and learning the game at the OHL level. But he also enjoyed had some bright spots and came into his own as Ontario’s goalie at the Under-17’s at Christmas. He emerged from Canada’s summer Under-18 camp as their number one netminder and backed the team to the gold medal by posting a shutout in the championship game against the U.S.A.

Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Catenacci was the top pick in the 2009 OHL priority Selection after an outstanding offensive campaign in minor midget. He described his rookie season with the Greyhounds as his most frustrating from an offensive standpoint but frequently flashed signs of his immense skill. Watch for Catenacci to find his groove early this season and emerge as one of the best talents in the league. The Newmarket native was Ontario’s top scorer at the Under-17’s and had two goals and four points in five games at the Under-18’s in August.