5 to watch in 2010 OHL Priority Selection
By Aaron Bell – The 2010 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection is the OHL’s annual draft of new players and this year’s edition will be held on Saturday May 1. OHL fans can follow all the action live as it happens at www.ontariohockeyleague.com.
Here are five players to watch in this year’s draft class:
1. Jarrod Maidens, Centre, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
Maidens is a skilled forward with all the tools needed to be a dominant player in the OHL. He has good size, a good skill set and is a strong skater. His coach says that he was like a man against boys playing minor midget this season and is ready to make the jump to the OHL next season.
“Jarrod is very strong on his skates and difficult for opponents to knock off the puck,” said Rob Kitamura, Director of OHL Central Scouting and Player Development. “He doesn’t hesitate in taking the puck hard to the net and has a nice offensive touch. He also plays a solid game away from the puck and seems to find openings.”
Click here to watch an OHL Prospect Profile video with Jarrod Maidens of the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs.
2. Brody Silk, Centre, New Liskeard Cubs
Silk is a terrific offensive performer that finds holes for himself and has the ability to get the puck to his open teammates. The Iroquois Falls native plays both centre and left wing effectively. His father Dennis was a second round pick of the Sudbury Wolves in the late 1970’s.
“Brody is a skilled, creative forward with a lot of natural talent,” said Kitamura. “He has good size and the potential to fill out and get stronger. He uses a change of pace and burst of speed to put defenders back on their heels.”
3. Jacob Trouba, Defence, Detroit Compuware
Trouba is one of the premiere defencemen available in this year’s draft class. He is a mobile, skilled blueliner that plays an active game, always willing to join in the rush. He is poised and patient with the puck and always seems to make good decisions despite his high-risk style.
“When he’s on the ice, his presence is felt,” Kitamura said. “He handles the puck well, makes good passes and influences the flow of the play at both ends of the ice. Jacob has the potential to develop into an excellent player at the next level.”
4. Ray Huether, Centre, Huron-Perth Lakers
Huether is a productive forward that goes about his business in a quiet but very effective manner. He consistently puts up points and has a tremendous ability to finish around the net. Huether sees the whole ice well and creates offensive opportunities for his team.
“The more you see Ray play the more you appreciate all the little things he does well,” Kitamura said. “He reads the play well and always has his head up, looking for passing lanes. He has the look of a player that sees the game at a different speed.”
5. Billy Jenkins, Centre, Ottawa Valley Titans
Jenkins is a highly skilled, crafty offensive forward with a real scorer’s touch around the net. He has terrific skating skills, displaying quickness and the ability to change gears or direction in an instant. He also has a very quick release and a hard, accurate shot.
“Billy is at his best and most effective when he has possession of the puck,” Kitamura said. “He has excellent hands and when he plays with the puck he does it at a very high speed. He has a ton of confidence when he carries the puck and has the skills to make creative decisions.”
