By Glen Erickson

When the Guelph Storm graduated a host of players at the end of last season, a pair of Toronto youngsters from that veteran-laden team found themselves returning to the fold with potential leadership expectations.

It can be challenging enough to focus on the tasks at hand during one’s draft year, but defenceman Matthew Finn and forward Scott Kosmachuk have embraced the opportunity to lend a helping hand in Guelph whenever the call to do so arrives.

Finn and Kosmachuk are among the 40 players in Kelowna for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. They have the benefit of traveling to the event as teammates, along with familiarity that stretches well back to their early minor hockey days.

“It makes it a lot easier,” Finn said. “We grew up together all the way up since we were about seven years old. We went through the OHL draft together. Having one of my best friends to go through it all together, it’s pretty special.”

Kosmachuk echoed Finn’s sentiments.

“It’s awesome, I mean we’ve grown up since we were young,” Kosmachuk said. “We’ve played together all the way up and we’re really close friends. It’s good to have someone to go through it with who’s sharing the same experiences.

“We’re rooming here together (in Kelowna) as well so we can talk about things and give each other little pointers, a heads up here and there. I think it’s got to be a benefit in the long run.”

In fact, during their days in the Toronto Marlboros minor hockey program, the pair of Storm representatives also played along the way with Adam Pelech (Erie Otters), and Scott Laughton (Oshawa Generals)each of whom has also arrived in Kelowna for the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Kosmachuk, a versatile forward who is willing to be a physical presence while chipping in offensively, celebrated his 18th birthday last week. The 6’, 185-pounder has scored 22 goals and 19 assists in 45 games this season, after a rookie campaign where he chipped in as a third- and fourth-liner with 21 points in 68 games. This year, he is not prepared to shy away from assisting the young players in Guelph as the team battles for a playoff berth down the stretch. Kosmachuk knows he has to accept a leadership role in some ways.

“We’re a young team and it’s great for us to get a good playing opportunity, to get out there and show our stuff and create some offence and do the best we can with what we have,” Kosmachuk said. “We’re playing with a lot of young players, so we’re helping them to bring their game to the next level, teaching them little things and trying to set a good example.”

Finn also posted a 21-point season last year in 60 games and is providing offence from the backend this season with six goals and 32 helpers in 41 games. A month away from his 18th birthday, Finn is also keen on becoming known for shut-down abilities. With NHL Scouts attending festivities in Kelowna to fine tune the research they’ve undertaken throughout the current campaign, Finn is confident he is improving his skills.

“I’m really trying to play my game,” Finn said. “I’m in a lot better shape compared to last year. I really turned that around. I’ve just been playing the way I know how to play hockey. I’ve been trying to jump up into the rush a bit, for the most part just shut down guys in my own end, making sure nobody gets by me then try and chip in offensively the best I can.”