The 2009 OHL Priority Selection will be conducted online on Saturday May 2. Each week leading up to the OHL Priority Selection, we will take a look at five of the top minor midget players available this season. Here are five of the top defencemen from this year.
Jake Worrad, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs – Left Defence, 5’10”, 180 lbs.
Worrad is a mobile, puck moving defenceman who makes good plays at both ends of the rink. He is very smooth on his skates and displays quickness and excellent mobility. He had four assists in seven games at the OHL Cup, helping his team advance to the championship game.
“Worrad is always looking to move the puck up the ice and makes some pretty quick reads,” Kitamura said. “He seems to have a knack of finding the open man and getting him the puck. His skating allows him to get himself into a position where he has ample time and space and he has the speed and quickness to get back into his zone on retrieve pucks.”
Ryan Murphy, York Simcoe Express – Right Defence, 5’10”, 160 lbs.
Murphy draws favourable comparisons to Windsor Spitfires’ star Ryan Ellis because of his vision and offensive skill. Scouts say that he often becomes a fourth forward on the ice and has the ability to control the pace of the game. He led York Simcoe with nine points (four goals, five assists) in five games in the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament last month in Mississauga.
“Murphy handles the puck with poise and confidence and consistently pushes the play up the ice,” said Robert Kitamura, the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “He gets back into his zone very effectively to retrieve any chipped or dumped pucks and once he gets it on his stick he either skates it out of the zone, or moves it up ice. He has the ability to handle the puck at top speed - he looks off forecheckers, and generally makes them miss.”
Frankie Corrado, Vaughan Kings – Right Defence, 5’11”, 170 lbs.
Corrado is a quiet, effective defenceman that plays a safe game in his own end. He rarely makes mistakes and makes effective decisions with the puck. He was held off the scoresheet and picked up 12 minutes in penalties in four games at the OHL Cup.
“Corrado is an all around effective defensemen who possesses a rather lanky frame, with the potential to fill out as he grows older,” Kitamura said. “He has a good set of physical tools, better than average feet and good puck skills. He mainly plays a pretty safe and steady game, concentrating on his own zone and his defensive responsibilities but he also moves the puck quite effectively with the crucial first pass out of the zone.”
Scott Harrington, Greater Kingston Jr. Frontenacs – Left Defence, 6’0”, 175 lbs.
Harrington is one of the premier defencemen available for this year’s draft. He plays an effective game in all three zones and contributes offensively and defensively. He also has a great shot from the point and the lateral movement to get himself open for a one-timer.
“Scott has shown the ability to control and dictate the direction of a game plays a very big part of any success his team has,” Kitamura said. “He is an excellent puck handler, and he passes the puck like a pro. He consistently shows the ability to find the open man and hit him with a hard, accurate, tape to tape pass. He doesn’t seem to get rattled when his team is under pressure, and at times you will see him directing his teammates, and communicating to them where they should be.”
Mark Luzar, Mississauga Reps – Left Defence, 6’3”, 200 lbs.
Luzar developed into one of the most effective defencemen in the GTHL this season. He plays a physical game and has the ability to shut down the most creative offensive players. He has a long, powerful stride and is tough to knock off the puck when he lugs it up the ice. He was held pointless and picked up two penalty minutes in four games at the OHL Cup.
“He has all the tools to develop into a defender that you build your back end around,” Kitamura said. “He has great size, skates exceptionally well for his physical stature and displays better than average puck handling skills. He is punishing along the walls and in the corners and separates the puck from the opposition on a regular basis.”
