The 2009 OHL Priority Selection will be conducted online on Saturday May 2. Each week leading up to the OHL Priority Selection, we have taken a look at five of the top minor midget players available this season.
Andrew Fritsch, Brantford 99ers – Right Wing, 5’11”, 165 lbs. Fritsch is a skilled winger who possesses a great deal of speed. He displays some real flashes of offensive productivity and can utilize a top gear when needed. He uses his quickness and speed to create time and space for himself and he loves to skate through the neutral zone hitting the seams to create scoring opportunities.
Advertisement
“Andrew has very good puck skills, showing the ability to make plays at top speed,” Kitamura said. “He is at his best when he has possession of the puck and when he does he competes at a fairly high level. He possesses a very good shot with a quick release and he uses his body position and stick handling ability to get into scoring positions. He has the potential to develop into a productive player at the next level.”
Matt Mahalak, Culver Academy - Goaltender, 6’2”, 175 lbs. Mahalak is a technically sound, butterfly-style goaltender that plays a very quiet game. He plays outside of the paint, challenging shooters quite effectively and possesses very good size to take up a lot of the net, forcing shooters to beat him.
“Mahalak competes pretty hard, never giving up or allowing an easy goal,” said Robert Kitamura, the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “He moves laterally quite well, tracking the play and the puck as it moves across the different lanes, always keeping square and ready. At the end of the day, he just seems to stop all the shots he should and to score the opposition really has to beat him because he won’t give them many soft goals.”
Justin Sefton, Notre Dame Hounds – Defence, 6’2”, 190 lbs. Sefton is a physical, puck moving defensemen who possesses a good set of tools. He displays a high level of poise and composure - almost a real workmanlike approach to the game. The Thunder Bay native has size, good feet and better than average puck skills. He plays the game hard, competing each and every shift and uses his size and strength to his advantage.
“Sefton has a strong, yet smooth stride and good overall mobility,” Kitamura said. “He is very strong on his skates and his strength and solid base allow him to take on opposition forecheckers physically. There are many instances where players finishing their checks just bounce right off him. He is a better than average puck handler and he jumps up into the rush when the opportunity arises. He has the potential to develop into a first rate physical shutdown defensemen.”
Brady Austin, Central Ontario Wolves – Defence, 6’2”, 205 lbs. Austin is an all around effective defensemen who possesses impressive physical tools and shows the ability to contribute offensively. He has good physical size and skates surprisingly well for a player of his stature. For the most part, Austin keeps his game pretty simple. He makes the first pass out of the zone and moves the puck up ice with quick and confident decisions.
“Brady possess better than average feet, displaying good overall mobility,” Kitamura said. “His skating allows him to cover a lot of geography in his own zone, giving him good range. All in all he has a ton of upside. His size and wingspan provide him with a lot of range and the ability to cut off passing and shooting lanes in the defensive zone. He plays a pretty consistent physical game, punishing forwards along the walls and in the corners.”
Cody Ceci, Peterborough Jr. Petes – Defence, 6’1”, 185 lbs. Ceci is a big defencemen who possess some impressive physical tools. He has good mobility and the ability to handle and move the puck. He is effective in all facets of the game, playing in all three zones and competes at a very consistent level. He has the ability to evade pressure and isn’t afraid to jump up into the play if he sees an opening.
“Cody skates quite well for a big man,” Kitamura said. “He displays better than average foot speed and he has the ability to take away time and space effectively. He also plays a pretty effective gap, maintaining good body position in relation to the puck carrier and his net. He competes at a high level, especially in his own zone and plays with a very active and strong stick.”
