On Sunday November 7th Neutral Zone had a scout in attendance to watch the Niagara Ice dogs visit the Mississauga Steelheads in OHL league action. While the attention was on late 2003 and 2004 birth years eligible for the 2022 NHL draft a close look was also given to 2003 birth years not taken in this past NHL draft. One of the repercussions of COVID was a missed season for many Ontario prospects as the province locked down tighter than any hockey playing location in the world. As such it is our feeling that some very good 2003 players may have been by passed in the draft due to their missed season of development. This game pitted a couple teams lower in the standings with Mississagua sitting in 7 th in the conference and Niagara dead last in 10 th position. For Niagara it was their 3d game of the week, and unfortunately their 3d loss. Mississauga was playing in their 3 game of the week as well, winning all 3 while only surrendering 3 goals in the e goal in the 3 outings.
Late 03 and eligible 2004 birth year prospects
MISSISSAGUA
| Luca Del Bel Belluz | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | L | F | 6’1″ | 179 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2019 | Woodbridge, ON | 2021-2022: C+ |
Luca is a nice sized 6’1″, 179 pound left handed centerman. He has been given a C rating by NHL Central Scouting, but in this viewing, our first of him, he is playing at a higher level than that. He centers Mississauga’s top line and currently sits in second on team scoring with 5 goals and 11 points in 11 games. He is a very nice skating player with a long stride and great mobility as he weaves through traffic with or without the puck. He also has good straight away speed and is not afraid to challenge defenders wide as he drives pucks low into the zone. On one particular 2 vs 2 play he drove wide puling defenseman toward him and used a nice backhand to get puck into goal area where his teammate tipped in it for a goal. He was very strong in his corner battles and was dangerous coming out of corners onto the cycle with puck on stick and head up looking for plays. Luca has obviously gained trust of coaches as he is used both as a penalty killer and a powerplay man. On power play he is used low and net front and uses size and good hands to be an effective contributor. Grade B+
| Zakary Lavoie | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 170 | Mississauga Steelheads | | Ottawa, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Zakary is an average sized right winger. His game possesses both speed and quickness and he has a fairly good stick skill level. He demonstrated a lot of very good work ethic and intangibles in this game, including finishing hits when he had opportunities, very good back check efforts, and a willingness to drop and block shots if he could. Zakary sees time on both special team units. Grade B
| Chas Sharpe | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 194 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2019 | Orilla, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C |
Chas is certainly an interesting prospect. He has good size, 6’2″ and 195 pounds as well as being a right handed shot. He was a decent point producing defenseman in minor hockey, played for Mississauga as one of their underage players immediately after being selected by them, then missed last year in its entirety due to covid. His game is solid. Very seldom out of position, strong in corners and in front of net, and a quick first pass defenseman who possesses the “join the rush” instinct. However he made two offensive decisions that absolutely turned the game in his team’s favor this day. Trailing 1-0 to Niagara early in the third period Chas bolted from his blueline position as his forward was winding up for a shot from the slot. Chas shot by his check and was first to the net to get his stick on the rebound, and although thwarted, stayed on the puck and put in a second attempt goal to tie the game and give his team momentum. On his next shift he was positioned for an offensive faceoff on the left side. They won the draw and with the puck on the left defenseman’s stick Chas again exploded off the blue line, past his check, and caught a beautiful seam pass from the left defenseman that he absolutely roofed past the surprised goalie. The goal stood as the winner in this 4-1 win. There were a few other times in the game where Chas demonstrated a dangerous hard snap shot. Grade A-
| Kai Schwindt | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 194 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2021 | Breslau, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C |
Kai is a prospect currently not on Central Scouting’s list, but a prospect that certainly shows the potential to move up the draft rankings if his development continues. He is interesting in that he was not drafted into the OHL, bypassed in the U16 and U18 drafts. So perhaps he is a late bloomer. But Mississauga invited him to camp and saw enough to sign him. He is another player with absolutely no games under his belt last season, the last competitive hockey he played with Kitchener U18. A late 2003 birth year, he has great size, 6’3 and 195 pound left winger. I really liked his skating, he possesses a long powerful stride and has great mobility. He attacked a blue line wide on one play, made a real good cut to separate from his D and got a nice shot away from the slot. He was used on the PK and his pressure and recovery skating was solid. He likely is not going to develop into a great offensive producer, but as he gains confidence and if he adds some physicality into his game he shows promise as a 200 foot grinding winger who would be a great fore checker/defensive type winger. Grade B
| Owen Beck | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | R | C | 6’0″ | 190 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2020 | Port Hope, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Owen really plays an important role on this Mississauga team, centering their second line, killing penalties and contributing to the power play. Owen possesses decent size at 5’11 but 190 pounds and he uses that weight to bump guys every chance he gets. There is bite in Owen’s game and he plays the pest role very well. He is high energy, he has explosiveness in his step and quickness, great edges and if very effective in small ice skating situations. He has a nice skill set, and a couple times was able to get shots by blockers using a drag and shoot to change angels and release pucks quickly. Grade B
NIAGARA
Playing their third game in four days, the players looked somewhat fatigued and performance may have been hindered in this viewing.
| Aidan Castle | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | L | LW | 5’11” | 168 | Niagara Icedogs | Mississauga, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Aiden is a solid NHL draft prospect who plays left wing on the team’s top line. He is a strong skater who is tough to knock off balance and this really helps him as he is a force in the corners and along the boards. He showed nice mobility when attacking and does not hesitate to attack a congested slot. Grade B
| Pano Fimis | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | R | F | 5’10” | 174 | Niagara Ice Dogs | 2020 | Richmond Hill, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Pano is a prospect who has caught our eye since his minor hockey days. He is a prospect who pushes the pace with his skating and is very dangerous possessing high puck skills and able to beat defenders with stick skill. His skating has speed and agility and he can threaten wide or through a crowd depending on opportunity. He often freezes defenders with his shot or pass fakes, he has quickness and can attack a seam if its presented. Works very hard low and will bump if necessary. Grade B
| Dylan Roobroeck | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 157 | Niagara Ice Dogs | 2020 | London, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Dylan is a very good sized forward at 6’3 who is just beginning to make strides in his development after getting zero game competition last season. He is a mobile skater once he gets going, but he needs to add some explosiveness to his starts and gain some quickness in his direction changes. Dylan needs to work on being more of a physical presence with his team as he looks suited for a grinding game where he can use his size on the boards and corners to contribute to his team. Grade C+
| Rodwin Dionicio | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 207 | Niagara Ice Dogs | 2021 | Rapperswil, SUI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
An enigma player in this viewing. He caught our eye because he looks huge, good height but looks really wide in the shoulders and seems like a bull. He definitely needs work on his first 3 steps as he seemed a bit foot heavy at times, but at other times when he saw openings to go with the puck he could really move with power. He is in his first year in the OHL, having played the past couple previous years in Switzerland where he holds dual American/Swiss citizenship. Has a cannon of a shot and excels in all the strength situations. But defensively he struggled on his 1 on 1’s against forwards with speed. Grade B
| Alec Leonard | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | R | D | 5’11” | 183 | Niagara Ice Dogs | Toronto, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Alec was a bit quiet in this viewing. But he was an obvious nice skater with mobility, and he was a very good puck mover. Grade B
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images