January 4, 2024
General Game Notes: Good road win for Saginaw this evening in a tight checking game. Saginaw rallied from 2-0 to win in regulation. Both teams had a number of their top players out of the line-up tonight as they were off at the 2024 World Jr Championships.
Cameron Reid (D, L, 6’0″, 180, Kitchener Rangers, 04/08/2007)
Game Grade: B
Comments: 2025 draft eligible player – this young left shot defender continues to impress in his rookie season. He is confident offensively and jumps into the attack with purpose – great early chance in this one where he jumped in as a secondary option, he beat the opposition forward up ice and found the open seam on the attack. He is showing maturity with the puck and patience to let the play develop ahead of him – good D to D’s and puck support with his partner. Reid is a confident young defender who is off to a strong start at the OHL level. He is responsible defensively, but needs to continue to gap up and rely on his strong mobility – this should come as he develops his defensive intensity. He is a puck winner in his zone and uses his pace to win pucks rather than his physical play. Would like to see him improve his finish and contain game along the walls. If he wants to evolve into an elite defender he will need to focus on this aspect of his game. He is not eligible for the draft until 2025 but he is already playing big minutes for the Rangers in a top 4 defender role.
Lucas Ellinas (LW, L, 6’2″, 198, Kitchener Rangers, 03/01/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Comments: We are seeing steady improvements in his skating and speed game from this lanky left winger as the season progresses. Tonight he had a few good flashes of speed where he was able to create space through the neutral zone and beat defenders. He still needs much improvement in this area of his game – he doesn’t scare defenders with his blazing speed in transition and the scoring chances are rare. He is a smart penalty killer and used his reach effectively to get his stick into lanes. Also used these assets in the cycle to protect pucks and keep the cycle alive in the offensive zone. He played more in this viewing as a few key Rangers were off at the World Jr Tournament. Ellinas made a handful of smart passes down low on the power play where he found teammates with good open looks in the seams. He has great reach and length to his game and can be effective when he generates speed on the rush.
Justin Bottineau (C, R, 6’0″, 168, Kitchener Rangers, 01/11/2006)
Game Grade: C
Comments: This right shot winger plays mainly on the left wing for the Rangers and he looked effective this evening when he played with energy. He plays a 4th line role for the Rangers and is starting to chip in more consistently on the scoresheet. He was able to break through traffic on a couple of shifts this evening with his compete in cycle game – he had a few chances in close in this viewing but had a limited impact on the game offensively overall. His pace through the neutral zone does not back off any elite defenders. At this point in his development he is focused more on his defensive play and cycle game on the attack.
Joshua Glavin (D, L, 6’2″, 109, Saginaw Spirit, 09/24/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Comments: 2025 draft eligible player – this heads up left shot defender made quick outlets up ice and rarely overhandled. He kept it simple in his zone with the puck and used his partner well on the regroup. Glavin is a big defender with good size and length to his game. He was not afraid to engage physically and was active on the pinch early, stepping up and making a couple of good reads to play the man and prevent the breakout. He was half a step behind on the rush and in his zone in this one and saw limited ice time in the second half of the game in a close 2-2 game. If he can continue to improve his footspeed in defensive situations he has the potential with his size and defensive intensity to play an important role for Saginaw in his draft year next season.
Lincoln Moore (RW, R, 6’1″, 208, Saginaw Spirit, 09/25/2005)
Game Grade: Limited viewing
Comments: This 2024 draft eligible player had a limited impact on the game. No scouting notes for this viewing. From previous viewings we know Moore is a later bloomer who plays a simple straight forward game. In the offensive zone he looks to run into opponents as frequently as possible. When the puck is on his stick he is looking to get the puck to the net as quickly as possible and then drive for rebounds. This is his rookie year in the OHL after being drafted #1 overall in the in the 2022 OHL U18 Priority Selection Draft and splitting last year between U18 Soo Greyhounds in GNML and the Soo Thunderbirds in the NOJHL.
Zayne Parekh (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Saginaw Spirit, 02/15/2006)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Confident right shot defender who looked for every opportunity to get forward in this one. Puck management was his strength tonight. He rarely panicked and showed the ability to find his linemates in an open seam. His passing was elite – he took his time to let the play develop and hit the target with accuracy. If he had time and space he jumped forward and skated with the puck. He showed the ability to get in and make a play and get back quickly to defend. He was never far from the puck when his team had possession and was active in presenting himself and as an option – he wanted the puck on his stick. Arguably one of the most dynamic players on the ice with the puck in this one. He has tightened up his defensive game on the attack – his gap control is improving and he is using his mobility to take away time and space on the rush. He needs to continue to bear down in his zone. A few loose shifts where he got running around out of position. He lacks strength/commitment with his finish and contain game along the walls right now and needs to continue to develop in this area. This should improve with his physical development and physical maturity.
Liam Storch (C, R, 5’9″, 137, Saginaw Spirit, 01/20/2006)
Game Grade: Limited viewing
Comments: This 2024 draft eligible player had a limited impact on the game. No scouting notes for this viewing. Comments from USA Hockey’s Select 17 Player Development Camp “Storch is a small savvy playmaker who got an at-large bid to camp after playing his rookie season with Saginaw in the OHL. He played a depth role on that team and it’s actually helped his game mature in that he was stopping on pucks taking smart pursuit angles on the forecheck and finishing his checks. He had some quality chances and was willing to pay the price to get near the net and hunt pucks. He blocked shots took hits to make plays both on the breakout and when driving to the net and made clever spin moves in the corners and behind the net to slip off checks and get pucks to the net. One play he knew he was going to get hit but held the puck and slipped it over to Sisson who scored – a winning and selfless play. He is only 5’9′ and 137 lbs but his skating was balanced with a strong stride and glide to keep him near plays. Storch was quick in transition both in his ability to process the play and make quick decisions with the puck. The Saginaw prospect can play with energy and with skill; made swift passes to create offensive chances yet was also a gritty hard-working and a pest on the forecheck. Grade: B”
Michael Misa (C, L, 6’0″, 173, Saginaw Spirit, 02/16/2007)
Game Grade: B
Comments: 2025 draft eligible player – this left shot center is not draft eligible for another year but he continues to show as a dangerous offensive forward. He plays a high IQ offensive game, using his linemates well with quick touches and give and go plays. He was involved in a number of scoring chances for Saginaw all game. He played an unselfish game, working well with players around him to create offensive zone chances. He set up two on the powerplay and was really effective with the extra time and space. He is an elite passer with his vision and creativity and he showed the ability to find linemates in traffic with good open looks. He isn’t afraid to shoot either – pucks come off his stick with some zip and he used good patience to change angles in shooting lanes on the attack. The Saginaw powerplay was highly effective this evening and Misa was a key offensive catalyst with the extra man. He is not overly physical, probably doesn’t need to be but, he could show more all round compete in his game to win back pucks for his team. This was a mid week sleeper game with many of the top players on both sides off at the World Junior Tournament – we expected more out of Misa in 5 on 5 situations.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Paul O’Hagan