January 5, 2024
General Game Notes: An entertaining game in Guelph this evening where both teams had a number of quality chances. The game was tied at 2-2 well into the second period. The Greyhounds played a heavier game on the cycle and gradually wore down the Storm scoring 3 in the second half of the game.
Rowan Topp (D, R, 6’1″, 199, Guelph Storm, 04/02/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Comments: This sturdy right shot defender played a steady defensive role for the Storm in this viewing. He is a defensive defender who competed along the wall and used his size effectively to win pucks. Topp is playing more as a season progresses and is showing more confidence with his puck handling and puck management game. He keeps it simple on the breakout and gets pucks up ice efficiently. He has decent foot speed for a big defender and can close the gap on opposition forwards defensively. He was not afraid to engage physically but can get more out of his game in this area if he tightens up his gap control. He could do even more to bottle up opposition forwards with this size and speed combo. At this point in his development he is giving up too much space while defending.
Jett Luchanko (RW, R, 5’11”, 183, Guelph Storm, 08/21/2006)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: This dynamic right shot center showed very well in this viewing and was a key offensive catalyst for the Storm. He was able to create separation with his skating and speed game. He scored early in the first where this pace was on display – he beat the defender to the net and hammered one home. He used his pace and skating to find the opening and made no mistake on the finish. He has great edges and can turn quickly to elude opposition defenders on the cycle. He used this effectively on offense to create separation with his high speed give and go game. Luchanko is one of the keys on the Storm’s power play. Most of the play runs through his hands playing on the half wall. He handled pucks well, showed good vision, and made adjustments with his feet to create lanes for passes. Defensively he competed well and showed great back pressure without the puck. He closed gaps on opposition players with his pace. He is committed to his defensive game but he is going to need to develop this core strength for puck battles down low and along the walls. There were a few shifts in this one where Jett and his linemates were under sustained pressure in this one with the heavy Soo cycle game.
Leo Serlin (RW, R, 6’0″, 183, Guelph Storm, 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 an OJHL game last season while Serlin was playing for Haliburton “Does the little things right as a forward to be noticed shift in and shift out. On the forecheck he will finishes his routes by creating contact and forcing turnovers in the offensive zone. Multiple times in the game he would win 50/50 puck battles in the corner and find his teammates in the high slot trapping defenders in their own zone. He has skill with the puck but where is true game lies is in the speed he plays with. Grade: B”
Charlie Paquette (RW, R, 6’1″, 201, Guelph Storm, 12/06/2005)
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 “Paquette is a play-making winger who has speed and vision on the outside. He executes tough passes in tight areas and can finish when in on the goalie. He needs to work on driving to the net and using his size and reach to protect the puck.”
Landon Miller (G, L, 6’4″, 193, Soo Greyhounds, 01/03/2006)
Game Grade: B-
Comments: This tall, lanky goaltender is starting to show some consistency in his outings. He was pulled in a handful of early season games and has settled down in the net and has won 6 of his last 9 starts. Miller was good early in this one and was effective when he stepped off the line to challenge shooters. He has a big frame and relies on his size to take away the bottom half of the net. He tracked rebounds well and competed for loose pucks in his crease. He stopped 28 of 30 in this one. Nothing he could do on the first goal against as it was a defensive breakout with a quality finish. The second goal against was not good at all – Miller was not set on a weak wrister and the puck snuck through his body. Miller was steady the rest of the way and the Soo took over the second half of the game offensively.
Broden McConnell-Barker (D, L, 5’11”, 177, Soo Greyhounds, 01/31/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Comments: This average sized left shot defender played a steady, low risk defensive game tonight. At 5’11, he doesn’t have the reach of other big draft eligible defenders. He relies on his closing speed and gap management on the defensive side of the puck. He competed defensively and showed a decent defensive gap on the attack but could do more in this area of his game to take away time and space from opposition forwards. He can play with speed but his skating style is inefficient at this point, as he lengthens out his stride he may be able to increase his pace. He is confident offensively and not afraid to jump into gaps to support the attack, he had a handful of chances in this game where he activated and from the blueline and worked himself into a quality scoring lane. No issues tonight breaking down the forecheck, he used his partner well and was able to move pucks up ice quickly on the regroup. He has not yet developed into a two way threat for the Greyhounds but this should come if he continues to pick his spots and activate offensively.
Tate Vader (C, L, 5’11”, 181, Soo Greyhounds, 01/09/2006)
Game Grade: Limited viewing
Comments: This 2024 draft eligible player had a limited impact on the game. No scouting notes for this viewing. In previous viewings we have seen speed, high compete and a willingness to throw his body around. He is still adjusting to life in the OHL.
Spencer Evans (D, L, 5’11”, 178, Soo Greyhounds, 2006)
Game Grade: B-
Comments: This left shot defender activated early and had a handful of quality chances in this viewing. He had 3-4 chances in the first period alone as he made good adjustments at the offensive line with his feet to find open lanes and get pucks through on target. He set up a goal with a quick wrister from the blueline and then really should have scored on a clear cut chance a few minutes later where he jumped into the gap to support an odd man rush. He missed on a great open look. Evans is an averaged sized defender who uses his feet well to keep opposition forwards to the outside on the rush. He showed good closing speed defensively in his zone on the cycle game but had some trouble with the bigger bodies on the net drive. He doesn’t have the defensive power needed yet to dominate in his finish and contain game but this should come as he fills out and matures physically.
Matthew Virgilio (D, L, 6’0″, 200, Soo Greyhounds, 03/24/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Steady defensive game for this right shot defender. He made a handful of quality body checks in this one and was effective in his zone tying up opposition forwards. He plays with a strong active stick in his zone and commits to defending in front of his net. He is a defender with a solid skating base, some power to his defensive game but lacks the footspeed right now to expand his role for the Greyhounds at this point in his development. This was clear on Guelph’s first goal of the game where Virgillio could not handle the pace of Luchanko and allowed him to get free for a wide open look in tight. He is not a two way threat for the Soo and played mainly 5 on 5 and penalty kill situations this evening. No panic from Virgilio in his zone under pressure with the puck, he kept the breakouts simple and quick and did not over handle.
Brady Martin (C, R, 6’0″, 178, Soo Greyhounds, 01/01/2007)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: This 2025 draft eligible right shot center created offense on a number of shifts this evening. He scored a beauty on a balanced rush with good net drive and set up another late in the third with an crafty feed in tight. Martin won a number of pucks in the offensive zone with his power game and his willingness to play in traffic. If his linemates could finish in this one he could have had 4-5 points – they had a number of quality looks tonight. After an early season injury and some missed time he is back in the line-up on a regular basis and should provide the Greyhounds with great secondary scoring down the stretch. His compete level is well above average and allows him to make plays in traffic. This first year Jr has the potential to dominate down the road if he can continue to improve his footspeed. He generates pace/power with his stride but if he can find another gear to go with the rest of his package he will be tough to stop.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Paul O’Hagan