Ontario Hockey League
Windsor Spitfires at Sarnia Sting
Friday, December 3
An excellent road win for the Spitfires this evening. Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars’ 2021 first round pick, was the best player on the ice by far this evening. Johnston scored twice and assisted on four others and was in on six of Windsor’s seven goals this evening. The Spitfires won an offensive battle 7-5. There were a number of draft eligible players in this game who performed well and are written up below.
Windsor Spitfires
| Kyle McDonald | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | R | RW | 6’4″ | 207 | Windsor Spitfires | 2018 | Ottawa, ON | 2002 | 2021-2022: C |
McDonald went undrafted in his first two years of eligibility, this 6’5 forward is finding his way offensively (finally) at the OHL level. McDonald is producing offensively this season and came into this game at better than a point per game so far. He scored twice this evening and passed his career best of 13 goals in only 21 games so far this season. McDonald was most effective on the powerplay where he established a good net front presence. He scored two from the slot by getting his big frame in good position and finishing both with quick wrist shots. McDonald was also effective on the forecheck in this game. He used his size and long reach to create turnovers and extend the offensive zone time for the Spitfires. Grade: B-
| Louka Henault | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 179 | Windsor Spitfires | 2017 | Etobicoke, ON | 2001 | 2019-2020: B- |
Neutral Zone had Louka Henault rated as a “B-” NHL Draft prospect during the 2019-20 season. After playing the Covid year in Finland for Kiekki-Espoo, Henault has returned to the Windsor Spitfires and is currently an Assistant Captain who is averaging a point per-game.
Henault an undrafted overage defender who continues to evolve into a top defender at the OHL level. His game continues to mature with each viewing. Henault had two helpers in this game but was on the ice for nearly every Windsor goal and rarely got into trouble in his own zone. Henault and Wyatt Johnston were two of the top players on the ice in this game. He does many things well and dictates pace of play when he is on the ice. He has a calm game with the puck and rarely panics under pressure. Defensively, he competes for pucks and is not overpowering but does front opposition forwards well with his defensive IQ and mobility. Henault is undersized but is becoming a more abrasive defender as he fills out. Offensively, this year is by far his most productive offensive season and he has the potential to be a point per game plus defender. We do not see Henault involved in any draft day decisions this year but he continues to show steady improvement in his game and has the ability to play professionally if his game continues to improve. Grade: B-
| Nicholas DeAngelis | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | L | D | 5’11” | 174 | Windsor Spitfires | 2020 | King City, ON | 2004 | Not yet rated |
DeAngelis is a lanky left shot defender who played a steady, low risk game for the Spitfires this evening. He has good length and reach and is not afraid to engage physically in his zone. He used his body well to win pucks in his zone and has enough strength at his young age to break up the opposition cycle. He has a strong stick and is not afraid to use it on opposition forwards. As he develops his core strength and balance he has the ability to be a dominant defensive defender at this level. DeAngelis kept it simple in his zone and used his partner well in transition to minimize zone time and get pucks forward quickly. At this time DeAngelis is not a two way threat in our view but has an excellent shot from the backend and has the ability to get pucks through. He scored in this game with a quick heavy seeing eye shot from the blueline. Grade: C+
| Wylie Birkett | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | L | LW | 6’6″ | 170 | Windsor Spitfires | 2020 | Alliston, ON | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Birkett at 6’6 Birkett is one of the biggest forwards in the OHL at any age. He is a young depth player for the Spitfires who is finding his offensive game. Birkett played a solid game this evening and got his big body into good scoring areas on a few shifts. He was effective along the boards and moved pucks well in transition. When he gets to top speed he can create havoc on the forecheck with his size and reach combo. He is not a top prospect in our view at this time in his development but his size is intriguing if he can continue to develop his footspeed. We will add Birkett to our watchlist of players to see if he continues to develop. Grade: C-
| Avval Baisov | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 187 | Windsor Spitfires | 2021 | Khanty-Mansiysk | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Baisov showed some positive shifts this evening with his net drive and ability to come off the wing on the rush. This first year forward is speedy and has decent size. He was most effective off the rush in open ice where he was able to get to top speed quickly. Baisov plays a heads up game and moves the puck well. He registered his first point of the season on a nice feed to Wyatt Johnston in the slot. With the amount of offensive zone he had in this game we were surprised to see this was his first point in the Ontario Hockey League. He has not developed a strong cycle game in his transition to the North American game but has a good first step and plays an unselfish offensive game. Grade: C-
The Spitfires have a number of other draft eligible players on their roster. Players not written up in this game were either out of the line up or did not show enough in this game to warrant write-up. We will review these players in future viewings and report on progress.
Sarnia Sting
| Nolan Dann | Sarnia Sting | OHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 185 | Sarnia Sting | 2019 | Cambridge, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C |
Dann had an excellent motor in this game and has been playing a high energy game in most of our viewings so far this season. This second year draft eligible player was not on the radar last season with the Covid shortened season but he has been close to a point per game in his first full season so far at the OHL level. He is a versatile undersized forward who plays the game with energy and pace. He plays in all key situations for the Sting and can generate offense 5 on 5 or on the powerplay and penalty kill. Dann scored an excellent tip in goal late in the game to make it close. He skates well with a low center of gravity and can back defenders off with his pace. As Dann continues to develop his core strength he has the potential to be a dominant 200 foot player at this level. Grade: B-
| Maxim Namestnikov | Sarnia Sting | OHL | L | C | 5’7″ | 174 | Sarnia Sting | 2020 | Royal Oak, MI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Not a lot of puck luck for Max in this viewing. He continues to show a strong puck possession game and an ability to generate offense off the rush. Max had a few lengthy rushes in this game but was not able to finish in tight. His edges and stick handling made him difficult to contain in the offensive zone. As the season progresses Max continues to show more flashes of skill and offense that we are familiar with from our many viewings over the years. He was held off the scoresheet in this game but was dangerous on a handful of shifts. His offensive consistency is improving and he looks to be more comfortable at this level than viewings earlier in the season. Grade: C+
| Andrei Malyavin | Sarnia Sting | OHL | L | D | 5’10” | 150 | Sarnia Sting | 2021 | Voronezh, RUS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Malyavin is a mobile left shot defender who is not afraid to engage in the offense. He jumped into the offensive attack a number of times tonight and was rewarded with an excellent goal in the second period. Malyavin found an open seam in the attack and converted on the breakaway goal with his agility in a tight space. He is undersized but mobile and defensively he was not afraid to use his body to block opponents out on the attack. Malyavin was not afraid to hang on to the puck and made a number of effective passes in transition with his patience. A couple of loose plays for him on offense where he waited too long for the play to develop and he coughed up the puck. If he continues to simplify his game offensively and not force the play he will minimize any costly turnovers. Grade: C-
The Sting have a number of other draft eligible players on their roster. Players not written up in this game were either out of the line up or did not show enough in this game to warrant write-up. We will review these players in future viewings and report on progress.
Logo Courtesy of the Sarnia Sting
Evaluation: Paul O’Hagan