BY SCOTT HADDOW
Go Time.
Hey fans! Here's a look around the OHL
and statistics and results.
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) has
released their 2006 draft preliminary rankings, and Jordan
Staal is rated the number one pick from the OHL.
Staal has been fantastic for the Petes this
year, recording eight goals and 24 points in his first 19
games. He is also a respectable +7. At six-foot-three and 205
pounds and full of the same jazz and pizazz as his older
brothers (Eric and Marc), Staal is a sure fire Top-five pick in
next year's draft.
Hot on Staal's heels is Barrie's
super sniper Bryan Little. The five-foot-eleven centre is rated
second overall. Little has 18 goals and 40 points in his first
23 games.
Here's the rest of the Top-10: 3-Bobby
Sanguinetti (Owen Sound), 4-Chris Stewart (Kingston), 5-Cory
Emmerton (Kingston), 6- John DeGray (Brampton), 7- Ben Shutron
(Kingston), 8- Nick Foligno (Sudbury), 9- Bobby Hughes
(Kingston), 10- Matt Belesky (Belleville).
Saginaw's Ryan Daniels was the top rated
goalie from the OHL.
American Phil Kessel, who plays for Minnesota
University in the NCAA is expected to go first overall.
Around the OHL last night...
Peterborough continued their destructive path
through the OHL by beating Erie last night 6-5 in overtime.
Staal scored the game winner at 1:11 of OT. He also added two
assists. Steve Downie recorded one goal and two assists as
well, while Jamie Tardif scored a hat trick.
The Petes have now won 11 straight.
Guelph nipped London 3-2 in a shoot-out. Matt
D'Agostini and Ryan Callahan scored in the shoot-out for
the Storm. London's goalie, Adam Dennis, made 41 saves in
the loss.
Mississauga upended Barrie 5-4. IceDogs
grinder Cody Bass scored two goals, including the game
winner.
Windsor sneaked past Kingston 3-2 in
overtime. Mitch Mannu scored 26 seconds into overtime to give
the Spitfires their second straight win.
Standings - Top to Bottom
The Petes and the Storm are tied for first
overall in the OHL with 33 points each. Peterborough has played
19 games and has a record of 16-2-1-0, while Guelph has played
23 games and has a record of 16-6-0-1. The Petes have won 11
straight games.
Oshawa is dead last in the league with only
three wins in their first 20 games, good for seven points. The
Generals are 3-16-1-0.
Trade updates
Windsor has certainly benefited from a recent
trade which saw them land goalie Anthony Guadagnolo from
Ottawa. Guadagnolo is 5-2-1-0 in his first eight games with the
Spitfires, and helped them win two straight and climb out of
the West Division basement. Guadagnolo has a 3.10
goals-against-average and a sharp .918 save percentage with
Windsor.
Sudbury native Scott Restoule has struggled
since his Late October trade from Sarnia to Sault Ste. Marie.
Restoule has only two goals in his first eight games with the
Greyhounds. He had scored 10 points in 10 games with Sarnia
prior to the trade.
The key component in the trade going back to
Sarnia, Ryan McInerney, has blossomed with the Sting. McInerney
has two goals and six points in his first five games with
Sarnia. He only had two goals in five games with Sault Ste.
Marie.
OHL Statistics
London's David Bolland continues to lead
the league in scoring with 25 goals and 58 points in 20 games.
He's followed closely by teammate Rob Schremp, who has 19
goals and 53 points in just 15 games. Owen Sound's Bobby
Ryan 18 goals, 49 points, Kitchener's Evan McGrath 17
goals, 42 points and London's Dylan Hunter 10 goals, 41
points round out the Top-five scorers.
Defencemen leaders:
Owen Sound's Andrej Sekera leads all OHL
defencemen with 12 goals and 28 points in 20 games.
Barrie's Andrew Marshall is second with 11 goals and 26
points in 23 games.
Penalty minute leaders:
Mississauga's Craig Cescon leads the way
with 97 minutes in 18 games. Kitchener's Boris Valabik is
second with 82 minutes in 17 games. Brampton's Phil
Oreskovic, 81 minutes in 20 games, and Sudbury's Ryan
Hastings, 80 minutes in 21 games round out the Top-four.
That's it for now fans, take care and
keep your head up!