Tag: Ty Nelson

2020 OHL Draft Ranking: Final Top-250 Canadians

With the 2020 OHL Draft just one week away, it’s time for our ultimate 2020 OHL Draft Ranking: Final Top-250 Canadians.

In what turned out to be an unfortunately unique ending to the 2019-20 season, players, family members, and fans alike were robbed of the conclusive finale to their minor hockey careers when the 2020 OHL Cup was forced to be cancelled due the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In any case, exciting times lay ahead for these prospects with extraordinarily bright futures in the hockey world. If there was any source of relief surrounding the situation in terms of the 2004-born class of OHL prospects, it is that the 2020 OHL Draft will go ahead as scheduled, on April 4th, 2020 at 9:00AM, thanks to the event being hosted online.

One important note to add is the recent news of the #1 ranked Adam Fantilli’s commitment to the USHL’s Chicago Steel for the 2020-21 season. TSN’s Bob McKenzie has reported that Fantilli has advised all OHL teams that he will not be playing in the OHL net season, regardless of his draft-day destination.

Although we missed out on a final chance to view these players in a high-pressure situation which is the OHL Cup, we nonetheless move forward with our final 2020 OHL Draft Ranking. This edition features the top-250 Canadian prospects eligible for this year’s OHL Priority Selection. However, he remains eligible for the draft and will thus be included in the final 2020 OHL Draft ranking.

Final Top-250 Canadians

With that said, here are the top-250 Ontario-born prospects eligible for the 2020 OHL Draft. Overall, this year’s draft features a bundle of ambiguity within spots 4-20, before a noticeable drop off into the next tier. The crop of top prospects is extremely tight, with a great sense of parity within their rankings. Players ranked between the second and third rounds remain relatively interchangeable as well, with the second tier of prospects slotted between spots 21-50. From there, there is another drop off in terms of talent and potential to the third tier of prospects ranked from 51-100. The rest of the way certainly has some players with a shot of being dubbed a “diamond in the rough” down the line, but for now they project as longer-term prospects for OHL teams.

Please note: This is an OHL Draft Ranking and is in no way a prediction of when players will be selected. It is not a mock draft.

Rank Player Position Team
1 Adam Fantilli C Kimball Union Academy
2 Ty Nelson D Toronto Jr. Canadiens
3 Pano Fimis C Toronto Jr. Canadiens
4 Zak Lavoie C Toronto Nationals
5 David Goyette C South Kent Academy
6 Dalyn Wakely C Quinte Red Devils
7 Kocha Delic C Toronto Titans
8 Paul Ludwinski C Toronto Marlboros
9 Donovan McCoy D Quinte Red Devils
10 Isaiah George D Toronto Marlboros
11 Sam Alfano RW Southern Tier Admirals
12 Cedrick Guindon C Rockland Nationals
13 Bryce McConnell-Barker C London Jr. Knights
14 Carson Christy C Oshawa Jr. Generals
15 Hunter Haight C Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
16 Matthew Poitras LW Whitby Wildcats
17 Andrew LeBlanc C Southern Tier Admirals
18 Alec Leonard D Mississauga Reps
19 Nicholas Moldenhauer RW Toronto Titans
20 Ryan McGuire LW Burlington Eagles
21 Justin DeZoete LW Hamilton Huskies
22 Matthew Jovanovic D Toronto Marlboros
23 Aaron Brown D Quinte Red Devils
24 Aidan Castle RW Toronto Jr. Canadiens
25 Jackson Edward D York Simcoe Express
26 Cooper Matthews LW Quinte Red Devils
27 Jonathan Melee LW Rockland Nationals
28 Thomas Sirman D Toronto Jr. Canadiens
29 Aaron Andrade RW Toronto Titans
30 Shawn Ramsay D Toronto Nationals
31 Nolan Collins D Whitby Wildcats
32 George Fegaras D Richmond Hill Coyotes
33 Beau Jelsma C Brantford 99ers
34 Noah Van Vliet D Toronto Jr. Canadiens
35 Ben Bujold C Kanata Lasers
36 Hayden Simpson C Toronto Titans
37 Michael Buchinger D Toronto Jr. Canadiens
38 Joshua Hoover D Lambton Jr. Sting
39 Patrick Thomas C Hamilton Huskies
40 Devin Mauro C Soo Greyhounds
41 Brice Cooke RW Toronto Jr. Canadiens
42 Brody Crane* C Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U
43 Jake Karabela C Guelph Gryphons
44 Lorenzo Bonaiuto LW Toronto Marlboros
45 Ethan Best D Toronto Jr. Canadiens
46 Trent Swick RW Southern Tier Admirals
47 Brady Stonehouse LW Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
48 Connor Toms D Soo Greyhounds
49 Rodion Tatarenko C Toronto Red Wings
50 Jorian Donovan D Kanata Lasers
51 Luca D’Amato D Vaughan Kings
52 Nicholas De Angelis D Mississauga Sens
53 Owen Van Steensel LW Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
54 Jack Piper RW York Simcoe Express
55 Liam Eveleigh D Waterloo Wolves
56 Will Gerrior LW Ottawa Jr. Senators
57 Wilson Farrow D Toronto Nationals
58 Michael Podolioukh LW Toronto Jr. Canadiens
59 Jake Sederoff LW Toronto Titans
60 Owen Mehlenbacher C Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U
61 Madden Steen D Guelph Gryphons
62 Nathan Poole C Oshawa Jr. Generals
63 Julian Fantino RW Richmond Hill Coyotes
64 Jacob LeBlanc D Southern Tier Admirals
65 Ryan Cartwright D Toronto Nationals
66 Wyatt Adkins D Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
67 Owen Beck RW Quinte Red Devils
68 Julian Facchinelli C Markham Majors
69 Kyan Haldenby LW Toronto Jr. Canadiens
70 Austin Harper C Lambton Jr. Sting
71 Harrison Ballard C York Simcoe Express
72 Aidan Puley LW Toronto Jr. Canadiens
73 Brock Jones C Buffalo Regals
74 Matthew Morden D Toronto Titans
75 Koen Taves D Sun County Panthers
76 Joshua Beiles LW Mississauga Reps
77 Ryder McIntyre C Ajax Pickering Raiders
78 Max Seguin LW Toronto Nationals
79 Jordan Karafile C Toronto Nationals
80 Emerson Miller D Toronto Titans
81 Luke Gualtieri D Southern Tier Admirals
82 Dylan Roobrocek C London Jr. Knights
83 Steve Leskovar D Cambridge Hawks
84 Colton Smith RW Kanata Lasers
85 Seth Kirou LW Don Mills Flyers
86 Jack Oldman RW Mississauga Reps
87 Nicholas Messina C Vaughan Kings
88 Kai Dunits C Kemptville 73’s
89 Evan Klein C Waterloo Wolves
90 Taos Jordan D Whitby Wildcats
91 Joshua Vogelsburg LW Mississauga Reps
92 Carter Coombs C Huron Perth Lakers
93 Sett Ursomarzo RW Toronto Nationals
94 Noah Richard LW Quinte Red Devils
95 Matthew Mayich D Hamilton Huskies
96 Tobias Iantorno LW Toronto Nationals
97 Tnias Mathurin D Ajax Pickering Raiders
98 Kalen Peterson RW Toronto Marlboros
99 Anthony Piccininno LW Toronto Titans
100 Cole Bowditch D Kanata Lasers
101 Tai York C Niagara North Stars
102 Zennon Edwards RW Whitby Wildcats
103 Zaccharya Wisdom LW Mississauga Sens
104 Joseph Ianniello D Vaughan Kings
105 Jacob Lesser C Smiths Falls Bears
106 Jackson Stewart LW Quinte Red Devils
107 Dawson Hettiarachchi C Whitby Wildcats
108 Zander Veccia RW Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
109 Caeden Carlisle D Mississauga Sens
110 Ben Armstrong C Vaughan Kings
111 Lleyton McLean LW Toronto Jr. Canadiens
112 Nicola LaForge C North Bay Trappers
113 Brett Henderson LW Oakville Rangers
114 Ryland Landon D Pembroke Lumber Kings
115 Dawson Lukey LW Southern Tier Admirals
116 Igor Zborovskiy LW Toronto Red Wings
117 Joseph Muldowney C Buffalo Regals
118 Vincenzo Baiocchi RW Toronto Marlboros
119 Gavin Bryant LW Brantford 99ers
120 Brandon Balazs RW Brantford 99ers
121 Jackson Ebbott RW Don Mills Flyers
122 Jax Bellwood LW Barrie Jr. Colts
123 Andrew Chang LW Mississauga Sens
124 Cedricson Okitundu D Waterloo Wolves
125 Brayden Bowen C Cornwall Colts
126 Lucas Buzziol C Vaughan Kings
127 Alex Campbell RW Mississauga Rebels
128 Maddox Amaral LW Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
129 Cory Jewitt LW Huron Perth Lakers
130 Nicholas Colangelo C Ajax Pickering Raiders
131 Brett Richardson C North Bay Trappers
132 Luke Devlin LW Toronto Marlboros
133 Luke Torrance LW Oshawa Jr. Generals
134 Kailin Chen RW Toronto Marlboros
135 Samuel Assinewai LW Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15U
136 Mitchell Davies LW Clarington Toros
137 Lee Parks RW Rockland Nationals
138 Alexander Dubajic LW Toronto Titans
139 Alexander Papaspyropoulos C North York Rangers
140 Gavin Grundner LW Windsor Jr. Spitfires
141 Nate Dowling C Windsor Jr. Spitfires
142 Ryan Russell LW Barrie Jr. Colts
143 Brodie McLeod D Thunder Bay Kings
144 Nathaniel Davis D Toronto Titans
145 Eli Sebastian RW Toronto Marlboros
146 Kieran Chung D CIHA White
147 Ethan Whitcomb RW Niagara North Stars
148 Mick Thompson C
North Jersey Avalanche 16U
149 Joshua Kudo LW Oakville Rangers
150 Cam Lowe C Southern Tier Admirals
151 Callum Arnott LW Toronto Marlboros
152 Patrick Wrzesinski D Toronto Titans
153 Chase Lefebvre D North Bay Trappers
154 Ty Petrou C Ajax Pickering Raiders
155 Cristobal Tola LW Hamilton Huskies
156 Christian Berini C Navan Grads
157 Julian Bianconi C Don Mills Flyers
158 Jesse Aitken C Vaughan Kings
159 Zachary Wigle LW Oakville Rangers
160 Derek Smyth D Niagara North Stars
161 Matthew Donnison D Southern Tier Admirals
162 Ben Bressette LW Don Mills Flyers
163 Mason Chen D Toronto Titans
164 Rhett Palmer RW Kemptville 73’s
165 Connor Koropatnicki RW Hamilton Huskies
166 Lucas Carson RW Waterloo Wolves
167 Grayson Ebrahim RW Kington Jr. Gaels
168 Jesse Coppola LW Vaughan Kings
169 Charlie Gollob LW Markham Majors
170 Luke Fritz RW Huron Perth Lakers
171 Coulson Pitre C Richmond Hill Coyotes
172 Jacob Julien LW Chatham-Kent Cyclones
173 Bryan Jones C Kemptville 73’s
174 Kevin Fitzgerald D Kington Jr. Gaels
175 Tanner Ryan RW York Simcoe Express
176 Matthew Jennings RW Markham Majors
177 Mason Chitaroni D Soo Greyhounds
178 Kyle Adamo RW Buffalo Regals
179 Danny Scott D Huron Perth Lakers
180 Ryan Struthers C Oakville Rangers
181 Cuan Doig LW Toronto Titans
182 Ethan Siebert D Kemptville 73’s
183 Andy Reist C Waterloo Wolves
184 Wyatt Gibson C Niagara North Stars
185 Liam Filip RW Vaughan Kings
186 Luke Bibby LW Brantford 99ers
187 Landon Hookey C Lambton Jr. Sting
188 Jace Letourneau LW Pembroke Lumber Kings
189 Ryan Vannetten D Brantford 99ers
190 Jack Ryan C Peterborough Petes
191 Peter Kioussis RW Mississauga Reps
192 Adam Barone D Soo Greyhounds
193 Corbin Roach RW Quinte Red Devils
194 Luke Johnston LW Guelph Gryphons
195 Owen Allard C Kanata Lasers
196 Lucas Littlejohn D Clarington Toros
197 Rennick Villaflor D Hamilton Huskies
198 William Haines LW York Simcoe Express
199 Adrian Misaljevic LW Mississauga Rebels
200 Michael DiSanto RW Markham Majors
201 Jack Matsukubo LW Nepean Raiders
202 William Moore D Oshawa Jr. Generals
203 Benjamin Campeau C Kington Jr. Gaels
204 Gregory Harley D Vaughan Kings
205 Cameron Shanks RW Sudbury Wolves
206 Jared Coccimiglio C Richmond Hill Coyotes
207 Raine Hodge LW Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
208 Nicholas Yearwood RW North York Rangers
209 William Tario D Nepean Raiders
210 Daniel Clark C Peterborough Petes
211 Owen Kerr RW Cambridge Hawks
212 Antonino Pugliese RW Hamilton Huskies
213 Charlie Fink LW Mississauga Sens
214 Angus Duchene C Pembroke Lumber Kings
215 Brendan Gouin LW Windsor Jr. Spitfires
216 Lachlan Wells C Markham Waxers
217 Dylan Dupuis LW Lambton Jr. Sting
218 Deandres De Jesus LW Markham Majors
219 Mathieu Fehr C Hawkesbury Hawks
220 Adrian Rebelo LW Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
221 Noah Morneau C Windsor Jr. Spitfires
222 David Brandes D Toronto Red Wings
223 Yianni Kaidonis LW Halton Hurricanes
224 Wylie Birkett LW York Simcoe Express
225 Wylie Dixon LW Smiths Falls Bears
226 Calem Mangone RW Soo Greyhounds
227 Jack Kedwell D Mississauga Rebels
228 Owen Sculthorp LW York Simcoe Express
229 Nicholas Fielding Roode RW Peterborough Petes
230 Jack Pineau C Thunder Bay Kings
231 Ethan Lewis LW Guelph Gryphons
232 Benjamin Oliver C Kitchener Jr. Rangers
233 Kyle Dagg C Smiths Falls Bears
234 Ryan Cooper LW Huron Perth Lakers
235 Cole Semeniuk D Mississauga Reps
236 Nolan Burnside RW London Jr. Knights
237 Reid Greer RW Kanata Lasers
238 Colby Cross LW Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
239 Dallas Landriault RW North Bay Trappers
240 Drew Durzi D Toronto Nationals
241 Will Fletcher LW Burlington Eagles
242 Roenick Jodoin C Cornwall Colts
243 Alessandro Petreccia D Don Mills Flyers
244 Kyle Caron C Cambridge Hawks
245 Connor Thomson-Dick D Niagara North Stars
246 Nate Tivey D Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
247 Josh Lehto LW Thunder Bay Kings
248 Jake Fullerton D North Bay Trappers
249 Mitchel Ferras RW Brantford 99ers
250 Luke Sherk RW Sun County Panthers

* Denotes the player is currently committed to an NCAA program.

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2019 Toronto Titans Early Bird: Top-10 Performers

Check out the Top-10 Performers from the 2019 Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament. The tournament officially kicked off the Minor midget season and provided an early glimpse into the 2020 OHL Draft class.

In the blink of an eye, the 12th Annual Toronto Titans Early Bird Prospect Tournament has come and gone, officially opening the 2019-20 Minor Midget season and providing an early glimpse into the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

In what was a truly entertaining week of hockey, the 53 teams involved in the tournament gave fans and families alike a look into the special talent available in the 2004-born OHL Draft class.

Tournament Recap

Following a high-paced and high-scoring Round Robin portion of the tournament, six teams entered the elongation round with perfect 4-0-0 records; the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Quinte Red Devils, Toronto Titans, Toronto Nationals, and Ajax-Pickering Raiders.

The Round of 16 commenced on Saturday night and provided some nail-biting games, as well as a couple of major upsets. The undefeated Red Devils were downed by the Mississauga in a crazy and back-and-forth contest that finished 7-6. The Raiders also drew a tough draw, and eventually bowed out in a tight game to the Toronto Marlboros, 2-0.

Early Sunday morning, the Quarter-Finals took place, with six of the eight teams coming from the GTHL. In the end, the Titans, Jr. Canadiens, Mississauga Reps, and Nationals came away victorious, settling up an all-GTHL Semi-Final.

In a battle of two high-octane offences, the Jr. Canadiens came away with the win over the Titans by a final of 5-3. Meanwhile, in a much more defence-oriented matchup, the Nationals continued to roll in a 2-0 victory over the upstart Reps.

That set up a Final between the Jr. Canadiens and the Nationals. JRC came out strong to start the game and were rewarded with a quick 2-0 lead in the first period, in the back of two power play goals. The Nats would respond, but entered the first intermission down 2-1.

Following a tight checking second period, the Nats were able to claw back and tie the game at two. Later, with four minutes remaining in the third, Wilson Farrow was able to sneak a shot by and give the Nats a late, 3-2 lead. Two empty-net goals later, and the Toronto Nationals found themselves as the 2019 Titans Early Bird Champions.

Top-10 Performers:

As mentioned, the tournament provided an outlet for numerous players to make a name for themselves heading into their OHL Draft year.

While the expected stars held their own and were consistently impressive, many prospects were able to showcase their talents and drive their name into the conversation of the 2020 OHL Draft’s top prospects.

1: Aidan Castle – Right Wing – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)

Our selection for the 2019 Titans Early Bird Tournament MVP, Aidan Castle wrapped up the tournament ranking second in goals, with nine, and first in points, with 18. Castle was as consistent as can be through the Jr. Canadiens eight games, tallying at least one point in each and every contest, leading the team all the way to the Final.

Featuring a feisty and competitive nature, Castle is a hound on the puck and leads by example with a consistent effort level at both ends of the ice. With a low, strong center of gravity, Castle can be very difficult to knock off of the puck, which poses problems for opponents as he causes havoc on the cycle down low. From there, he creates scoring chances by jumping off of the half wall either with puck possession or to slip behind defenders to make himself a viable passing option. Castle can also be a noticeable physical presence on the forecheck, effectively using his strength to separate opponents from the puck and force turnovers.

2: Ty Nelson – Defence – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)

Ty Nelson quickly proved his upside as a two-way defender at this year’s Toronto Titans Early Bird, adding four goals and nine assists in the tournament, ranking fourth overall with 13 points, as the Jr. Canadiens went on to a second place finish. This wasn’t Nelson’s first rodeo at the Titans Early Bird either, as the blue-chip prospect participated in last year’s tournament as a member of the ’03 Jr. Canadiens.

Nelson is regarded as one of the top defence prospects for the 2020 OHL Draft, showcasing elite skating skills and a tremendous sense of the ice, he can truly be an impact player at both ends of the rink. Nelson showed an innate ability to escape pressure with the puck on his stick, and excelled in transitioning the play up ice through a multitude of options. He also patrols the blue line with poise and confidence, and distributes the puck laterally on the power play. As well, he likes to use a quick snap shot from the point, looking for seams between traffic to catch goaltenders off-guard.

3: Zak Lavoie – Center – Toronto Nationals (GTHL)

A member of the ’04 Jr. Canadiens in bantam, Zak Lavoie took his talents to the Toronto Nationals organization for the minor midget season in hopes of being the player his team can lean on. With so much talent on JRC, both returning and incoming, Lavoie opted to search for the spotlight, and potentially create a dark-horse team in the GTHL. If the Titans Early Bird was any indication, he may have done just that.

Lavoie was one of the most dynamic forwards in the tournament from start to finish, racking up 10 goals and one assist in the tournament, leading the way in goals, as the Nats fought their way to a surprising Championship. As indicated by his goal total, Lavoie is a natural scorer with a wicked release and pin-point accuracy. He reads the ice really well in the offensive zone, and is always moving his feet in order to slip into open ice and make himself a passing option. He’s got quick and creative hands as well, making himself dangerous in tight space.

4: Nicholas Moldenhauer – Right Wing – Toronto Titans (GTHL)

After taking home the OHF All-Ontario Bantam Championships, expectations are high for the Toronto Titans entering the 2019-20 season. One player who will be leaned on heavily to drive the team’s offence is Nicholas Moldenhauer, and he did just that at the Titans Early Bird. Finishing the tournament with six goals and eight assists, to rank third overall with 14 points, Moldenhauer was a key component on the Titans run to the Semi-Finals.

Moldenhauer combines speed, skill, and awareness to consistently be one of the most dangerous players on the ice. He always has his head up and is constantly reading developing plays for opportunities to force turnovers or create odd-man rushes. With quick hands and a powerful stride, Moldenhauer is especially dangerous on the rush and off of the half-wall. With a strong surrounding cast, Moldenhauer should be one of the top offensive contributors all year long.

5: Pano Fimis – Center – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)

More of an under-the-radar forward for the star-studded Jr. Canadiens, Pano Fimis utilizes the Titan Early Bird Tournament to create a name for himself heading into the regular season. Despite the bigger names surrounding him, Fimis centred the most productive line in the tournament and played a responsible 200-foot game to boot. In the end, Fimis racked up six goals and 11 assists to finish second in tournament scoring with 17 points.

An intelligent, two-way center with lots of offensive upside, Fimis proved his value as a player who can be leaned on in any situation, at both ends of the ice. Reading the ice well, he is an effective playmaker who can create time and space for his teammates by slowing the game down and drawing defenders towards him. He also has a deceptive release and is able to get pucks on and off his blade in an instant to catch goaltenders off guard.

6: Adam Fantilli – Center – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)

The projected 1st overall pick for the 2020 OHL Draft, Adam Fantilli has entered the 2019-20 campaign with lofty expectations surrounding his name. After shredding minor midget as an under ager in 2018-19, Fantilli took his talents back to JRC after one year with the Toronto Red Wings. After a relatively slow start, Fantilli wrapped up the tournament with seven goals and four assists, finishing tied for fifth in tournament scoring.

Adam Fantilli has so many strengths to his game that it’s tough to sum them up concisely. With an electric first three steps, Fantilli has elite speed through the middle of the ice. Despite a December birth-date, he is clearly stronger than his opposition, who bounce off when trying to separate Fantilli from the puck. With a dynamic wrist shot, he can pick corners from short angles or simply blow pucks past opposing goaltenders. With a battery that doesn’t die, Fantilli is the definition of an offensive spark-plug.

7: Kyle Downey – Goaltender – Toronto Nationals (GTHL)

A huge reason for the Nats surge to the Titans Early Bird Championship was defence and goaltending, as the team allowed a combined eight goals across eight games of tournament action. Kyle Downey, along with his partner Nick Tsatsanis, were the last line of defence for the Nats, and were arguably the main reason behind the team’s success.

Downey came up huge when the games counted the most, showcasing an elite level of confidence and focus between the pipes. After falling behind 2-0 in the Championship game against the Jr. Canadiens, Downey didn’t blink, holding down the fort and giving the Nats a shot at a memorable comeback. Downey put his athleticism and lateral movement on display, making a number of highlight reel stops. With great size and positioning to boot, Downey proved his ability to single-handedly take over the course of a game.

8: Donovan McCoy – Defence – Quinte Red Devils (ETA)

One of the favourites for this tournament after capturing the OMHA Championships in 2018-19, the Quinte Red Devils bowed out earlier than they would’ve liked in the Round of 16. While the offence wasn’t up to it’s usual pace, Donovan McCoy was a consistent standout on the back-end. With tremendous speed and instincts through the neutral zone, McCoy was consistently able to jump into the rush to create offence.

Sporting solid size and some impressive strength, McCoy proved too much to handle for his opponents. While he can lock things down in his own end with an effective stick and body positioning, McCoy really takes over the game in the transition aspect. He can dish out three-line passes or skate the puck end-to-end himself. In the offensive zone, McCoy showed smart shot selection from the point, along with the skill to pinch in and drive the net as well.

9: Julian Facchinelli – Center – Markham Majors (GTHL)

Although the final result may not have been what the Markham Majors had drawn up, they showed some serious fight in earning a 2-2-0 round robin record. Leading the charge for the Majors was standout, Julian Facchinelli, who tallied an impressive eight goals in just four games to lead the tournament in goals through the round robin.

Facchinelli has spent time with the Jr. Canadiens and Mississauga Senators organization in the past, before moving to the Majors for Bantam and Minor Midget. He will undoubtedly continue to be the shining star for Markham throughout the course of the season, showcasing his wicked release and accuracy, as well as his sense of the ice to be able to find open ice in the offensive zone. A shifty skater, Facchinelli also has the skills to go end-to-end too. He will draw the focus of his opponents all year long.

10: Hunter Haight – Center – Elgin Middlesex Chiefs (Alliance)

Last year’s Alliance Champs, the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs didn’t exactly start off the 2019-20 season in the way they’d imagined, battling to a 2-2-0 record in the Round Robin. However, there were plenty of bright spots to build upon in hopes of defending their Alliance title. One of those bright spots was returning star forward, Hunter Haight, who added four goals and four assists to rank tied for fifth in points following the Round Robin.

With an admirable work ethic at both ends of the ice, Haight is a responsible, 200-foot player who can be trusted in any situation. Often regarded as more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer, Haight utilized the Titans Early Bird to prove that he can be a finisher as well. Showcasing impressive hockey sense, Haight is able to dictate the pace of play in the offensive zone and can effectively draw defenders out of position. Strong on his edges, Haight is a shifty skater and also has a quick yet powerful release.

Honourable Mentions:

Here are a few players who got serious consideration for the list of top-10 performers, but just missed out. However, they deserved some recognition as well. Players are listed in alphabetical order.

  • Sam Alfano – Southern Tier Admirals (SCTA)
  • Cole Bianchin – Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (T1EHL)
  • Lorenzo Bonaiuto – Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
  • Ryder McIntyre – Ajax-Pickering Raiders (ETA)
  • Michael Podolioukh – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
  • Matthew Poitras – Whitby Wildcats (ETA)
  • Nathan Poole – Oshawa Generals (ETA)
  • Shawn Ramsey – Toronto Nationals (GTHL)
  • Jake Sederoff – Toronto Titans (GTHL)
  • Max Seguin – Toronto Nationals (GTHL)
  • Trent Swick – Southern Tier Admirals (SCTA)
  • Noah Van Vliet – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
  • Joshua Vogelsberg – Mississauga Reps (GTHL)