OHL Report: April 2020

Lucas Main

2020-04-10

Nick Robertson of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Terry Wilson – OHL Images.

 
Hi everybody! I hope y’all are staying safe, healthy and inside. We will all get through these trying times together.

 

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As everyone is aware, the OHL, among many other leagues, will not resume for the rest of their 2019-20 season. For the CHL, that means we will not have a Memorial Cup for the first time in their 102-year history. While this is unfortunate for us, the fans, it stinks to see all the overagers who will end their season like this. Many of these kids won’t continue their journey of playing professional hockey and the teams that traded many draft picks for rentals will lose all of those assets for nothing.

 

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It was an amazing season for the Ottawa 67’s as they eclipsed the 50-win mark, led by Marco Rossi and his league-leading 120 point season. He comes in at number three on Cam Robinson’s April Draft Rankings after the big two. Some of Cam’s analysis is below.

 

“One of the elder statesmen of the class gives up size but makes up for it in skill. Has the ability to drop-jaws with his puck skills.”

 

Read what else he has to say about Rossi and the rest of the draft class in the link above.

 

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The league’s leading goal scorer was Toronto Maple Leaf prospect Nick Robertson. He finished the season with 55 goals in 46 games, including 13 on the man advantage, eight shorthanded and 10 game-winners. His 1.2 goals-per-game was second in league history, behind Eric Lindros who registered 1.24.

 

The success he experienced this season has caught the eye of general manager Kyle Dubas and has recently said he will give Robertson every chance to make the Maple Leafs in the coming season.

 

 

 

Robertson should be a major sleeper in your league’s next season with the opportunity of playing with Auston Matthews or John Tavares. If he is already owned in your league, now would be the time to pounce if his owner isn’t asking for the moon.

 

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Even though we have no hockey, we still had the OHL draft! With top prospect Adam Fantilli committing to the Chicago Steel in the USHL, the North Bay Battalion selected defenseman Ty Nelson first overall. He would have been a great addition to Kingston, but Shane Wright carried the Frontenacs in February and put them into the playoff picture, capturing OHL Player and Rookie of the Month.

 

The Top-10 of the 2020 OHL Draft looked like this:

 

  1. Ty Nelson – North Bay Battalion

  2. Pano Fimis – Niagara IceDogs

  3. Max Namestikov – Sarnia Sting

  4. Bryce McConnell-Barker – Soo Greyhounds

  5. Paul Ludwinski – Kingston Frontenacs

  6. Jorian Donovan – Hamilton Bulldogs

  7. Zakary Lavoie – Mississauga Steelheads

  8. Spencer Sova – Erie Otters

  9. Hunter Haight – Barrie Colts

  10. Cedrick Guindon – Owen Sound Attack

 

You can find the rest of the Top-20 here.

 

Fantilli ended up being drafted 18th to the Saginaw Spirit. Already listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, he is a big power forward who is physically mature with amazing skill for a player of his age and a strong work ethic, and already being considered a top pick for the 2023 NHL Draft.

 

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I can’t believe it has already been two years since the tragedy in Humboldt, but it has. Stay strong Humboldt, we are all thinking of you. #HumboldtStrong

 

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And to everyone out in the world, stay home and stay safe. I personally have lost my job, but if anyone needs someone to talk to in these trying times, my DMs are open on Twitter so feel free to reach out and say hi or get something off your chest.

 

Stay healthy,

@LAM1926

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