Congrats to these boys and for the hard work they put in. It all comes down to what happens next fall but to make it that far is very good. good luck to all
where are blacker,lebar,mceachan,catanacci,visca,bathgate,and west???
These kids unfortunatly didn't prpare for the camp the way they should have. Then again I am not sure what anyone seen in Agozzino, Holland, Beck, Foligno or Martindale. Dushene didn't really have a great camp but I guess those other names where added because of the spots they had been picked. Holland got hit by a puck in a game and went down like he was shot granted he went for stitches. The O will offer more pain than that, can you handle it? I have heard scouts saying this draft was a weak draft and this team will be weak. They are right with this team but wrong with the draft. The strength in the draft is in the later rounds, round one and two some pylons got picked. Time will tell, Guelph misssed the boat in Beckles and Holland and Saginaw must have had blinders on picking Pachis first. You old farts that asume to be scouts should retire, hangem up. The game has changed and size is not the overall requirement. Some skill and talent is needed as well as some heart and lack of fear on the wall. The first two rounds I can't pick more than 5 guys that have it, the rest will fall under the bus, you'll see.
WHo do you think you guys are??? Oh ya I completely forgot, you've all made it to the show and know everything there is to know about hockey, there are easily 3-4 more guys who should have made that list and you know it...just dont want to admit it.
I don't think the talent pool is week like "they" the scouts say. They just don't know what they should be looking at.
The old guys walk into the rink and say " who we looking at" "who do you like" they are looking at guys who made an impct 2-3 years ago and everybody is still talking about them. Thats who they are looking at. Not all the boys but many. The scouts missed many boys.
I agree the game has changed but the scouts thinking on the selection process hasn't. The old school ways. Yes, time to hang it up. The scouts chirping this year team Ontario is weak. Well, buddy, you picked em! All year you picked em, You picked em at draft day, and you picked here.
If someone didnt make the cut and deserved 2, they can still spot you next year and pick you for the final roster. Perfect example is carozzi from nepean. So instead of bitching, prove them wrong!
The team is picked well after the OHL regular season is underway. Those not on the short list can still make it while those on it can still be left off.
The many "evaluation" camps are just that, a chance to see again those under consideration. Real game time performance is what matters however which is why the OHL games are so heavily scouted.
Like every other year, expect some surprise selections and omissions.
The team was picked ALONG time ago. Theres a for sure list, a short list, and a to watch list. Is it safe to say that there is probably an unexpected list.
Prove your self(underdog, nobody) according to the so called experts. You still have 3-4 months to make osme noise?
Its all crap. This team is picked based on an OPINION of one or a few people, on any given day. Doesn't mean you are not worthy or you can;t play. You have played with or against most of these kids.
Its an overrated team and event by the OHL. If you didn't get picked, then who gives a sh*t. If you are one of the chosen ones, then enjoy the experience.
These guys, the agents, scouts, coaches, OHL execs, make mistakes all the time. Lots fall through the cracks because of them. Lots move on, lots move, lots take a different path to the same place.
The Ontraio Hockey path isn't always the best or right path.
Can't complain with the short list at all. Lebar is the main obvious missing piece but for what he brings, there are guys on the list that bring it even more.
It is very obvious that many users of this (and other) forum(s) are letting their emotions get in the way of reality. Team Ontario U-17 will be finalized in the late fall. The roster will be decided upon based on several criteria including the many evaluation camps over the spring and summer.
If last year's team (1990's) is any indication, a player's performance on his regular season team will weigh heavily in the decision making process.
Recent U-17 teams have been made up largely of first year OHL players as well as some tier II and prep school guys. There seems to always be a few players who either never made it past their regional camp or were never even invited.
It is all too easy to suggest that the team was picked months ago based on favoritism or politics but that is not the case. Some regional camps may have fallen victim to a few favours but the final selection will be based on the individual players' performance.
Is it likely that a tier2 or prep school guy makes it? let's be realistic...even if one of those guys is equally or more skilled than an OHL guy chances are that he will not be picked...they prefer OHL guys (even if international hockey involves more skills than muscles!)
It is poosible for a high end Tier II player to make it particularly if he was a high draft choice, my guess is one or two based on past teams. Most of the other kids will be playing in the O next year.
"If last year's team (1990's) is any indication, a player's performance on his regular season team will weigh heavily in the decision making process. .....
.................
It is all too easy to suggest that the team was picked months ago based on favoritism or politics but that is not the case."
Most picks will be based on merit, some picks will be driven by politics which are out of the players control. It's the reality of life, so lets move on.
you give them too much credit. Believe me they know the bulk of who they want a long time ago. This process is to make money to fund the team, and to possible find a few no names or surprises.
I don't like repeating myself but last years team (1990's) won it all plain and simple. It was a very good team most of whom will have a long career in hockey if they so wish. The 1990 birth year is considered to be very strong and I dare say a second team could have been picked that would have been essentially as good.
This year's team (1991's) will be selected in the same manner and will be an excellent representation of Ontario's hockey talent.
We can all second guess certain selections but we aren't the ones making the decisions and besides, the team has yet to be picked.
Also, be careful jabbing 16 yr olds who play in the O. The top kids go to crap teams and have a chance to become "go to" guys in year one. Others go to better teams and play third line and learn the ways of the O and living away from home etc. Some, Kane and Gagne, do not play in the O as 16 olds and come as 17 yr old rookies who benefited from more ice time in the US league.
Any one selected to the team, past and present, are excellent hockey players. The big year is the one that precedes their NHL draft. Even players drafted to NHL teams are no lock to play pro hockey. They are kids, it is a crap shoot. It is easy to find a few kids that were good enough to have made the team but the reality is that the ones that made it were good enough too!
Congrats to all on the watch list, if u are a not selected it is no shame, you were identified as one of the top 40 kids in your age group. To anyone else, work hard wherever you play and you are probably better off not listening to your Dad anymore, you have achieved more in hockey than he ever did.
64.229----Don't piss on the hockey dads. Its the hockey dad that paid the shot, spent endless hours driving their sons to practice and games and finally, stood up for their kids when they were getting screwed. Don't blame the hockey dad.
Agreed don't blame the hockey dads, but really what the second post back is saying is a good point. They're is all the time in the world for these kids to play hockey, what happens now is really irrelevant in the big picture. If they truly love to play hockey things will work out for them, if they are doing this for the so-called status it brings at a young age it will crumble a couple years from now, and where will they be left in their first years of adulthood?
I never inteneded to piss on the "Hockey Dad", after all I am one, but there comes a time when these young men have to cut the cord, this is the first time the Dad is not filling their head after every game or practice. The player forms his own opinions and learns that the world does not revolve around him. There are other capable, perhaps even better players out there that become teammates. A good player respects and supports his teammates. This is getting lost with many kids where all they hear is negative from the Hockey Dad. You don't have to be the best to make it, you have to be really good, mentally and physically tough, the hardest worker and have a little bit of luck along the way.
There isn't one player listed that doesn't have flaws. Its a week year, face it. There are no kids missing from the top 35 that is flawless either. It's too bad they can't all get picked but some have more flaws than others.
Man I am sick of hearing its a bad draft year. Its not the players its the old school goofs that continue to go after the bigger kids. No one in the first 2 rounds of the OHL draft had been listed under 160lbs. The same goes for the under 17 with the exception of a goalie and Erlich. I can't pick more than 10 kids out of the first 2 rounds that have heart or the concept of team play or that where not out self promoting them selfs all over The Scouting News or ISS. Alot of great hockey players came in the third through fifteenth rounds. Unfortunatly with the top 40 comes the glory of the number. Look in past years and see how many first rounders are anywhere to be seen. Maybe a handfull. Its not a bad draft year, the scouts that are old and need to retire need to adapt to the new game. Bobby Clarke went big with Philly, they couldn't compete and he quite. The ownership finally got with the program and went with speed and talent. You will see a new story this year with Philly. The O needs to get rid of the old farts find some youth in the scouting ranks that can and have adapted to the new game and make the right picks. I would predict that out of the top 40 picks in this years OHL draft a small number will do well the rest will fall through the cracks. Enjoy the short ride fellas.
Ours wasn't a bad year. It was just that there wasn't one dominant "super team" as in all the other years, that all the scouts needed to do was draft from 1 or 2 teams for the first 40 picks. The talent was spread more evenly throughout the province this year. The Ice Dogs won the main tournaments but they were far from dominant. They had to find new ways to win which they did to their credit. The talent pool is excellent.
O'Reilly will make it to the NHL. His brother was drafted in the OHL as an 8th rounder and was drafted in the NHL as a 5th rounder. No one works harder than these two boys!
Fowler has all the tangible tools. Does he have the work ethic of an O'Reilly? Can't answer that, but if he does he will be the best of this group.
Finally, this crop of kids is not as bad as people say. A lot of depth, but no one really dominates. Wait till you see what's coming behind this group.
Lets make it through the OHL first. Fowler is so far above and beyond most players now. O'Reilly went 1st but it could have been any one of those kids picked in the 1st round.
why would you say desperate to go to Erie. Erie has been successful in past years and the can boast about their share of NHL drafts as well.
He earned his bragging rights - didn't play the NCAA games - didn't say I won't report etc
maybe it u ppl woud've spent less time eating chips, sitting on the computer, complaining about players who are better than u, and went to the gym or go for a run so u could be in ther position u wouldn't have to be a bitch in the first place. ppl would be talkin about u on here instead ur talkin about other ppl.
Its funny how some of the kids that weren't drafted, players and goalies, out performed the others who were drafted who didnt seem shine at all in the final U-17 camp in toronto and still ended up maiking the short list. An obvious example with the goalies. 8 goalies made it to the final camp. 4 were drafted, 4 werent. I noticed that the 4 who were drafted were split up and paired up with a non drafted goalie, and the ones that were drafted all wore number 1, coincidence? well i dont think so, seems to me like it was set up. A couple of the non drafted goalies were out performing and letting in less goals than the drafted ones who seemed to let in more than 3 goals evry half game. But its just kinda sad how they still made the short list just because of politics when they didnt play well at all and were showed up by a couple of non drafted goalies. BOOOOO ON POLITICS!!!!!!
u have to be good enough to compete to be able to develope. ther is only a hand full of new spots open ever year thats y not many people develope because only a couple ge the chance
Yes, and there are many more that have the talent, skill to develop, if there were given the opportunities, ice, pucks etc... as the others, the over used/over talked for whatever reason players.
For instance, with out dragging names into it...there is a boy , the name you heard about for years. He was given the opportunity, ice, thats all the scouts talked about. Purely based on what he did three years ago. Everytime they walked into the rink they couldn't figure out what was up with him. He couldn't seem to produce. Lacked interest.
Well in fact the coaches failed him and the team too. Not one kid developed, from the team, they all took a step back. NO DEVELOPING. All father bench.
Here is a boy that
was given ALL the opportunities in the hockey world. Drafted fairly high. Did not sign with his "O" club. Clearly visible this year was the lack of all round skill to compete at the next level. One dimensional player.
The system is messed up.
Forget the "O" and go to school. You will not develop on the bench.
Well, the US guys have had a history of snubbing guys who came to play in the OHL and the OHL has snubbed guys who decide to go NCAA. We can rant and rave (with justification I might add) about this forever but the bottom line is it won't change. The sad thing is that the kids that get to play in these type of events do get alot of hype from NHL scouts, etc. and it looks good on their resume. That is the way it should be for those that deserve to be on these teams but it is a real slap in the face to those that don't make these teams because of politics, biases, maybe even prejudices, etc.
You are right but when you see very obvious political picks that are so blatant it turns my stomach. These guys must all take us for fools. I think Hockey Canada needs to step in and abolish this entire U17 program in Canada and just start with the U18 since at least it is Canada wide and won't be run by someone who has a vested interest in keeping his 20 bosses happy.
Buddy, you have no clue what this discussion is all about because when the kool-aide is put out you are the first one in line for a drink. Why don't you read what is being said and if it is not obvious to you what goes on in this program then you are not very perceptive.
I think if you read the posts on the other topic re U17 I think you will get the picture. This is not about which kids make it and don't, it is about the process being a joke.