Ontario Hockey League News and Notes: 11/28/11

Photo courtesy of OntarioHockeyLeague.com

By Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell)

It’s been a while since I published my last piece here at TheHockeyGuys as I’ve been extremely busy; however,  I do intend to bring you all better coverage than I have given you over the past couple months.

Here are some OHL news bits and notes.

- Despite Tanner Pearson’s draft year passing two years ago, word is he could be drafted as high as the second or third round this year. You rarely see a player two years past his draft year get drafted, then alone this high. Pearson is the definition of a late bloomer. The now 6’0″ winger leads the Ontario Hockey League in scoring with 56 points (19G, 37A) in 25 games for the Barrie Colts.

- 2012 draft eligible forward Eric Locke is really struggling right now. Between missing time with injuries and struggling when back in the lineup he has just five points (3G, 2A) in 9 games. His stock is dropping , and fast. At the beginning of the season he was projected to go in the first round. Right now he looks, and is playing, like a late second rounder at best.

- 2012 draft eligible defenseman Nick Ebert is another player who’s stock is really dropping. The Windsor Spitfire was projected to be a top-5 pick as recent as a month ago. If the draft was today he’d likely go 15th overall at best.

- Sticking with 2012 draft eligible players, Spitfires defenseman Brandon Devlin is really thriving under Bob Boughner and the team’s coaching staff. Since being traded from the Colts, where he tallied just three points in 16 games, he has tallied four points and boasted a +6 rating in eight games. I spoke to Brandon recently and he told me he has confidence in his game once again; something he lost playing for Dale Hawerchuk and the Barrie Colts.

- 2012 draft eligible defenseman Slater Koekkoek was not invited to Team Canada’s World Junior camp. I am very surprised by this as I’ve heard nothing but good things about him this year. I’ve seen him two or three times as well and he has definitely left a good impression on me. Right now I’d say he’s a top ten pick.

- Team Canada announced the 41 players invited to their World Junior camp today. Of the 41 players invited, 15 players play hockey in the OHL. That’s over 36 percent of the players at camp.

Make sure you all come back to TheHockeyGuys December 1st as Brendan Ross and myself will release our collaborated top 30 2012 NHL draft rankings!
Follow me on twitter @ToddCordell.

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