Jerrod Smith, who took over coaching duties of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires from Marc Savard, was fired 4 months into the current season after the Spits came out of the gate poorly, to say the least. After a 2022-23 season that saw the team winning a Division title, finishing 3rd overall, and scoring the most goals in the league with 320 (22 more than the next highest team), they are currently in last place in the OHL and tied for 12th in goals-for. Players like Matt Maggio and Brett Harrison are gone. The one thing giving Spits fans a reason to cheer this season is team Captain, power-forward Liam Greentree- a 6'2", left-handed RW who is currently sitting at 57 points in 39 games, a pace that would put him at 95 points in 65 games. Greentree is performing this feat without much help, as he's up 10 points on his next highest teammate, Oliver Peer (who attended Flames camp), and 25 points up on Windsor's third-highest scorer. In 2022-23, he led all OHL rookies in goal-scoring with 25, and had 45 points in 61 games. When you watch Greentree's highlights, the first thing you will likely notice is his deficient skating, so let's get that out of the way first. Greentree owns a bit of a short, choppy stride that lacks power and explosiveness, and pervades many areas of his game. His start-up, acceleration, and top speed are all concerns, and make it hard for him to evade pressure in all 3 zones. The good news for him is that he's extremely strong on the puck, with magnificent puck-control, and his balance is outstanding- he's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off the puck, meaning he can play keep-away with the biscuit while eluding defenders. Puck-protection is not an issue here, as he handles the puck with ease, and keeps it close to his body. His east/west quickness is actually not bad as well, giving him some extra evasiveness. Despite his mobility issues, he can drive play, gain the blueline, and make entries with full control. Greentree's stickhandling is exceptional, and he exudes confidence and poise when carrying the puck, as well as outstanding decision-making. While he can be considered a dual-threat offensive player, his specialty right now is goal-scoring- he has a deep arsenal of hard, accurate shots with power, and a lightning-quick release, and is threat to score from anywhere. His hands are silk-soft, and he can score in tight, outmanouvre a goalie, or park himself in front to capitalize on tips and deflections. There has been criticism this year in regards to Greentree's physicality, as he's not hitting nearly as much as previous years (or in the Hlinka), but still uses his size well in puck battles, jockeying for position in front of the goalie, and driving to the middle of the ice, or to the net. These attributes make him a big presence on the forecheck, and down low, where he applies good pressure and battles hard to win pucks. Like most players who carry elite IQ and vision, LG shows a heightened sense for positional awareness, and always finds the best places to be to execute plays with his creativity, or to score. As the marquee player for the Spits, he draws plenty of attention from checkers, but that opens ice for his teammates, and he has that uncanny spacial awareness to capitalize. Usually, he's the most skilled player on the ice, and those skills are polished and well-developed. There are no issues with work-ethic, as he's quite competitive and hard-working- definitely not a perimeter player. While he's considered a fine 200-ft player who engages opponents in the defensive end of the rink, putting pressure on attackers, his skating can give him some trouble with closing space and time. Still, he exhibits positional awareness, and will readily engage in battles along the boards, or down low in the defensive zone. This player reminds me a bit of a former Spitfire- Gabe Vilardi, who had (and still has) mobility issues while being a top offensive player in his draft year. If Greentree can improve his speed, he will surely become a top-line force in the NHL.
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Parekh gets 2a, and -1 with 4 shots, and 6 PIM. 9gp/3g/8a/11pts,+5, 18 PIM. Tied for second in D scoring, but has played 1 or 2 less games than the players he's tied with.
Medicine Hat beats the Hitmen, 4-2. Hurtig was all zeroes. 10gp/0g/2a/2pts,+6, 0 PIM.
Basha had 1a, and was even. 10gp/3g/9a/12pts,even, 12 PIM.
No points, but +1 for Jamieson in a 6-1 win over Wenatchee. 10gp/1g/3a/4pts,+12, 2 PIM, tied for 6th in the league in plus/minus.
-Landon Dupont picked up another 3a, to bring his points total to 16, in just 11 games to lead the WHL in points by a D. HE'S FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, and doesn't turn 16 until May.28th.
-Gavin McKenna sits tied for 3rd in scoring, with 18 points in 11 games.
-For fans of LW Nathan Behm, he is also tied for 3rd in scoring, with 18 points in 11 games, but also tied for 2nd in goals with 11.
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Keep an eye on Henry Brzustweicz. Hunters younger bigger brother who is gonna put up big numbers this year and is looking like a 2nd rounder. London Knights.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poe969
It's the Law of E=NG. If there was an Edmonton on Mars, it would stink like Uranus.
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Etienne Morin has been Flames Best Defensive Prospect to start the Season. 13 Points in last 8 GP for Moncton, I was able to watch his Game yesterday and I’m surprised Coach is not throwing him over the boards every second shift. Created 6+ Prime Chances, clean Defensively, 2.
(Tweets don't show up embedded on my browser, so excuse me for the messed-up post if looks that way to you).
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On his way to the ice and toward the locker room, it was reported that Parekh jabbed a fan with his stick. Since then, that incident has become the focal point of much attention, especially as far as possible disciplinary action.
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Damn. If that did happen, he'll definitely be suspended for a long time. A hit on the ice resulting in a suspension is one thing, but assaulting a fan is a whole different thing that the league would really come down hard on.
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It seems Luke Misa has been given an opportunity to play with Rehkopf and Mortone, and he responds with second star honors, for putting up 2g, 1a, and even in a 6-4 loss to Barrie. 10gp/3g/3a/6pts,+2, 2 PIM.
Battman gets no points, and was -2 in a 7-2 loss to Oshawa. He is still 5th in OHL scoring with 12gp/9g/10a/19pts,-1, 6 PIM. Calum Ritchie made his season debut with the Gens, after being returned to junior by the Avalanche, and had 2 assists.
No points and -1 for Mews in a 3-2 loss to the Soo. He is tied for 16th in scoring by D, with 11gp/0g/8a/8pts,-4, 16 PIM. LW Noel Nordh (Arizona, 3rd round-72nd overall) made his season debut with the Greyhounds, and was first star with 3 points.
Morin had 1a, and a +1 in a 5-1 win over Drummondville. He is 4th in scoring by D, with 10gp/3g/11a/14pts,+4, 6 PIM, although every other player in the top-20 defensemen (except Tomas Lavoie) has played between 1 and 4 more games than him.
Gridin is 3rd star with 3a, and +3 in an 8-1 shellacking of Halifax. 10gp/3g/7a/10pts,+2, 7 PIM.
Basha gets a goal, but was -1 in a 4-2 loss to Red Deer. 11gp/4g/9a/13pts,-1, 12 PIM.
1a, and +1 for Hurtig in a 3-1 victory over Regina. 11gp/0g/3a/3pts,+7, 2 PIM.
1a, and +1 for Laing, as Prince George rolls over Victoria, 6-3. 12gp/5g/4a/9pts,+8, 7 PIM. Tied for 22nd in plus/minus. Riley Heidt had 5 points.
Jamieson picks up an assist and a +1 (as well as 8 PIM), in a shellacking of Edmonton, 7-2. 11gp/1g/4a/5pts,+13, 10 PIM, tied for 6th overall in plus/minus.
Lipinski gets 1a, and +1 in a 4-3 OT loss to Spokane (but went 5/21 in faceoffs). 3gp/0g/2a/2pts,+1, 2 PIM.
Last edited by Sandman; 10-25-2024 at 11:23 PM.
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It seems Luke Misa has been given an opportunity to play with Rehkopf and Mortone, and he responds with second star honors, for putting up 2g, 1a, and even in a 6-4 loss to Barrie. 10gp/3g/3a/6pts,+2, 2 PIM.
Wow. Playing your leading scorer from the prior season on the top line pays dividends? Weird.
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