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+---- Thread: First Round Review (/showthread.php?tid=81218)
- Wongy - 11-27-2017
1.
Edmonton Blizzard - Connor Blackwell (+1)After being drafted 2nd overall in the SMJHL draft, Connor Blackwell moves one spot up to go first overall in the season 38 SHL entry draft. The Edmonton Blizzard picked up a solid center who not only has a lot of potential on the ice, but is a huge locker room presence. Racking up 9 goals and 10 assists in his rookie SMJHL season, look for this guy to do big things for Detroit and Edmonton in the near future. He is a great passer who can also hold is own in the defensive zone. Not to mention, he already has playoff experience, helping the Detroit Falcons win the four star cup this season.
2.
Toronto North Stars - Bobby Watson (+8)Taking a huge leap from the SMJHL draft to the SMJHL draft, Bobby Watson jumps up 8 picks and goes to the Toronto North Stars. After losing in game 7 in the Challenge Cup Finals to the Winnipeg Jets, the Stars rebounded quickly and took a player with possibly the largest potential in the draft. With 9 goals and 9 assists in his SMJHL season, Bobby Watson looks to prove the Blizzard wrong in letting him slip to 2nd overall. With great puck control and an even better shot, Watson can change the pace of a game with just shift.
3.
Minnesota Chiefs - Dick Skillstedt (+4)The Vancouver Whalers took a chance on this rookie, and he did not disappoint. Moving up 4 spots since the SMJHL draft, he now looks to impress his new SHL team, the Minnesota Chiefs in the upcoming seasons. On the last place Vancouver Whalers, Dick had 8 goals and 9 assists. Not a bad campaign, especially on a team with a lot of new faces and players trying to prove himself. He has good speed, great defensive skills, but one thing he has that not a lot of other wingers have, he can hit. With 101 hits this season and a shot that is just getting better, Dick Skillstedt is a nightmare on the forecheck.
4.
Hamilton Steelhawks - Lyndis Vakarian (even)Being 4th overall in the SMJHL draft, Lyndis Vakarian does not move and is drafted 4th overall to the Hamilton Steelhawks. Finishing the SMJHL season with 5 goals and 12 assists, she probably under performed. But this is nothing that Hamilton should worry about. With a great vision to find her teammates and an amazing shot, Lyndis Vakarian will be an amazing offensive player in years to come. With defensive capabilities that are good enough for a winger, she has most of the tools to be a dominant force in the SMJHL. The one thing that she will need to work on is her speed. She has average speed, but the faster she gets, the more opportunities she will get to put the puck in the back of the net.
5.
New England Wolfpack - Artemi Berezzin (+11)With the biggest leap in the first round, Berezzin looks to make an impact with the Wolfpack. With 7 goals and 19 assists last season in the SMJHL, Berezzin looks to translate his success into the SHL once he is finally called up. Helping the Montreal Militia to a four star cup appearance, Berezzin hopes to only improve from here. A strong center with great defensive awareness, he can really help any team he is on from both sides of the ice. Already working on his skating in the offseason, Berezzin is ready to add to his SMJHL totals and prove to the entire SHL that there should have been a bigger jump from SMJHL to SHL.
6.
Buffalo Stampede - Nico Gross (-3)The Buffalo Stampede went after a player who can grind it out in the corners, make defensive plays in the defensive zone and set up his teammates for tap ins in the offensive zone. Nico Gross may have dropped 3 spots from the SMJHL draft to the SHL, but he is definitely no slouch. With great defensive awareness and an even better pass, he racked up 11 goals, 15 assists and 93 hits for the Colorado Mammoths. He doesn’t have the best shot, but he causes turnovers and creates chances. Players on the ice loathe him, as they know once he delivers a hit, he can change the game in an instant and make an impossible pass to a teammate.
7.
West Kendall Platoon - Gabriel Wong (+7)The 3rd of the Wong generation, Gabriel Wong jumps up 7 spots from the SMJHL draft to the SHL draft. With great speed and passing ability with good defensive capabilities, the West Kendall Platoon hope this draft pick pans out. With the two older generations having a history of becoming lazy when they get older, the Platoon hope they can keep this guy motivated to keep getting better. With 9 goals and 17 assists in his rookie SMJHL season, if this guy stays the course, West Kendall may have drafted another hall of fame Wong.
8.
Calgary Dragons - Hunter Jones (-2)The Calgary Dragons say goodbye to one Hunter, and hello to another. Dropping off 2 spots since his SMJHL draft, Hunter Jones looks to prove all the others wrong for passing on him. His passes are just as good as his shots, so defenders can never figure out what to expect from this guy. With 13 goals and 13 assists in the SMJHL the past season, Hunter Jones has lots of potential. And he is now on a team who know how to develop their prospects. Hunter Jones is in the right hands, I have no doubt he will be a future superstar. The later they go, the more they want to prove themselves.
9.
Texas Renegades - The Dude (+3)The Texas Renegades pick the first defender in the draft in The Dude. Jumping 3 spots since the SMJHL draft, Dude looks stay in his role as the best defenseman in the draft. Finishing the season with 1 goal and 8 assists, adding 31 shot blocks to that total as well, he has work to do. But he definitely has potential. With already a great shot and great defensive awareness, Dude has all the necessary tools to be a threat in the SHL. He may have gone low, but already a day after the draft, and Dude is already back in the gym working hard to get ready for the next SMJHL season.
10.
Buffalo Stampede - Kevin Hamilton (+8)After the huge trade with the West Kendall Platoon, the Buffalo Stampede look to bolster their rebuild and pick Kevin Hamilton at 10th overall, jumping up 8 spots since his SMJHL draft. Being possibly the fastest skater in the draft, Kevin Hamilton looks to improve his other skills to be a dynamic threat. With 3 goals and 9 assists in this past season, Hamilton looks to improve those totals with Halifax this coming season.
11.
Buffalo Stampede - Dermot Lavelle (+10)The Stampede go back to back, selecting Dermot Lavelle with their 11th overall selection, jumping up 10 spots. Being one of the slower players in the draft, he definitely makes up for it in other ways. With good defensive capabilities and a great shot, Buffalo hopes they selected 2 steals in the draft to speed up their rebuilding process. Having 5 goals and 12 assists in the SMJHL, Lavelle looks to improve those totals with his amazing shot. There is no doubt he will be trying to score more this coming season, among working on other things.
12.
Los Angeles Panthers - Joshua Woodcroft (-4)Joshua Woodcroft falls 4 spots since his SMJHL draft, but the SHL has to keep a close watch on him. The Los Angeles Panthers may have gotten a bit of a steal here if Woodcroft can go back to his training ways. Being on the sophomore filled Vancouver Whalers this upcoming season, Woodcroft looks to prove that he should have not dropped this low. With above average checking abilities and a good shot, Woodcroft has already been working hard this offseason to prove that Vancouver was right in taking a chance in him, and will be working even harder to prove that the Panthers got a steal. With 9 goals and 4 assists in his rookie season, Woodcroft looks to add to his totals with fellow sophomore Whalers as they try to make it back to the playoffs this season.
13.
San Francisco Pride - Sigurd Hanse (-4)The second defenseman picked in this draft, Sigurd Hanse drops 4 spots since his SMJHL draft, but already has a lot of tools to be a successful player in not only the SMJHL, but the SHL as well. Being one of the quieter players in the draft, he just gets things done. He works hard, but he does it quietly. Could be part of the reason why he dropped since his SMJHL draft. Finishing the season with 31 points and 62 shot blocks, Hanse is definitely on the right track to being a great player in seasons to come.
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![[Image: 699971316.0-1068x701.jpg]](https://46wvda23y0nl13db2j3bl1yx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/699971316.0-1068x701.jpg)
This years draft class having a little fun before draft day
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I'm a little brain dead from a school paper but I wanted to get this out. Sorry if it's bad- DeletedAtUserRequest - 11-27-2017
- crutch - 11-27-2017
nice stuff wongy
good luck in WKP
- Samsung virtual assistant - 11-27-2017
Good stuff friendo!
- Nereus - 11-27-2017
always love these kinda write ups wongy. easy cash and provides a perspective from you :] (i used to do these back in the day too)
- Thunder39 - 11-27-2017
Awesome write up Wongy!
- vbottas17 - 11-27-2017
Great article Wongy, good luck with Gabriel!
- Grapehead - 11-27-2017