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daBenchwarmer · 10-23-2018, 08:22 PM

Edward's Junior Hockey
Under the Radar: 5 Players Who Might Go Unnoticed
[Image: LuchukAaronPOTW.jpg]

Guy McCool [Pictured] is one of the few underrated talents in this upcoming SMJHL Draft.

It's that time of year again. The skates are being sharpened, pads are being donned, sticks are being taped, and the SMJHL Entry Draft is right around the corner. This season, there is a total of 49 players who have officially declared for the draft so far, with many more to go. The highlight however, is not on the top and well-known talent in the draft such as Donnie Dicks, Alexander Selich, Leopold Lockhart, or Sanyi Kocsis, but rather on the talented youth who have been flying under the radar.

Disclaimer: These rankings do not reflect the player's talent, nor are they stating one player is better than the other.

5. Ivars Ozols - Right Wing - Right-Hand Shot - Two-Way Forward - Latvia - 161 TPE - @hornej10
[Image: Descheneau.jpg]

Our first entry to this list is Ivars Ozols, a right wing two-way forward hailing from Latvia. This dual-threat winger stands at 6'2", 220 pounds, and is both a threat on and off the puck. With a deadly wrist-shot, and keen hockey intelligence, Ozols is any general manager's player as he is able to log tough even strength, power play and penalty kill minutes in order to make a difference in the game. While his skating is severely lacking versus other prospects, Ozols' ability to grind for the puck, generate chances and to play tough in his own end is certainly a solid trade-off.

4. Slip McScruff - Defense - Right-Hand Shot - Defensive Defenseman - United States - 163 TPE - @Scrufdaddy
[Image: brent-burns.jpg]

This solid American defenseman is an underappreciated commodity in today's game. McScruff brings much more than just a bruising body and the ability to punish opponents to underestimate his skating ability, as he also brings a nice ability to wheel the puck quickly to his teammates and walk the blueline in ways that is usually not seen from defensive defenseman. Even though McScruff hits extremely hard, and often, he possesses a very average frame, standing at 6'1", 215 pounds. That doesn't mean anything however, since McScruff is able to contribute in both his own end and in the offensive zone at times.

3. Jakub Novak - Left Wing - Left-Hand Shot - Two-Way Forward - Czech Republic - 162 TPE - @Esso2264
[Image: filip%20zadina%20czech_1536249679031.jpg...40_360.jpg]

Novak brings a hustle and consistent sense of discipline whenever he steps foot on the ice. Regardless of his 5'9", 189 pound frame, Novak is a force on the ice, with the ability to create offence and fanatically backcheck his opponents. He is a force to be reckoned with, as he showed in the Czech Extraliiga, becoming one of the premier U21 goal-scorers in the league, and even out producing some adults who have been playing hockey longer than he has been alive for. While there are concerns about Novak's ability to translate his fascinating skills to the North American game, there is no doubt that Novak has the potential to become a dark horse for one of the top SMJHL Entry Draft Picks. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether or not if he can put on enough weight to contend with North American defensemen.

2. Arsène Arsenich - Right Wing - Left-Hand Shot - Two-Way Forward - Latvia - 157 TPE - @Kris
[Image: Bean_POTW.jpg]

The curious case of Arsenich has many scouts debating on where he should end up going in the SMJHL Entry Draft. There is not that much tape on the Latvian forward due to him playing in Latvia, unlike his fellow countryman Ozols who played in Sweden. Despite this, Arsenich has shown flashes of immense skill and potential. While Arsenich is not as offensively talented as some other players mentioned on this list, he is a threat defensively, showing his ability to strip the puck off of anyone he wishes. His 6'3" stature allows him to reach around opponents with his stick to help break up opposing chances, and to lead a counter-attack in the opposite direction. One concern of Arsenich's game has been his skating, but scouts have been confident that the Latvian will be able to improve his skating in time for both the SMJHL Regular Season, and to get it up to SHL standards come S45.

1. Guy McCool - Left Wing - Left-Hand Shot - Playmaker - Canada - 164 TPE - @guy3801
[Image: LuchukWSR.jpg]

Potentially one of the more well-rounded players in the S44 SMJHL Entry Draft, Guy McCool is advertised as a playmaking forward, but has shown he is so much more than that. While this Canadian forward is not as offensively or defensively potent as some of the players on this list, he is however, a puckhandling extraordinaire. A fair amount of highlights have shown this 6'1", 200 pound forward making his way through opposing teams effortlessly before potting the goal. Additionally, McCool is able to contribute on the powerplay as well, possessing the vision to thread the puck through penalty killers towards teammates for an easy goal. There have been concerns about McCool's overall defensive game however, with it being considered "underwhelming" for a player of his caliber. Whether or not if McCool is able to improve his defensive game in the SMJHL has yet to be seen.

Honorable Mentions:

Jimmy Cahill (Defense)
Andy Kerr (Center)
Shooter McGavin (Left Wing)
Griffith Cadwalader (Right Wing)

StamkosFan · 10-23-2018, 09:08 PM

Excellent article! I was going to mention Novak and Ozols in a late risers article but you’re on the money xD good sleepers

***hhh81*** · 10-23-2018, 09:35 PM

McScruff's getting a lot of hype lately! I wonder who'll take a chance on him.

I agree we aren't hearing much about Andy Kerr, but I think teams are definitely are discussing him. He's going to go pretty high in this draft.

hornej10 · 10-24-2018, 08:56 AM

Great article! Hopefully Ivar Ozols starts to pop up on some GMs draft boards. He definitely should bring physicality and moose testosterone to any locker room.

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