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Top 3 Season 30 SMJHL Forwards
By Jeff Kirkstone



Starting off this series with the forwards, and this draft class has all kinds of talent up and down the list. I’ve given each prospect a letter grade for my opinion on how they will perform overall. A little unorthodox for a fellow prospect to be laying out judgment on the other draftees you might say but I’m anything but orthodox.

#1 Michael Burrows – Right Wing
6’2”
205lbs
Shoots Left

I love lefties playing the RW, I think that’s where they are strongest, and Michael Burrows definitely takes advantage of the favourable scoring angles. Burrows is, in my opinion amateur opinion, the best scorer in this draft; hands down. I will even go as far as to say Burrows is the best Latvian in this draft; no offense to the other Latvians. Oh, and his big weakness is checking. Sure, watching a guy lay a huge hit and then score a big goal is amazing, but really how important should checking be as a goal scorer? I submit that this “weakness” is hardly a weakness to his game.

Overall Prospect Rating: A

#2 Ace Redding – Right Wing
6’9”
290lbs
Shoots Right

One of the first to declare for the draft, this Scot is one of the tallest hockey players in the world. Not only does he make me look like a 12-year old, he makes most of this draft class look like a 12-year old. All joking aside, you’d think that at that height and that weight this monster would be mean and nasty, but he’s anything but. In fact the biggest weakness of his identified by the various scouts is that his strength is the weakest part of his game. None of that will matter though if he continues to bring the same kind of two-way play he has been noted for going into this draft. He seems to be a very committed player, and certainly has shown vast improvement even since declaring for the draft. I would rank him the top forward going into the draft, but there is a high premium on scoring goals and it would appear that role is not one Ace will ever take on.

Overall Prospect Rating: A-

#3 Poon Slayer - Right Wing
6’4”
235lbs
Shoots Right

Wow, this kids parents never gave him a chance with a name like that. Anyway, this guy isn’t the total package… like at all. However, his strengths are very strong and make him a high end prospect in the forward group. When you’ve got someone who can throw the body around, and also snipe his fair share of goals it’s not easy to pass up on him. There are questions about his ability to play on both sides of the puck, and it would certainly appear that he won’t be winning any defensive-forward trophies. In short, his scoring is world-class but his commitment and defensive deficiencies might drop him a few spots in the draft.

Overall Prospect Rating: B+

That’s it for the forward group. Up next I’ll be poking around at the goalies.

S79 | Jeff Kirkstone III  |  G  |  Ottawa Highlanders
=============Transactions==============
- Drafted 15th overall by Ottawa (S78)
- Drafted 35th overall by New Orleans (S79)


S60 | Jimmy Larkin-Conway | LW | Retired
=============Transactions==============
- Drafted 19th overall by Nevada (S59)
- Drafted 27th overall by Baltimore (S60)
- Traded to Winnipeg Aurora (S63)
- Traded to Toronto North Stars (S64)
- Re-signed with Toronto North Stars (S65)
- Re-signed with Toronto North Stars (S68,etc.)
- Signed with Seattle Argonauts (S76)
- Signed with Winnipeg Aurora (S78)
================Trophies================
- Aidan Richan Award (S65)


S42 | Charlie Schieck | D | Retired



S31 | Jeff Kirkstone | G | Retired | Former GM

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