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Created: Saturday, 14 October 2017 14:50
It was a great gathering of talent in London over the Thanksgving weekend as minor midget AAA teams competed in the Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament.
Always one of the top tournaments of the scouting season, the 2017 edition may have been one of the best in recent years with a loaded field of top teams and high-end talent.Everyone in attendance saw the York-Simcoe Express, an absolute locomotive of a team, blitz through everyone on route to the championship. They were led by the jaw-dropping Quinton Byfield who put on a show unlike any we’ve seen in minor midget in several years.
The tournament featured some shocking upsets which saw the likes of the high-powered Toronto Marlboros and Vaughan Kings bow out much earlier than expected. Even more surprising however was the run that the North York Rangers went on, defying all expectations and predictions by defeating top teams and embarking on the unlikeliest of runs all the way to the final game on Sunday.
TheScout.ca team was proud to have the tournament covered from start to finish with Director of Scouting Andrew Sykes and area scouts Mitch Avis, Matt Stewart, Jason Gray, Joe Highgate and Branden Scott all taking in the action and contributing to the following report.
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Created: Tuesday, 03 October 2017 13:09
Toronto Marlboros vs. Toronto Nationals
Date: September 29, 2017
Report filed by: Jason Gray
Jamie Drysdale, D, Toronto Marlboros
An absolute treat to watch skate the way he can evade defenders with ease. He lures you in on the attack and then escapes pressure with what looks like little effort. He always squares his shoulders north while skating to ensure a smooth and proper pass to his teammates. His persistence with or without the puck is a thing of beauty and rarely do you ever seem him stand still or get caught flat footed. He closes gaps and maintains offensive pressure with his elite skating and ability to anticipate the play. Rarely is a pass or shot blocked or picked off as he can change the angle so quickly that defenders are unable to react. A gifted player who projects to be a top pair defender at the next level.
Riley Piercey, F, Toronto Marlboros
An excellent penalty killer who forces turnovers, and as a result of those turnovers, generated a short handed goal in this affair. A big, tall rangy power-forward who will only get better as he adds strength to a fairly slight frame. Strong, smooth skater who finds openings and lanes to result in scoring chances. Was prevented from a multi-goal game from two great saves by the Nats goalie.
Read more: Game of the Week: Toronto Marlboros vs. Toronto Nationals
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Created: Friday, 29 September 2017 14:04
The Alliance Minor Midget AAA Showcase changed location from St. Mary’s the last few years, to Windsor for the 2017 event. Windsor AAA Zone were great hosts, providing the 12 teams with on and off-ice activities along with each team playing three games over the three days.
The cold rinks served as refuge to the stifling temperatures outside as the Alliance showcased their teams and players to a ton of scouts and team management who gathered at Windsor’s Central Park Athletics facility.
Director of Scouting Andrew Sykes and area scouts Mitch Avis and Mitch Brandner took in the action from start to finish and contributed to the following report:
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Once subscribed you will be able to click the link and view the 2017 Alliance Minor Midget AAA Showcase in its entirety.
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Created: Wednesday, 20 September 2017 13:34
This week our Game of the Week comes from the Alliance where the Kitchener Jr. Rangers took on the Cambridge Hawks at historic Galt Arena Gardens in Cambridge on Sunday, September 17.
It was our first look at the Jr. Rangers as they were one of the few teams who did not compete at the Toronto Titans Prospect Tournament. They showed well, dropping a tight 4-3 decision to the Hawks who are the early favourites in the Alliance.
Alliance/SCTA scout Mitch Avis was on hand and filed the following report:
Read more: Game of the Week: Cambridge vs. Kitchener
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Created: Friday, 15 September 2017 16:28
Our first Game of the Week comes out of the SCTA. Intern SCTA scout Ryan Stacey was on hand on Wednesday, September 13 for the matchup between the Niagara North Stars and Southern Tier Admirals and filed the following report:
Game Report: Southern Tier Admirals 1 @ Niagara North Stars 3
Location: Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre, St. Catharines
Date: September 13, 2017 @ 9:00 PM
#12 Brendan Kowaleski, Niagara North Stars
Kowaleski was an extremely effective player for the Niagara in this game. He was a force to be wreckoned with, taking no prisoners and hitting every moving player on the Admirals. On the forecheck Kowaleski was relentless and was a pest to defenders, forcing their hand to make passes to teammates before they were ready to do so. In the defensive end, he made smart plays throughout as he effectively dumped the puck off the boards, started breakouts by finding his teammates striving up ice or simply caring it out himself and getting it deep. On one powerplay, Kowaleski battled hard at the top of the crease and showed a willingness to take repeated shots just to get a tip on net which he managed to do. Overall, he displayed great effort throughout this game.
#6 Michael Craig, Niagara North Stars
Craig was as sound as they come defensively in this one showing he can be counted on to make the right play. While he didn’t show much in terms of puck skills, Craig made smart plays all night creating breakout after breakout with his partner and repeatedly hitting his forwards with good clean, tape to tape passes. When forwards weren’t available, Craig again would use his partner to re-create potential breakouts or use his own solid skating ability to take the puck out of his own end. Craig was also able to get the puck on net multiple times for tip and potential rebounds in this game showing just how solid he is on the back end for Niagara.
Read more: Game Of The Week: Niagara North vs. Southern Tier
