Top Performers At The Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game

The first-ever Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game did not disappoint. What a treat hockey fans and scouts got, as Team West and Team East were so evenly matched that the game needed an extra frame to finish.

Team West had the edge early on, leading Team East 3-2 after the first period off of goals from Luca Romano, Brady Martin, and Jack Nesbitt. East saw goals from Shamar Moses and Lirim Amidovski.

Owen Griffin knotted the game up at three early into the second period off a pretty tic-tac-toe passing play with his linemates Aiden Young and Amidovski.

But the overage forward Adrian Misaljevic sent a bullet wrister top shelf over David Egorov’s glove.

Team East captain Jake O’Brien found Xander Velliaris — who remained a member of Team East despite his trade to Saginaw — and the big defenseman made no mistake on his shot to tie the game up 4-4.

In the extra frame, O’Brien pinched at the blueline, settled the puck, and set up Porter Martone who slid his shot fivehole on Matthew Koprowski for the game-winner.

Kitchener Rangers defenseman Cameron Reid and Brantford Bulldogs forward Jake O’Brien were named Player of the Game for their teams.

Below are the top performers from last night’s game.

C, Jake O’Brien – Team East (Brantford Bulldogs)

It was very fitting one of the if not the best player on the ice last night was the home crowd’s fan favorite, Jake O’Brien. The Brantford captain was phenomenal and really flashed his high-end playmaking ability with his three assists.

He’s been remarkably consistent all year long and looks more and more like a potential top-20 pick in the upcoming NHL draft. His hockey intelligence is off the charts and knows where to position himself without the puck in all three zones. Additionally, he won 11 of his 17 faceoffs last night.

RW, Lirim Amidovski – Team East (North Bay Battalion)

The line of Lirim Amidovski, Aiden Young, and Owen Griffin connected for two pretty goals for Team East, but the North Bay forward Amidovski stood out the most.

Amidovski was ranked 85th amongst North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting recently, and his play at the top prospects game showed why he should be considered a mid-round candidate. He’s a big winger who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around and play with an extra level of intensity. However, what was a pleasant sight for scouts was his quick offensive mind. He finished the game with a goal and an assist.

C, Aiden Young – Team East (Peterborough Petes)

Right behind Amidovski was his linemate Aiden Young. Playing on one of the worst teams in junior hockey this season has taken away from the potential the Petes forward has. But he showcased a little bit of that in last night’s game.

He’s a mid-sized forward so naturally he needs to be more gifted in abilities like his skating and puck-handling. That’s what Young is good at. He’s a very smart puck possessor and can identify areas of the ice that open up to put his teammates into. Young finished with two assists.

G, Jack Ivankovic – Team East (Brampton Steelheads)

Jack Ivankovic was the only goaltender out of the four to not allow a goal. He showed why he should still be considered as one of the top-ranked goalies eligible for the upcoming NHL draft.

One aspect of his play that was noticeable was how difficult he made it for shooters, through his aggressiveness, to come out to the top of his paint and challenge them. He has a smart goalie mind and understands how to play his angles properly.

LHD, Cameron Reid – Team West (Kitchener Rangers)

Cameron Reid isn’t big or the most skilled or as gifted of a skater as Matthew Schaefer. However, he is one of the smartest defensemen available for the draft both with and without the puck.

Reid finished with three assists and two were made because of how quickly he processed what was happening in front of him. First, he recognized that Brady Martin had inside body position to get a tip on a quick point shot on the powerplay. Then, he sent a backhand pass off the glass to spring his Kitchener teammate Misaljevic. Those hockey smarts also play in defensively, making him extremely hard to beat in one-on-one situations.

C, Jack Nesbitt – Team West (Windsor Spitfires)

Jack Nesbitt will make one NHL team very happy on draft day. He’s a big 6-foot-4 centerman who brings a bit of everything to the table. None of his traits are super high-end, but he plays a powerful game, mixed with good puck protection habits, and a dedicated 200-foot game. He creates space for his linemates and his power forward-like game was on full display. Nesbitt even got into a little bit of a scuffle with Evan Passmore after the whistle in the third period.

G, Matthew Koprowski – Team West (Owen Sound Attack)

Another goalie shoutout. Owen Sound Attack netminder Matthew Koprowski must have been happy with his play in the crease despite giving up two goals, including the overtime winner.

Frankly, both goals were tough for him to stop. The first was the Xander Velliaris wrister from the slot, which Koprowski was completely screened on. The overtime-winner was more unfortunate because he lost his goal stick, making it harder for him to seal off his fivehole. However, he made a lot of key saves in the third period and looked sharp.

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