Excitement brews among Otters fans as post season begins
Almost 100 fans packed the house at Voodoo Brewing Thursday night as the Erie Otters look to win their first series in the OHL playoffs.
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Excitement was booming in downtown Erie as the Erie Otters took on the Saginaw Spirit in their first playoff game of the postseason.
The Otters fell short in the first round of the playoffs last year, but this time fans are hoping for a different outcome.
'Through adversity with injuries and everything, they made it to the playoffs again after years of drought, and the whole city is behind them,' said Brent Jones, an Otters fan.
'We've had some bad games, but they've tried so hard to get where they are today, and I'm very proud of them,' said Brianna Foster, another Otters fan.
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Thursday night, Voodoo Brewing on State Street was the place to be to watch the game, with beer discounts, a projected screen and loyal fans bringing the energy.
The brewery's manager said they're always happy to host for the Otters, and their love for the team is mutual with fans.
'Just all of the employees loving the otters, and all of the fans already coming here before the games, it's just a fluid thing, where we really love having all the action for the otters right here,' said Kyle Houser, Voodoo Brewing general manager.
They had food. They had beer. They had hade good hockey, and a packed house at Voodoo Brewing, and fans are looking to see their team make a deep playoff run this season.
Q: How are you feeling about the game tonight?
'Very excited!' Foster said.
Q: How are you feeling about it?
'Super excited!' said Katlyn Spiegel, an Otters fan. 'We're gonna win!'
'Oh man, we have the loudest fans in the OHL. Everybody is so dedicated to this team, it's so awesome when the crowd gets behind the team and when we see a full stadium it feels great, so it's so nice to have a full bar tonight and have everyone supporting the guys,' Jones went on to say.
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The Otters will be returning to Erie Insurance Arena for game three of the series on April 1. But first, the team has one more game to play in Saginaw at 7 p.m. on Saturday, and Voodoo Brewing will once again be opening its doors for fans to cheer on our Erie Otters.
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He was also a good penalty killer as one of the youngest full-time players in the USHL last year, playing a pro style at an early age. That's not easy to do in the USHL, which is a hard league to have success in at that age, especially as a center — and even more so because of his August birthday. He has also had early success internationally, impressing at both U17s and the Youth Olympics. He wasn't as productive at Hlinka, but was still a go-to player for Team Canada in terms of usage, was more impactful than his numbers indicated, and saved his best game of the tournament for the semifinal. He's a Fredericton, N.B., native and the younger brother of Josh, a two-time QMJHL 100-point player and Memorial Cup champion who is now playing in Europe. He also chose to return to Muskegon this season to try to go back-to-back. He'll wear the 'C' for the Lumberjacks in his draft year before heading off to Boston University. 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He applied for exceptional status into the OHL and didn't get it; had he been granted exceptional status, he could have been one of the rare players to play four seasons in the OHL before the NHL Draft. Instead, he went back to U16 AAA for a second season as a dominant player, went No. 2 to Niagara in the 2023 OHL draft, and then scored 28 goals and 51 points in 63 games as a 16-year-old to be named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team last year. Last year, his second in the OHL, he was Niagara's leading scorer, out-producing drafted NHL prospects like Kevin He (Jets) and Andrei Loshko (Kraken) to score 44 goals and 93 points in 69 combined regular season and playoff games. He also wore an 'A' for them last season, played more than 20 minutes per game, was an important part of both their power play and their penalty kill and regularly generated 6-10 shots per game. He had some quiet games at U18 worlds for Canada but still finished with nine points in seven games as their fourth-leading scorer there as well. Roobroeck doesn't play a particularly physical or imposing game for a player his size, but works hard, he's got real skill and feel on the puck and a weapon of a legit NHL shot that regularly beats goalies from mid-range. Because of his unique skill set, he has played the flank on the power play instead of the net-front. He's also a balanced skater for his size who can get out in transition and score off the rush. I like his stick defensively. He's going to be a very high pick and if he can return to his center position this year and/or play with more presence, power and/or physicality, it'll elevate his projection even further. Belchetz is an extremely physically advanced winger who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 OHL draft and was 6-foot-5 and over 220 pounds as a 16-year-old in the league last season. He got people talking when he got off to a hot start to his rookie season with the Spitfires last year, picking up two points in his debut before a four-goal, six-point night in his third OHL game. He also had a solid tournament for gold medal-winning Canada White at U17s, though I did think he was less impactful in the higher-pace semifinal and final. He played the best hockey I've seen him play at Hlinka, though, really imposing himself, driving, and making plays with the puck. His production leveled off as last season went on but he still has NHL clubs drooling for his hulking frame and good skill. He has also really developed his wall game so he's more focused on bumping players off of the puck and making a quick play off the boards. His feet can be a little heavy out of the blocks and his stride can look a little clunky, but he's a specimen and he can get around the ice once he gets moving. And while some of his impact is driven by his sheer size and his ability to stay over pucks and impose himself, he's also got decent offensive tools, he handles well into congested areas and he can really shoot the puck. I'm fascinated to see what he looks like this year in the OHL because it feels like he could be a force. There are some who strongly believe he's a top-five pick in this age group all day right now, and while I'm not quite there and want to see more of what I saw at the Hlinka in the OHL this year before slotting him there, he's in that mix. Bjorck is a highly talented, playmaking center who made headlines for breaking the U16 scoring record at the J18 level as a 15-year-old two years ago and the J20 level scoring record (regardless of age) as a 16-year-old last year while playing with his older brother Wilson (drafted by the Canucks as an overager) and scoring in his HockeyAllsvenskan debut. He's going to play for Sweden at this year's World Juniors and recently got the honor to skip the Hlinka with his age group to instead participate at the World Junior Summer Showcase, where he played well (though it's also always noticeable that Stenberg is a cut above). He's on the smaller side for a center at the moment but he excels in the faceoff circle and he played the penalty kill with Djurgarden's junior team last year. Wilson is over 6-0 now, their dad is 6-2, Viggo himself is up to 5-10 and he's expected to continue to grow. Bjorck can play with the puck on a string and make plays as a natural facilitator who has a ton of poise and vision, but he also plays in and out of give-and-gos, will go to the net and finish off plays and has great overall sense on and off the puck. He's also a quick and fast skater who can play at different paces and challenge both in straight lines and on cuts and turnbacks. I like his craft on the puck and he's got an impressive knack for spinning and shaking away from coverage and drawing penalties. He will go outside to attack back inside with his agility and ability to carve into defenders' hands. He's quick to attack and makes defenders and sticks miss. Bjorck has a quick release, a rapid first three steps and can accelerate around D from a standstill. He's strong for his size and will take pucks to the blue paint on D and play through contact. And while he'll occasionally turn over some pucks trying to be too cute, he wins them back well with stick lifts and his surprising strength. I'm confident that because of his hockey sense, he projects as a center up levels, too. He's a slippery, clever, crafty offensive player but he's also really smart and just reads the play at an advanced level on both sides of the puck. Once he grows some more, he could have serious potential. If he were a little bigger right now, he'd probably be a top-five prospect. Novotny was the No. 9 pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft to the Peterborough Petes and has signed to play his draft year there this year. He played the entirety of last season at Czechia's top pro level with Mountfield before lighting up Czechia's U20 level playoffs and then returning to the pro club's postseason run, where he scored a couple of nice goals. He also impressed at the 2024 Hlinka, the 2025 U18 Worlds and for Czechia's bronze medal-winning team at last year's World Juniors a month and a half after his 17th birthday. A few weeks ago, he was one of the top players in Czechia's three nations U20 exhibitions with Finland and Switzerland as well. Novotny's a 6-1, pro-built winger who skates well. He's also highly skilled offensively and plays the game with confidence. His game should function well in North America as well, and he's already a strong, sturdy, stocky kid. He has a feel for the game and enough smarts on and off the puck, with a good sense of where to be and go. He can drive the net and make plays to the interior for himself but also functions well off of his linemates as a catch-and-release, push-and-pop type. He's got a pro curl-and-drag wrister and good hands in tight to his body. He can make plays off of his backhand. He breaks up plays and works. He's just a very good player. And he plays a competitive game for a young player. There's a lot to like about his combination of tools and I expect him to immediately be a top player on the Petes and in his age group in the OHL. Preston is a threatening creator with good offensive instincts who has played to just under a point per game since entering the WHL. He won gold with Canada White at U17s, leading the tournament in goals with six in five games and coming up big in some big moments (including a hat trick in the semifinal and a goal in the gold medal game), made plays in bunches at the Hlinka and has a way of striking at some point over the course of a game (he scored another big goal in the semi at Hlinka, too). He's a shifty skater who attacks inside ice laterally but can also play out wide. He's got slick handles on the puck and can attack off the rush or inside the offensive zone, challenging defenders one-on-one. He's got a dangerous shot and quick release. He's lethal in space but can also play in traffic and put pucks into space to skate onto. He's just slick and confident. He has also played both wings and been dangerous on either side. Plus he's a late July birthday who has still been a top offensive player all the way up with the '08s. On top of what he's done in the WHL and for Hockey Canada, he also registered four goals and six points in four games at the Youth Olympics and was the CSSHL U15 MVP before that, so there's pedigree already. There are times when he can play to the perimeter, and he's more offense-first than some of the other more complete forwards in this class, but the talent and the ability to attack are real. There are actually some similarities between his makeup/skill set and that of his former Spokane teammate and top-10 NHL draft pick Berkly Catton, though he's a winger and Catton's a center and more well-rounded. Rudolph was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft and after a good but not standout start to his season in Prince Albert and as an alternate captain with Canada White at U17s, he really elevated in the second half of last year to look more like the player who was the CSSHL's top defenseman at the U15 level and MVP at the U18 level. He played his best hockey into a point-per-game playoff run from the Raiders' blue line. Rudolph didn't play the kind of minutes for Prince Albert in the regular season (about 19 per game) that Lin and Verhoeff did on younger teams, but he became an impact player for the Raiders after the calendar flipped to 2025 and averaged 24 minutes a night in the playoffs. He was also good for Team Canada at the Hlinka after he was their No. 8 at U18s (where Villeneuve and Carels, who both slot just below him on my list, featured prominently), playing with Verhoeff in high leverage situations. He's a good skater whose skating patterns, flow and edges are easy. He can manipulate coverage or jump off the line. He sees the ice well and can beat the first layer and then find the back door through a second. He defends the rush well and has a good stick. He's a heady player who thinks the game well. He's got good size. He's willing to jump and has a great catch-and-release shot that I expect him to score with a little more this year. Reid was an amazing story last season. He started the year as a No. 4 defenseman on an NAHL team and finished it as a point-per-game D playing 25-30 minutes a night with the Soo Greyhounds. He grew from sub-6-feet to 6-2 while he did it, too. He's a righty with poise beyond his years. He escapes pressure well. He's got a great shot and is deadly in transition, with an impressive offensive sense and good vision. His defensive play took strides as the year progressed after needing to adjust in the OHL at first. And while he's not explosive, he's fundamentally a high-end skater and has impressive mobility/footwork. He and his game are still raw, too, and as he adds power to his frame he's got legitimate upside. A Michigan State commit, I know the Greyhounds and Spartans are both very high on him. He's going to be a first-rounder and maybe a pretty high one, and has really taken off down a steep development curve. I'm eager to see how he looks in his return to the OHL this season because he could be one of the league's top D and I wouldn't be surprised to see him play his way into a World Junior selection camp invite, even if he doesn't have a USA Hockey track record to this point. I don't think he makes that team this year but he should be in line to be one of their top D in 2027. Carels is a summer birthday who played 24 minutes per game as a 16-year-old in Prince George last season, driving play at five-on-five and chipping in on both the power play and penalty kill. He also ran PP2 for Canada Red at U17s behind Landon DuPont and killed penalties for Canada at Hlinka. I thought about ranking him ahead of Rudolph and Reid here. Carels is an all-around defenseman who plays the game firm and direct in all three zones and on both sides of the puck. His game is more about instinct than being super cerebral, and he can be a little sloppy at times, but he's quite toolsy and looks like a pro in a lot of ways. He's got a big, hard slapshot that makes him a threat to score. He sees the play well as a passer. He's a strong skater who can push pucks down ice and also open up and use his edges. He defends well with his feet and stick and plays with good timing on close-outs. He's firm and physical with a wide gait, though he'll occasionally get beat one-on-one laterally. He's not a dynamic individual playmaker but he moves pucks, has skill and skating, walks the line well, can beat the first layer and can hammer it. I'm a fan. He's solid. He looked like a legit top prospect last season even if some of the other WHL D had more buzz/production (though NHL scouts are high on him). Villeneuve is a September 2007 who was a couple of weeks away from being eligible for the 2025 draft and will play three seasons in the QMJHL pre-draft. He was the QMJHL's Defensive Rookie of the Year at 16 and the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year and CHL Third Team All-Star at 17, finishing first among Q defensemen in assists (50) and second in points (62) last year, on top of playing to above a point per game and logging 20 minutes per game (second on the Armada). He was also a top playmaker in the league and their coaches said he might have made more plays than teammate and 2025 first-round forward Justin Carbonneau last season. He looked dynamic on the puck at U18 Worlds as well, running Canada's top power play (including double duty on both units at times) and creating with his feet off of the line to score four goals (most in the tournament by a D). And though he's small and still a little physically immature (actually a good sign), I was told his dad is a big guy and that Xavier is going to grow. His skill level, hockey sense and puck play are all legitimately high-end. He is constantly making plays and finding openings. And while he's more shifty than fast, his speed has improved, he opens up a lot of space for himself on the ice and he defends smartly for his size. It's his shakes and shimmies over his breezy feet that really grab you though. He beats and loses players with ease and plays the game with unending poise. He's got phenomenal edges, a quick release and a good stick. He's a high-end talent without question, but a year after no sub-6-feet D were drafted, I'll be fascinated to see where he lands. I decided to rank him here counting on some growth. Nordmark led a talented Swedish team in scoring at U17 worlds and the Hlinka, and was very productive through their entire international schedule last season, making a ton of plays against the '08 age group. He was the star of Hlinka for me, and sent the Swedes to the gold medal game with a beautiful overtime winner in the semi to complete a hat-trick after helping them mount a third-period comeback. And while he spent much of his domestic season at the J18 level, he played to more than a point per game with Djurgården's J20 team and regularly flashes legit skill. He's a highly talented, shifty forward who has played all three forward positions at different points and has great(!) hands and instincts offensively. He can play in open space or in puck protection. He's also got decent size and a hard, dangerous snap shot (one of the better ones I've seen in the age group). He can blow past goalies, passes it well and is willing to go to the middle third in possession. Djurgården has a very crowded program at forward but I've seen pretty clear first-round traits and I'm excited to see what he does this year. Of note, Nordmark is the son of former NHL defenseman Robert Nordmark and an import selection of the London Knights, though he hasn't signed with London and will start his draft year with Djurgården. Nemec, the younger brother of 2022 Devils No. 2 pick Simon, has followed a similar path, making his debut at Slovakia's top pro level with HK Nitra at 16 and then playing and contributing more regularly at 17. His CHL rights belong to the Sudbury Wolves but he plans to start his draft year with Nitra. Unlike his brother, though, Adam is a forward. He's a skilled and opportunistic winger who can make plays for himself when the puck lands on his stick but also just does a really nice job getting open and finding his way onto pucks around the slot area. He reads the game at an advanced level. His game has some mature detail to it at a young age despite still needing to physically mature. He's got great instincts on and off the puck, plus a quick release and good hands to finish off plays. His skating has looked average to me dating back to my first live viewings two U18s Worlds ago but he works, competes, engages himself and finishes his checks. And he has already produced against men at an early age. I thought he made some plays at his second U18s in Texas this spring as well: he finished with four points in seven games while playing with 2025s. I think he's a first-rounder but taking a step this year at the pro level will be an important test for him to solidify that, because I don't think he has an obvious NHL role/projection at the moment despite his strong track record/career arc to this point. Aaram-Olsen is a talented Norwegian winger who played to a point per game with Örebro's J20 team last year and led Norway in scoring at the Division 1A World Juniors as a 16-year-old with six points in five games. He's a dangerous scorer and shooter who picks corners and beats goalies from midrange with his heavy snapper or curl-and-drag wrister. He can threaten as a shooter from the bumper or the flank on the power play because he's also got a hard one-touch shot. He's a good skater who gets up and down the ice well and is willing to track back on pucks, with room to add strength and smooth out his stride (which does kick a little). He takes pucks off the wall and isn't complacent on the outside. I'd like to see him involve himself more off of the puck defensively and play with a little more physicality, but his scoring package is legit and I don't think he's a one-way winger from what I've seen. Stenberg and Bjorck have held the spotlight for the Swedes in this class, but Hermansson is one of a number of other legit prospects for Tre Kronor this year and has impressed at U17 worlds and Hlinka for them. He also played up at the February Five Nations with the U18 team and was productive on a deep-at-forward Örebro junior team last year. He's a right shot but he has played a lot of both wings, and he impresses with his individual stick skill. He's not the most well-rounded or defensively responsible winger but he's talented with the puck in his hands and a threat inside the offensive zone. He wants to go out there and make plays/score goals and he can beat guys one-on-one with his hands. He's also a threatening shooter off the flank both into his curl-and-drag wrister or getting open for his strong one-timer. He's got a bit of an awkward/upright skating posture that bends at the ankles but he's got some speed and he's a 6-1 winger with legit handling, finishing and good passing who has first-round talent. Hakansson is a big, strong left-shot defenseman who played 20-22 minutes per game at the J20 level last season and didn't look out of place playing 10-14 in three SHL games. He's decently athletic and plays a hard and physical style. He skates well, falling back onto his heels and his edges comfortably for a player his age and size. I like his pivots. He can occasionally get a little jumpy on both sides of the puck but he can shoot it and pass it and walks the line well. He's got a lot of the attributes teams are looking for these days and profiles as a mid-to-late first-rounder at the moment for me. Tomik is a December '07 who played the majority of last season in Slovakia's top pro level with Trencin and has impressed at two U18 Worlds in Finland and Texas, where he played on Slovakia's top line as a 16-year-old and was named one of the team's top three players of the tournament. He also played at last year's World Juniors just a couple of weeks after his 17th birthday. Tomik will play his draft year in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants, who successfully brought over Slovak forward Samuel Honzek and helped him become a first-round NHL draft pick in 2023. Tomik's got good hands. He's a decent skater for his age, though I'm not sure he's a standout one. He's a natural shooter and finisher who can rip the puck on the power play and has scored some goals from distance over the last couple of years playing the point and flank. Though he didn't kill penalties at the pro level, he can be relied upon, has played all three forward positions and has been a solid penalty killer for the national team and might have dual special teams upside. He projects as a potential top-nine scoring winger. Hextall, a Michigan State commit, looked like a pro even as a 16-year-old in the USHL last year and was owed more on the scoresheet for how consistently good he was. He's a very smart player who does a lot of things well. He already protects the puck and stays over it like a pro, coming out of scrums with possession. He's strong on his skates. He plays in all three zones and is committed defensively as a center. He has blown kids up with hits. He likes to shoot it but also sees the ice really well, and will go to the net but can also find the second or third layer. He's just a complete hockey player. I also thought he was owed more than his counting stats at Hlinka (where he was USA's No. 1 center) and while eventually he just needs to produce like a first-rounder, I think he will in the USHL this season. Chrenko first caught my eye when he looked confident on the puck inside the offensive zone two U18 Worlds ago in Finland as a double underager (though I suppose as a late 2007 he was just a young single underager). He then followed it up by playing to above two points per game in Slovakia's junior level, scoring his first couple of goals with Nitra's top-flight team at the pro level, and leading the Slovaks in scoring with five goals and eight points in five games in Texas at his second U18s. He's got some deception on the puck in both his handling and his quick release. He's a smart and gets open, but can also use his good hands to play through holes and get pucks to open linemates. He's a natural center who plays in the center of the ice and will take or make a hit to make a play. He can be a bit of a pest. You'd like him to be a little bigger but there's a lot to like in his talent/craft. I'll be following him closely as he makes the full-time jump to Nitra this year. Holmertz really caught my eye at U17 worlds and hovered around a point per game at the J20 level last season with Linköping while playing center as a 16-year-old. He's a standout skater through his edges and in and out of cuts, but also has natural pull-away speed. He's not explosive in the powerful skater way but he makes guys miss. He's more of a playmaker than a play finisher but he's talented and very noticeable on the puck for how smooth he is as both a skater and stickhandler. He can shoot it, too, and boasts a quick release when he wants to. He makes a lot of crafty little plays inside the offensive zone to put pucks into space for his linemates, too, but also has quick hands to create for himself in space or traffic. He's not the most intense competitor and can kind of play within the flow of the game at times but he's got offensive talent, skating, skill and feel for the game and I've been drawn into him whenever I've watched him play. Berchild, who wore the 'C' at times for USA's U17s last year and was productive playing up with the U18s, is a short but stocky and skilled scoring forward — he has played more wing than center but can play both. He reminds me a little of NTDP alum Isaac Howard. He's got legit one-on-one puck skill and handles and scored some pretty goals last year while beating D. He finds his way out of trouble and has some real creativity on the puck and an ability to play under triangles. He's strong for a 5-foot-9/10 winger. He plays to the interior and has a nose for the net. On the puck, he's confident and plays to attack, challenge and threaten inside the offensive zone and off the rush. He's got a lethal shot that comes off his blade hard. He's really comfortable going backhand. Off the puck, he's got some hustle and some hardness, regularly winning battles against bigger players through body positioning, hard stick lifts and work ethic. He's a good skater. His strong one-timer and scorer's instincts gives him power-play pop. There are times when he can try to do too much but he's a gamer. If he can grow a couple of inches, he's a clear first-round talent if he can get to 5-11ish. If he doesn't, he's probably a second-rounder. I trust that he'll be well-developed at Denver after the NTDP as well. Edwards is a sneaky-strong, hard-shooting forward who finished second in U17 scoring in the OHL last year, hitting the 25-goal mark as a 16-year-old and leading the Sting in goals. He's strong on pucks and can drive to the net in control (he looks heavier than his current listing). He's got good dexterity catching and handling bad passes into his pocket. He has some power to his game. And he also knows how to go to the inside and use the space he has left behind to involve his linemates. I thought he had a positive Hlinka, too, and he looks primed to take a step in Sarnia this season. He can also play center and the wing effectively. They'll be a destination for scouts this year with him, Di Iorio and, by the sounds of it, Czech import Simon Katolicky. Valentini, a Michigan commit, was a top prospect through minor hockey. He has worn a letter and been an important player for Hockey Canada at U17s and the Hlinka, and after playing last season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel he is making the move to the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, where he'll play an important role as well. Valentini is a 5-foot-11 center but he's strong, plays with pace and intention, and has good habits off of the puck, supporting play effectively defensively. His stride can look a little short and compact but he buzzes around the ice with quick feet and strong crossovers. He also protects pucks well on his forehand and backhand. On offense, Valentini has good hands and great sense, finding his teammates quickly and putting pucks into good spots for them. He's a smart, well-rounded offensive player who I expect to have an immediate impact in the OHL. Di Iorio, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 OHL draft after Belchetz, is a talented and intelligent center who has good hands and soft skill. He has played at four seperate events for Hockey Canada already, leading them in scoring at the Youth Olympics, wearing a letter at U17s and Hlinka, and joining the U18 Worlds team as an underager, where he made some plays in a limited role rotating through on the fourth line and hit a crossbar in the gold medal game. He can play out wide and I've seen him pick corners from midrange with his curl-and-drag wrister (he's got a shooter's shot and I expect him to score more this year) and facilitate with his good feel as a passer, but he's also sneaky strong on stick lifts and willing to go to inside ice. His combination of smarts and skill should produce a big draft year with Sarnia. Dravecky was a top player for Rögle's J20 team and the Czech national U18 team last year across multiple events, playing big minutes (often 20-25 per game) and adding penalty killing to his power-play role with Rögle as the season went on. He even got a taste of the SHL. He looked good with Czechia's U20 team in their recent Three Nations exhibitions against Finland and Switzerland as well. Dravecky's talented, poised and confident on the puck, absorbing pressure well and setting up the next play with the puck in his hands and his eyes up. He's sturdy and a strong skater going forward with a hard shot. He likes to attack and challenge, and scored some beautiful goals last year though there are times when I want to see him move it quicker. He's a solid skater who walks the line well and can jump into the play, though he does need to work on his rush defense (he gaps up quickly on his heels and likes to close and take away time in the neutral zone, but will sometimes make a mistake) and his decision-making on and off the puck. He looks like a mid-to-late first-rounder to me. He's got the bloodline too, as his dad, Vladimir Sr., is a legend in Czechia and still playing at 40. Steiner is coming off of a really good rookie season in the QMJHL with Rouyn-Noranda, where he registered 60 points in 57 games, and played well at the World Juniors for Switzerland despite going scoreless in four games there. He's a short but strong and stocky winger who plays a physical, competitive, almost power-forward game. He moves his feet. He's sturdy for his age over pucks. He can play the flank or the bumper on the power play and has a good wrister and one-touch shot. He wants the puck. He's a strong skater through his compact crossovers. I'm a fan. He looks like a player already. He's probably more likely a Day 2 pick but I've liked watching him. Klepov, another Michigan State commit, is a highly skilled playmaker who is making the move from the USHL to the OHL this season with the Saginaw Spirit, where I think he'll thrive. He sees the ice at a high level as a passer and has power-play skill, blending little fakes and hesitations into his handles to throw defenders off his scent. He also skates well and creates a ton of entries with his craft on the puck. It can be hard for average-sized wingers to go in the first round, so he'll have to really produce this year, but he's got some real believers in his talent and he's a summer birthday who I think will follow a steep upward progression this season and turn some heads. Murnieks is a heavyset center who was productive as a pro in Latvia and at U18 worlds for the national team at 15, had a really respectable 16-year-old season as a rookie for Sioux City in the USHL last year and centered Latvia's first line as one of the youngest players at the 2025 World Juniors. He didn't look the least bit out of place in that role (which included leading them in goal differential at plus-4) either, an impressive feat playing on any Latvian team and even more so as a double underager with a July 31 birthday. He's a pro-built, pro-style center who plays a well-rounded, complete game. He's strong in the faceoff circle. He's an excellent two-way player and penalty killer who tracks and wins pucks and plays with great detail for a player his age. He's a little heavyset, his skating is just average and his skill level isn't dynamic, but he has secondary skill and looks like a real player. He profiles as a potential 3C someday. Fitzgerald is a heavy, competitive and physical pro-style center who was a top pick into the OHL and had a strong rookie season on a weak Petes team. He's got a hard shot, he hits hard and he can be a lot to handle when he gets going because he's a strong north-south skater who can be fast when he has time to build a head of steam, whether that's chasing a puck down the ice or pushing through the neutral zone/toward the net. He hasn't been productive in more of a bottom-six role with Hockey Canada at U17s and the Hlinka, but scouts are going to be flocking to Peterborough to see him and Novotny this year. With proper development, he's got the makings of a third-line power forward. (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Michael Miller / ISI Photos, Leila Devlin / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
