The Toronto Marlboroughs capped a standout season by winning the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament on Sunday at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.
The Marlies skated past the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs 4-1 in the championship game to claim the minor midget showcase tournament title for the second time in the past five years.
The last time the Marlies won the OHL Cup, they were led by the likes of future OHL stars John Tavares, Sam Gagner, Akim Aliu and Bryan Cameron in 2005. This time around, the Marlies were led by another group of top prospects in Lucas Lessio, Brett Ritchie, Zach Mitchell, Ryan Strome and Stuart Percy. All five are top rated prospects for the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, which will be held online on Saturday May 2.
The OHL will be profiling some of the top prospects eligible for selection over the next several weeks.
Lucas Lessio, Toronto Marlies - Left Wing, 6.00, 175 lbs.
Lessio capped an outstanding season by winning the Tim Adams Memorial Award as the most valuable player of the OHL Cup. He finished in a tie for second place in tournament scoring with five goals and 11 points in seven games. The big winger is equally adept at playing the game with skill or strength.
“He can be a devastating checker, showing that he can beat you with his skill on the score sheet or by punishing defensemen on the forecheck,” said Rob Kitamura, the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “His physical play creates a ton of turnovers. Lessio brings a lot of positives to the table, and he has the potential to be a very productive player at the next level.”
Zach Mitchell, Toronto Marlies - Right Wing, 5.11, 155 lbs.
Mitchell is an outstanding offensive producer that is still responsible in his own zone. He scored four goals and five assists for nine points in the OHL Cup to help the Marlies to the championship. He played in all situations this season and excelled at killing penalties.
“He distributes the puck quite well, and once he does move it to an open teammate he immediately works to get himself into a support position,” Kitamura said. “This makes him very tough player to defend. He works to get into a shooting position, anticipates the play and wins races to loose pucks regularly. When he does get a scoring chance, he usually puts the puck into the back of the net.”
Ryan Strome, Toronto Marlies - Centre, 5.11, 160 lbs.
Strome (pictured) is a heady player that thinks the game well and that usually puts him in a position to make something happen. He tied for second in the scoring lead at the OHL Cup with four goals and 11 points and the scouts love his ability to take control of the play in the offensive zone.
“He displays a ton of poise and composure when he has possession of the puck,” Kitamura said. “It’s almost as if he can slow the speed of the game down, and operate at his own pace. He always seems to be looking to create a turnover and is especially effective at it in the neutral zone where he seems to constantly break up and intercept passes.”
Stuart Percy, Toronto Marlies - Defence, 6.01, 175 lbs.
Percy is a solid defenceman that was a key contributor to the Marlies championship season. He scored a goal and added an assist in the tournament but was most effective in his zone where he was responsible for shutting down some of the top minor hockey producers in the province. He is effective at shutting down plays in his own zone and quickly moving the puck up the ice to start an offensive breakout.
“He contributes in both ends of the ice,” Kitamura said. “He looks after his defensive responsibilities while playing the game with poise and composure. He does his job shift in and shift out and at times he can be overlooked but at the end of the day you appreciate how much of a role he plays in his team’s success.”
Brett Ritchie, Toronto Marlies - Right Wing, 6.03, 190 lbs.
Ritchie is a big winger that plays an effective game along the boards. He was tied for the team lead with five goals and added a pair of assists in the OHL Cup and plays the style of game that is well suited to the playoffs. The scouts say that he has the tools to become a complete hockey player.
“Once he gets the puck he makes smart choices,” Kitamura said. “He protects the puck, chips it out or will get it up ice to an open man. Basically he does a lot of the little things that can be overlooked but is needed by all teams.”
