Dylan Sadowy – LW
Current Jr. Team: Sagina Spirit, Ontario Hockey League
Drafted: 3rd Round, 81st. in 2014
Nationality: Canada
Sadowy finished the regular season getting 43 goals and 32 assists for 75 points in 65 games. In the playoffs he was held off the score sheet and was -7. He had 9 power play goals while spending 66 minutes in the penalty box.
Dylan Sadowy’s Saginaw Spirit was eliminated in a 4 game sweep to the Soo Greyhounds in the first round of the OHL Playoffs. The Spirit were the bottom seeded team in their conference while the Soo Greyhounds were not only the top seed, but finished ranked first in the final rankings of teams of the 60 teams in the country across the entire CHL. The Spirit had been a top heavy team that was the youngest team to ever qualify for the OHL playoffs, lead almost solely by Sadowy all year. Expect Sadowy to spend one more year with the Spirit.
Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau – LW
Current Jr. Team: Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League
Drafted: 2nd Round, 49th. in 2013
Nationality: Canada
He suffered an injury plagued season that saw him play just 7 games in the regular season but was still able to manage 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points and was a +4 on a team where most players on his team where in the negatives.
Gabryel Boudrau’s 15th. seeded Chicoutimi Sanueneens were eliminated by the 2nd seeded Moncton Wildcats in the first round of the QMJHL Playoffs. In the playoffs he was second on his team in points putting up another 1 goal and 6 assists while suffering a -2 as well as 6 minutes in the penalty box. The key for Boudreau is putting his injury woes behind him as he makes a likely jump to the San Jose Barracuda next year.
Nikita Jevpalovs – LW
Current Team – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League
Drafted: Undrafted, signed as a free agent in 2015
Nationality: Latvia
Every once in a while a high ceiling player slips though the draft on the way to becoming an NHL player. Could Latvian Nikita Jevalovs be that guy? Time will tell. Currently the number 3 seeded Blainville-Boisbriand Armada find themselves trailing the 14th. seeded Gatineau Olympiques by a 3-2 margin in their best of 7 series.
The regular season saw Jevalovs put 49 goals, and 51 assists on the board for 100 points. He had a +37 while 17 of his goals were on the power play. During his playoff run he has added another 1 goal and 5 assists. This is another guy who you can probably expect to see on the Barracuda opening day roster.
Rourke Chartier – C
Current Jr. Team: Kelowna Rockets, Western Hockey League
Drafted 5th. Round 149th. in 2014
Nationality: Canada
I love everything about this guy but I don’t know if he will ever be considered big enough to get a shot in the NHL. There is an old saying that goes “It’s up to a small guy to prove he can play in the NHL while a big guy has to prove that he can’t. Standing at 5’11 and 190 lbs. has not slowed him down in the WHL though where he has scored 48 goals and 34 assists for 82 points in 58 regular season games. Of the goals he scored 14 where on the power play while he collected 18 penalty minutes of his own. He was +33 on the season.
In the playoffs the top seeded Rockets dispatched the Tri-City Americans in a 4-0 sweep and now wait for the game 7 winner between the Calgary Hitmen and the Kootenay Ice. During the first round series Chartier added another 4 Goals and 2 Assists in the effort. I expect Chartier to probably spend another year in Kelowna as there is no option to send him to the AHL, and I don’t think there is room for him on the big club next year.
Kevin Labanc – RW
Current Jr. Team: Barrie Colts, Ontario Hockey League
Drafted: 6th Round, 171st. in 2014
Nationality: United States
Another player that will need to do some work to grow into his small (by NHL standards) frame Kevin Labanc tallied 31 goals and 76 assists for 107 points in the regular season but despite all the points finished with a +13. Half his goals came on the power play 16, while he sat in the penalty box for 55 minutes himself. The Barrie Colts finished 2nd in the their conference second only to powerhouse Oshawa.
In the playoffs thus far they made very quick work of 7th seeded Belleville Bulls who will move to Hamilton next year in a 4 game sweep. During this series Labanc added 2 assists and was +4. He is another guy that will probably spend another year filling out his frame in Barrie.
Alex Schoenborn – RW
Current Jr. Team: Portland Winterhawks. Western Hockey League
Drafted: 3rd Round 72nd. in 2014
Nationality: United States
When he was drafted he was considered to be the safest selection the Sharks took in the 2014 draft. He is a hard working bottom 6 projected winger who is known for punishing hits and a strong forecheck his work ethic should make him a productive NHL player. In 49 games played he added 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points with a -11. He scored 2 goals on the power play while taking 66 penalty minutes himself.
His 4th. seeded Portland Winter hawks are leading his best of 7 series 3-2 against the 5th seeded Seattle Thunderbirds where Schoenborn has added another goal and assist while and a -3 while taking 6 penalty minutes. If Alex is not kept on as one of Portland’s over agers next year than expect him to get a very close look by the AHL’s Barracuda.
Julius Bergman – D
Current Jr. Team: London Knights, Ontario Hockey League
Drafted: 2nd Round, 46th. in 2014
Nationality: Sweden
A large body who can skate Bergman shocked many when he made the jump to the OHL this year joining the London Knights putting up 13 goals and 29 assists leading all Knights defensemen in scoring. Typical to your offensive minded defenseman he was a -3 as he continues to learn how to better choose his spots while pinching. He scored 6 power play goals while sitting in the box for 78 minutes.
The perennially competitive Knights finished in the 3rd seed of their conference and currently lead the 6th seeded Kitchener Rangers by a 3-2 margin in their best of 7 series where Bergman has put up an additional 3 goals and 2 assists. The Sharks are really high on Bergman and although I’d advise against it, with a good training camp he could be on the opening night roster for at least a 9 game look.
Alexis Vanier – D
Current Jr. Team: Sherbrooke Phoenix, Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League
Drafted: 4th Round, 102nd. in 2014
Nationality: Canada
Alexis Vanier has a ton of raw talent but probably has the longest road to see NHL action, as with many Sharks draft picks he isn’t the greatest skater but this is something that can be taught. In a season that saw him traded from the Bae-Comeau Drakkar to the Sherbrooke Phoenix Vanier was good for 7 goals and 17 assists while maintaining a +3. He added 4 power play goals while spending 57 minutes in the box.
Unfortunately Vanier is currently not playing in the playoffs because of a season ending injury. The 9th seeded Charlottetown Islanders hold a 3-2 series lead over the Sherbrook Phoenix. I’d expect that Vanier has another year of Junior to look forward to next year.
