PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT
Is it not enough that both Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall have been speculated to go 1-2 at this year’s NHL draft that they have left the final week of the Ontario Hockey League season to determine the scoring champion?
Seguin (Plymouth Whalers) currently leads Hall (Windsor Spitfires) by two points – 105 to 103 – with only three games left, beginning Thursday night when the two superstars face off against each other in Windsor.
This year has seen a massive outburst from Seguin in comparison to last, where he was third in rookie scoring behind Evgeny Grachev and John Carlson with 67 points.
Seguin attributes some of his success to the change in stick blades.
“Growing up I was using an (Steve) Yzerman curve,” he said. “My dad told me that a big curve makes you go top shelf. I just tried different things and felt out what I liked and now I use the (Joe) Sakic curve.”
It seems appropriate that the two blades Seguin has used in his career were two of the most defensively responsible players the game has ever seen; including one – Yzerman – who he is most compared to.
Being a great two-way forward takes hard work, and to also put up over a 100-point season is even more impressive. Seguin believes that his success this year also stems from his coach in Plymouth, Mike Vellucci.
“Coming into the OHL it was a whole different level and atmosphere,” he said. “He really helped me adjust and thought at what I had to improve in my game like defensive zone play.”
Hall on the other hand is into his third season in OHL, consistently getting better each season.
In his first year, 2007-08, Hall scored 84 points, good for second in rookie scoring behind then London Knight Patrick Maroon.
The following season, Hall improved on his point total – 90 – but declined in his goal scoring out put. He had 45 in his rookie year, but dropped down to 38 en route to helping his Spitfires win the Memorial Cup.
This year, he should finish between these two benchmarks, the second season in a row that he’s finished with more assists than goals.
Hall would be the first Spitfire player since Peter Sarno in the 1997-98 season to capture the scoring title, something he’d be proud of.
“”That would be a really good accomplishment,” he said. “I don’t think there has been a Spitfire that has won it in a really long time. At the end of the day it’s not a huge deal. It’d be a nice accomplishment for sure and it’d mean that I had a really good season.”
At the end of the day though, both know that the outcome of the scoring race will have little to no merit on what position they end up being drafted in in June. However, both admit it would be special go to first overall.
“For sure I want to be selected first,” said Hall. “I’m a pretty competitive guy. But if I don’t it’s not the end of the world. My ultimate goal is to play in the NHL and win the Stanley Cup some day.”
As for Seguin…
“Obviously it’s like a bonus,” he said. “In the end I think getting drafted anywhere is just a true honor”
One thing’s for sure. Both will be drafted. But only one of them will be going to their new NHL team with an OHL scoring championship in their back pocket.
Topics: Evgeny Grachev, Joe Sakic, John Carlson, Mike Velucci, NHL Draft 2010, Peter Sarno, Plymouth Whalers, Steve Yzerman, Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Windsor Spitfires
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