NLL Insider

Our first pool of players are in the books and don’t think there are all that many surprises, if any, in there at this point.

Like we mentioned last week, we’re selecting guys based almost solely on what they’ve done this year, versus their reps or mass hype. And even though guys like Cory Conway, Stephen Keogh and Brock Sorenson have finally got some games under their belts after coming back from either their pro or college gigs, we’re lookin’ at both quality and quantity, so a lot of the guys just crashing the scene over the last couple weeks, likely won’t be included in these early rundowns.

Anyways, checkout our first top 10 most deserving candidates for this year’s National Junior Player of the Year nod, and check back every Thursday for an updated listing. The watch-list is after the jump…

Kyle Buchanan, Forward, Akwesasne Indians (8GP - 13G - 16A - 29PTS)
After coming back to Ontario for the summer in 08, Buchanan has been beyond clutch in the Indians’ fairly impressive, and some may say slightly surprising, run to start the year. No player has had his stick on more game winning goals and few create scoring opportunities like Buchanan has and continues to do for Akwesasne.

Scott Defrancesco, Forward, Coquitlam Adanacs (10GP - 23G - 28A - 51PTS)
With Coquitlam’s offense still trying to find their groove and all get on the same page, Defrancesco has been by far their most consistent offensive threat, and for those that haven’t seen him play this summer, take a peak at BC’s scoring leaders for any needed proof. He’s definitely living up to his rep as one of the junior game’s most natural scorers.

Alex Gajic, Forward, Burnaby Lakers (10GP, 32G, 33A, 65PTS)
Gajic has been as close to automatic as we’ve seen this year out West. Not many guys, no matter where they play, are gonna average 6 points per, all while holding down by far the most impressive shooting percentages of anyone inside BC’s top 20 scorers. No high profile out of province imports in Burnaby this year? It doesn’t really matter when you have Gajic leading your O.

Jon Harnett, Defender, Orangeville Northmen (7GP, 1G, 8A, 9PTS)
Ontario’s best defender after about a third of the way into the season? The name most are spitting out right now is Orangeville’s Jon Harnett, with a now injured Andrew Suitor not all that far behind. Harnett might be the best pure defensive guy in the OLA right now. His 1v1 coverage has been beyond solid and he’s a big reason why the Northmen are the best defensive team in the country at this point in the season. Tough to sometimes label the top defensive dawgs, but trust it, Harnett is right at the top of the list and the guys on the court know it.

Cody Jamieson, Forward, Six Nations Arrows (9GP, 29G, 23A, 52PTS)
One NLL Coach I talked to recently said that if this year’s pro draft included both Zack Greer and Cody Jamieson, he’d take Jamieson over Greer, over Veltman, over Campeau and over anyone else you could think of. It was Jamieson all the way with zero hesitation. The best part about Cody, his rep and the hype that surrounds him doesn’t even do his game justice. The game he had this week against Whitby was legendary and his 5.7 points per outing has him first in the province and second behind only Gajic in the country.

Curtis Manning, Defender, New Westminster Salmonbellies (5GP, 4G, 5A, 9PTS)
Manning might only have five games to his name in 08 (captain at Simon Fraser), but oh nelly what a five it’s been. His inclusion in this first listing is 100% based on what he’s done this year already, so definitely don’t start chirping us that this inclusion has anything to do with his pre 08 performances. He’s pound-for-pound one of the best defenders in the junior game today, but he’s talented enough to look anything from out of place at the other end of the court too. With his leadership skills, size, athleticism and obvious multi-faceted game, Manning might be the most complete package in the junior game today.

Mark Matthews, Forward, Whitby Warriors (13GP, 29G, 23A, 52PTS)
Yes, we realize Matthews and his Warrior homies have more GP than pretty much every team in the country, which obviously is a big reason why Mark is second in scoring in the province, but don’t get hung up on that. Bottom line, Mark Matthews has been lights out so far this summer, no matter how many games your judging him on. The U19 Team Canada member has only been held off the score-sheet once all year and has been a big reason why the Warriors are barely feeling any affects of an 07 graduating class that everyone outside of Whitby said would bury ‘em in the standings.

Nick Rose, Goalie, Orangeville Northmen, (343Min, 4.71GAA, .890 SV%)
Rose has proved that last year was far from a fluke, leading what many are calling the stingiest defensive team in the province. Outside of the Whitby game, Rose has held the opposition to either four or five goals against, the kinda numbers that even the worst O in the country would be able to work with, let alone the high powered Northmen. He’s made a ton of money saves this year as Orangeville sport a slick 7-0-0 record.

Joel Weber, Goalie, Coquitlam Adanacs, (325Min, 4.62GAA, .894%)
Think it’s a pretty safe bet that without Joel Weber, the highly hyped Adanacs would not be 8-2-0 right now. As well as Rose plays his angles, Weber plays an athletic style of ball that has him considered by most as the best reflex keep in the game today. Weber’s held down the fort in Coquitlam as the team continues to gel into the Minto contender they definitely have the roster for.

Matt Wilson, Defender, Coqtuitlam Adanacs, (10GP, 2G, 4A, 6PTS)
Even after tearing his ACL last year and spending the off-season rehabbing, Wilson has come back with the same no-nonsense, in your face, take no prisoners attitude that already has people talking about end of season hardware for the Coqtuitlam leader. Will have a war on his hands this coming weekend when Coquitlam travels to Bear Mountain for one of this weekend’s most anticipated clashes against the Shamrocks.

Check back next Thursday for an updated top 10 candidates list as we look to crown our first ever National Junior Player of the Year.

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