Top 3 hockey players I have ever played with
#1 Sullivan Sparkes
Sullivan Sparkes is a smooth-skating forward who plays the game at a level and maturity well above his years. He projects to play professional hockey someday after his tenure with the Laurier University CIS hockey team. His career really took off after being drafted #88 overall in the 2015 OHL draft by the Oshawa Generals. This selection was as a result of his 88 point season in 62 games with the Waterloo Wolves Minor Midget in his draft year. Sparkes struggled throughout the first few years of his OHL career, posting career totals of 17 points in 100 OHL games. This all changed though when he transferred to the QMJHL in 2018 with the Charlottetown Islanders. While there he posted a more respectable 36 career points in 79 career games. This lengthy CHL career developed Sparkes into a veteran leader who put up respectable point totals and being a defensively responsible player. This led him to sign with the Laurier University men's hockey team at age 21, where he will play for the foreseeable future and likely progress onwards to a professional team. Sparkes is the highest on this list simply because he has accomplished the most, although others on this list may have more potential and/or talent, Sparkes is currently the best hockey player I've ever played aside. I played with Sparked this year during my brief tenure with the Plattsville Lakers Jr. A. While playing alongside him, his leadership ability and experience with high-level hockey was apparent. He played and thought the game at such a high level and this was proven by the score sheet as at the Jr. A level Sparkes has put up a career 89 points in 69 games. General Manager of the Oshawa Generals: Roger Hunt said “Sullivan is a dynamic player who produces points. We need that scoring touch.”
Quote source: Sullivan Sparkes Commits – Oshawa Generals
Statistics Source: Sullivan Sparkes - Elite Prospects
#2 Justin O'Donnell
Justin O'Donnell is a highly-skilled forward who is absolutely electric on the ice. His high-end skill, speed, and game sense make him your prototypical 1st line forward at the next level. He is above Thomas because O'Donnell unlike Thomas has played at the next level: playing for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL last year, and racking up 5 points in 44 games last year. Justin also has more accolades in his career as opposed to Thomas, such as: playing for team Ontario in the Canada winter games, playing in the OHL cup, and being a higher draft selection at 35th overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2019 OHL draft. An OHL writer had this to say about O'Donnell before the draft: "Speedy centreman Justin O’Donnell gets around the ice quickly. The Toronto Marlboros pivot has scored his share of nice goals this season and is looking to translate his Minor Midget success to the next level." I played with O'Donnell on that same STA varsity hockey team during my tenure there. Opponents feared him whenever he was on the ice: his speed, skill and deceptiveness led him to score some of the nicest goals I have ever seen in my life. Justin's hockey career is very promising. Hopefully, he can put up a more productive season in the OHL next year so that he can make a case for himself to be an NHL draft pick one day.
#3 Patrick Thomas
Patrick Thomas is a sensation on the ice. His vision, playmaking ability and 200ft game make him a sought-after prospect in the OHL. This is proven by his high draft selection: #57 overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2020 OHL draft. He earned this draft stock by finishing off his draft year with a strong 93 points in 74 games. Hamilton has high expectations of him as he's expected to be an immediate impact player on the Hamilton Bulldogs next year. The only thing holding him back from being higher on this list is his age. He is only 17 years old, and unfortunately due to the COVID-19 league shut down, he has not played a single game in the CHL as of yet. Fortunately though, according to scouts, there is no doubt that Patrick will turn into a solid player at the CHL level, and hopefully professionally as well. Steve Staios, the General Manager of the Hamilton Bulldogs had this to say about Thomas: “Patrick was a player we had a great deal of interest in throughout the season. He was the offensive catalyst and leader on a Hamilton Huskies team that had a great deal of success this past season. Our fans will enjoy watching the development of another local player with tremendous potential.”. I played with and befriended Patrick throughout my High School hockey career at STA. Playing with a player with such advanced ability and knowledge for the game elevates your own game: this is what makes him truly great.
Statistics source: Patrick Thomas - Elite Prospects
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