Chatham-Kent’s Top 15 Hockey Prospects: 11-15
Brendan Harrogate, our #15 prospect, playing last season with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget ‘AAA’ team – Photo by Aaron Bell/ OHL Images
To make this list of the Top 15 Hockey Prospects in Chatham-Kent, the player must currently be an amateur, who is not currently playing in a professional or semi-professional league, and you must be a Chatham-Kent product. Each athlete was evaluated on the likelihood of them advancing to the next level, and eventually turning professional, which is how their ranking was determined.
Of our recent prospects lists, many, such as Seth Griffith, Dane Fox, and Kyle Hope have all made the jump to the pros. While no one on our current list is likely to do that in the next year, several are definitely pro material when the time comes.
Here are CKSN’s Top Chatham-Kent Hockey Prospects, numbers 11-15.
15. Brendan Harrogate – A 7th round OHL draft pick of the Mississauga Steelheads, Harrogate won’t find himself in contention to play in the OHL this season. After suiting up for five games with the Chatham Maroons last season however, he could slide into one of the Maroons’ underage positions this year, but will find stiff competition with Levi Tetrault likely to suit up for the Maroons, and a possibility for Brady Pataki to return, although we believe he’ll be in the OHL or playing in the NOJHL. The Maroons do however, have room to keep all three, and would be wise to do so. A skilled playmaker, Harrogate will have to work hard to get bigger and stronger, and up his compete level in dirty areas to advance. It will be interesting to see how he performs at the Junior B level this season. A top scorer at the AAA level, Harrogate has all the skills necessary to move to the next level.
14. Brock Philips – This Guelph Storm draft pick, who spent the past few season playing in Waterloo, has huge upside due to his huge six-foot-five frame. When you are that big at Philips’ age, skating, mobility, and filling that frame become a priority. Considering however, most scouts viewed Philips as the most improved player in the Alliance, with another season to develop, this prospect could be OHL ready. Who knows where he’ll play in the saturated Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge-Guelph area. Even a quality Junior C program would benefit Philips for a season, however a Junior B team will likely drool at his upside.
13. Steven Beenackers – With the season he had last year, leading the GOJHL’s Lambton Shores Predators in scoring with 43 points in 48 games, and being selected for the GOJHL’s Top Prospects game, it was surprising to see Beenackers remain outside the OHL for another season, which is the only season he slid down our list. Standing six-foot-two, Beenackers seems to have been an underrated player since his time with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones three seasons ago, when he was drafted by Owen Sound. If he returns to Lambton Shores, Beenackers will become even more dominant, but may turn out to be a career Junior B player, with a chance to play in the OUA or at a US school. If Owen Sound, or another OHL team, decides to take a chance on the big Muirkirk resident, Beenackers could be a hidden gem.
12. Drew Marlatt – The Great Lakes Junior C rookie of the year as a 16-year-old, scoring 21 goals in 36 games for the Blenheim Blades. Marlatt think the game better than most out there. A Windsor Spitfires draft pick, Marlatt will land in Junior B this year, likely with his hometown Chatham Maroons, and will be expected to play an important offensive role with the Maroons after the team lost many of their high scoring veterans. Marlatt still needs to improve his fitness levels to dominate at the next level, but with early success in Junior B, he stands to earn an opportunity to suit up for the Spitfires this season.
11. Levi Tetrault – A shutdown type defender, Tetrault showed his leadership abilities last season captaining the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midgets to an OHL Cup semi-final berth, and was selected to represent the Alliance at the OHL Gold Cup. A 4th round selection of the OHL’s Guelph Storm, Tetrault is destined for a Junior B role next year, likely in Chatham, to allow him time to develop, particularly in such a deep organization. The Storm however, have a history of developing players right, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Tetrault find OHL action around Christmas. He’ll need to develop his offensive game in Junior B this season.
I find your articles very funny. I don’t know where you get your information from but there are many misconceptions. I suggest you do your research before you publish such articles. The maroons do NOT only have one underage card, there are at least two. Brady Pataki never played with the maroons once this past season. I find it very annoying that you constantly put down Harrogate in every article you write when he lead his team in points in the Alliance playoffs. It is very gutsy and unprofessional of you to assume that he has no chance of playing in the OHL this year. These articles are a JOKE. If you’re going to put a kid down in EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE, at least make it a little more discreet.
Thank you for your feedback Lynda. Research definitely has been done on these articles, including watching all of these players play dozens of times over the past few years, and talking with scouts and coaches.
Harrogate is a very skilled young hockey player. He’s on the list, which is an accomplishment in itself, and he’s only compared to the other players because they are his age group peers.
As for playing with the Maroons (which I’m aware they have more than one underage card), it does not predict success at a higher level. Brady Pataki IS closer to playing in the OHL, and may sign with Sudbury very soon.
If this article came across as “putting down” Brendan or any other player, we sincerely apologize. This article is CELEBRATING these athletes.