With each edition of the SHL entry draft, every franchise has the opportunity to pick up vital assets for the future, and this season's draft was no different. However, one team increased their chances of finding that one (or more) player(s) that could alter the course of the franchise forever. 

The Toronto North Stars were the team to watch at the S70 SHL Entry Draft, with a combined 10 picks in the first 2 rounds (25% of the picks!). With an embarrassment of picks, and a strong draft class, the stage was set for Toronto to make a big splash. 

In this article, we are going to break down the Toronto North Stars’ picks in the S70 SHL Draft by draft order. What the team sees in the prospects, their strengths, weaknesses, and possible career trajectory in the SHL.
*projections/ratings based on S69 regular season

Pick 1 - 1st Round, 4th Overall
Alvin Wong
S69 - LW - YUM - 1st line
GP:66
G:17 | A:22 | PTS:39 | +/-:-24 | GWG:3
BLK:52 | HIT:112 | GA:42 | TA:31 | PIM:44
GR:75 OGR: 75 DGR: 71
@Eggcracker9

Toronto’s first pick in the draft was in the 1st round at 4th overall. It was a surprise to many including the player himself being picked at 4th overall. Alvin Wong was projected to go between picks 9-12, depending on which analyst you asked, he was ranked 18th in TPE going into the draft. He had a modest rookie season with the Yukon Malamutes, he is a well balanced player contributing at both ends with a complete 200ft game. As he won’t be leading the team in any stats in particular due to his playstyle, his intangibles come in the form of reliability and versatility. Alvin Wong led his team and fellow North Stars picks in Overall Game Rating at 75. This means on any given night, you can count on him having a solid game and having a positive impact while on the ice. He can play in any position, and also any situation as the Malamutes have used him heavily in both 5v5 and special teams.

Alvin will need to adjust his game to adapt to the speed of the SHL if he is looking to make the jump. Having the highest PIM(44) in the North Stars prospects is not something that will help him improve in the future. There is a fine line between playing an aggressive style and taking needless penalties that will hurt your team. His defensive game leaves more to be desired and will need some fine tuning in the SMJHL.

TPE and stats aside, the ceiling for Alvin Wong is high. He has shown consistent improvement since entering the league and will continue to grow his 200 foot game. Once he has a few more seasons under his belt, he is sure to break into the SHL with a deadly combination of offensive punch and defensive bite. 


Pick 2 - 1st Round, 6th Overall
Kyle Latreille
S69 - RW - GFG - 3rd line
GP: 66
G:17 | A:22 | PTS:39 | +/-:10 | GWG:4
BLK:32 | HIT:159 | GA:46 | TA:23 | PIM:16
GR:70 OGR: 70 DGR: 64
@Duga

The Toronto scouting department must have been putting in extra work before the draft, seeing things other teams may have missed, diamonds in the rough. At 6th overall, another player picked ahead of projections, Kyle Latreille. Breaking into the league together, the younger of the Latreille brothers (we’ll see the other on later) has shown he is an offensive threat night in, night out. While posting the same goals and assists as his draftmate, Alvin Wong(1st line). Kyle made the same production with less ice-time from the 3rd line on a strong Great Falls(4th in standings) roster, which is impressive. We are looking forward to seeing what Kyle can do with increased ice time and responsibility coming into his sophomore season in the SMJHL.

While Kyle Latreille’s play style is focused on offensive production, his defensive game will need to grow as well if he is looking to continue his production on the 1st or 2nd lines. With increased ice-time and added responsibilities, the competition will only get tougher, so being responsible in your own end will be key to continuing his success in his career. Flaws in his game that were hidden by 3rd line minutes will be more prevalent once he moves up in the lineup. 

Kyle Latreille’s ceiling is very high, he will be an offensive cornerstone for Toronto for years to come. Ranked 5th in TPE for forwards as of the draft, his stock will continue to rise as he develops in the SMJHL. Toronto has certainly selected a future superstar with this pick. 


Pick 3 - 1st Round, 8th Overall
Ace Lightning
S69 - LD - NBB - 2rd line
GP: 66
G:4 | A:13 | PTS:17 | +/-:-24 | GWG:1
BLK:79 | HIT:133 | GA:13 | TA:52 | PIM:42
GR:66 OGR: 63 DGR: 69
@hockeyfan

The S70 draft class was a strong showing for Defense(wo)men, having 6 D drafted in the first 10 picks. Ace Lightning is the sole D pick up in the draft for Toronto, as the team already has a developing D corps with a few ageing players that will need to be replaced. Ace, ranked 2nd highest in TPE as a D-man in this draft (7th overall), is an excellent puck moving defenceman and is able to use his skillset to play in all situations. He anchored the 2nd line on the left side with Nevada, and was instrumental in the retool/rebuild on the Battleborn roster. While the stats don’t reflect his impact, the strength of his game lies in the ability to use his speed and playmaking prowess to break out of the zone and create scoring chances for his team on the counter attack. 

However, having the ability to gain control of the puck is needed first in order to turn it around for a counter attack. Ace will need to improve his defensive positioning and IQ before he can become a consistent threat as a counter attack specialist. Improving in those areas will help Ace avoid taking penalties in his own zone, being in the right spot will help alleviate making desperation plays. Although not the most important stat, a -24 statline is indicative of a team that has some defensive work to do. 

With a more well rounded game, Ace Lightning has the potential to become one of the premier puck moving defensemen in the SHL. If Toronto can find a suitable partner to compliment Ace’s strengths, they will have a formidable back end for years to come. 


Pick 4 - 1st Round, 14th Overall
Nathan Cormier
S69 - RW - QCC - 3rd line
GP: 66
G:17 | A:36 | PTS:53 | +/-:18 | GWG:1
BLK:11 | HIT:161 | GA:49 | TA:29 | PIM:22
GR:74 OGR: 77 DGR: 63
@JR95

Where does one even start with explaining how great of a pick Nathan Cormier is? In his rookie campaign, Nathan was scoring at a 0.80 PPG pace with 53 points from the 3rd line. It’s performances like that that make championship teams, and it’s no surprise that it is exactly what happened in S69 for the Four Star Cup Champions Quebec City Citadelles. Cormier, like Kyle Latreille, is a shoot first and ask questions later kind of offensive threat. If Nathan Cormier’s performance from the 3rd line is any indication of what’s in store for the future, consider the league officially on notice. Touting one of the highest Offensive Game Ratings in the draft class, Toronto has hit a home run late in the first round. 

Similar to Latreille, playing sheltered 3rd line minutes does have the tendency to hide some of the weaknesses in a player's game. Nathan Cormier will need to work on his possession game, while having a knack for getting open and finishing plays, he struggles with moving the puck successfully to teammates in high pressure situations, leading to turnovers and counter attacks at the other end. With some off-season strength conditioning and passing drills, Cormier is primed to take the next step in his development. 

If Nathan Cormier continues to develop (and maybe win a few more Four Star Cups), his skill set would be much needed in the high scoring SHL. Toronto sat dead last in Goals For with 129 (1.92 per game) last season, so an injection of high powered offence would be a breath of fresh air. 


Pick 5 - 2nd Round, 23rd Overall
Rhett Carpet
S69 - G - NL - Backup
GP: 22
W:14 | L:6 | OTL:2 | SO:4 | GAA:2.15 | SV%:0.897
GR:66
@Carpy48

Rhett Carpet comes from a proud lineage of star goaltenders, and the Carpet name holds weight in the league. However, in a league that undervalues netminders, it is no surprise that Rhett Carpet was picked in the 2nd round despite being the 4th ranked player coming into the draft. Although not the highest ranked goalie in the draft class, he was the first goalie taken off the board out of the 4 that were taken this draft. Rhett put together an impressive rookie campaign as the backup stopper for a strong Newfoundland team that finished 5th in the standings. He ranks 5th overall in SV% in the whole SMJHL (minimum 10GP) and a ridiculous .636 win percentage. Without a doubt the Toronto North Stars trusts in the name and will be putting their faith into Rhett Carpet as their future #1 starter in the SHL. 

There’s not much to say that isn’t already common knowledge in terms of areas of improvement for young goaltenders in the league. With such a fast, high scoring league, Rhett Carpet has his work cut out for him, he just needs to get more repetitions in and mentally adjust to the next level in order to excel in the SHL. But with his pedigree, it’s not a question of if he succeeds, but when. 


Pick 6 - 2nd Round, 24th Overall
Smurfunkel Dothe 
S69 - RW - QCC - 1st line
GP: 66
G:17 | A:38 | PTS:55 | +/-:12 | GWG:3
BLK:30 | HIT:107 | GA:39 | TA:39 | PIM:24
GR:72 OGR: 72 DGR: 68
@SvgeMars

Moving into the second half of picks from the Toronto North Stars, the quality and potential of the draft picks do not drop off one bit. A testament to the strong draft class and scouting staff of the North Stars. The second of the 23-24 overall back to back picks, Toronto selected another Four Star Cup Champion in Smurfunkel Dothe. No one can deny the strategy here, picking players who have a record and experience of winning it all. Smurfunkel can do it all, although lacking in defensive development, he is willing to chip in any way he can to not become a liability on the back end. Putting up 55 points in his rookie season, the highest of all the North Stars prospects, once again shows that Toronto is serious in their commitment to improve on scoring and finally take the next step in their rebuild.

Like any offensively minded forward, the defensive side will leave more to be desired. However, in most cases, if you produce at a certain rate, your defensive shortfalls can be overlooked. This might work in the SMJHL, but if Smurfunkel wants to bring his game into the SHL, he will need to bring his defensive game up to par to at least the leagues minimum standard. A little bit of offseason training and work with the defensive coaches will surely help him not fall behind in his development. 

Toronto’s draft picks are forward heavy, especially on the wings, so it is hard to tell exactly where everyone will fit in, but as a group the top 2 lines will definitely be able to hold their own once this core steps into their prime. Wherever Toronto decides to put Smurfunkel Dothe, opponents will have to deal with Toronto’s 1A and 1B lines. 


Pick 7 - 2nd Round, 26th Overall
Josh Latreille 
S69 - RW - YUM - 2nd line
GP: 66
G:4 | A:11 | PTS:15 | +/-:-37 | GWG:0
BLK:32 | HIT:114 | GA:74 | TA:20 | PIM:42
GR:66 OGR: 57 DGR: 63
@Josh Latreille

Recognize the name? Josh Latreille is the older brother of 6th overall pick, Kyle. Although being selected in the later half of the second round, the contributions Josh can bring to the roster is just as important as his brother’s. Josh’s game is completely different from his younger brother (maybe it’s from being the older one, but who knows), he brings grit, toughness, and intimidation, all the intangibles that make a team truly tough to play against once the postseason rolls around. Josh is scrappy, feisty, and will stand up for his teammates. He will be an integral part of the core moving forward, protecting the likes of Smurfunkel Dothe and Nathan Cormier, and making sure other teams do not take liberties at the North Stars players.

Josh will fit in perfectly on the 3rd line, however if he doesn’t want to be seen as a one dimensional player, he can put in a few training sessions with either the offensive or defensive coaches, and not just hit the weights and sleds at the gym. The ceiling for Josh is unclear, as there are so many factors to look at, but he has the potential to be a solid depth player for Toronto, complimenting the stable of high scoring options they have drafted so far. 


Pick 8 - 2nd Round, 33rd Overall
William Tree
S69 - C - MET - N/A
GP: 58
G:14 | A:24 | PTS:38 | +/-:12 | GWG:2
BLK:24 | HIT:72 | GA:46 | TA:39 | PIM:12
GR:70 | OGR:66 | DGR:70
@Bubba Tree

Another pick with a family history in the SHL. William Tree ranked 30th in TPE in the draft class and had a respectable rookie season despite missing some games. All the underlying numbers have William Tree as a reliable producer, and a positive impact when he is on the ice (52.3%CF). William will be right at home on the 2nd or 3rd line, providing depth in the lineup and options on how Toronto will deploy its strategies. 

Tree has a well rounded game, and will need to continue his development in order for his game to translate to the next level. There are no glaring holes in his playstyle, so that is definitely a plus in the eyes of the coaching and development staff at Toronto. 


Pick 9 - 2nd Round, 38th Overall
Anthony Simmons II
S69 - RW - VAN - 2nd line
GP: 66
G:13 | A:22 | PTS:35 | +/-:-27 | GWG:2
BLK:50 | HIT:151 | GA:40 | TA:47 | PIM:26
GR:71 | OGR:71 | DGR:66
@"Starchychaff"

Toronto seems to have a strategy in the later picks to select players with a proven family track record. Anthony Simmons II is the 2nd Simmons to be drafted into the SHL in 3 seasons (S68). He will join Toronto with a chip on his shoulder, having something to prove to make up for the short SHL career of his namesake. Like the picks before him, Anthony Simmons II will provide Toronto with depth and options up front. 

He has a well rounded disciplined game that should play out well in the SHL. However, the athleticism needed in the SHL is demanding and his physicality lags behind the league a little. Hitting the gym and maxing out cardio sessions during the off season should help Anthony develop more physically and get his 5’8 frame filled out. 


Pick 10 - 2nd Round, 40th Overall
Wednesday Addams 
S69 - LW - VAN - 2nd line
GP: 66
G:8 | A:30 | PTS:38 | +/-:-32 | GWG:0
BLK:13 | HIT:196 | GA:55 | TA:25 | PIM:25
GR:72 | OGR:74 | DGR:64
@"Yagoyi"

Off ice distractions aside, Wednesday Addams is a steal of a pick for the Toronto North Stars. Ranked 3rd in TPE in the entire draft class, many teams decided to pass on the misunderstood forward. However, the management in Toronto must have seen something the others did not. Wednesday Addams has a strong commitment to the game, afterall, you don’t get to 3rd in your draft class by doing nothing. 

Hopefully that commitment will continue in the Toronto locker room, as every new season is a new opportunity to improve. Wednesday Addams had a good rookie campaign despite being on a weaker Vancouver squad (along with linemate Athony Simmons II). Although not looking like a physical threat, Wednesday Addams packs a punch, leading the entire SMJHL in hitting as a rookie with 196 hits. The only real question here is when the family comes to watch a game, does Thing have to buy a ticket? 


Toronto management (@Wally & @mcgriddleluver) will have a few busy seasons ahead of them tracking and developing their prospects, with all 10 picks from this draft expected to be sent down to the SMJHL to develop further. Season 70 seems to be another learn and grow season for Toronto, there will definitely be more picks and prospects coming to round out the roster. It seems Toronto might not be done rebuilding just yet, but have taken huge steps towards building a strong foundation to ice a not only a competitive team but a contending one in the future. Only time will tell in a few short seasons whether or not these picks will pan out for Toronto. At the end of Season 70, we will revisit these Toronto North Stars prospects to see how they have developed and if they are still on the same trajectory. 


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Great write up. Excited for the future in Toronto

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