Aaron
Vickers
April 11, 2023

Draft eligible Colby Barlow featured in OHL coaches poll

There’s no doubting the offensive prowess of Colby Barlow.

Barlow, No. 16 in FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2023 NHL Draft, was among the notable names in a pair of offensive categories in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2022-23 season.

He topped Western Conference skaters in the ‘best shot,’ ‘hardest shot,’ and ‘most dangerous around the net’ categories.

“Barlow has an elite shot,” FCHockey scout Austin Broad said. “He can generate power from any angle and has a deceptive release coupled with great accuracy that makes him a lethal threat from anywhere in the offensive zone. When it comes to net front play there aren’t many better in this draft class. When he is engaged he is a monster and impossible to deal with. His strength and instincts around the net are top notch.

“My only question is the consistency, which he rounded out as the season went along. He has the makings of great power forward in the NHL.”

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference. Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team.

Below are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners, including their final point totals in brackets:

Most Underrated Player

Eastern Conference
1. Beau Jelsma, Barrie Colts (21)
2. Paul Christopoulos, North Bay Battalion (18)
3. Patrick Thomas, Hamilton Bulldogs (16)

Western Conference
1. Jacob Maillet, Windsor Spitfires (21)
2. Braeden Bowman, Guelph Storm (19)
T-3. Kirill Kudriavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (12)
T-3. Marcus Limpar-Lantz, Sarnia Sting (12)

Most Improved Player

Eastern Conference
1. Sahil Panwar, Hamilton Bulldogs (23)
2. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (21)
3. Dylan Roobroeck, Oshawa Generals (20)

Western Conference
1. Alex Christopoulos, Windsor Spitfires (35)
2. Tristan Bertucci, Flint Firebirds (23)
3. Max Namestnikov, Guelph Storm (13)

Smartest Player

Eastern Conference
1. Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts (41) – finished t-1st in 2021-22
2. Logan Morrison, Ottawa 67’s (22) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
3. Tucker Robertson, Peterborough Petes (20) – finished 3rd in 2021-22

Western Conference
1. Amadeus Lombardi, Flint Firebirds (39)
2. Shane Wright, Windsor Spitfires (12) – finished t-1st in Eastern Conference in 2021-22, 2nd in 2019-20
T-3. Sasha Pastujov, Sarnia Sting (9)
T-3. Cooper Walker, Guelph Storm (9)

Hardest Worker

Eastern Conference
1. Ryan Gagnier, Oshawa Generals (31)
2. Paul Ludwinski, Kingston Frontenacs (14)
3. Charlie Callaghan, Mississauga Steelheads (13)

Western Conference
1. Matthew Maggio, Windsor Spitfires (30) – finished t-3rd in 2021-22
2. Zacharie Giroux, Flint Firebirds (18)
3. Mark Duarte, Soo Greyhounds (15)

Best Playmaker

Eastern Conference
1. Logan Morrison, Ottawa 67’s (27) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Evan Vierling, Barrie Colts (19)
3. Matvey Petrov, North Bay Battalion (18)

Western Conference
1. Ty Voit, Sarnia Sting (35)
2. Amadeus Lombardi, Flint Firebirds (29)
3. Matthew Poitras, Guelph Storm (21)

Most Dangerous In Goal Area

Eastern Conference
1. Avery Hayes, Peterborough Petes (25)
2. Ethan Cardwell, Barrie Colts (20)
3. David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves (19)

Western Conference
1. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (26)
2. Matthew Maggio, Windsor Spitfires (24)
3. Nolan Burke, Sarnia Sting (19)

Best Skater

Eastern Conference
1. Jon-Randall Avon, Peterborough Petes (22) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Pavel Mintyukov, Ottawa 67’s (19)
3. Nick Lardis, Hamilton Bulldogs (13)

Western Conference
1. Spencer Sova, Erie Otters (29)
2. Oliver Peer, Windsor Spitfires (21)
3. Hunter Haight, Saginaw Spirit (19)

Best Shot

Eastern Conference
1. Kyle McDonald, North Bay Battalion (30)
2. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (20) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
3. Brennan Othmann, Peterborough Petes (18) – finished 1st in Western Conference in 2021-22

Western Conference
1. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (38) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
2. Gavin Hayes, Flint Firebirds (21)
3. Francesco Arcuri, Kitchener Rangers (15)

Hardest Shot

Eastern Conference
1. Ty Nelson, North Bay Battalion (39)
2. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (20)
3. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (11)

Western Conference
T-1. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (27) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
T-1. Logan Mailloux, London Knights (27)
2. Michael Renwick, Windsor Spitfires (19)
3. Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers (11)

Best Stickhandler

Eastern Conference
1. Logan Morrison, Ottawa 67’s (30)
2. David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves (19)
3. Evan Vierling, Barrie Colts (16)

Western Conference
1. Ty Voit, Sarnia Sting (30) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
2. Amadeus Lombardi, Flint Firebirds (20)
3. Filip Mesar, Kitchener Rangers (14)

Best on Faceoffs

Eastern Conference
1. Cameron Tolnai, Ottawa 67’s (25)
2. Lawson Sherk, Hamilton Bulldogs (15)
3. Jacob Frasca, Barrie Colts (14)

Western Conference
1. Matyas Sapovaliv, Saginaw Spirit (22)
2. Ethan Hay, Flint Firebirds (21)
3. Sean McGurn, London Knights (17)

Best Bodychecker

Eastern Conference
1. Liam Arnsby, North Bay Battalion (23) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
T-2. Charlie Callaghan, Mississauga Steelheads (20)
T-2. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (20)
3. Artyom Grushnikov, Hamilton Bulldogs (13)

Western Conference
1. Nolan Dillingham, Sarnia Sting (37)
2. Artyom Kulakov, Erie Otters (15)
T-3. Roberto Mancini, Saginaw Spirit (10)
T-3. Daniil Sobolev, Windsor Spitfires (10)

Best Shot Blocker

Eastern Conference
1. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (26)
2. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (23) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
3. Tommy Budnick, Kingston Frontenacs (12)

Western Conference
1. Cameron Morton, Erie Otters (22)
2. Kirill Kudriavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (18)
3. Chandler Romeo, Guelph Storm (12)

Best Defensive Forward

Eastern Conference
1. Liam Arnsby, North Bay Battalion (28) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
2. Ryan Gagnier, Oshawa Generals (21)
3. Cameron Tolnai, Ottawa 67’s (11)

Western Conference
1. Jacob Maillet, Windsor Spitfires (22)
2. Ethan Hay, Flint Firebirds (20)
T-3. Nolan Burke, Sarnia Sting (14)
T-3. Cooper Walker, Guelph Storm (14) – finished 2nd in 2021-22

Best Penalty Killer

Eastern Conference
1. Liam Arnsby, North Bay Battalion (37) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
2. Ryan Gagnier, Oshawa Generals (22)
3. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (15)

Western Conference
1. Ethan Del Mastro, Sarnia Sting (28) – finished 1st in Eastern Conference in 2021-22
2. Reid Valade, Kitchener Rangers (16) – finished t-3rd in 2021-22
3. Matyas Sapovaliv, Saginaw Spirit (12)

Best Offensive Defenseman

Eastern Conference
1. Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts (43) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Pavel Mintyukov, Ottawa 67’s (19)
3. Ty Nelson, North Bay Battalion (16) – finished 3rd in 2021-22

Western Conference
1. Christian Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (27) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
T-2. Michael Buchinger, Guelph Storm (16)
T-2. Logan Mailloux, London Knights (16)
3. Dmitri Kuzmin, Flint Firebirds (13)

Best Defensive Defenseman

Eastern Conference
1. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (32)
2. Braden Haché, Barrie Colts (20)
3. Paul Christopoulos, North Bay Battalion (12)

Western Conference
1. Ethan Del Mastro, Sarnia Sting (38) – finished 1st in Eastern Conference in 2021-22
2. Kirill Kudriavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (12)
3. Nicholas DeAngelis, Windsor Spitfires (11)

Best Puckhandling Goaltender

Eastern Conference
1. Domenic DiVincentiis, North Bay Battalion (32)
2. Michael Simpson, Peterborough Petes (18)
3. Ivan Zhigalov, Kingston Frontenacs (11)

Western Conference
1. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (29)
2. Brett Brochu, London Knights (28) – finished 1st in 2021-22
3. Benjamin Gaudreau, Sarnia Sting (10)

Best Shootout Shooter

Eastern Conference
1. Tucker Robertson, Peterborough Petes (32)
2. Kyle Jackson, North Bay Battalion (15)
3. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (14)

Western Conference
1. George Diaco, London Knights (20)
2. Filip Mesar, Kitchener Rangers (17)
3. Luca Del Bel Belluz, Sarnia Sting (16)

Best Shootout Goaltender

Eastern Conference
1. Domenic DiVincentiis, North Bay Battalion (33)
2. Collin MacKenzie, Ottawa 67’s (21)
3. Michael Simpson, Peterborough Petes (19)

Western Conference
1. Brett Brochu, London Knights (34) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Marco Costantini, Kitchener Rangers (14)
T-3. Benjamin Gaudreau, Sarnia Sting (13) – finished t-2nd in 2021-22
T-3. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (13)


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