It's draft time at the OTWT Headquarters

The MLB, NHL, and NBA drafts are right around the corner and the previews magazines are here.

Please be nice to your trophies

As the European soccer season winds to a close, people are collecting trophies all over the place and some players are having a hard time handling the trophies.

Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenberg drops Dutch title trophy


Sergio Ramos drops the Copa del Rey


While its not a soccer trophy, the Spokane Chiefs break the Memorial Cup in 2008, classic, one of my favorites

Memorial Cup is here

The Memorial Cup starts tonight with the defending champion Windsor taking on the host Brandon. Its one of my favorite events and is always a great way to see the future of hockey. Rogers Sportsnet previews the fun.

The 2010 Memorial Cup in Jerseys

The Memorial Cup kicks off on Friday in Brandon and boy I can not wait. The Memorial Cup is Canada's version of the NCAA Final Four. Here is the jerseys of the teams that will be battling it out to be called Canada's Best Junior Hockey team. This years event features defending champion the Windsor Spitfires, Calgary Hitman, host Brandon Wheat Kings, and Moncton Wildcats. It should be an awesome event just like it was last years.

Windsor Spitfires (home)

Windsor Spitfires (road)


Calgary Hitman (Home)

Calgary Hitman (Road)

OTWT NHL Draft Notes

Another day, another draft, and another edition of the OTWT Scouting Department Notebook.

So here we go:

• There are a ton of Islander fans at the draft glad to see they made the trip to Montreal.
• Pronger to the Flyers, now all they need is a goaltender. The Flyers gave up a ton two first rounders and a young defenseman.
• Garth Snow had to pick Tavares. If not the fans would have burnt down the arena.
• Love the GM trying to speak French in honor of the draft being in Montreal. They sound like I did when I took French in middle school.
• Avs pick Matt Duchene gave everyone a lesson on the different sticks players use.
• Just saw a guy at the Ottawa Senators table playing on Twitter.
• Having Toronto GM Brian Burke wired for sound is awesome, so refreshing.
• Ottawa gets a steal in Jared Cowan, was great as a 17 year old in the Memorial Cup in 2007.
• All of the European draft picks have the classic slim ties. They are classic.
• The Preds selected my favorite player Windsors Ryan Ellis. Love him.
• Love the video of the high school players drafted, its like the old videos of european basketball players that are drafted in the NBA draft.

Staying on Top

Windsor Spitfire fans thought things could not get any better after they won the Memorial Cup last month, but the Memorial Cup could just be the start of it. With the glow of the Memorial Cup still in the air Windsor management decided to do what any good group would do: strike fast.

The staff talked defenseman Cam Fowler(right) out of his commitment to Notre Dame and persuaded him to join the defending Memorial Cup champions. Hey anyone who turns down Notre Dame in any sport is a hero of mine.

"In signing Cam, we feel that this marks one of the most significant moves that our hockey club has made since the inception of our ownership," commented Windsor Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel to Our Sports Central." Cam will have an instant impact on our team when he joins us next season."

Fowler joins Taylor Hall giving the Spitfires two of the top five ranked prospects in the 2010 NHL Draft.

If all goes as plan, Fowler and Hall could join Brampton's 2000 draft class Rostilav Kleska, Columbus, and Raffi Torres, Islanders, as the only team mates to be drafted in the top five in the last decade.

In addition to have two of the best 2010 draft prospects, the Spitfires also will be returning one of the best teams with defensive point man Ryan Ellis leading the charge. So for a team that had never won a Memorial Cup before this year, the next one might be a little easier.

The Steal of the 2008 NHL Draft

During the 2008 NHL Draft, Kelowna Rockets defenseman Tyler Myers had to wait till the 12th picks for his name to be called, but during the last years he might be developing into the steal of the draft for the Buffalo Sabres.

The six foot six inches defenseman is a tower of strength in his own end, but what surprises you is that he skates so well for a big man. During the World Junior Championships this year, we was a tower of strength on Canada's drive for their five straight title in the end. Then after he returned to the Rockets he was one of the driving force behind them making to the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Myers showed his true class for the Rockets during their opening game 4-1 win over host Rimouski in the Memorial Cup last night. He scored a fantastic goal, and was a tower of power in the Rockets back line.

Every time a defense man stands that tall the comparisons to Chris Pronger start rolling in, but this might not be that far from the truth. Traditionally a man that stands that tall does not move this well, but that is one of Myers best skills.

Before the Memorial Cup started he signed the Sabres and come next year he might be showing people that he might be the best player to come out of last years draft class.

A Little Slice of History

For the last couple of years hockey has been on the back burner, but this year after the great World Junior Championships, my love for hockey was back. During our recent trip Toronto, Wifey and I found sometime to take a walk down to the Hockey Hall of Fame and in the end it was well worth it.

The original Stanley Cup

The current Stanley Cup, you can even walk up and touch it

Patrick Roy Canadians sweater as part of the 100th anniversary of the Habs exhibit.

Robinson, LaFluer, Savard do you really need to say anymore.

Super Mario, Simply the Best. You guys have the Great One, I'll take Super Mario any day of the week.

The next Syd the Kid, John Tavares. His All Star Jersey

The Memorial Cup exhibit, Junior Hockey's version of the Final Four.

World Hockey Championship's Exhibit

There are great exhibits all of the hall, but standing next to the Stanley Cup is something that I will never forget. Here are more photos of my trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame.