The Class of 2011 on TPS (Oct - Nov)

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Continuing from where I left off yesterday, October and November featured a number of 2011 eligible players we'd consider sleepers or under the radar guys. Obviously we talked to more 1st round players too but it was in this point of the year that we introduced fans to a player who wasn't even ranked by Central Scouting who ended up on their final list (and will get drafted higher than he is ranked). And not just players but coaches, scouts and media folks who cover specific, key prospects as well.


October

Sam Jardine - The top ranked player from the AJHL. He was pegged as a late round guy even back in October, fell out of the rankings by the end of the year but may benefit from Camrose hosting the Royal Bank Cup. The blueliner is headed to Ohio State to play for the Buckeyes.

Ty Rattie - He was a points machine when he played in Airdrie, impressed as a rookie in Portland too and so we wanted to get him on the show early in the season. This was just a couple of weeks into the WHL campaign but already Rattie was making noise. (Photo: Bryan Heim / WHL.ca)

Ryan Tesink - We spoke with a number of members of the Saint John Sea Dogs this year but we caught Tesink at what may have been his peak this past season.

Boone Jenner - The Oshawa Generals forward was highly ranked back in the Fall and still is today. We chatted at length with him and he told us how and why Mike Richards is the guy he tries to emulate.

Tyler Biggs - Believe it or not, there was a time when Biggs was hyped as a top-10 guy and that's when we had him on the show. He also gave us a pretty good rundown on teammate Rocco Grimaldi.

Colin Smith - The skilled Edmonton kid who plays in Kamloops. I caught up with him at Rexall Place after a game with the Oil Kings. Smith went on to play for Canada at the U18s in April.

Dylan Willick - It was after this interview that we extended an invitation to Willick to do some blogging with us, and if you missed those entries I recommend clicking on his name under the labels tab on the right. A really solid sleeper pick here.

Matt Puempel - One of the most natural goal scorers in the draft this year. It was unfortunate that injury cut his season short but we were happy to have spoken with him earlier in the year.

Brett Ritchie - The big power forward from Sarnia was in our spotlight right before Halloween. Is this a guy who goes earlier than projected because of his size?

Michael St. Croix - Our first conversation with the Oil Kings forward this past year. The team was still struggling out of the gate at this point before making their major turnaround. How did he sound to you?

Sam Mellor - One of the top rated players out of the BCHL after Central Scouting's preliminary rankings. We spoke with him about the 2010 WJAC in Penticton. An example of how not all players are comfortable with the interview side of things. (Photo: Andy Devlin / Hockey Canada)

Andy Kemper - The voice of the Portland Winterhawks gave us his perspective on eligible players like Ty Rattie and Sven Bartschi.

B.J. MacDonald - One of NHL Central Scouting's top guys, we discussed a number of 2011 players eligible out of the WHL including David Musil, Sven Bartschi, Colin Jacobs, Ty Rattie, Shane McColgan and the 2010 WJAC.

Tim Roszell - The voice of the Saint John Sea Dogs gave us a rundown on the plethora of players he watches every night who are eligible for 2011.

Duncan Siemens - The big, physical blueliner from the Saskatoon Blades talked to us in mid-November about the way the year was shaping up.

E.J. McGuire - In one of our final conversations with the Director of Central Scouting, we went over the preliminary rankings and talked about a number of the players at the top of each league's listing.

Sam Cosentino - Our CHL Insider who joins us every Tuesday had some early comments about the 2011 draft rankings when they first came out in November.

Christopher Gibson - The goalie born in Finland who played in Saskatchewan and sounds like he's from Quebec. One of the interviews from this year that we'll remember for a long time.

David Musil - The Vancouver Giants defenceman spoke with us after a loss in Edmonton to the Oil Kings. A scout commented to me after hearing this interview that his questions about Musil's intelligence were no longer limited to "on the ice". You tell me what you think.

Mark McNeill - The big power forward from the Prince Albert Raiders talked to us in advance of a stop in Edmonton to play the Oil Kings.