September 20, 2025 Peterborough Petes 1 vs Brantford Bulldogs 5 (OHL) at TD Civic Centre
By Zach Morris who is an Editorial Manager for Draft Prospects Hockey
#16 LW Adam Novotný, Peterborough Petes (OHL), 6’1” 204lbs, L, DOB 11.13.2007
Adam Novotný is a steady, well-rounded winger who plays a reliable game, although he was fairly quiet for the Petes in this one. He showcased some flashes of his skill and potential in small spurts that ultimately didn’t amount to anything substantial. His skating is a strong asset; he moves fluidly, uses crossovers well to generate speed, and has enough pace to challenge defenders wide or keep pressure on the forecheck. While not a burner, his stride is efficient, helping him sustain tempo throughout shifts. Offensively, Novotný shows the most confidence as a distributor. His vision, particularly on the power play, allows him to identify gaps and make clean passes under pressure. He is not shy about carrying the puck into traffic and can execute possession plays in tight areas. His shot is serviceable and accurate enough to finish opportunities, though it lacks the deceptive release or raw power of more natural goal scorers. He looked more comfortable as a secondary scoring option who complements more dynamic linemates rather than driving offence on his own. Defensively, he uses his size and long reach to close off passing lanes and apply pressure along the boards. He is positionally sound and demonstrated good habits in his own zone, though his physical game is somewhat inconsistent. At times, he can separate opponents from the puck effectively, but he does not consistently impose himself physically. Continued development in this area, paired with his reliable stick work, would make him a more impactful two-way presence. Novotný projects as a middle-six winger who can be trusted in multiple situations, including special teams. His skating, vision, and all-around responsibility give him a safe floor as a supportive player who contributes secondary offence while not being a defensive liability. His style of play resembles that of Alex Killorn, a versatile forward who complements skill with dependable two-way play and provides consistent, though unspectacular, offensive production.
Skater Category Summarization
Skating: 7.5
Speed/Pace: 7
Puck Skill: 7
Scoring Ability: 6.5
Playmaking Ability: 7
Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
Character: 6
Physicality: 5
Defensive Play: 6
#22 LW Aiden O’Donnell, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), 6’1” 172lbs, L, DOB 01.03.2008
Aiden O’Donnell is a quick, opportunistic winger who displayed a good mix of pace, vision, and defensive awareness throughout the game. He brings good length and an effective reach, though he will need to continue filling out his frame to maximize his effectiveness against heavier opponents. His skating is smooth and allows him to get up to speed quickly, which he uses effectively on the forecheck and penalty kill. Which was on full display throughout the game as he was consistently making an impact. With strong anticipation skills, he often positioned himself to break up plays, and his ability to pressure defenders led to turnovers. One of his most notable tools is his quick shot. He has an extremely quick release and showed he is capable of beating goaltenders clean when given space. He also showed flashes of net-front presence on the power play, willing to battle for positioning and create screens. While he can move the puck adequately and shows vision, his offensive game currently leans more toward shooting than playmaking. Continued development in his puck skills and passing touch will help diversify his attack and make him less predictable in the offensive zone. Defensively, O’Donnell shines with his active stick and willingness to pressure opponents. On the penalty kill, he read plays well, intercepted passes, and forced mistakes that can quickly turn into counterattack opportunities. He showed that he can be counted on for tough situations. The main area for growth lies in his physical game, as he was outmuscled in puck battles and will need added strength to consistently win board play. O’Donnell projects as a bottom-six energy winger who can bring penalty-kill value, apply pressure on the forecheck, and chip in secondary scoring. With continued development, particularly if his offensive tools round out further, he has the potential to grow into a middle-six contributor. His playing style is reminiscent of Blake Coleman, a responsible two-way winger who uses speed, anticipation, and work ethic to make an impact in all game states while contributing timely goals. Although he lacks the grit that Coleman brings.
Skater Category Summarization
Skating: 7
Speed/Pace: 7
Puck Skill: 6.5
Scoring Ability: 7
Playmaking Ability: 6
Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
Character: 6.5
Physicality: 5
Defensive Play: 7
#24 RW Cooper Dennis, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), 5’7” 160lbs, R, DOB 05.07.2007
Cooper Dennis is a small but dynamic winger who thrived on pace and skill. He relied heavily on his skating and puck control to create space and generate offense. He is a fast skater who accelerates quickly, uses crossovers to build speed through the neutral zone, and employs strong stop-start ability to evade defenders. His edgework, pivots, and turns are polished, allowing him to change direction fluidly and maintain possession under pressure. He is comfortable carrying the puck at full speed, showing solid stickhandling ability that makes him a threat in transition. Offensively, he blends quick hands with a sharp wrist shot that can surprise goaltenders when released in stride. He demonstrates good vision in the offensive zone and is capable of finding open teammates on the power play, though his passing touch is less refined than his shooting. He leans more toward being a shooter than a natural playmaker, and at this stage, his decision-making can be inconsistent under duress. His combination of pace, puck skill, and awareness makes him a capable offensive contributor who can shine when given time and space. Defensively, he competes but is limited by his size and strength. His positioning and awareness were adequate, but his lack of physical presence made it difficult for him to consistently win battles along the boards or in net-front areas. Adding muscle to his frame will be key if he wants to be more effective without the puck at higher levels. While he may never be a shutdown forward, he has the speed and intelligence to become serviceable defensively, particularly on the forecheck where his quickness allows him to pressure opponents. He projects as a depth winger whose speed, quick shot, and offensive instincts could help him get him a role as a situational scoring threat and secondary contributor on the power play. His style of play is reminiscent of Conor Garland, an undersized but energetic winger who uses quickness, vision, and strong offensive instincts to offset his lack of size while still finding ways to impact games at the NHL level.
Skater Category Summarization
Skating: 7.5
Speed/Pace: 7.5
Puck Skill: 7
Scoring Ability: 6.5
Playmaking Ability: 6
Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
Character: 6
Physicality: 5
Defensive Play: 5
#77 D Ben Radley, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), 6’0” 170lbs, L, DOB 07.29.2007
Radley is a steady, two-way defenseman who relied on vision, awareness, and positioning to make an impact at both ends of the ice during the game. His skating is adequate, with smooth pivots and decent acceleration, though not explosive. He can be beat by faster skaters but his defensive awareness and positioning allows him to stay in plays. He is more effective with his mobility in short spaces, where his pivots and agility allow him to adjust to attacking forwards, cut off lanes, and maintain defensive gaps. While he doesn’t carry elite footspeed, his ability to anticipate and position himself compensates for this limitation. Offensively, he plays a calm, structured game and is most effective as a facilitator. He has strong vision from the blue line and showed he is capable of quarterbacking a power play, moving the puck crisply to his teammates and keeping plays alive with timely decisions. His puck skills are functional but not flashy, as he focuses more on distribution and maintaining puck movement than individual creativity. His game is built on efficiency and consistency in keeping plays flowing. Defensively, he demonstrated his best attributes. He read developing plays well, kept himself in good position, and showed the discipline to stay engaged without overcommitting. On the penalty kill, he was reliable, using his reach to block cross-ice passing lanes and sacrificing his body to get into shooting lanes. While not overly physical, he did not shy away from contact and engaged in board battles, using leverage and stick positioning to separate players from the puck. He projects as a steady bottom-pair defenseman with the upside to develop into a reliable second-pair role if his offensive continues to grow. His ability to quarterback a power play, paired with his defensive awareness and penalty-kill contributions, makes him a versatile option for a coaching staff. His game is reminiscent of Erik Cernak, a dependable two-way defenseman who provides stability, shot blocking, and understated puck movement rather than dynamic offense.
Skater Category Summarization
Skating: 6.5
Speed/Pace: 6.5
Puck Skill: 6
Scoring Ability: 5
Playmaking Ability: 6.5
Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
Character: 7
Physicality: 6.5
Defensive Play: 7.5
#91 C Luca Testa, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), 6’1” 184lbs, L, DOB 04.10.2006
Testa is an offensive-minded center who blended speed, strength on the puck, and creativity to generate chances. His skating allowed him to play the game with pace. He accelerated quickly and was able to use that speed to create separation, both in transition and off the rush. He was particularly dangerous when given space to attack defenders one-on-one, using his balance, puck protection, and quick hands to drive toward the net. His ability to fend off defenders while maintaining puck control was highlighted by a memorable breakaway goal in which he used his off-hand to hold off pressure before finishing with a one-handed backhand tuck. Offensively, he brings a well-rounded toolkit. He possesses a strong wrist shot with quick release, a capable backhand, and the creativity to score in multiple ways. His vision is another asset, as he identifies options quickly and can make strong passes to set up teammates. He can be a line driver at his best, pushing pace and keeping defenders on their heels. His puck skills and confidence with the puck allowed him to hold possession under pressure and create opportunities even in tight areas. However, his decision-making and discipline remain areas for improvement. His hockey sense is inconsistent, as he can make high-skill plays in one sequence but make careless plays in another. A late hit that resulted in an unnecessary penalty demonstrated the risk. He needs to refine his judgment and ensure his aggressiveness does not become a liability. Defensively, he can be disengaged at times, showing less commitment to backchecking and zone coverage than expected for a center. With improved consistency and focus without the puck, he could become a more trusted all-situations player. He projects as a middle-six center with offensive upside, capable of driving play with speed and creativity while contributing on the power play. If he can hone in his decision-making and round out his defensive habits, his ceiling rises further. His style of play resembles Dylan Strome, an offensively skilled center who thrives when given space and confidence but requires structure and discipline to maximize his impact at the NHL level. Although his ceiling is much lower.
Skater Category Summarization
Skating: 7
Speed/Pace: 7.5
Puck Skill: 7.5
Scoring Ability: 7.5
Playmaking Ability: 7
Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
Character: 6
Physicality: 6.5
Defensive Play: 5