This week’s prospects include Stelio Mattheos (Brandon Wheat Kings), Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 67’s) & Samuel Bucek (Shawinigan Cataractes).

Bryan Heim

Stelio Mattheos - Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Position: C
Born: June 14, 1999 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height: 6’1"
Weight: 194 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2014 WHL Draft – Round #1 (1st overall) by the Brandon Wheat Kings
Stelio Mattheos is relishing his time as a top-six forward on Brandon after a thirty-point rookie season and a Memorial Cup birth. He uses his balance to fend off defenders on the outside as he powers himself to the net. Keeps play alive until the whistle blows with a determined effort along the boards and always finishes his checks. Keeps his feet moving through traffic with a quick, compact and powerful stride. Puts all his weight into his shot and hides his release well. Has rounded his game into an effective two-way forward and plays a full 200-foot game. A real competitive centreman who is not afraid to block shots and win the loose puck battles. With Nolan Patrick currently on the shelf with a long-term injury, the attention shifts to Mattheos as the ‘other’ draft eligible centre on Brandon.  

DID YOU KNOW? During his Bantam season in 2013-14 playing for the Winnipeg Monarchs, Mattheos posted an amazing 53 goals and 103 points in only 32 games putting him in exclusive company with the likes of other centres such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Tyler Benson who posted similar numbers in Bantam. Mattheos then went on to be drafted first overall in the WHL Draft the following Spring.

Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Sasha Chmelevski - Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Position: C
Born: June 9, 1999 – Northville, Michigan, United States
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 186 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2015 OHL Draft - Round #1 (10th Overall) by the Sarnia Sting
Sasha Chmelevski is a real speedster who can fly down the ice and generate offence. Smart, gifted and a real creative player with the puck on his stick. Scary one-on-one and can dangle through defenders at top speed while keeping the puck close to him. Stickhandling is impressive and makes it very hard for defenders to take the puck away from him. Real shifty skater who can change directions sharply and maintain puck control. Top power play centre who likes to shoot and will score plenty of power play goals this season either in front of the net collecting rebounds or getting himself open in the slot. A pure goal scorer with a great release and likes to shoot on the fly. His size and speed make him a real offensive zone threat away from the puck as getting himself to open ice and anticipating the play. A threat to score whenever he is on the ice.

DID YOU KNOW?  Chmelevski was a part of one of the biggest trades in OHL history when he was acquired by Ottawa from the Sarnia Sting in a blockbuster deal that sent current Philadelphia Flyer Travis Konecny to the Sarnia Sting last January. The trade saw the Ottawa 67’s send Konecny, Sam Studnicka and a draft pick to Sarnia in exchange for Chmelevski, Chase Campbell, eight draft picks and two conditional draft picks. Shortly after the trade, Chmelevski injured his collarbone and was done for the season.

Jean Levasseur and the Shawinigan Cataractes

Samuel Bucek - Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 
Position: LW
Born: December 19, 1998 – Nitra, Slovakia 
Height: 6’3"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2016 CHL Import Draft – Round #1 (48th overall) by the Shawinigan Cataractes
Samuel Bucek is a power winger with a real scoring touch this season with Shawinigan averaging over a point per game. Doesn’t play a whole lot of special teams which makes him valuable five-on-five player. Likes to be around the puck and the scrums and works the gritty areas of the ice. Good North-South skater who will drive the front and finishes his checks. Can shift gears and has a big stride that helps him get up ice quickly. Soft hands for a big kid with accurate passes but is a shoot first player. Big kid needs to engage more physically and develop mobility and his overall play away from the puck. A strong competitor that brings a tireless work ethic every night. Still trying to find his identity of whether he is a top-six forward or a role-playing checker on the bottom six.

DID YOU KNOW? During the 2015-16 season, Bucek left his native Slovakia for North America and landed in the United States Hockey League with the Chicago Steel where he went on to post four goals and 10 points in 18 games. Bucek was then selected in the CHL Import Draft and reported to Shawinigan.