With the final games being played on Sunday in the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League all five Jets prospects playing in those two leagues will be getting ready for playoffs which start on Thursday in the OHL and Friday in the WHL. We usually see the prospects at Development Camp in late June as well as at training camp and then they head to their respective junior clubs for the year and they aren’t usually back in Winnipeg until their junior season concludes and they end up being added to the Moose to get a taste of pro hockey.
OHL:
1. Kevin He (2024 4th): It was a big year for the prospect who was named captain of the IceDogs last season playing in 28 games with Niagara before he got dealt to powerhouse Flint where he concluded the season playing 32 games for the Firebirds. In his fourth full OHL season He finished with 39 goals 38 assists for 77 points in 60 games. He set a new career high in goals and points. His production jumped from 1.11 pts/g with Niagara to 1.41 with Flint which averages out to 1.29, which eclipses the 1.21 mark he set last season. His motor never stops, he celebrates every goal like he won his team a championship and it will be very interesting to see how his game translates to the pros.
Most productive game of the season: He had 2G 3A in January against Sarnia.
Playoffs: He and the 3rd ranked Firebirds will be taking on the 6th place Attack starting on Thursday.
2. Kieron Walton (2024 6th): Last year the Toronto kid caught everyone’s attention when he put up 92 points in 66 games which saw him finish 9th overall in the points race with the third most shots taken. How would he follow up in his fourth full season? He would set a new career high in goals getting to the 40-goal mark in the final game of the regular season. His pts/g increased slightly this season to 1.42 although interestingly his total decreased after he was dealt from Sudbury (1.58 pts/g) to Peterborough (1.24 pts/g). He finished 7th in points, 3rd (tied) in goals, 11th in assists, 1st (tied) in game-winning goals and 1st in shots (by a lot). Much like He, who coincidentally is one of Walton’s best friends, it will be interesting to see how his game translates to the pros. He did play four games with the Moose last season after his junior season concluded where he got his first pro point but the bigger curiosity is how he looks during a full year in the AHL.
Most productive game of the season: Ironically he had 2G 3A in October when he was still with Sudbury against his (eventual) new team Peterborough.
Playoffs: He and the 4th ranked Petes will be taking on the 5th place Battalion starting on Thursday.
3. Edison Engle (2025 6th): Last June the Jets added the Illinois product to their draft pool. His path has been laid out which saw him play last season in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, come to the OHL for this year with Brantford, but will see the left shot defenceman spend next season in the NCAA with Ohio State University. He played in 61 games for the top ranked club ending his season with three goals and 25 assists. Came out of the gate hot with an eight-game points streak (2G 10A).
Most productive game of the season: He had many two assist games but his 1G 1A contest in October against Peterborough stands out.
Playoffs: He and the 1st ranked Bulldogs will be taking on the 8th place Wolves starting on Friday.
4. Jacob Cloutier (2025 7th): We didn’t know much about Cloutier when his name was called last June by Winnipeg. We would learn that he spent Thanksgiving with Sidney Crosby and insight into his style of game during development camp. He followed up his first full season in the OHL by matching his points totals from the previous season scoring one less goal (22G vs 23G) but adding one more assist (25A vs 24A). He also scored four game-winning goals this season.
Most productive game of the season: He had a number of three point games but most notable was his first hat trick (3G) vs Owen Sound in October.
Playoffs: He and the 8th ranked Spirit will be taking on the 1st place Rangers starting on Friday.
WHL:
1. Owen Martin (2025 3rd): The Jets added some Manitoba to their pool when they selected Martin from nearby Oakbank, MB in the last draft. He was limited to 39 games in this draft year but obviously the organization felt he would add something that they needed. He had a slow start (production wise) out of the gate although it did seem whenever he scored they were game-winners. But just seven points in his first 23 games. Things started to turn round in early December where he had a four point weekend and by late February he had earned himself Player of the Week honours in the WHL. He finished the year with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points in 65 games which actually put his pts/g at 0.86 (a shade below the 0.87 he had the season prior).
Most productive game of the season: He had three four points games (all were 1G 3A nights)
Playoffs: He and the 6th ranked Chiefs will be taking on the 3rd place Cougars starting on Friday.
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