OHL MVP another Locke for 67's

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

CANADIAN PRESS

Ottawa 67's centre Corey Locke has won the Red Tilson Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League's MVP for the second straight year.

The 19-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., led the OHL in scoring with 51 goals and 67 assists in 65 games to secure back-to-back scoring titles.

Locke became the fourth player in the 60-year history of MVP award to win it twice in a row, following Brady Boyes of the Erie Otters (2001, 2002), Alyn McCauley of the 67's (1996, 1997) and Andre Lacroix of the Peterborough Petes (1965, 1966).

The five-foot-nine, 175-pound forward, is the third player to win the back-to-back scoring titles along with Windsor's Peter Sarno (1998, 1999) and St. Catharines' Marcel Dionne (1970, 1971).

Locke, a fourth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens last year, captained the 67's to first place in the East Division with a 29-26-9-4 record. The 67's lost in the first round of playoffs to Brampton.

Locke won the Canadian Hockey League's scoring title and MVP last season with 63 goals and 88 assists in 66 games.

[Bob]

Mr. said:

The five-foot-nine, 175-pound forward

According to reliable sources he is between 5'7 and 5'11 and weighs between 160 and 190 pounds. Did you just take a convenient average?

All kidding aside, it is a great accomplishment and if he does nothing else in his hockey career, Locke still has a great deal to be proud of.

[JFM]

Junior awards are all good and nice, but realistically, how many Ribeiro style players can one team ice and still have serious aspirations at winning the cup? IMHO 1 is already one too many.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

JFM said:

Junior awards are all good and nice, but realistically, how many Ribeiro style players can one team ice and still have serious aspirations at winning the cup? IMHO 1 is already one too many.

We might make room for three Martin St. Louis type midgets or a Samsonov. A cournoyer, pocket or mikita might be able to contribute too. How big was Gretzky?
Locke will be a shorter tougher Ribeiro with more talent and discipline.
I'd trade any two players on our team for lthat ittle maritimer Crosby without blinking an eye.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Bob said:

According to reliable sources he is between 5'7 and 5'11 and weighs between 160 and 190 pounds. Did you just take a convenient average?

All kidding aside, it is a great accomplishment and if he does nothing else in his hockey career, Locke still has a great deal to be proud of.

My reliable source says he is a "weapon of mass destruction", but we all know how reliable reliable sources can be.

Locke is quoted by the Ottawa 67's press release authority,as 5'11 and 190, but that may be in full equipment including skates measured to the top of the helmet.

51 goals and 67 assists is very accurate though! ;D

[BadCompany]

Bob said:

According to reliable sources he is between 5'7 and 5'11 and weighs between 160 and 190 pounds. Did you just take a convenient average?

All kidding aside, it is a great accomplishment and if he does nothing else in his hockey career, Locke still has a great deal to be proud of.

I’ve seen Corey Locke. I think 5’7, 150 is probably closer to reality. I was watching one of those exhibition games between CHL all stars and that touring Russian team, and as they were doing the OHL player introductions, they panned down on Locke. The person I was with turned to me and said “who’s the girl?”

I hope he makes it, but he has a LONG way to go. He makes Mike Ribeiro look like a freaking giant.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

BadCompany said:

I’ve seen Corey Locke. I think 5’7, 150 is probably closer to reality. I was watching one of those exhibition games between CHL all stars and that touring Russian team, and as they were doing the OHL player introductions, they panned down on Locke. The person I was with turned to me and said “who’s the girl?”

I hope he makes it, but he has a LONG way to go. He makes Mike Ribeiro look like a freaking giant.

I tend to believe you more than those anonymous reliable sources. My question is, "if he is that small and he is that slow, how did he score so many goals in Jr. hockey.? Making a Jr. hockey team is one thing. Leading the league in socring is another.

[Lord Stanley]

Locke reminds me a lot of Briere...I think it's the best comparison...

If he can have a similar career, we might have a use for him


Lord S.

[montreal]

Lord said:

Locke reminds me a lot of Briere...I think it's the best comparison...

If he can have a similar career, we might have a use for him


Lord S.

minus the speed and skating ability I'd agree.



As for Crosby, who isn't much bigger, but has unreal lower body strength whereas Locke does not. It makes a huge difference. I would love to see the Habs try and get him.

[BadCompany]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

I tend to believe you more than those anonymous reliable sources. My question is, "if he is that small and he is that slow, how did he score so many goals in Jr. hockey.? Making a Jr. hockey team is one thing. Leading the league in socring is another.

Here is what the International Scouting Service said about Locke:

COREY LOCKE
Position: C
Born: 05.08.84
Height: 5’8.5”<br>Weight: 175
I.S.S. Ranking # 90

Scouting Report

An average skater, good mobility, has the ability to make opposing players miss him when carrying the puck. Locke is excellent at distributing the puck and is able to find open teammates in pressure situations. Seems to consistently find a way to get in the open, deep in the offensive zone. Locke led the entire CHL in scoring and proved he is a force and threat every time he's on the ice.

So there you have it - outstanding vision, hockey sense, and offensive instincts.

[BadCompany]

montreal said:

minus the speed and skating ability I'd agree.



As for Crosby, who isn't much bigger, but has unreal lower body strength whereas Locke does not. It makes a huge difference. I would love to see the Habs try and get him.

I think Crosby is actually stockier than Locke (and, of course, two years younger and still growing). I don't think size is going to be an issue with Crosby...

[seventeen]

BadCompany said:

The person I was with turned to me and said “who’s the girl?”

I hope he makes it, but he has a LONG way to go. He makes Mike Ribeiro look like a freaking giant.

But can he do a triple axel?

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

seventeen said:

But can he do a triple axel?

More important; can he do a pinched nerve?

[JFM]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

We might make room for three Martin St. Louis type midgets or a Samsonov. A cournoyer, pocket or mikita might be able to contribute too. How big was Gretzky?
Locke will be a shorter tougher Ribeiro with more talent and discipline.
I'd trade any two players on our team for lthat ittle maritimer Crosby without blinking an eye.

Wow! Please do not lump Locke into the aforementioned group of players. ALL of them can skate circles around Locke and are solidly built despite being vertically challenged. Locke is neither fleet of foot nor solidly built. Locke is a virtual Ribs clone, and Ribs should not be lumped into the group of All-Stars & Hall of Famers you listed. In spite of this I like the selection of Locke simply because he was a mid round pick, whereas I disliked the Ribs pick because in MHO it was a wasted 2nd rounder.

[DeportivoHabs]

St. Louis Stats
Year Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA SHG SHA GW GT SOG Pct
1998 CGY 13 1 1 2 -2
1999 CGY 56 3 15 18 -5
2000 TB 78 18 22 40 -4
2001 TB 53 16 19 35 4
2002 TB 82 33 37 70 10
2003 TB 82 38 56 94 35
Career 364 109 150 259 38


You guys drive me nuts sometimes. Can Locke be compared to St. Louis now? no. But which one of you genius' predicted he would have a 94 point season when he broke into the league with Calgary.

They said on HNIC the other night that when Begin and St. Louis were both in the same position (in their Career) in Calgary....Begin was the preferred player.

I'm going to say it because no one else has the balls. Locke has proven himself in Junior. We all agree that doesn't mean success with the big club. He is a prospect, and a good one at that. Could he turn into a St. Louis, Samsonov, Briere,? yes.....

Could he turn into an Audette or a Comrie.....yes

The fact is I'm glad he's a hab prospect over someone elses. Stop being pessimistic grilling others for getting a bit excited that this could be a good one.....

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

JFM said:

Wow! Please do not lump Locke into the aforementioned group of players. ALL of them can skate circles around Locke and are solidly built despite being vertically challenged. Locke is neither fleet of foot nor solidly built. Locke is a virtual Ribs clone, and Ribs should not be lumped into the group of All-Stars & Hall of Famers you listed. In spite of this I like the selection of Locke simply because he was a mid round pick, whereas I disliked the Ribs pick because in MHO it was a wasted 2nd rounder.

I understand whjere you're coming from, but the slur on Ribs is not fair.
Ribs was a small second round pick. He quickly (perhaps too quickly) made it to the NHL. That in itself make it a good pick. He led the team in scoring and is still way under 28 (the peak for NHL players production). He is improving year over year ("It's a good thing"....Martha Stewart). He's grown to 6' tall (pleasant surprise). His attitude has changed from rebellious teenager to pressured professional athlete. He's not perfect, but he's far from a wasted second round pick. I'm still waiting for Linhart to acomplish anything in a Hab's uniform.
If Locke gets makes it to the Hab's and leads the team in scoring, I won't be terribly disappointed if he does it skating slowly.
I remember Doug Harvey skating slowly up the ice and forcheckers missing him right and left as they chased his head fakes, and I'm not comparing Ribs career to Doug Harvey's, just his style.
What would Ribeiro have to do before you consider him to be a good second round pick?
I'm sure there are lots of teams that would find room for him on their rosters.

[patrickdymond]

Not to mention he is a right handed Centreman, which the Habs have in short supply. He is still young, but we have excellent coaching in Hamilton, and given the right pace he may develop into a good solid player.

[StevePenny]

I hope Locke gets and oppertunity in hamilton next year. He might be another matts naslund or Theo Fluery for that matter.

[franko]

StevePenny said:

Theo Fluery

Bite your tongue.

[StevePenny]

without the personal problems.