Great draft by the GENS

That certainly is encouraging news.

What are the chances that Biggs et. al. could be influenced by Lessio's final decision with the thought that Oshawa could be a force this year?

I would love for him to play here but according to a buddy who I sit with it doesn't look good. According to him, he talked with a couple parents of fellow st Mikes players trying out with the Gens on Friday night. They said that Dipero and Gens staff and ownership were at almost every St Mikes game last year and have been in constant talk with Lessio. But Lessio really feels strongly about playing for Michigan. He would playing in a lesser league next year again though as he can't go to Michigan until the following year. The one parent is a father of Lucas good friend on their team and they can't believe he wouldn't play in Oshawa next year but he really wants to go NCAA. So what do Adam, Rocco and Peter have to do to get him here. In my mind school is important but hockey wise the NHL drafts a lot of players from the CHL leagues as this is where most of the best players night in and night out. If his goal is to play NHL then you would think the OHL is where you would want to play.

On a side note there is an article about windsors Cam Fowler stating he is glad he decided to play in the O instaed of NCAA as his draft ranking proves that.

If you really want the NHL - THEN THE OHL might be your best bet

If school is it and you don't care about the NHL then - NCAA is for you

If he goes OHL he would be drafted higher than NCAA

Fowler could be drafted as high as # 3 in June - not so sure he would have been that high if he had of stayed in NCAA

gensfan 2k2 wrote:I would love for him to play here but according to a buddy whi I sit with it doesn't look good. According to him, he talked with a couple parents of fellow st Mikes players trying out with the Gens on Friday night. They said that Deperio and Gens staff and ownership were at almost every St Mikes game last year and have been in constant talk with Lessio. But Lessio really feels strongly about playing for Michigan. He would playing ina lesser league next year again though as he can't go to Michigan until the following year. The one parent is a father of Lucas good friend on their team and they can't believe he wouldn't play in Oshawa next year but he really wants to go NCAA. So what to Adam, Rocco and peter have to do to get him here. In my mind school is important but hockey wise the NHL drafts a lot of players from the CHL leagues as this is where most of the best players night in and night out. If his goal is to play NHL then you would think the OHL is where you would want to play.

On a side note there is an article about windsors Cam Fowler stating he is glad he decided to play in the O instaed of NCAA as his draft ranking proves that.

Well that's intresting I was told from a source that Lucas & his dad want to play in Oshawa, but it his mother is the one pushing him to NCAA route.I think by him showing up @ the camp there is a good chance that he will play in the O,if he didn't then you would know there is not a hope in hell that he is playing for the Gens.
the Gen's gave up alot for a player that says he is going to the NCAA route.I think the dission will come down when he has no choice come September were he only has 48 hrs to make that dission
OHL or NCAA.
I do hope he makes the right dission

An interesting sidenote to this for those that don't know, the Buzzers are essentially an NCAA development program. That's the reason why the Majors are no longer affiliated with the Buzzers when it would seem that the St. Mike's connection would make this a no-brainer. Players choose to play at St. Mike's because they want to go the NCAA route. De Piero's connection to the Buzzers is perhaps something that could help Lessio swing away from this trend.

Despite the abuse some keep hurling at De Piero on this message board, he is very well respected at St. Mike's and might have a positive influence on swinging home over here. We'll see how it plays out.

If school is important to Lucas and his family, why can't he do his post-secondary in "Oshawa"? We have UOIT and Trent, I believe, offers courses here, or at least they used to. Both U of T and York are a 45 min-1 hour away. What's the lure of Michigan? Hockey scholarship? He gets a year covered from the Gens (OHL) for every year he plays and I think Canadian universities have equivalent or better prorams than many American ones, so what's the problem?

The education may not be better but the experience at the University of Michigan and the Yost Ice Arena is something the Generals, nor any other team in the OHL can compete with. If you've ever been to, or watched a game televised from, Yost Arena you will now what i mean. The enthusiasm and excitement from the fans is second to none.
Having said all of that the OHL offers a very different package and opportunity than the NCAA.
Lessio has to decide whether he wants to play a 68 game season in a quasi pro environment or a much shorter college season and be a student athlete.
There are pro and cons to both. For my own selfish reasons i hope he chooses Oshawa, but I can understand his desire to play at Michigan

It's not so much Lucas desire to play at Michigan it's his mothers that has to be convinced to play in the O,Lucas and his dad wants to play in the OHL.I'm like you I want him to play for the Gens

jaycro wrote:If school is important to Lucas and his family, why can't he do his post-secondary in "Oshawa"? We have UOIT and Trent, I believe, offers courses here, or at least they used to. Both U of T and York are a 45 min-1 hour away. What's the lure of Michigan? Hockey scholarship? He gets a year covered from the Gens (OHL) for every year he plays and I think Canadian universities have equivalent or better prorams than many American ones, so what's the problem?

Adding onto what runner said about the experience of playing in Michigan, many have the perception that US universities are better whether true or not. I'm not sure if perhaps the big price tag makes some equate expensive with prestigious but in talking to high school students and parents, many of them perceive anything American to be better than anything Canadian. I've talked to parents of kids as young as grade 9 who already have Ivy League aspirations whether their kid is an athlete or not. This is something that Canadian universities have to address in their marketing and of course, high school guidance departments have a role here as well. I'm going off-topic a bit but this is probably the same line of thinking as Lessio's mom if it's true that she's the one that wants him to go to the US.

I am wondering if DePiero is being kept on as long as he is, simply to get Lessio to report. Will see.

What is the latest on Lessio and Biggs?

QuickDraw wrote:What is the latest on Lessio and Biggs?

Biggs won't be a General this season, and Lessio it look's promising as he reported to the mini camp.
I say if he reports to the main camp in September there is a good chance he will play for the Gen's
He'll have 48 hrs to make a dission OHL or NCAA but like I said in the line prior