NASHVILLE (The Draft Analyst) — Two of the OHL’s top 2005-born prospects for the 2023 NHL draft battled in Owen Sound on Friday night as the Barrie Colts and defenseman Beau Akey downed the Attack and leading scorer Colby Barlow 5-4 in overtime.
Each delivered a goal and two assists in what was a duel featuring two playoff-caliber teams. But it was Akey who decided the contest with a hard slapper from the top of the left circle at 4:16 of overtime.
Barrie held leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before the Attack rallied to force overtime. Akey, who will join Barlow in Langley, British Columbia at next month’s CHL Top Prospects Game, drew a power-play assist on Jordan Frasca’s tally that made it 3-0 with 28 seconds left in the first period.
Owen Sound responded with a pair of goals in the second period — both via primary assists from Barloqw. But Akey helped restore Barrie’s two-goal cushion with a gorgeous last-second dash to set up Zach Wigle’s wrister that made it 4-2 with just three seconds remaining before the buzzer. The Attack scored nearly as quick to start the third period on a goal from Tomislav Brennan just four seconds in. Barlow forced the extra session by batting home an elevated puck near the doorstep at 9:47.
LW/RW Colby Barlow | 6’1, 187 | 2/14/05 | Shoots Left | Orillia, ON
Barlow is Owen Sound’s leading scorer but entered the game with only one goal in his last seven games after a ridiculous 10-game goal streak. He’s a power forward with a deadly shot and release, and he made this clear early into the contest. The puck settles onto is blade in an instant but opposing defenders have to be aware of his ability to whip a high-velocity shot from within his skates or when overextended.
Barlow created a mid-range chance from the high slot within his first few shifts of the game. After the host Attack trailed 3-0 and had to kill a penalty, Barlow delivered a much-nneded impact shift in which he beat Beau Akey to the corner to corral a loose puck, and spun and dished an accurate feed to the far point without hesitation, resulting in Owen Sound’s first goal off the stick of Nolan Seed. After he spent some time on the PK thereafter, Barlow delivered again with a primary assist via a board battle that led to Gavin Bryan’s 3-2 tally.
On the penalty kill, Barlow was on the Attack’s top unit and was highly active and aggressive. He showed quickness while challenging the points and was willing to finish off his checks with authority. His stick blade remains on the ice at all times, even while in motion, and he seems to make it a point to keep it in the passing or shooting lanes.
After several attempts from distance, Barlow finally broke through with a critical game-tying marker from the side of the net at 9:47 of the final period.
RHD Beau Akey | 6’0, 170 | 2/11/05 | Shoots Right | Waterloo, ON
Akey took his usual spot on the top pairing and never once played or acted like he didn’t take his role and position very seriously. He is a physical stopper on the back end; one who uses elite multi-directional mobility to cover ground and close on the opposing puck carrier while fixing him to the outside.
On offense, Akey is a deadly accurate shooter and passer from his forehand or backhand. He shares a striking similarity with a young Shea Weber in his game. He rarely flinches first when being chased or fronted in the neutral zone and will delay in a timely manner to slid a lead pass onto the tape of an onrushing teammate. He activates a ton off of draws and his high-risk decisions are not only calculated and executed properly, but rarely result in an untenable situation that he can’t fix himself.
Akey runs the top of the umbrella on Barrie’s power play and his big shot is a weapon — his first assist was a rebound created from a center-point bomb. He keeps his feet moving and rotates from point to point, with occasional forrays into or close to the low slot. What separates Akey from the average power-play quarterback is his catch-up speed in any direction — he can take his chances dropping down low and still recover in good order.