Prospect Info: 2021 5th Rd Pick (#153 OA) - Ty Voit (C/RW) - Sarnia (OHL)
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The Iceman
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- Sep 22, 2007
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'He was always dialled in': Meet Ty Voit, the Maple Leafs prospect hoping to be another late-round gem - The Athletic
“He’s a skilled kid, a good skater, he can make plays,” said former Leafs director of amateur scouting John Lilley after they drafted Voit, who also noted his strong compete level that was undoubtedly built up through rides in the forest.
Voit, like so many OHL players, faced an uphill climb when returning to the ice for the 2021-22 season after not playing the 2020-21 season. But he believes the muscle memory he developed through his upbringing may have helped him perform as well as he has to start this season. With excellent hands, shifty skating and continued high hockey IQ, he leads all Sting players with 29 points in 24 games.
“From a young age, I was activating all my muscles,” said Voit. “Everything’s working so when it comes to stuff like edge work, footwork and coordination. I also have a lot of stamina from doing everything when I was younger: running, biking, it definitely helped a lot.”
This season, the Sting wanted him to have more opportunities to get his stick on the puck and influence the game, so they moved him from right wing to centre. Doing so has also meant more responsibility than he’s been used to in the past, including down low in the offensive zone, an area not always welcoming to players weighing in at 151 pounds.
But this season, as arguably their best player, he’s learned to challenge himself so his game can evolve.
“He wanted to take that on,” said Sting head coach Alan Letang, “and push himself.”
Voit has learned he needs to be more aggressive on the forecheck. The Sting want him to become more of a shooting threat instead of leaning on his pass-first inclinations. Voit will spend most of his post-practice ice time trying different sticks with different curves, flex or lengths in order to find one that makes him feel as comfortable shooting as he is passing in the offensive zone. But they’re still keen to use his distribution skills. Letang calls him “the centrepiece” of a power play that isn’t as structured as other OHL power plays. Voit will often shift in and out of four different positions with the puck to try and use his vision to find an open teammate.
“You have to get creative with player movement,” said Letang.
Voit continues to use his athleticism and strength to overshadow his size. Often Letang will watch Voit get caught out on the ice for a little longer than normal on a shift late in a game and wonder if he’ll be able to maintain his focus and energy when trying to backcheck.
Nearly every time Letang asks those kinds of questions, he’s reminded of the same compete level Lilley noted.
“He has that mental switch where he knows he can push through fatigue at times,” said Letang. “When your legs start to burn and (most players) have to find a way off the ice, when (Voit) needs it, he can find that little burst.”
His dedication to fitness should only provide a foundation for future success. It is far from a guarantee that it will push him to professional hockey. Letang’s hope is that Voit becomes more of a complete player by never cheating for offence, tracking back consistently, winning 50/50 puck battles in the offensive zone to continue the cycle and using his quickness to strip pucks from behind players.
“We’ve put a lot of onus on him,” Letang admits.
That onus continues off the ice, with a focus on building core strength and leg strength.
He’ll need that strength as the season continues. More opposition teams have focused on shutting Voit down, knowing that if they neutralize him, their odds of winning increase. And so Voit will have to learn how to use his craftiness to try and get inside larger, top-pair defencemen.
“When you’re a key guy, you have to find ways to fight through traffic,” said Letang.
‘The skill is there’: Voit’s future with the Maple Leafs
Voit’s ease in speaking with the Leafs staff has continued into this season in monthly meetings with senior director of player development Hayley Wickenheiser. When the two review clips of Voit’s game, he understands the directives Wickenheiser provides because the type of player they want him to be, one in which he can make players around him better and become effective and responsible off the puck, is the type of player he’s always been focused on becoming.
.................................
Seeing Voit dominate offensively in the OHL could allow for a seamless transition to the Marlies in 2023. Whether he can continue to add muscle will dictate what his future with the Leafs looks like.
But for now, his offensive talent combined with his upbringing provides reason for optimism about Voit being a late-round find for the Leafs.
“If he would stay at this weight, it would be really tough to turn pro,” said Letang. “But the skill is there.”
“He’s a skilled kid, a good skater, he can make plays,” said former Leafs director of amateur scouting John Lilley after they drafted Voit, who also noted his strong compete level that was undoubtedly built up through rides in the forest.
Voit, like so many OHL players, faced an uphill climb when returning to the ice for the 2021-22 season after not playing the 2020-21 season. But he believes the muscle memory he developed through his upbringing may have helped him perform as well as he has to start this season. With excellent hands, shifty skating and continued high hockey IQ, he leads all Sting players with 29 points in 24 games.
“From a young age, I was activating all my muscles,” said Voit. “Everything’s working so when it comes to stuff like edge work, footwork and coordination. I also have a lot of stamina from doing everything when I was younger: running, biking, it definitely helped a lot.”
This season, the Sting wanted him to have more opportunities to get his stick on the puck and influence the game, so they moved him from right wing to centre. Doing so has also meant more responsibility than he’s been used to in the past, including down low in the offensive zone, an area not always welcoming to players weighing in at 151 pounds.
But this season, as arguably their best player, he’s learned to challenge himself so his game can evolve.
“He wanted to take that on,” said Sting head coach Alan Letang, “and push himself.”
Voit has learned he needs to be more aggressive on the forecheck. The Sting want him to become more of a shooting threat instead of leaning on his pass-first inclinations. Voit will spend most of his post-practice ice time trying different sticks with different curves, flex or lengths in order to find one that makes him feel as comfortable shooting as he is passing in the offensive zone. But they’re still keen to use his distribution skills. Letang calls him “the centrepiece” of a power play that isn’t as structured as other OHL power plays. Voit will often shift in and out of four different positions with the puck to try and use his vision to find an open teammate.
“You have to get creative with player movement,” said Letang.
Voit continues to use his athleticism and strength to overshadow his size. Often Letang will watch Voit get caught out on the ice for a little longer than normal on a shift late in a game and wonder if he’ll be able to maintain his focus and energy when trying to backcheck.
Nearly every time Letang asks those kinds of questions, he’s reminded of the same compete level Lilley noted.
“He has that mental switch where he knows he can push through fatigue at times,” said Letang. “When your legs start to burn and (most players) have to find a way off the ice, when (Voit) needs it, he can find that little burst.”
His dedication to fitness should only provide a foundation for future success. It is far from a guarantee that it will push him to professional hockey. Letang’s hope is that Voit becomes more of a complete player by never cheating for offence, tracking back consistently, winning 50/50 puck battles in the offensive zone to continue the cycle and using his quickness to strip pucks from behind players.
“We’ve put a lot of onus on him,” Letang admits.
That onus continues off the ice, with a focus on building core strength and leg strength.
He’ll need that strength as the season continues. More opposition teams have focused on shutting Voit down, knowing that if they neutralize him, their odds of winning increase. And so Voit will have to learn how to use his craftiness to try and get inside larger, top-pair defencemen.
“When you’re a key guy, you have to find ways to fight through traffic,” said Letang.
‘The skill is there’: Voit’s future with the Maple Leafs
Voit’s ease in speaking with the Leafs staff has continued into this season in monthly meetings with senior director of player development Hayley Wickenheiser. When the two review clips of Voit’s game, he understands the directives Wickenheiser provides because the type of player they want him to be, one in which he can make players around him better and become effective and responsible off the puck, is the type of player he’s always been focused on becoming.
.................................
Seeing Voit dominate offensively in the OHL could allow for a seamless transition to the Marlies in 2023. Whether he can continue to add muscle will dictate what his future with the Leafs looks like.
But for now, his offensive talent combined with his upbringing provides reason for optimism about Voit being a late-round find for the Leafs.
“If he would stay at this weight, it would be really tough to turn pro,” said Letang. “But the skill is there.”
LeafChief
Matthew Knies Enthusiast
Having a nice year. Still WJC eligible next season. Putting up points playing on a pretty poor Sarnia team this year.
Tufted Titmouse
13 Cups.
- Apr 5, 2022
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Not expecting that!He was injured at prospect camp which was about 4 months ago and he’s still not even skating, this must be serious does anyone know anything?
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