Justin Kea
Image: OHL

Justin Kea

Hometown:

Woodville Ontario

Team:

Buffalo Sabres

Currently Playing In:

CHL

Birthday:

1994-02-07
Position:

C
Eligible for draft:

2012
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2012
Height:

6-4
Acquired:

3rd round (73rd overall), 2012
Weight:

211 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
6.5

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • C

History

2009-10: Kea played for the Central Ontario Wolves midget AAA program in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. He scored 22 goals with 22 assists. Kea was selected by the Saginaw Spirit in the first round (13th overall) of the OHL Priority Draft.

2010-11: Kea skated in 62 games in his first season with Saginaw and represented Ontario in the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He scored 2 goals with 6 assists and was minus-five with 49 penalty minutes for the Spirit. Saginaw reached the second round of the OHL playoffs after finishing first in the West Division. In ten playoff games Kea had 1 assist and was minus-one. In five games at the WHC he had 1 assist with 8 penalty minutes for the gold medal-winning Ontario squad.

2011-12: Kea returned to Saginaw for his second season. In 65 games he scored 3 goals with 11 assists and was minus-four with 76 penalty minutes. Saginaw again reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to OHL champion London. In 12 playoff games Kea scored 1 goal with 4 assists and was plus-three with 2 penalty minutes. He was ranked 93rd amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

 

Talent Analysis

At 6-3 and 212 lbs., Kea certainly possesses the size to play the NHL game.  Offense is not his game, however, with Kea instead being a defensive specialist responsible for shutting down the other team's forwards.  Kea plays that role very well which may bode well for his prospects at the next level, where he could slide into the third- or fourth-line center position.

 

 

Future

Considered a project, Kea will stay in the OHL for as long as he can before joining Rochester. Given his talent and skillset, Kea is not expected to join the Buffalo lineup until much later.

 

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