Owen Beck and Jax Dubois are leading the entire OHL in faceoff wins, helping the Peterborough Petes to their Eastern Conference lead.
Roughly a third of the way through the season now, we can start to look at more niche player stats that may tell a bigger story.
When looking at the names in the "faceoff wins" category, there is certainly something that stands out at the top of the list.
The Petes' first and second line centres — Jax Dubois and Owen Beck — are the OHL's faceoff win leaders, first and second respectively.
It is rare to see two high-end faceoff-men on the same team, let alone two of the best in the OHL playing on the same team. Dubois and Beck have been winning in the faceoff circle, and the Petes have been winning in the standings.
Jax Dubois has 315 faceoff wins, compared to Owen Beck's 282.
Owen Beck — the Montreal Canadiens 2nd round pick — is known as one of the better prospects in junior hockey in the faceoff circle. His ability to win faceoffs when it matters most is one of his most valuable assets. It also allows his coaches to put him on the ice in the most important game-situations.
The Habs drafted Beck for his two-way game and complete hockey sense. His strength in the faceoff circle makes him a unique prospect. Many young players struggle in the dot when they jump to the professional level, but Beck will be able to play centre right away in the NHL.
In today's game of hockey, puck possession is so critical, and it all starts with the puck being dropped in the circle.
Jax Dubois entered his overage junior hockey season after two years with the Petes, spending most of his time as a bottom-six player throughout. With many departures for Peterborough since their championship win, Dubois' role has been elevated.
Dubois has been playing consistently in the 2C spot, behind his fellow faceoff man Owen Beck.
He has been a reliable player throughout his career, but now the 2003-born centre is making a case for himself. He has elevated his offensive game and production tremendously. Previously, Dubois didn't take many risks or opportunities offensively, but in his final season, he is beginning to make those plays.
The number-one faceoff man in the league has been an all-situation type player for Peterborough this season, adding tremendously to their highly depleted centre depth.