Photo Credit: NHL.com
Jon Randall-Avon, aka JR Avon, first took the U16 ETAHL for the Peterborough Petes by storm and is now taking the OHL by storm in his second OHL season. Avon was the definition of consistency while on the U16 Petes leading the team in points by a wide margin of 23 points. He then in his first season in the OHL for the Petes showed his unmatched speed and energy but did not have it translate to the score sheet yet having 11 points in 56 games. Then Covid 19 threw a wrench in his plans as it did for many of us. He didn’t play all last season but the rest has shown as Avon has come in like a bat out of hell this season and is lighting the world on fire again. This time though in the very competitive OHL.
JR Avon is a player who likely would not have been available for the Flyers as an undrafted FA if he had a 2020-21 season. This is because he is a center/winger with great speed, agility, sense, and puck skills. All at least pointing to a middle-round pick had he shown improvement in the canceled 20-21 season. He was ranked 200 still for North American skaters heading into the 2021 draft without playing in 20-21. So imagine just how much he could have moved up if JR Avon had a big improvement on the points sheet last season as he has had this season. JR Avon on the year this year already has 9 points in 11 games on 4 goals and 5 assists. He is becoming quickly a top threat for the Petes.
It is still early, but JR Avon has the looks of being an undrafted steal from last year’s class for the Flyers. He is an elite skater, and burner meaning someone who can turn on the jets in a flip of a switch. He is a pesky player for the other team as well as a good back checker plus his along the boards play is very well rounded as well. On top of his speed and pesky backchecking and forechecking ability, we have not even mentioned potentially his best asset yet. That is JR Avon’s lightning-quick shot, plus release. He can pull the trigger in the snap of a finger. Now to humble him a bit after talking him up the whole article, the only area of improvement noticeable in JR Avon’s game is his defensive awareness.
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Now don’t twist my words JR Avon cause of his speed and unmatched energy and compete level looks to be really giving it all on that end of the puck as well. For him, on the defensive end, it is just about learning each and every step and being aware of everything on defense as JR Avon is already great at on the offensive end. Basically, don’t overthink it and just make the play in front of him while being in the right spots. This is a player who is already fun to watch when I get the opportunity to watch a Petes game. This is at only 18 years old as an undrafted player. Imagine how JR Avon will look one next camp, but two once he fully develops at the junior level and is eventually a member of the Royals or Phantoms to continue his development. The Flyers look to potentially have a steal on their hands in JR Avon.
