What does a first round pick have in common with a fifth round pick?

In this case, more than you’d think.

Take Nicklas Jensen and Frankie Corrado, for example, two promising Canucks draft picks having great years with their Ontario Hockey League clubs.

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Jensen is a Danish born hockey player who currently plays the wing for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. Meanwhile, Corrado is a Canadian born product who patrols the blueline for the Sudbury Wolves in the same league.

They were both born in 1993 in the month of March a mere 17 days apart. They both were drafted by the Canucks in the 2011 entry-draft, and they both turned heads and made Vancouver’s coaching staff take notice in this year’s prospects camp. And they both have garnered early recognition for their strong play to start the year for their respective clubs.

Corrado was recently named the October Industrial Alliance Player of the Month Award for the Wolves, after registering nine points in 14 games and is a plus-4. Corrado is counted on in high-pressure situations on a game-to-game basis for the Wolves and is never shy to drop the mitts to protect his teammates.

Jensen, for his part, just won his second Player of the Week award for the Generals to start the young season. The 1st round pick of the Canucks totaled three goals and one assist for four points and a plus-2 rating in three games earning him the honor for the period ending November 6th. He had previously taken home the award two weeks prior when he put up five assists in three games.

The two have already faced off against each other twice this season, with Corrado and his Wolves skating away with two wins. The good news for Jensen is his squad has two more opportunities to level the score.

The first game was a much more one-sided affair that saw two streaks come to a crashing halt. Oshawa lost 5-2 to Sudbury ending a six game stretch in which the Generals earned at least one point. Jensen also had a streak stopped, as his six game point streak was snapped in a game that the Wolves managed to stifle the young Dane.

The second time around the Wolves couldn’t contain the Herning, Denmark, native as he erupted for two goals and one assist. But the end result remained the same as the Wolves walked with a 6-4 victory.

Although the second match-up was a much more entertaining affair as the teams traded chances throughout the game, much to the crowd’s delight, until Sudbury made it 4-2 in the third seemingly putting the game out of reach.

But Oshawa’s spirits could not be broken, and at 8.57 of the third, Jensen scored his second of the night to make it a one-goal game. The Generals kept pressing until they tied it at four apiece.

But the comeback was all for not, as the Wolves had a little bit more gas left in the tank. They added a late third period tally to take the lead for good and Corrado drove the final nail in the coffin with an empty netter.

So with the 6-4 victory the Wolves took a 2-0 lead in the battle of Corrado vs. Jensen.

After two games against each other, Corrado has a goal, an assist, and a plus-4 rating, while Jensen has two goals, an assist and an even rating.

Stay tuned for more intense action to come as two of the Canucks brightest prospects face-off against one another.