Neutral Zone was in attendance at Kal Tire Place in Vernon, BC, as RHA Kelowna hosted OHA in CSSHL U18 Prep action on October 13th. The home team emerged victorious with a 3-2 win. Each player has been assigned a grade based solely on their performance in this game.
OHA Penticton
Charlie Grant #34 (F, R, 5’9″, 160, OHA Penticton U18, 07/07/2007) – Charlie is one of the team’s driving forces up front and was easily the best forward in this contest. The coach used him both at center and on the wing to energize different lines, but his game reached another level when he was kept at the center position. He uses his quick feet and stride to chase down the opposition or create separation when in possession and anticipates the play well. It was no surprise that he scored both of the team’s goals, finding the loose puck off a cycle play and a rebound with the extra attacker late in the game. He nearly had a hat trick, hitting the post on a breakaway and being stopped by a strong opposing netminder on several occasions. Charlie’s consistency should allow him to succeed at the next level—he’s the type of player you want in your foxhole. Grade: A-
Samuel Murray #8 (D, L, 5’11”, 150, OHA Penticton U18, 06/18/2007) – Samuel Murray was ready right from the puck drop, setting the tone with a big hit after his opponent crossed the attacking blue line. While he had trouble maintaining that pace, he was still a factor on the backend, which was missing some regulars. He is strong on his edges and plays bigger than his size, not shying away from going up against the opponent’s big forwards and always willing to use his frame. Samuel can contain his man down low, using body positioning and his low center of gravity to his advantage. However, to succeed at the next level, he needs to improve his game while in possession, as he is prone to the occasional giveaway and will need to enhance his overall speed. Grade: B
William Paterson #4 (D, R, 5’10”, 180, OHA Penticton U18, 07/18/2007) – William Paterson is a smooth-skating defenseman with soft hands and good hand-eye coordination, making him effective at the offensive blue line. He can keep plays alive and is trusted by the coach to man a power play unit. He was also on the ice with the extra attacker, leading to his primary assist off a point shot that was converted on the rebound. William allows his partner to free-wheel in possession and be aggressive without needing to cover up for any mistakes or untimely pinches. However, his own game while in possession could be sped up a touch, as he sometimes hesitates and allows the opponent time to gain ground, leading to the occasional turnover. Grade: B
Linkin Stadnek #2 (D, L, 6’0″, 161, OHA Penticton U18, 05/15/2009) – Linkin Stadnek stood out right from the start, moving his feet well and being aggressive while in possession. He is a strong two-way player who has added some strength since our last viewing and appears to have gained another step over the summer, which has allowed him to push forward even more. A good rushing defenseman, he can gain the blue line with ease, and after crossing it, he isn’t shy about driving directly to the goal, almost leading to a goal on one occasion. He also demonstrates the ability to find his teammates from below the goal line or while patrolling the point. He has good length and reach but can keep smaller, quicker opponents in front of him while off the rush, not allowing them to gain a step on the outer edges. His questionable call for head contact led to the opening goal, but he was one of the team’s most dangerous offensive threats, if not the strongest. Grade: A-
RHA Kelowna
Benjamin Bowtell #17 (F, L, 5’5″, 115, RHA Kelowna U18, 12/15/2008) – Benjamin continues to progress; as his lower body strengthens, so does his ability to navigate through traffic and become an even greater threat while in possession. A young group of pivots leads this team, and he is one of the more prominent players, even being half their size. The coach trusts him to be the first over the boards on both special teams. His primary assist came on the power play after receiving a feed from the point and then going behind the net, fooling everyone, including the goalie, by finding his linemate out front against the grain. He can play with anyone and has a good sense of when to attack or back off, effectively utilizing his linemates in transition. Ben was on the ice in the last minute to defend the one-goal lead and made one of the crucial blocks to preserve the win. Grade: B+
Maddox Gandha #73 (F, L, 6’0″, 168, RHA Kelowna U18, 07/06/2008) – Maddox has continued to make strides, allowing him to play down the middle alongside this strong forward group, thanks to his good length and quick feet. He can now play a little more east-west, whereas before, he leaned towards a more direct game and was less balanced in his use of teammates. His hands are catching up to his feet, enabling him to give and receive passes well while in full stride, making him effective through the neutral zone and a passing threat after crossing the attacking line. Maddox’s secondary assist came on the power play, where he moved the puck down low from the point. He will still need to clean up his play on the breakout, as he is prone to the occasional giveaway, but we like the versatility of this player, who can thrive in any situation. Grade: B+
Louis Gu #31 (G, L, 5’11”, 174, RHA Kelowna U18, 07/25/2007) – Louis Gu had an excellent game, looking calm and in control throughout while communicating well. His movements in the crease are fluid; he does a good job of staying square to the shooter, even in tight situations when they move across the goal. He is also quick to react at the top of the blue paint after a turnover or scramble play. With quick reactions and hands, he tracks where his rebounds will go, even corralling some with his stick, which he also uses effectively to block centering passes from behind his goal. The opening goal was a broken play off a cycle, with the puck finding a forward all alone below the circle, who beat him to the short side with a quick release. The only other goal that got past him was during a play with the extra attacker, where a point shot rebound bounced right to an open man for an easy one-timer into the vacant net. He breathes confidence into the team and shouldn’t have any issues making the jump to the next level. Grade: A-
Riley Pederson #27 (F, L, 5’10”, 167, RHA Kelowna U18, 10/20/2007) – Riley is a strong two-way pivot who has added even more size since past viewings, giving him a leg up on the opposition, and he can take full advantage of that space when he decides. He sees the ice well and can find his linemates off the rush or on the cycle, creating chances for both the team and himself. Riley has the ability to beat his check wide and takes pucks strong to the net. He is not overly physical but can throw his weight around at times. His primary assist came from a quick tic-tac-toe play on the rush after winning a draw at center ice, alongside a secondary assist from a cycle back to the point. He has had a good start to the season, and we will continue to monitor his progression. Grade: A-
Theo Salikhov #71 (F, L, 6’5″, 190, RHA Kelowna U18, 05/10/2008) – Theo Salikhov is a solid two-way pivot with size and mobility who can affect the game when he is on the ice, but he lacks some consistency from shift to shift. He is a strong penalty killer, utilizing his long reach and ability to get up ice to cause havoc for his opponents, even creating offensive chances for his team. However, he leaves you wanting more during regular shifts, where he seems to play things closer to the vest and doesn’t push up ice. Theo has all the tools to be a factor at the next level but will need to show that he wants the responsibility. We will watch him again. Grade: B-
Brady Walker #81 (F, L, 6’1″, 150, RHA Kelowna U18, 06/03/2008) – Brady is a solid winger who moves up and down the flanks with ease, providing his team with a steady option in any situation. With his size and soft hands, he presents a difficult matchup for the opposition. He is as effective off the rush as he is off the cycle, showing strength through the neutral zone. He gives and receives passes well, demonstrating good vision and the ability to find the late man trailing the rush. In this viewing, he was the goal scorer, finishing off a nice tic-tac-toe play on the rush and deflecting a point shot while in the high slot. He also scored the game-winning goal the following day against the same team in their home-and-home set. Brady showcased his well-rounded game by being on the ice in the last minute, defending a one-goal lead and blocking two consecutive shots. Grade: A-