Neutral Zone attended this SJHL game on October 10th, 2026, between Melfort and Kindersley. Below are 7 player evaluations based solely on this game.
Melfort
Kyson Lindsay #3 (D, R, 6’3″, 190, Melfort Mustangs, 07/31/2007) – Lindsay played one of his best games of the early season in this one. The 2007 born defender continues to grow his two-way transitional game. His skillset is showing good growth in terms of hockey sense, puck skills, and compete level. His puck skills displayed good pass accuracy, capable vision with the puck, and he was rewarded with his first assist of the season in this one. Mobility remains above average with decent mechanics, lane creation, and growing acceleration speed. Continues to have good command of the ice with clear communication, evident instincts, and emerging creativity. Handles cleanly.
Grade: B Skating: 3.0 Passing: 3.0 Puck Handling: 3.0 Defense: 3.0 Hockey IQ: 3.25
Kindersley
Cooper Perrin #8 (D, R, 6’0″, 175, Kindersley Klippers, 01/02/2009) – Perrin is a stable two-way transitional defender. His skillset is best defined by solid mobility, puck skills, and capable hockey sense. At the root of his game his skating projects slightly above average with clean mechanics, good edgework, and quality pivots that particularly stand out in transitional play. The 2009 born defender also shines with an emerging hockey sense that does struggle with play reading at times (overcommits to plays evident on a handful of chances against and the 1st Mustangs goal), but makes up for it with consistent defensive instincts, basic offensive awareness, and semi-regular risk assessment in the slot. Perrin shines the most with the puck where he displays stable conservtive decision making to jumpstart any breakout, decent vision/lane ID, and can be an all around o-zone distributor from the point. In defensive transition Perrin has the basics down with responsible positioning, an active stick, clean pivots and space disruption, but should continue to seek out more effective ways of establishing body positioning, stick lifts, and continue amplifying his lane awareness to keep growing. Areas for improvement include an average compete level (hustle, intensity, and below average motor), physicality (muscle mass, hit effectiveness, and body positioning), and shooting (lacklusture release, power, and limited deception. As an 09 birth year Perrin has plenty of room for growth as he ages up.
Grade: C+ Skating: 3.25 Passing: 3.0 Shooting: 2.25 Puck Handling: 3.0 Defense: 2.75 Size/Strength: 2.25 Hockey IQ: 2.5
Euan Wood #11 (F, L, 6’3″, 190, Kindersley Klippers, 04/08/2008) – Wood continues to grow as an all situations 200-foot player at the Junior A level. The 2008 born forwards skillset is best defined by a solid hockey intelligence, moments of intensity, and stable physicality/puck handling upside. Wood was a solid secondary option in this one with keen penalty kill upside. With sharp desicive angles of attack, lane awareness, and a high rate of play engagement, Wood strategically uses his energy and amplifies his teams defensive pressure quite well both in transition and established zone play. He also shows off little to no physicality avoidance, and was a consistent asset down low offensively and in board battles all night. Hockey senses shined with responsible positioning, evident defensive awareness from semi-frequent scans, and an active stick that commonly reduced opponent lane options. Offensively Wood’s was more of a play supporter where his flashes of grit, and puck protection/control mechanics and efforts attempted to pay dividends to his teammates building plays around him as he screened or battled. We look forward to growth in his skating (rigid posture, glide dependent, and laxed stride recovery), shooting (limited leverage and power), and a more consistent motor he could find greater success and ice time as he ages up.
Grade: C+ Skating: 2.25 Passing: 2.75 Shooting: 2.75 Puck Handling: 3.25 Defense: 3.25 Size/Strength: 3.25 Hockey IQ: 3.25
Talen Lewis #14 (F, R, 6’2″, 195, Kindersley Klippers, 04/29/2006) – Lewis was a wrecking ball in all the best ways out there this game. Lewis evidently plays the game of an intense powerforward that is no stranger to throwing his weight around out there, as his game thrives with a hard nosed compete level, rampant physicality, and enough hockey sense to anticipate plays before they form on a regular basis. At the base of his game skating/mobility do need improvements as Lewis has a below average lateral acceleration rate, top speed, and clunkier mechanics. Additionally the 2006 born forward had quite a few extended shifts in this outing as well. Lewis shines as a pest and wrecking ball, as he rarely finished a shift without a hit or two, showing high end aggression, hit frequency, and a remarkable ability to absorb hits/pressure from his opponents. Once mixed with his canny play anticipation, never say quit motor, and hustle he produced high physical pressure, and play disruption that made it hard for the Mustangs to breath in transition or pass in established offensive zone play. Lewis most importantly is a smarter player with responsible positioning, play reads, and instincts which elevate his game even more. With more accurate pass delivery, consistent handling, and skating improvements Lewis could elevate his game.
Grade: B- Skating: 2.75 Passing: 2.25 Shooting: NR Puck Handling: 2.5 Size/Strength: 3.75 Hockey IQ: 3.5
Cooper Flath #20 (C, R, 5’11”, 174, Kindersley Klippers, 01/24/2007) – Flath had a quieter game for Kindersley in this one The 2007 born forward plays a quality two-hundred foot game that shines the most in transition. These elements are evident as his game is one of mobility, work ethic, and doing all the small things right. Skating projects above average with his clean stride, okay stride recovery, and a touch of overall elusiveness/agility. This meant that Flath was anywhere he needed to be on the ice in this one. This mobility meshes well with his overall compete level as it amplified his motor, intensity, and defensive pressure exertion. This skating and compete combo made him a play killer to an extent in this one. His off-puck vision took space away from opponents, and routinely secured zone entries and favourable routes for his linemates as he suckered pressure away. Average faceoff mechanics, leverage, and center of gravity. With improvements to his physicality (ineffective hitting form, muscle mass not being imposing/keeping him to the outside, and discipline with an avoidable penalty at the end of the second), senses (awareness, playmaking, and creativity), and more poise/pass accuracy, Flath’s game could elevate to the next level.
Grade: C+ Skating: 3.5 Passing: 2.75 Shooting: NR Puck Handling: 3.0 Defense: 3.0 Size/Strength: 2.75 Hockey IQ: 3.25
Justus Cutler #27 (D, L, 6’3″, 205, Kindersley Klippers, 07/18/2006) – Cutler is a stable veteran presence for Kindersley this season. He plays the game of a stable puck moving defender in transition, with a more physical upside as the pace of the game slows down. His skill set is best defined by his puck skills, physicality, and moderate compete level. Cutler shows a decent hustle on every play be it with or without the puck. In his defensive transition, he controls the gap well, pressures/isolates opponents, and squeezes opponents into unfavourable decisions. The 2006 born defender is a stable slot presence with good physical pressure, consistent stick lift habits, and evident intensity every time he takes the ice. Offensively Cutler projects as more of a secondary element with basic vision, play option ID, and distribution ability. Cutler uses his frame to smartly dictate puck protection battles as well. With more growth in his straightforward hockey IQ, and overall speed, explosiveness in terms of lateral acceleration, and agility his game could unlock another level. Average shooting by all regards too.
Grade: C+ Skating: 2.75 Passing: 3.25 Shooting: 2.5 Puck Handling: 3.25 Defense: 2.75 Size/Strength: 3.5 Hockey IQ: 3.0
Cowyn Loney #77 (D, L, 6’7″, 243, Kindersley Klippers, 12/05/2006) – Loney is an imposing presence for Kindersley, and this game showed that. He plays much of the old school rough and tumble physical defenders game. His skillset is best complimented by high end ruthless physicality, blended with a relentless compete level, and capable enough puck skills. His gap control was the tale of two stories, as in some situations Loney could outright kill plays with good space control, physical/defensive pressure exertion, and isolation, or in other instances he had really rough recoveries. This largely comes down to his shortcomings in skating as pivots were delayed, with minor balance issues, and a true lack of lateral acceleration making for overall clunky mechanics. In established zone play Loney was consistent and a scary slot presence who ensured consistent body leverage keeping opponents to the outsides, heavy physical pressure, and the enate ability to control the pace of play around the slot and in board battles. Loney made sure that the Mustangs paid a price if they wanted to use any set plays. Hustle, intensity, and endurance (despite the speed issues) never waned across all sixty minutes. Consistent use of frame and muscle mass in all situations, wether its to hold a play offensively, or imprint on the back of an attacking forward. The main issue that Loney faces is below average hockey sense as he routinely had late reads, reactionary instincts, and limited awareness, which can put both him and his teammates into problematic situations. Shooting wise he employs a lot of power, but lacks accuracy and deception from the blueline. Offensively served as a conservative puck moving option with basic decision making and poise. In order for Loney’s game to elevate to the next level he needs to add layers to his hockey sense and skating, but the meanstreak, and effort level remains an enticing element to his game.
Grade: B- Skating: 2.25 Passing: 2.75 Shooting: 2.5 Puck Handling: 2.75 Defense: 3.5 Size/Strength: 3.5 Hockey IQ: 3.75