General Game Notes: A bit of a dramatic game between the Kings and Express. Coquitlam were able to score three goals in the first period and it was catch up the rest of the game for Powell River. The Kings did get one in the middle of the third to make a one score game but they just did not have enough to complete the come back.
Why should NHL teams be watching?
And why they are not.
| Ethan Simcoe | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 161 | Lac du Bonnet, MB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: With powerful side to side movement Simcoe is able to get cross create not only to make saves, but in also get in a squared position. He wants to move the puck, looking after glove save if the possession can be extended. He is not afraid to challenge shooters but at times can get stuck too far out and has a hard time recovering to unforeseen bounces. He was a solid fourth penalty killer deflecting pucks into area that were able to eat away at time on the clock.
Why: He’s a former 4th round WHL pick who chose the college route to lengthen his development path. Played 7 more games than his goaltending partner at Rink Academy last year with a 2.57 GAA and a 0.930 sv%. He is an ’06 playing in the BCHL who has a 0.913 sv% to start his junior career.
Why not: Size matters and he’s currently listed at 6’1″, 161lbs so he is going to have to totally dominate at this level to get looks from NHL teams.
| Ben Feenan | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 174 | Tri-City Americans | 2019 | Surrey, BC | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Feenan is a talented puck-mover with higher-end hockey sense. He retrieves pucks well and can make plays in his own zone to avoid pressure. He was able to show tonight that he is a calm and collected defender and a crisp puck mover. When going back for pucks and someone is right on him, he does a good job at controlling him using his body and feet deception. He is an excellent passer but isn’t afraid to skate the puck up ice if he identifies an opening. Couple times tonight when he got the puck with space behind his own net, his first three steps are up ice and then snaps it to an open teammate in the neutral zone creating entries the other way.
Why not: Feenan is a below average sized right defenseman who’s already played parts of three seasons in the WHL before finishing last year in the BCHL with Chilliwack. He had 9 total points in 73 WHL games with 12 PIMs.
| Michael Rubin | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 183 | Sacred Heart | 2024 | Blauvelt, NY | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Rubin is a smart puck moving defenseman who can break down a forecheck with his feet or passing. As he challenges the first layer, he is able to get through traffic with his feet and creative passing deception. He keeps this same type of deception offensively when walking the blue line, maybe a couple too many swivel hips but it has its times to be deceptive. He likes to attack down the wall catching pinching winger off guard, keeping possession and scoring chances alive. Couple times tonight this forced the defense to collapse giving his teammates time and space.
Why: He’s a 6’1″, 185lbs right shot defenseman who has put up fairly steady offensive numbers no matter where he’s played. He’s not a killer but he has some bite to his game. He moves the puck well and will be counted on to play big minutes during his time at Sacred Heart University.
Why not: He will have to continue gaining considerable strength, explosiveness and power to be a bottom pairing defender in the NHL who can be counted on to play penalty kill minutes.
| Joseph Odyniec | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 201 | Connecticut | 2024 | Washington, DC | 2004 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Odyniec plays hard in front of the net and along the walls. As a winger, he did a good job at getting his body around the puck on breakouts, blocking out the opposing pinching defenseman, creating space for himself to chip out or find his center. It is a small play but a play that gets the puck out of his zone. He is not afraid to drive his shoulder low on entries and attack the net. Given his size, he takes advantage of smaller defenseman and forces them to play him with strength instead of their feet.
Why: He’s a 6’2″, 180lbs right wing who keeps getting better and better. He is strong through contact and is confident initiating contact. He’s heading to UConn where he will be required to play a detailed disciplined game that he will need to play to be a pro.
Why not: He will need to continue developing his first three steps and four-way agility to be a bottom six NHLer but the fact that he’s going to spend multiple years training on a college campus is a real positive.
| Andrew Garzone | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | R | C | 6’1″ | 180 | Princeton | 2024 | Dover, MA | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Garzone is a threat off the rush with his speed and decision making, who can also make plays in tight spaces. He was hard to knock off pucks and engaged physically to challenge opposing defenders. It is not so much his size that makes him hard to knock off pucks but the way he absorbs hits and spins off checks. He is a creative thinker who has an elusive release. A difference maker who’s a massive threat on the power play. Couple times in tight in stead of shooting straight on, he was able to pull it around the defending blocker and get shot on net.
Why: Garzone is a abrasive smart player who has the ability to distract his opponents through non stop effort and compete. Has the size and pace to be a penalty killer in professional hockey.
Why not: Yes he scores his goals from within feet of the crease but does he have the overall offensive game to be a detailed bottom six?
| Jackson Krill | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | R | F | 6’1″ | 185 | Vermont | 2024 | Port Moody, BC | 2004 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Krill is a heady playmaker who uses spacing to his advantage and sees the ice at an advanced level, regularly executing quick plays through coverage or delaying into a pre-planned play. He showed this on entries being able to cut to the middle and find space there or drive defenseman low and cutback up the ice. He’s got multidimensional skill, with an ability to play both with speed on the rush and more slowly inside the offensive zone when the pace ramps down and he has to spin away from pressure.
Why: He was undrafted in the WHL bantam draft. He’s never been a big point producer and then last year with Merritt he scored 18 goals and 36 points in 49 games to go along with 55 PIMs. He has an NHL frame and can make plays in small areas. He will be counted on at UVM to be a contributor from the start.
| Evan Brown | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | R | C | 5’8″ | 169 | Little Silver, NJ | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Brown was able to show tonight that he has great straight-line speed to create separation, as well as the hands and skill to play in tight spaces. He showed a couple times that he was able to get from his own zone to the offensive zone effectively pushing back their defenseman forcing them to have tight gaps. He showed his intelligence tonight playing a responsible two-way game and being a factor in all situations. He does not force pucks through the middle rather makes the tough looking play but effective play and gets it out of the zone either using the glass or hard chip off the boards.
| Jake Manfre | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 197 | Princeton | 2024 | Kings Park, NY | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: He is a noticeable talent on the ice as he plays with great poise and displaying great IQ with his positioning and decision making. One aspect of his game that he does well that can go unnoticed given his skill with the puck is creating clean breakouts. He gets his body into position to protect space and the puck in order to find teammates, this leads to time then spent in the other zone where he can be creative. He showed his IQ with a couple plays leading to scoring chances. Either he understands his teammates or the system they want to implement well because a couple no look passes to players in space confirmed one of those theories.
Why not: He’s strong as a bull and a leader but does he have the overall pace to be a bottom six forward who kills penalties?
| William Jones | Powell River Kings | BCHL | R | D | 5’9″ | 170 | Air Force | 2024 | Brentwood, TN | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Jones was able to showcase his mobility, transitional play and two-way game which also stands out as much as his offensive ability. He is such a smooth skater and has the ability to walk the line effectively when in the offensive zone. He has solid pre-possession movement meaning he reacts to where defenders are and attacks ice before getting passes. He has great awareness and IQ in the offensive zone, knowing when to jump into the play for a shot or keep plays alive along the boards. Defensively, he keeps his gaps tight and does a good job at shutting down rushes by surfing through the neutral zone. This allows him to keep his speed if they dump the puck and take optimistic angles.
| Owen Thomas | Powell River Kings | BCHL | R | D | 6’4″ | 190 | Providence | 2025 | Chicago, IL | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Thomas showed that he is a big, strong, right shot defenseman who has significant upside offensively. He shoots the puck hard and accurately and finds ways to get them on goal, through traffic, from range. With a quick wrister or a head fake, he is able to create his own shot lanes or get pucks to the net if a blocker is not willing to put a knee down. His spatial awareness ranges defensively at times getting lost in who his coverage is but reacts quickly and has a good jump to recover. Has a heavy shot when he can get his force behind it. He needs to work on his foot speed to better equip himself versus smaller forwards.
Why: He’s a 6’4″ right shot defenseman who got great coaching while playing for the Notre Dame Hounds. He is heading to Providence College where the coaching staff will demand him to play with the details needed for him to play in the the NHL. He has some aggression in his game that is a good thing.
| Anthony Yu | Powell River Kings | BCHL | R | C | 5’9″ | 180 | Air Force | 2024 | Baldwin Park, CA | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Yu is dynamic as they come. When he has the puck at full speed, his head is up looking the next play. That next play for Yu can be a couple different options. He has the foot speed to take it around the entire zone, he has smooth hands that can allow him to cut to the middle and compress coverages, and a grit where he can just take it to the net himself. He works equally as hard in the offensive zone and he does in his own. He closes quickly despite his lack of size versus other players. He agitates and create turnovers with an active stick and quick footwork.
| Noah Eyre | Powell River Kings | BCHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 176 | Pittsburgh, PA | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Eyre plays with confidence and a presence that is rare in a player under pressure with the puck as much as he is. He showed tonight he does not want to get rid of the puck, on entries he delays consistently looking to expand his space to create something. He consistently looks to attack and dictate with the puck. He’s also an intelligent off-puck player who understands timing, routes and how to get open and make himself available without the puck in his hands. He does not rush his timing, instead if he has to, he stops and slowed his skating just to be in position.
Why: He’s been a steady assist man no matter where he’s played and he does not get rattled. Played three seasons at Shattuck where he received excellent training and coaching. He knows how to create space for himself and his teammates.
Why not: He can be streaky and it’s tough for streaky players to find a consistent home at the highest level as a bottom six player.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images