On Wednesday, January 24th. Neutral Zone had 4 scouts in attendance to watch and report on the CHL Top Prospects Game from Moncton, New Brunswick. This game is an annual event that brings together the 40 Top NHL upcoming draft prospects playing in the CHL from across Canada. We have attended this game annually for the past few years as it is one of the few events to witness best vs. best. We find the game interesting because every single player is an elite player, and therefore with that amount of talent on the ice, it is difficult for players to differentiate themselves from the rest. However, each year there are always a few that shine brighter than the rest. This report covers every player who participated in the game.
| Carter George | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 182 | Owen Sound Attack | 2022 | Thunder Bay, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Carter started the game for Team White and looked solid for his period and a half of play. Having had the opportunity to play internationally has given him confidence in his game which was apparent during this prospects game. Playing in these games is not an easy task for a goaltender due to the skill set of the opposing team and it being more of an open game with multiple odd man rushes coming at him. Today, Carter stopped eleven of the 12 of the shots that he faced. Carter showed that he is a technically sound goaltender with smooth, clean movements while moving post to post, keeping himself upright and square to pucks. When facing odd man rushes, his IQ showed through his ability to read the play as it developed and moving quickly on passes. While there was not a lot of scrambles and pressure, when he was faced with a flurry of shots, he remained calm and did not need to throw himself. Carter came out to play the puck a few times during the game and did not seem overly confident with his abilities, seeming unsure of himself at times. The only shots that gave him difficulty were mid range, quick release shots, he positions his glove low in his ready position and was beat cleanly twice, one went off the post and the other narrowly missed the net. The only goal that he gave up came from a beautiful cross ice pass where he had to react quickly and lunged to his right but was beat high by a great shot. An impressive moment during the game came on a low shot from the slot that was released quickly. He dropped down quickly, and the rebound went to the forward on the doorstep, he calmly shifted his weight and made a quick glove save to take away the opportunity. Size could be an issue heading towards the draft, but with his skill set and calmness in the net he should be snapped up in the early rounds of the draft. Grade A-
| Dawson Cowan | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 182 | Wenatchee Wild | 2021 | Warren, MB | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Dawson is right at the cusp of being a typical NHL-level goaltender size at just under 6’2′, combined with his frame he was covering the net very well. In this game, Dawson stopped 16 of the 17 shots that he faced in his 29:19 of play. Throughout the game, and during warmup, Dawson showed that he is a very strong skater and is able to translate this into quick lateral movements and being able to come out to quickly play the puck and get back quickly. Dawson was also able use his quickness to track pucks through traffic and find rebounds through skates in front of his net. His positioning was sound and was battling hard to maintain position and keep his eyes on the puck, however he did have a few moments where he was over sliding and committing too soon. His quickness allows him to adjust and get back into position quickly, but the risk-reward level could get him in trouble. Any shots from the waist up were absorbed and either placed out of harms way or absorbed for whistles. Shots down low did cause him more difficulty with his rebound placement. This included the only goal he gave up where he went down for the shot and could not find his rebound which had squeaked to his right leading to a tap in goal for the winner. Dawson also stumbled a few times when he over slid and got himself to the outside and below his post, delaying him from getting across should there have been a quick wrap around or back door play. Overall, this was a strong showing from Dawson allowing him to highlight his movements and ability to read the play. Based on this performance, early – mid round should see him having his name called. Grade B+
| Liam Greentree | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | L | RW | 6’2″ | 198 | Windsor Spitfires | 2022 | Oshawa, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Liam was very effective, dominant at times, in this game. He is a left shot forward capable of playing either side as a winger. Liam was very crafty showing a few different looks getting pucks off the wall in his end to his centerman. Puck protection using his big body, forehand or backhand passes, chips, all were used to make good wall decisions with the puck on his breakouts. Liam can also carry the puck on the attack and with the size and skating strength and mobility showed very good skill at carrying the puck in on entry, maintaining possession and having the puck skill set to make wise pass decisions on the attack. What we really liked is when Liam was on the attack without the puck. If he was coming from a middle position Liam uses his speed and strength to bust through the 2 defenseman and head to the net, stick on ice, for a mid-lane net drive where he gets his stick on a return pass for puck redirects. On another attack Liam was the F3 trail man in the middle. His teammate took a shot from an outside land that was blocked by a defenseman. Liam was able to jump and make a fast recovery of the blocked shot and quickly fire it into the far corner, low stick-side for his teams first goal. A solid 2 way player who can set a table of finish consistently. Has the ability to dominate low in offensive zone with size, strength and puck skill. Grade B+
Jett Luchanko | Guelph Storm | OHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 185 | Guelph Storm | 2022 | London, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Jett certainly was able to demonstrate that he is amongst the very best in this game. Jett was listed as a RW in the program but played as a center in the game. We really liked his scan and check as he went deep into his zone after loose pucks, sizing up checking pressure and using good skill and hockey IQ to get the puck to the path of least resistance for solid breakouts. Offensively he has both speed and agility and can play the game at a high level of pace. He showed speed on the attack, and he displayed the compete level to chip pucks low then go battle for return possession. Jett was willing to take hits to make plays when he had the puck, and he showed a willingness to finish hits on forechecks and board battles. A real willingness to engage in all competitive situations throughout 200 feet of ice. Jett loves to possess the puck on an attack entry, then uses his playmaking skills to get pucks to teammates while he uses speed to net crash. On one particular mid- lane drive he just missed a goal getting a stick on puck for a dangerous little redirect that almost fooled the goaltender. Jett shows the competitive level as well to stay at the net, screen goalies, and battle for loose pucks in spite of taking some abuse. We witnessed a few shots he got away with a good quick release, but he appears more playmaker than a finisher. Grade B+
| Beckett Sennecke | Oshawa Generals | OHL | R | C | 6’2″ | 175 | Oshawa Generals | 2022 | Toronto, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
With his size, skating, and skill set Beckett holds a lot of promise as a future pro. His puck skill is the first thing that jumped out at us in this game. With the puck on his stick and coming out of a corner low in the offensive zone he often demonstrated the ability to freeze and beat defensemen with his 1 on 1 skill. His hands and puck movement are very quick and he displays very good creativity. Defensemen were very wary of him when taking him on. He also displayed a very deft puck touch, redirecting pucks into open areas for his teammates to retrieve, but also with the ability to place pin-point passes on teammate’s sticks at appropriate times. Beckett has to be careful not to rely too much on his skill though. Several times in the neutral zone or near the opponent blueline under pressure and outnumbered Beckett tried skill moves to keep possession, but ended up giving pucks away in bad areas rather than making a good smart “in-deep” play. He may get away with that at the CHL level but when he transitions to pro those types of decisions will not likely be tolerated. One other observation was that very late in the game with his team trailing by a goal Beckett had his most dominating shifts in the comeback attempt, which is great. However, it left some of us wondering “Where was that effort earlier in the game?”, so a more consistent competitive effort will go a long way to improving his stock option. Grade B
| Alexandre Blais | Rimouski Oceanic | QMJHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 154 | Rimouski Oceanic | 2021 | Longueuil, QC, QC | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
We thought Alexandre was a bit quiet in this game. We noticed he would make the low-high pass in the offensive zone getting pucks quickly to defensemen then he would head to the net to provide a screen, distraction, and some blue paint effort. He is a solid playmaker, his passes have good zip and accuracy. Several times however he held the puck too long before passing and will need to speed up his decision making at the next level. He isn’t really big at 5’10 but he certainly is going to have to put on a good 20 pounds or more on his 155-pound frame if he is to continue to progress. At his size and more importantly strength he loses more than his fair share of puck battles, so upper body and lower body strengthening will be a must for Alexandre to continue. Grade B-
| Gabriel Frasca | Kingston Frontenacs | OHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 172 | Kingston Frontenacs | 2022 | Caledon, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
We liked Gabrielle in this viewing as a defensively responsible checking centerman. His focus and effort in his own end, and on the penalty kill, were obvious. He is very diligent in ensuring he is back deep helping out his defensemen, and he was very good at getting into shot lanes and pressuring opponents on the penalty kill situations. Offensively we did not see much acumen in Gabrielle’s game. There were a few instances of decent puck skill in the offensive zone but in all fairness, his line seemed to be the weakest of his team’s 3 lines, and just did not get much done in the offensive zone. In events like this sometimes lines just do not click, so his lack of offense this game may not be indicative of his overall game. Grade B
| Carson Wetsch | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 165 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | North Vancouver, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
We had a difficult time assessing Carson in this game. It appeared that his line didn’t have terrific chemistry and they just did not seem to get anything going as a line making it hard to assess the individual. The takeaway in this though is that he needs to find a way to provide more value when the game is not going his way. With his size and speed there was no reason he couldn’t have at least provided some dump chase and physicality to his team efforts on this night. Grade B-
| Kieron Walton | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | L | C | 6’6″ | 211 | Sudbury Wolves | 2022 | Toronto, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Kieran is one big forward, a very solid skater once he gets up to speed, and with a skill set that the pro scouts will appreciate. He was most noticeable low in the offensive zone with the puck, using his big body, stick and reach to puck protect and shield out defenders. We would love to see Kieran play better to his size and add some physicality to his game. On one rush he drove the puck wide and appeared to have a step on the defender, but did not try to take the puck into the mid-lane, choosing to stay wide and throw a low percentage shot on net. He was not very noticeable on forechecks and seldom made any hits. Kieran also tended to rush passes and make a few giveaways when he was under physically. He needs to be willing to take a hit in order to make a better play and quit rushing passes to avoid hits. He comes with a great upside package, with the challenge for the team selecting him to get his full potential out of his size and skill set. Grade B
| Luke Misa | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | R | C | 5’10” | 175 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2021 | Oakville, ON | 2005 | 2023-2024: B |
We thought Luca made an excellent representation of his abilities in this game, excelling from first shift to last, creating offense all game, and certainly showing he belongs in the upper echelon of forwards playing in this game. At present he is very average in his size but more than compensates with his speed, quickness, skill set, and hockey IQ. Most noticeable was that Luca was dominant in all zones. Defensively he works down low very well in tandem with his defenseman and uses his quickness, compete, and anticipation to win loose pucks and spring his team on breakouts. In battles, he is relentless and never quits on the puck. Heading up ice his head is up, he displays speed and mobility and he moves the puck very quickly to open linemates if they are open. He will attack wide then use an excellent change of pace skating, delays, and quick turns to consistently create separation, time, and space between him and the defender, which Luca can exploit with a creative pass, or use quick feet to jump a hole and create a scoring chance for himself. Without the puck, Luca will split defenseman and use a mid-lane drive to create havoc and a pass option for his puck-carrying teammate. Luca wins more than his fair share of offensive zone faceoffs, his feet never stop moving, and he has mastered the hold, draw, and distribute tactic to create ice for others. He was one of the 3 or 4 most dominant forwards on the ice in this game. Grade A-
| Sam O’Reilly | London Knights | OHL | R | RW | 6’1″ | 180 | Toronto, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Sam had a decent showing at this event and appears as a player who doesn’t necessarily drive offense but certainly contributes to it. He has good pro size for a winger, and he uses his size, strength and quickness well in the offensive zone to jump and win loose pucks. Sam is no-nonsense with the puck. He wins it, moves it low-high to his defensemen, then heads to the blue paint to create havoc, screen a goalie, and provide a disruption while his blueliners are shooting. He plays the type of cornerman game that skilled centers enjoy, doing a lot of the heavy lifting in battle situations. He will also use his size and strength to make bumps, hit blueliners and generally provide a physical presence in the offensive zone. Grade: B
| Tij Iginla | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 186 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: A |
Iginla is sturdy and strong on his skates and displays this on every shift through his work ethic and compete level where he wins puck battles and races to pucks. Tij has strong edge work, has quickness, and transitions well without loosing speed when entering the offensive zone or when skating out of the corners in the offensive zone where he protects the puck well causing offensive opportunities. Through the neutral, Iginla has the pace to be a threat off the rush, and battles to extend plays along the boards and out front of the net where he wins battles through a strong second effort. When a lane opens up in the offensive zone, he’s aggressive and uses this space to use his quick wrist shot release and follows the play to the crease looking for secondary opportunities. Iginla has a high-level hockey IQ, anticipates well and uses these skills in all three zones when he has the puck on his stick or without, he made good decisions throughout the game. Tij is confident when the puck is on his stick where he distributes the puck well in open ice or under pressure where he doesn’t panic and holds on to to the puck to make smart plays to his teammates, waiting for an open lane or an opponents stick to move to make direct passes. Grade A
| Berkly Catton | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | L | C | 5’10” | 162 | Spokane Chiefs | 2021 | Saskatoon, SK | 2006 | 2023-2024: A |
Catton has strong edge work and is a quick and agile skater who keeps his legs moving in all three zones or on the back check where his work ethic is evident. Berkly is a strong playmaker who uses space and time to his advantage where he sees the ice at an advanced level, consistently executing quick plays through coverage or delaying when entering the offensive zone. Catton has quick hands using this effectively for defensive takeaways when stick-handling the puck in tight spaces or on face-offs where he consistently won draws. Berkly uses his speed and deception through the neutral zone and when entering the offensive zone which creates space for him to distribute the puck to his teammates or he attacks the net with speed creating offensive opportunities. In the defensive zone, Catton supports the puck well down low in the corners when defending which also allows him to be in a strong position to receive outlet passes for a quick transition and defensive zone exit. Berkly uses an active stick and moves into good positions when defending which causes turnovers or allows him to move into shooting lanes taking away the opposition’s options. Grade B+
| Terik Parascak | Prince George Cougars | WHL | R | RW | 6’0″ | 176 | Prince George Cougars | 2022 | Lethbridge, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Terik is an above-average skater who is both sturdy on his blades and has strong edges which allows him to protect the puck when along the boards or in tight spaces battling for loose pucks. Terik has quick hands when handling the puck and distributes the puck effectively on both his forehand and backhand where he showed confidence on zone entries or in tight spaces where he used small area give and goes to his teammates. Parascak displays a very high hockey IQ with and without the puck and is effective when he goes to the net and battles for pucks. One of those players with that innate ability to go to where the puck will be and always has an option in all zones. He is composed under pressure, connects with tape-to-tape passes, and has a quick-release wrist shot when entering the offensive zone. Would like to see Terik go to the net more consistently in the offensive zone as when he did, it was noticeable which caused scoring opportunities. Grade B-
| Luca Marrelli | Oshawa Generals | OHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 185 | Oshawa Generals | 2021 | Toronto, ON | 2005 | 2023-2024: B- |
Luca is a mobile skating defenseman who transitions well to retrieve pucks that are shot into the defensive zone. Luca’s skating ability allows him to keep a strong gap control in the neutral zone and uses an active stick when defending in the neutral zone or in the defensive zone which caused turnovers. Marrelli was effective at opening up to receive passes from his teammates in all three zones where he controlled the puck well on both his forehand and backhand. When defending, Luca defended well in the defensive corners or in front of his goalie where he boxed out defenders well allowing his goalie to see shots. Marrelli moves well along the offensive blueline when he has the puck on his stick where he showed poise, confidence, and a strong vision to pass to his teammates or getting his shot on net which was effective. Grade B
| Spencer Gill | Rimouski Oceanic | QMJHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 178 | Rimouski Oceanic | 2022 | Riverview, NB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Spencer is an above-average skating defenseman who is mobile and transitions well which allows him to maintain a strong neutral zone gap. When defending, Gill uses an active stick in the corners below the dots in the defensive zone or in the neutral zone where he defends well on the rush. Gill’s poise with the puck and ability to make tough plays when distributing the puck showcases his high-level hockey IQ in both the defensive zone exits and in the offensive zone where he identifies his teammate and moves the puck quickly and efficiently. Gill takes solid routes to pucks, hits the open man with relative ease, and is willing to take a hit to make a play in all three zones. Spencer moves laterally across the offensive zone blueline confidently which allows him to move into a better shooting lane where he gets his shot away quickly which provided scoring opportunities. Would like to see Spencer work on his first three steps for skating quickness which will only help him with his already strong positional play. Grade B
| Tomas Lavoie | Cape Breton Eagles | QMJHL | R | D | 6’4″ | 225 | Cape Breton Eagles | 2022 | Repentigny, QC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Tomas is an above average skating defenseman who is mobile and applies quick pressure when defending; Tomas pivots well and transitions from forwards to backward in order to keep a tight gap when defending through the neutral zone and below the dots in the defensive zone. Tomas shows good recovery capabilities when defending; one example is when he made a pass in the first period that was intercepted and he self-corrected this error using good stick positioning and angles to close the space quickly and then pinned the opposition. Lavoie makes a good first pass when exiting from the defensive zone or in the neutral zone where he makes good quick passing decisions to his teammates. In the
defensive zone, Tomas competes hard when defending in the corners below the dots as well as in front of his goalie where he battles for position to box out defenders allowing his goalie to see shots. Would like to see Tomas get a step quicker to really excel and show his full potential. Grade B-
| Carter Yakemchuk | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 190 | Calgary Hitmen | 2020 | Fort McMurray, AB, AB | 2005 | 2023-2024: A- |
Yakemchuk is a mobile skating defenseman who transitions well and joins the offensive attack with his strong skating attributes. Defensively, Carter uses strong angles and an active stick to play a sound defensive game below the dots in the defensive zone as well as in front of his net where he battles hard for positioning when defending. Carter has a good first pass and sees the ice well when transitioning from defense to offense where he consistently made direct passes out of the defensive zone or in the offensive zone where he used deception to open passing lanes before making direct passes to his teammates. Yakemchuk has quick hands when stick handling, on takeaways from the opposition, and in tight spaces where he excels at winning puck battles due to his competitive level. He’s got good size and reach to go with an excellent puck handling skill where he also excels at reading the play inside the offensive zone, pinches down very well, and has the skill and shot. Carter showed a quick curl and drag snapshot that generated secondary scoring opportunities from the blueline in the offensive zone. Would like to see Carter be more selective when joining the offensive attack as at times was caught deep in the offensive zone. Grade B
| Lukas Fischer | Sarnia Sting | OHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 171 | Sarnia Sting | 2022 | Detroit, MI | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Fischer is a well-rounded defenseman who is an above skater who transitions well, is mobile and wins puck races in all areas of the rink. Fischer was one of only two left-shot defenseman at the Prospect game this year. Lukas is consistently scanning the ice and has strong anticipation skills to intercept passes or to quickly close the gap when defending in the neutral zone or in the defensive zone. Lukas has a high-level hockey IQ, uses a heads up approach, and consistently finds passing lanes to distribute the pass effectively to his teammates. Defensively he reads the rush very well understands where risks are and quickly adjusts taking away time and space from the opponent causing turnovers. Lukas was effective when transitioning from defense to offense when making quick and effective passes which forced the opposition to adjust quickly in both the defensive zone and neutral zone. He defends well keeping the opposition in front of him and doesn’t get caught fishing for loose pucks when defending. Grade B
| Henry Mews | Ottawa 67s | OHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 183 | Ottawa 67’s | 2022 | Ottawa, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Mews is an extremely strong skater who uses strong edges, is mobile, quick, and transitions well when defending or when joining the offensive attack. Mews keeps a strong gap control in all areas of the ice as his skating allows him the confidence to quickly take away time and space from the opposition. Defensively his gaps were tight as he moved well laterally to intercept passes to defend in the neutral zone or in the defensive zone where he used an active stick to intercept passes. Offensively he showed good instincts to make effective passes to his teammates in the offensive zone using stick deception opening up passing lanes or getting shots on net which created offensive opportunities. Henry has a good quick-release snap shot which he used to generate rebounds in the offensive zone and continuously moved in and out of the slot in the offensive zone looking to create offensive opportunities. Grade B+
| Tanner Howe | Regina Pats | WHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 182 | Regina Pats | 2020 | Prince Albert, SK | 2005 | 2023-2024: B |
Speedy skilled undersized winger with solid compete level and phenomenal puck skills, Howe was extremely good in small areas and in traffic, At times, I would have liked him to engage and get to the middle more frequently, prospect games are difficult for highly skilled smart shifty players like Howe, because they it’s hard to build instant chemistry with their linemates. Howe possesses great vision and playing making ability, he thinks the game incredibly well, when he got to the middle on occasions he really showcased his offensive instincts and his pro release. Howe shoots the puck extremely well for a player his size, it’s a heavy accurate shot. In my opinion, Tanner Howe projects to be an early 4th round pick. Grade B
| Adam Jecho | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | R | RW | 6’5″ | 198 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 2023 | Zlin, CZE | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Prototypical solid two-way center with good vision and overall skills. Jecho skates incredibly well for his size, and has great edge control, his play away from the puck was equally impressive as his play with it. Jecho used his speed and agility to penetrate outside lanes, but still lacked some explosiveness to get to the middle of the ice and set the wall to drive that lane. He definitely creates time and space for himself and his linemates with his frame, he has good puck skills and is above average in traffic, Jecho has all the tools to be an effective checking 4th line center at the pro level. Some may question his ability to play through the middle at the next level, but I think with more strength and experience his skating will progress, For Jecho to reach his full potential he will need to continue to focus on executing his style of play at full speed, He has an active stick and is extremely reliable in all three zones, In my opinion, Adam Jecho projects to be an early 2nd round draft selection. Grade B+
| Maxim Masse | Chicoutimi Sagueneens | QMJHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 192 | Chicoutimi Sagueens | 2022 | Rimouski, QC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Strong skater, quite agile for his size, great puck skills, patience and creativity in traffic, Very good on the half boards in his own zone, power forward potential, plays a heavy two-way game, will need to continue to work on his foot speed and explosiveness to reach his full potential at the pro level, You could tell at times Masse struggled to get into shooting lanes defensively and into passing lanes and space in the neutral zone during the game, As the game progressed, Masse seemed more relaxed and comfortable, He is type of player that can play up and down the lineup and fulfill any role or identity when called upon. Obviously, this kid had tons of attention coming into this game after scoring four in the game before vs the Islanders, There’s no question, he possesses a fantastic accurate pro release, and great hands and puck skills in tight, he has the potential to score a ton of goals by going to dirty areas of the ice every time out, but it’s all about foot speed and getting to those areas at the pro level. Playing in showcase games like this it’s clear he has to get a half step quicker to reach his full potential at the NHL level, his speed and edge control will leave some scouts questioning his ceiling, but his skating will continue to develop with increased strength and experience, In my opinion, Masse projects to be an early 3rd round pick. Grade B
| Marek Vanacker | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 175 | Hamilton Bulldogs | 2022 | Delhi, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Vanacker can skate like the wind, he possesses game-breaking speed and agility coupled with great offensive instincts and creativity. This kid does everything at top speed, and can definitely execute when the opportunities present themselves, Vanacker, Boilard, and Beaudin drove the momentum and offense throughout the entire game, and Vanacker’s ability to create time and space was apparent from the drop of the puck, He doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, but will definitely have to get stronger to win his share of puck battles at the pro level, he has tremendous hands and puck skills in traffic, it’s easy when you have that much speed to stay out on the perimeter, he doesn’t shy away from the middle, but he will have to engage with more frequency at the next level to reach his full potential, In my opinion, Vanacker projects to be a late 2nd or early 3rd round. Grade B+
| Raoul Boilard | Baie-Comeau Drakkar | QMJHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 184 | Baie-Comeau Drakkar | 2023 | Sherbrooke, QC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Great skater and has puck skills, does everything at top speed, and processes the game very well, It’s definitely noticeable that his hockey IQ and puck skills are his strongest attributes. He has a great accurate release for his size, Boilard will have to get stronger to be an effective top-six forward, 2nd or 3rd line center at the next level. He’s very creative, has great vision and playmaking ability, fantastic in the faceoff dot, it’s also apparent that he can play both forward positions with relative ease, Compete level away from the puck, and focus on the defensive side of things will have to be an area of focus for Boilard’s as he heads to the next level, He definitely possesses gritty qualities to his game, but he will need to bring that on a more consistent basis to reach his full potential at the pro level, On the first goal against during the Top Prospects game, Boilard didn’t backcheck near hard enough to get back into the play and potentially prevent the goal from occurring. There’s no question Boilard is a smooth operator with the puck on his stick and was one of the most skilled players from the red line and in at the Top Prospect game, He will have to continue to work on his explosiveness and getting to the middle of the ice more and engage more to generate at the pro level In my opinion, Raul Boilard projects to be a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick. Grade B+
| Cole Beaudoin | Barrie Colts | OHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 209 | Barrie Colts | 2022 | Kanata, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Prototypical power forward, solid skater, but it will be apparent that some scouts will question his skating ability and edge control for the pro game, what this kid might lack on the skating side, he makes up for with the will to compete and makes everyone around him better. Beaudoin is a throw back player that engages in every aspect of the game in all three zones, Beaudoin competes for every loose puck, his puck skills are solid and he has very good offensive instincts. He’s great on the forecheck and really takes a lot of pride in playing the his position and the game the right way, he’s an incredibly reliable accountable two way player. One aspect of his game that really jumped off the page for me, was he didn’t try to do too much when he had the puck on his stick, In a massive showcase game, like that he didn’t drastically vary his identity, he was committed to playing his style of game from his first to his last shift, There’s no cheating to his game, his honest two-way game will bring value to the pro game, because what he brings is so rare this day and age. Ultimate competitor, and definitely a player that can play up and down the lineup. In my opinion, Beaudoin projects to be a late 2nd or early 3rd-round pick. Grade B+
| Julius Miettinen | Everett Silvertips | WHL | L | LW | 6’3″ | 205 | Everett Silvertips | 2023 | Helsinki, FIN | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Miettinen is a prototypical highly skilled two-way forward through and through, he processes the game at a pro level, great vision and distributes the puck very well, He has great puck skills and is very comfortable in traffic, very good on the half-boards in his own zone, he can generate scoring chances off the rush as easily as in traffic, He skates very well and possesses a strong stride and has very good edge control and agility, He will have to get a ½ step quicker to fully reach his potential at the pro level, but he’s well on his way to being a solid middle six forward at the next level. He’s a very effective forechecker and has great instincts in all three zones, but especially in the offensive zone, he has a great stick defensively and has the skill to play up and down any pro lineup. In my opinion, Julius Miettinen projects to be a mid 2nd round draft pick. Grade B+
| Ollie Josephson | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 179 | Red Deer Rebels | 2021 | Victoria, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Ollie Josephson possesses top end speed and thinks the game equally well, Great in traffic and distributes the puck very well through the middle, can really drive offensive opportunities off the rush, solid in his own zone and has a very active stick, solid accurate release, Josephson, will have to get stronger to ensure he wins his share of puck battles at the next level, He definitely skates well enough to play through the middle at the next level, but with added strength he will only get faster and even more elusive, Josephson is incredibly shifty in open ice and can make anyone miss, In my opinion, Ollie Josephson projects to be an early 3rd round pick. Grade B+
| Ethan Procyszyn | North Bay Battalion | OHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 182 | North Bay Battalion | 2022 | Wasaga, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Limited viewing:
Unfortunately, Procyszyn was injured during the 2nd period of action at the Top Prospects game, he did show quite well in the 1st period, and was a great complimentary winger to the line of Josephson and Miettinen. He’s a solid two-way gritty winger that is more than capable of playing a bottom six checking/energy role at the next level. No Grade Assigned
| Andrew Basha | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | L | C | 5’11” | 184 | Medicine Hat Tigers | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2005 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Speedy elusive undersized skilled winger with game breaking speed and play making ability, really drives offensive opportunities off the rush, isn’t timid to go to the dirty areas of the ice to create time and space, but will need to get stronger if he wants to win puck battles at the pro level, very good in traffic, but needs to continue to engage and compete in those areas, In my opinion, Andrew Basha projects to be an early 4th round draft selection. Grade B
| Nathan Villeneuve | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 199 | Sudbury Wolves | 2022 | Ottawa, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Villeneuve is a gritty two-way playmaking center, he skates incredibly well and is very agile, he’s very good in traffic and doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, he processes the game very well, He will have to get stronger upper body wise to fulfill a checking role at the next level, In my opinion, Villeneuve projects to be a late 3rd round draft selection. Grade B
| Eriks Mateiko | Saint John Sea Dogs | QMJHL | L | LW | 6’5″ | 210 | Saint John Sea Dogs | 2022 | Jelgava, LAT | 2005 | 2023-2024: B- |
There’s no question Mateiko is soaring up draft boards, he plays a solid two-way game coupled with excellent edges and skating ability, this kid is still growing having grown an inch and a quarter since the start of the season, Clearly every scout was curious to see how the rangy talented power forward would handle the speed and pace of the Top Prospects game, there’s no question he surpassed many expectations. I’ve have had the luxury of watching this kid grow, progress and develop over the last two seasons in the QMJHL, Eriks processes the game very well, but one of his strongest attributes aside from his skating ability and pro release is his playing making ability, this kid can really distribute the puck from the wing position, With the Sea Dogs moving out all of their centers during the trade period, Eriks will be playing a ton of minutes through the middle that won’t be the greatest for his overall development. Mateiko is a big body presence, has the potential to be an effective two-way forward at the pro level, still needs to work a little on his agility and play in tight areas and traffic but it has really taken a step in the right direction since last season, he has very good puck skills, and a very accurate quick release, still needs to engage more at certain times, especially in the second half of shifts, but once he gets to the middle he has the tools to execute and create time, space and scoring opportunities, He’s an incredibly confident player when firing on all cylinders, needs to bring that compete and confidence more frequently and on a consistent basis to reach his full potential In my opinion, Eriks Mateiko projects to be a mid to late 2nd round draft selection. Grade B+
Lukas Matecha | Tri-City Americans | WHL | L | G | 6’3″ | 187 | Tri-City Americans | 2023 | Chrudim | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Lukas was steady during his half of tonight’s game, stopping all 19 shots that were fired his way. At almost 6’4′, he was the biggest of the four goaltenders and used that to his full advantage, particularly down low. He showed great lower-body strength by getting into his butterfly and filling the lower part of the net while remaining strong when opponents were digging for loose pucks. Using his size and strength he was able to make what looked like a great scoring opportunity late in the game look like a routine glove save by pushing hard and getting his glove on a hard snapshot. His calmness was evident as well, tracking the puck off the back wall and covering up a strange bounce that could have been dangerous had he not been tracking as well as he was. The calmness that he plays with could give coaches the jitters as he covers pucks with the same calmness which was leaving them open for the extra few seconds that could have been dangerous. He made most of his saves look routine with good body position and smart rebound placement off his pads. Team White created good chances as they turned up the tempo late in the game pushing for the tie, Lukas stayed focused and made the first save and prevented good scoring chances. His size and ability to control the lower part of the net will keep him on radars, and working on the speed of his glove and blocker will further increase his stock. Grade B
| Ryerson Leenders | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 179 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2022 | Nanticoke, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Ryerson started the game for Team Red and stopped 19 of the 20 shots that he faced, including several odd man rushes early in the game as his teammates adjusted to new linemates and playing the opposite side that they would normally play. His play at times seemed uncontrolled as he was forcing himself to have to make big saves due to his rebounds sitting in dangerous areas. Ryerson’s athleticism was very evident all game, making impressive second chance saves, strong pushes across the net and ability to take away any holes that the shooter would see. Leenders made good decisions with his stick, making a great poke check on a quick move that found an opponent with the puck all alone in front of him. Down low was the strongest part of his game, getting his butterfly wide and sealing off the posts with his long legs and athleticism. The loan goal that got by him was a quick release shot from about 5 feet out that found an opening over his blocker, which was open during the game, but he had relied on reflexes to take it away on other opportunities. When he can get set, he is difficult to beat as he uses his size and athleticism well, elite shooters will have the ability to find those holes over his blocker and trapper with them both being held low on his ready position. Athleticism will carry him far and most likely result in a mid-late round selection, if he can tap into the raw talent that is there and make a few mechanical adjustments he could be a deal in the later rounds if still around. Grade B
| Sam Dickinson | London Knights | OHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 195 | Niagara Ice Dogs | 2022 | Toronto, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: A |
Sam already possesses the physical attributes of an NHL-level defenseman, 6’3′ and 200lbs made him stand out. His skating is incredibly strong, able to change directions quickly, start and stop at full speed and move with the puck made him a threat throughout the game. Sam controlled the play when he was on the ice with his elite puck skills, moving the puck out of traffic and firing crisp and accurate passes to keep the flow of his team’s game at a high pace. While physicality is not a big part of his game, he was showing willingness to battle for pucks and take contact to move the puck. Patience was a trait that he displayed both with and without the puck during the game. He seemed to wait out the puck carrier and use his stick quickly to strip the puck or take away a lane that was open for a pass or shot. There were times during the game where he was making decisions
with the puck that could look flashy, but also could give a coach some stressful moments. One instance was skating towards his own goal line under pressure and dropping the puck between his legs for a no look pass that missed its mark leading to a turnover. When Sam is playing with patience and making the plays that are there, instead of trying to create the highlight reel pass or spin move, he is a stand-alone prospect. Sam is going to be a playing time machine at the next level, who plays a smart defensive game and has the tools to also progress into an offensive threat. He has a remarkably high ceiling and should be a first round pick this year with his skill set and hockey IQ. Grade A
| Colton Roberts | Vancouver Giants | WHL | R | D | 6’4″ | 198 | Vancouver Giants | 2021 | Ridge Meadows, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Colton is big, mobile 2-way defender who can move well with the puck when he has open ice and time. For a young kid with his size, he has good explosiveness in his stride, and with work on the fluidity of his stride that will continue to increase. His quickness on the defensive side of one on ones was exposed, as he got himself tangled twice on quick moves allowing the puck carrier to get by him and in on good scoring chances. He made up for that with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, taking a pass and blasting past his checker, kept his head up and saw Danford sliding in. He fired a quick, accurate pass that found his way through traffic leading to his squads first goal. He also has a good-great shot that he keeps low and hard for deflections and rebounds. Holding pucks in was a definite strength this game, getting his feet moving and grabbing pucks while in motion with his head up looking for the best place to fire the puck. For a bigger player, he has not figured out the physical aspect of his game but could be a very difficult player to battle against if he decides to start playing with more of an edge. Colton had moments where he looked like a first couple of rounds draft pick and others where he was more of a late round pick so the skill level is there, now to see if he can put it all together consistently. Grade B-
| Harrison Brunicke | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 187 | Kamloops Blazers | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Brunicke played a reserved game, making safe plays in his own zone and moving the puck quickly. He has a good stride that allows him to retrieve pucks well but does lack that explosiveness to create space for himself. Physically, he did a solid job of pushing the puck carrier wide and then using his edges to keep himself in beneficial position to take away the players ability to drive in. When the play started to open up in the third, he was noticing his man getting behind him but struggled to adjust quick enough. This made him look like he was chasing for the majority of the second half of the third period. As a defensive player, he does a particularly good job of staying in front of the puck, if he can work on those first three steps and get his reaction time down, he has the ability to be a good support for an offensive defenseman. Grade C+
| Zayne Parekh | Saginaw Spirit | OHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 181 | Saginaw Spirit | 2022 | Toronto, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: A |
Zayne is an offense-driving defenseman who controlled the play when he had the puck on his stick. He did have a couple of hiccups early on during the game as he was playing over on the left side and made a couple or errors on the puck approach that got him caught deep. He made the necessary adjustments during the game, and this was corrected by the middle of the first. He may have been the best skating defenseman in this game, quick acceleration, fantastic edge work, and the ability to skate as quickly backward. When moving with the puck, his head is always up and is making plays that show elite-level thinking with a prowess for finding the open man with hard, precise passes. With the puck on his stick, he is also a threat to score with a howitzer of a shot from the point that he can get off extremely quickly. Defensively, he held his own and made a nice layout block on an odd-man rush. Unfortunately, the puck took a strange bounce and ended up on the opposition’s stick leading to the lone Team White goal. Zayne’s ability to evade with the puck on his stick was on display, allowing him to create time and space to move the puck out of danger. Zayne has the makings of a #1 D man at the NHL level with work on his physical strength and ability to control his man physically to go along with his speed and agility. An interesting prospect that could be a late first or early second steal, if he can complete his game. Grade A-
| Charlie Elick | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 201 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Charlie is a big, strong, right shot defensive defenseman. Elick is a strong powerful defensive-minded right-shot defender. He showed good physical play, laying heavy hits throughout the game and battling for loose pucks down low. Skating-wise, he has an unconventional stride, not getting explosive first three steps and seemed to not be getting that full extension out of his pushes which could be fixed with work on his posture when skating as he starts to bend over too far when trying to find that extra gear. Offensively, he played a safe, smart game and would make smart passes and move the puck quickly. He does possess a good shot when he is able to step into it and get his size behind the shot. While some of his d partners were getting themselves in too deep, Charlie stayed calm and was in a position to manage the odd man rushes. Using his size and intelligence, he was able to take away the lanes and made intelligent decisions to force the puck handler to decide. He kept himself active and moving in the defensive zone which allowed him to make key blocks late in the game. Projected to be a late pick, with coaching he should be able to fix the mechanical issues in his skating. This will allow him to be a welcome physical presence on the blueline to match up with a more offensive partner. Grade B-
| Benjamin Danford | Oshawa Generals | OHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 194 | Oshawa Generals | 2022 | Madoc, ON | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Ben is a solid, good-sized defenseman who played a strong 2-way style this game. He was able to use his strong skating and physical strength to retrieve pucks quickly and effectively. Once the puck was on his stick, he had his head up and was scanning the ice looking for the best possible avenue available to him. Defensively, he took care of his end very well showing confidence and patience when dealing with the puck carrier and laid some solid hits as well. Offensively, he did not take chances and was making the safe plays. He scored the first goal for the red squad, breaking the scoreless battle in the second period. He saw that his d partner had carried the puck down the right side, pulling the forward covering him over. This allowed Ben to step in behind, off to the left, and received a strong pass that he buried past a sprawling goaltender. Has a big shot that he can release quickly, he did fire into shin pads a few times, but was able to adjust to retrieve quickly. A smart 2-way defender who can play PP, PK and chip in on offense efficiently will boost his stock heading into the draft. By continuing to work on not giving away pucks by trying to force them through defenders on zone exits, he will have a high ceiling moving towards to draft. Grade A-
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images