| Ellis Rickwood | Victoria Grizzlies | BCHL | R | F | 6’2″ | 190 | Uncomm. | Brantford, ON | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
Ellis is a well- rounded player that has good hockey knowledge playing well positionally on either offence or defense. He also can take and win more than 60% of his faceoffs when called upon. He is a point producer at every level he has played at and most recently he scored at a 1.5 point per game clip in the shortened season for Victoria in the BCHL (20 games 13 goals 17 assists) He does not take selfish penalties and has a very good stick which he utilizes to make plays on the offence and steals pucks on the defense. Very accurate shot and sets up teammates often with precision passes. Ellis is a good skater presently but has short choppy strides which are effective enough for this league as he seems to be a very effective player in a short space of time. The next couple of levels of that he must prepare to play in i.e., NCAA, minor pro, major Jr. etc. may be a challenge. Everything happens a little quicker and everyone is just that much more skilled, smarter, tougher etc., We have watched Ellis play since he was in Brantford where he seemed to be the same type of player as he is now. His compete level increase on and off the ice have improved only slightly. If he does commit to a program and stick to it 100%, he could possibly get to the top level of Pro Hockey as he has all of the tools.
BCHL: Victoria Grizzlies vs Alberni Valley Bulldogs, April 2021: A real threat on the power-play. Has a lot of versatility to his skill-set which makes it hard for him to defend. Plays the “bumper” on the PP and has the ability to get off one-timers with a quick release and hard shot. In addition, can one touch passes to his teammates in high scoring areas. Scored a beautiful goal in the slot on the PP (April 11, 2021) — by hammering home a one-timer from the hash-marks. Definitely has a nose for the net as he shifts his body away from defenders and moves around quietly in these high danger areas. Has the ability to get open and have his head up to survey the ice. Owns a HEAVY shot and a great one-timer with a quick release. B+
BCHL: Victoria vs. Alberni, November 2020: Skilled forward who possesses breakaway speed that he showed early in the game. Capitalized on his chance with a fancy move showcasing his stick handling. His energy was unmatched from the start. Makes a hard first pass tape to tape from either 10ft or cross ice. Grade: A