| Hank Kempf | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 183 | Cornell | 2021 | Chicago, IL | 2002 | 2020-2021: C+ |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, November 2020: I had Hank rated as a “C+” 2020 NHL Draft prospect, yet he was a player who was not drafted and not talked about much leading into the draft. Heading into his second year of draft eligibility I still have Hank rated as a “C+” National League prospect. As a staff we will continue to track him this year and I feel there is a good chance that he will be a defenseman who blossoms in his second full season as a leader on the Muskegon squad.
USHL: Dubuque vs Muskegon, November 2020: Kempf was solid defensively for Muskegon in this contest. Kempf is a presence on the backend and uses his size well to take up space. On multiple occasions Kempf was able to shut the rush down at his defensive blue line and break up plays as the Fighting Saints looked to move through the neutral zone. Kempf was physical in his defensive efforts and worked hard in battles along the boards and low in his zone, more often than not coming out on top. On the offensive side of the puck, Kempf’s contributions didn’t show up on the score sheet but he was responsible for a couple of nice rush opportunities because of crisp stretch passes he made to his streaking forwards. Overall, Kempf was a steady, calming presence on the backend for Muskegon. Grade: A-
USHL Pre-Season: NTDP U18 vs. Muskegon, October 2020: Kampf was arguably the best player on the ice tonight for both teams. He was physical right from the start of the game and carried that play throughout. Kampf had numerous occasions where he stepped up in the neutral zone or at his defensive blueline to lay a big hit or stand up a player coming down on an offensive rush. He was also able to break up more than one odd man rush and shut plays down effectively in his own zone. He won battles below his goal line and then immediately moved the puck up ice to start offense for his team. When his team started to come on in the third period, Kampf contributed to the offense by stepping into a beautiful wrist shot after a D to D pass along the blueline. Kampf had a great game on both ends of the ice and stood out on the vast majority of the shifts he took tonight. Grade: A
USHL: Muskegon Lumberjacks Draft Prospects, December 2019: Hank had a strong game and played a lot of valuable minutes for his team along with being +2 on the night. He showed a calm demeanor for a young defender and was poised with the puck while making strong reads. His skating is strong and he showed mobility. Along with that, he has solid size and a thick frame which allowed him to use his body when needed. He was able to separate attackers from the puck off the rush and down low using his body. Offensively he moved the puck well and made simple and accurate decisions. He is still a young defenseman in an older league and has a strong chance to improve as the season goes on. GAME GRADE: B
USHL: Muskegon NHL Prospects Scouting Evaluation, October 2019: (1) Brain – You barely notice Hank out there and that is a compliment. His body positioning is great while battling to clear shooting lanes or while along the walls shutting down the cycle. In the neutral zone he understands how to set a tight gap by matching speeds, his positional depth and he has an active stick that is very good at knocking pucks out of the air. We like how he reads puck possession in the offensive zone. Hank does not just activate into the high cycle because he can. He reads the positioning of the opposition’s forwards as well as the rotation of his forwards and makes good decisions based on probable outcomes. This might not be sexy, but decisions like these are the type that help teams win games. (2) Vision & Poise – Hank surveys the entire ice sheet before he receives a pass and is ready to make quick outlets or long stretch passes. When activating as a late attacker he has his head up to find the quiet areas of the rush and is an asset. (3) Feet – He moves well out of pivots and retrieves pucks quickly and with a purpose. We have noticed that while pinching plays off at the defensive blueline that he will cross his feet over. That is a habit that will need to be broken. (4) Compete & Effort – He blocks shots, takes hits to make plays and protects his goalie. (5) Contact or Physicality – Hank is strong on the walls and in front of his net. He plays bigger than his listed 6’1″. (6) Release – Although not a rocket, Hank has a hard shot from the point that hits the net. He has the ability to smoothly handle poor passes up the wall, walk the blueline to improve his shooting angle and be looking for tips while he is moving. (7) One Timer Ability – At lower levels we have seen Hank shoot one timers while on the power play, but we can not comment with confidence right now. (8) Body Language – He has a workman like approach and does not get rattled. (9) Special Teams Potential – Hank has the mindset and physical attributes to kill penalties in professional hockey and do it very well. Although we feel he has good puck skills and makes a quick accurate pass, we do not see him as a consistent option on a professional power play. (10) Intangibles – Hank plays a simple direct game that coaches at higher levels love. He moves the puck quickly without being dangerous. He can jump into the play as an offensive option without being a defensive liability. His skating ability will allow him to eat minutes and his physical size will allow him to play those minutes against the other team’s top players. We feel he is a few years away from being an NHL defenseman, but after another year of juniors and his time at Cornell he could be a top 4 NHL defenseman because of his high hockey IQ.