Sam Dickinson #2 (D, L, 6’3″, 203, London Knights, 06/07/2006) – Dickinson is a long, strong, powerful left-shot defender who often times intimidated his opponents into short-arming it while going for a 50/50 puck. Over the course of the Hlinka, he won 56% of his puck battles while averaging 17 puck battles per game. Among Canadian defensemen, he was 4th in TOI, averaging 19:34 per game, 4th in even-strength TOI at 14:27, and 3rd in PKTOI at 4:49. Other than 0:13 seconds in the third period versus Slovakia, he did contribute to the power play. He finished the tournament with 0 goals, two primary assists, one secondary assist +6 10 PIMs, six hits, ten shots, as well as having had eight shots blocked. Grade: B
Benjamin Danford #3 (D, R, 6’1″, 185, Oshawa Generals, 02/06/2006) – Danford is an average-sized smooth, skating right-shot defender. He was counted on to play solid 5on5 minutes and to be a member of the penalty killing unit. Offensively, he kept things simple and moved the puck as quickly as possible, but he did show skating ability to accelerate away from forecheckers while retrieving dump-ins and edge work to cut the net hard while a forechecker was on his back. Defensively, he used a combination of his anticipation and top-end speed to close on opponents as the puck was moving towards them, which bobbled passes and poor decisions. He chose to play a conservative game that probably didn’t wow the NHL scouts. but there’s no doubt that his dependability and mature style of play will have NHL organizations taking extended looks during his draft season. Grade: B-
Frankie Marrelli #4 (D, L, 5’10”, 191, Ottawa 67s, 02/16/2006) – Marrelli is an undersized high IQ left shot defenseman that led Team Canada in total ice time per game at 21:38. Defensively his skating ability allowed him to maintain tight gaps throughout the neutral zone and his smooth heel to heel pivot made him explosive when moving laterally to pinch off the line rush as early as possible. During offensive transitions, his passes were on time and easy to handle. It was obvious to see that his teammates trusted that he would not put them in a vulnerable position. He was not a major factor on the power play (0:26 PPTOI), but he was a valuable member of the penalty killing unit (4:44 PKTOI). Statistically, he finished with one primary assist and two secondary assists +10 6 PIMs, eight hits, 12 shots, 5 grade ‘A’ opportunities had four shots blocked, 22 total giveaways during the tournament, 49 total takeaways, and he won 63% of his puck battles while averaging 12 puck battles per game. Grade: A-
Anthony Cristoforo #5 (D, R, 5’11”, 182, Windsor Spitfires, 02/23/2006) – Cristoforo is an undersized, skilled right-shot defenseman who averaged 8:54 total ice time per game. During his limited minutes, he showed nice puck poise, but there were times when he held onto the puck too long, looking for the perfect pass. He finished with two primary assists, one secondary assist -1, 15 shots, 1 grade ‘A’ had four shots blocked, and he won 59% of his 16 total puck battles over the course of the tournament. Grade: C
Charlie Elick #6 (D, R, 6’3″, 187, Brandon Wheat Kings, 01/17/2006) – Elick is a long, strong right shot defensive-minded defender who played to his strengths by moving the puck quickly in transition and by being a strong physical presence in his end. In the defensive zone, he quickly sorted out picks and scissor plays to pin his man to the wall, or (and we really liked this) he would skate right through the pick to throw his opponent into the puck carrier’s skating lane. Among Canadian defenders, he finished third in total ice time per game at 20:30 TOI and second in penalty kill TOI at 5:04. He did not play on the power play. He finished with three secondary assists, +5 0 PIMs, five hits six shots, and he won 52% of his 53 puck battles. One thing to keep an eye on as we move into his draft year: he had 19 shot attempts during the Hlinka, with 11 of those shots being blocked and only 6 hitting the net. Grade: B
Maxim Masse #7 (RW, R, 6’1″, 181, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, 04/07/2006) – Masse averaged 9:32 in total ice time, including 1:52 on the power play and 0:40 while shorthanded. During game #1 against Slovakia, he was a key penalty killer (3:20 TOI), but as the tournament progressed, he was not used while shorthanded and became a key power play player, so much so that during the semifinal game versus Team USA 46% of his total ice time was on the power play (12:55 total 5:53 PP). He finished the tournament with five goals, one secondary assist +4, 6 PIMs, two hits 17 attempted shots, with 15 of those hitting the net, and he won 43% of his 32 puck battles. Grade: B-
Malcolm Spence #8 (F, L, 6’0″, 175, Mississauga Senators U16, 09/22/2006) – Spence is a long, powerful September 2006 who scored the Golden Goal for Team Canada. He is not eligible until the 2025 NHL Draft. Over the course of the Hlinka, he averaged 12:44 of even strength time on ice. He was not a key contributor to the power play while he was a key penalty killer, as he did average 3:42 while short-handed. Last season in the OHL, he won 46% of his 50/50 puck battles, but here it was obvious to the eye test that he looked stronger more explosive, and more confident during physical confrontations and statistically, that was backed up by him winning 58% of his 50/50 puck battles during the tournament. During the tournament, he scored two goals and had two primary assists one secondary assist was +3 6 PIMs, four hits hit the net with 13 of 21 shot attempts, and had four shots blocked. Grade: B+
Justin Poirier #9 (RW, R, 5’7″, 183, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 09/04/2006) – Poirier is an undersized right shot right wing who averaged 7:36 of even-strength ice time and 2:54 while on the power play. He did not kill penalties. He was primarily used as a shooter on the power play, where he showed the mindset that anything that touched his stick was heading to the net. While on the power play, he attempted 13 shots, with 8 being ‘grade A’ opportunities. He had two power play shot attempts blocked. Over the course of the tournament, he averaged seven puck battles per game, and he won 50% of those battles. As the tournament progressed, his time on ice per game diminished from him playing 14:28 during game #1 versus Finland to 12:51 in game #2 to 11:03 in game #3 to 9:09 in game #4 to playing 4:04 in the Gold Medal game versus Czechia. Grade: B-
Roger McQueen #10 (F, R, 6’3″, 195, Saskatoon Blazers U18, 10/02/2006) – As an October 2006, McQueen is a long, lanky 6’4′ right shot forward who seemed always to be positioned at the top of the crease. He showed a quick, fluid release when he had the opportunity and scored on a wicked release on a short-side snap shot versus Slovakia, but his primary role was to stand at the top of the crease and be a screen or distraction. He averaged 11:54 of even-strength ice time per game and 1:54 positioned at the top of the crease on the power play. He had 0:26 total seconds of penalty kill ice time. McQueen finished the tournament with four goals and three secondary assists. +10 had 20 shots, with 10 being ‘grade A’ opportunities, had 0 shots blocked, and won 55% of his face-offs. He is not eligible until the 2025 draft, but one thing to keep an eye on as we move through this year is his 50/50 puck battle winning percentage, as he won 42% of his battles during the 2022/23 season during his rookie WHL season and he won 39% of his 50/50 puck battles during the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. We expect those numbers to rise dramatically as he is a 6’4′ high-end NHL prospect who is still growing into himself. Grade: B+
Henry Mews #11 (D, R, 6’0″, 179, Ottawa 67s, 03/09/2006) – Mews is a high-end right-shot defender who was second on Team Canada in total ice time per game (21:33 TOI) even strength ice time per game (17:46 TOI) was second among defensemen in power play ice time (2:00 TOI) and was fifth among defensemen on the penalty kill (1:48 TOI). He finished the tournament with one goal, three primary assists, three secondary assists +9 2 PIMs, four hits 25 shots attempts, ten shots on goal, averaged nine puck battles per game, and he won 47% of those battles. One thing to keep an eye on as we head into his draft year is that he had 11 shots blocked. None of the blocks were on the power play, and only one resulted in the puck immediately leaving the offensive zone, but nonetheless, as an undersized offensive-minded defenseman, this is something to pay close attention to. Grade: A
Berkly Catton #12 (C, L, 5’10”, 162, Spokane Chiefs, 01/14/2006) – Catton, the Captain for Team Canada, tied for the tournament lead in points with ten and led the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with eight goals (next closest player had 5). Quite simply, he was dangerous every time he was on the ice. He won 61% of his face-offs, including winning 63% of his defensive zone face-offs had 42 shot attempts with 30 shots hitting the net and 16 of those being ‘grade A’ scoring opportunities, and had five shots blocked with none of those blocks, leading directly to offensive zone exits for his opponents averaged 13 puck battles per game and he won 54% of those battles. During the Gold medal game, Team Canada’s coaches trusted him to play 26:54, and that with having 4 minutes in penalties. Grade: A
Ryder Ritchie #14 (LW, R, 6’0″, 174, Prince Albert Raiders, 08/03/2006) – Ritchie finished tied for second in total points at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with nine and tied for second in assists with 6. Among Team Canada forwards, he was second in total ice time (18:16 TOI), two seconds off leading the forwards with (15:11 TOI), and second in power play ice time (2:59 TOI). He was not used as a primary penalty killer. He led Team Canada with five primary assists, was third at +7 had 38 shot attempts, with 18 hitting the net and 9 being ‘grade A’ opportunities, and had nine shots blocked. He is very offensively talented and creative, but one thing to keep watching is Ritchie’s 50/50 puck battle winning percentage, as he 39% of his battles during the 2022/23 season and won 48% of his 50/50 battles during the Hlinka. Grade: A
Cole Beaudoin #15 (C, L, 6’2″, 200, Barrie Colts, 04/24/2006) – Beaudoin has an NHL frame and an NHL power forward’s mentality as he looked to initiate contact as often as possible below the tops of the circles in the offensive zone. He finished the Hlinka-Gretzky third among Team Canada’s forwards, averaging 17:45 of total ice time and first among forwards for penalty ice time (4:09 TOI). Although he finished the tournament fourth among Canadian players with 6 points, he was not a primary power-play player. Overall, he finished with three goals, two primary assists, one secondary assist +5 4 PIMs won 43% of his face-offs 54% of his offensive zone face-offs, 18 shot attempts hit, with 12 hitting the net and 9 being ‘grade A’ scoring opportunities. As we head into the 2023/24 season, we will be watching for his 50/50 puck battle percentage to go up as he is 6’1.5′ 200lbs and he averaged winning 41% of his twelve 50/50 puck battles per game during the Hlinka Cup. Grade: A-
Ollie Josephson #16 (C, L, 6’0″, 179, Red Deer Rebels, 07/22/2006) – Josephson is a below-average sized left shot forward with a shoulder-width skating base and long, powerful stride that utilizes his hip-knee-ankle and finished with a powerful toe snap. Over the tournament, he averaged 12:42 in total ice time, with 8:49 coming at even strength, and he was second among Canadian forwards, averaging 3:53 while short-handed. He did not lay on the power play. He finished the tournament with two primary assists, one secondary assist +4 2 PIMs won 39% of his face-offs and four shot attempts, with 2 being ‘grade A’ opportunities, and he averaged 11 puck battles per game while winning 51% of those 50/50 puck battles. Grade: B
Porter Martone #17 (RW, R, 6’3″, 170, Mississauga Steelheads, 10/26/2006) – Martone is a late 2006 and not NHL Draft eligible until the 2025 draft, but he already has an NHL frame and willingness to use that frame to his advantage. He finished the tournament with two goals: one primary assist and two secondary assists, averaging 14:52 in total ice time, with 11:37 coming at even strength and 3:13 coming on the power play. He did not kill penalties. Grade: B
Zayne Parekh #19 (D, R, 6’0″, 170, Saginaw Spirit, 02/15/2006) – Parekh is a below-average-sized right-shot defender with a very smooth skating base that allowed him to maintain tight gaps on line rushes and to create separation when going back to retrieve dump-ins. Although still quite slight, he won 50/50 puck battles that led directly to transition and clean breakouts. Over the course of the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, he was sixth among Canadian defensemen, averaging 14:38 in total ice time, fifth in even-strength total ice time (11:45 TOI), and first in power play ice time (2:53 TOI). He did not kill penalties. He finished the tournament with three primary assists +3 and averaged five puck battles per game, winning 63% of these 50/50 battles. One thing to keep an eye on as he heads into his draft year is that he attempted 19 total shots and hit the net with 9 of those while having 8 of those attempted shots blocked. All of the blocked shots came on snap shots, and only one led to an odd-man rush the other way, but as an offensive-minded undersized defender, this is something to watch. Grade: B
Michael Misa #22 (F, L, 5’10”, 157, Mississauga Senators U16, 02/16/2007) – Misa is an elite offensive talent who is not eligible until the 2025 NHL draft. While at the Hlinka-Gretzky he averaged 15:09 in total ice time, with 13:14 coming at even strength and 1:51 coming on the power play. He was not a key member of the penalty killing unit (0:05 TOI). He finished the tournament with 2 goals, 5 primary assists 1 secondary assist, which had him tied for third in points as an underager. Grade: B
Carson Wetsch #23 (RW, R, 6’2″, 165, Calgary Hitmen, 05/04/2006) – Wetsch is an average sized right shot right wing who played a very detailed game as he understood how and when to pressure at the lines to force turnovers or poor decisions by his opponents. Over the course of the tournament, he averaged 13:42 in total ice time 10:10 in even-strength ice time and was a top four penalty killing forward who averaged 3:32 in shorthanded time per game. He did not play on the power play. He finished with 1 goal, two secondary assists +4 + 14 shots with 6 ‘grade A’ opportunities, and two shots blocked. Grade: B
Cayden Lindstrom #25 (C, L, 6’3″, 205, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/03/2006) – Lindstrom is a big physical presence who averaged 2.5 hard body checks per game and was often times positioned in the low slot battling and tying up opposing defensemen. He averaged 12:10 of total ice time per game, with 11:14 coming at even strength and 0:54 coming while on the power play. Other than 0:02 seconds of clean-up time, he did not play on the penalty kill unit. He finished the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with two goals, one secondary assist even 12 PIMs. He won 61% of his face-offs, including 71% in the defensive zone had ten shots, with 5 hitting the net and 1 being a ‘grade A’ opportunity. The one thing we will be watching closely is his 50/50 puck battle winning percentage, as he averaged ten puck battles per game and won 42% of them. Grade: B
Carter George #31 (G, 5’11”, 167, Owen Sound Attack, 05/20/2006) – George is a below-average-sized (5’11’) left-catching goaltender who, after coming on in relief during Game #1 versus Finland, earned the starting job and led Canada to the Gold Medal. Over the course of the tournament, he faced an average of 21.8 shots per game and had a save percentage of 0.908%. In the semifinal game versus Team USA, he gave up two goals on 28 shots for a 0.930sv%, including a svp of 0.890% on scoring area shots and stopping the one breakaway he faced. In the Gold medal game versus Czechia, he stopped 30 of 32 shots for a 0.940svp, including a svp of 0.900% on scoring area shots, and stopped 1 of 2 breakaways. George also had a shutout versus Switzerland and gave up four goals versus Slovakia. Grade: B Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Gabriel D’Aigle #30 (G, L, 6’4″, 209, Victoriaville Tigers, 01/29/2006) – Started Team Canada’s opening game versus Finland (7/31/2023), giving up seven goals on 28 shots for a 0.750sv%. He had a 0.620% scoring area save percentage. Finland scored two power-play goals. Grade: C
Liam Greentree #18 (RW, L, 6’2″, 198, Windsor Spitfires, 01/01/2006) – Greentree played in three games and had one assist. Grade: LV
Jordan Gavin #13 (F, L, 5’11”, 165, Delta Hockey Academy U16, 11/13/2006) – Gavin played in 2 games at the Hlinka Cup. Grade: LV
Ryerson Leenders #1 (G, L, 6’0″, 155, Mississauga Steelheads, 06/01/2006) – DNP Grade: LV
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images