Jack Peart
Neutral Zone’s evaluations dating from August 2017 through Jack’s most recent viewing in November 2020
| Jack Peart | Fargo Force | USHL | L | D | 5’11” | 177 | St. Cloud | 2021 | Grand Rapids, MN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
MN High School: Grand Rapids Thunderhawks vs Andover Huskies: Jack was the catalyst for offence as he’s been all year for Grand Rapids. Once Grand Rapids went down in the game his dynamic skating ability and vision allowed Grand Rapids to exit the defensive zone with speed putting Andover on their heels. Once he is on the blue line in the offensive zone Jack is able to flourish. Jack was able to provide offence by using his deception to create shot seams as well as create passing lanes for opportunities at the net. Jack is a very special player and he lived up to the bill last night. Grade A+
NAHL/USHL: MN Magicians vs. Fargo Force , November 2020: Skates well enough to get shots from the blue line on the net in traffic areas. He is a player that can wiggle his way along the blue line with patients in order to find a shooting lane. Skates very well being able to make break out passes, does it confidently. When he goes back for the puck you have a sense that he knows where he’s going to go with it before he gets it. Grade: A
USHL: Fargo vs. Sioux Falls, October 2020: Peart had a great game on both sides of the puck for the Fargo Force in this contest. He started off the scoring early in the first for Fargo with a nice shot from the point through traffic that found its way into the back of the net. He created a lane for this shot with a nice fake along the blueline and then using his feet to get the shot off. Peart’s feet were consistently on display in this game. On more than a few occasions Peart got his feet moving in his own zone to start breakouts for his team, often gaining the back of the net and driving his feet up ice to start an offensive rush as well. Peart was crisp in his passing, smooth in his skating, and played well on both ends of the ice for the Force tonight, finishing with a goal, an assist, and a +3 rating on the night. Grade: A
2019 Minnesota High School All Star- Prospects Game, November 2019: Jack was more quiet than usual offensively but that doesn’t mean he didn’t impact the game. He started the offense very well by moving the puck up ice quickly after eluding the first fore checker. The type of player who is stronger than he looks and handled his own in front of the net in the defensive end. His game was that of strong skating and high percentage plays while moving the puck.
Minnesota High School Elite League, November 2019: His game was very similar to that of Ma’s as he is a bit undersized but such a strong and mobile skater. He snapped pucks up ice on the tape to his forwards and then got up ice. His leg strength allowed him to dig in and defend when needed. A tough player to fore check as he is shifty and has strong puck skills. Calm domineer and no panic to his game for a young defender. College: St. Cloud
Minnesota High School Elite League, September 2019: Peart is one of the top prospects in the Elite League this Fall. He possesses great skating ability excels laterally and on his edges. He is a D partners dream! Every pass is on the tape. When using his partner, the puck is left in a perfect position on breakouts. No rimmed pucks or passes in the feet. His puck movement is crisp and clean when using his partner and moving the puck up ice. One of his best attributes is the ability to read the opposition in the neutral zone and his own end. Peart continually takes away time and space and wins puck races/battles. He keeps the puck protected until a play can be made. Grade: A, A- College: St. Cloud
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Peart came to camp after a breakout season at Grand Rapids HS where he proved to not only be one of the best prospects in Minnesota, but one of the best in the country and earned a spot at the NTDP Evaluation Camp. He plays a mature game that is well beyond his years; he’s got terrific edges and is both strong and balanced in his stride. He has soft, smooth hands and excellent puck control which allows him to evade forecheckers and carry the puck through the neutral zone for clean zone entries. He thinks the game at a high level; he has the vision to read the play defensively and get into the right spots to break up plays and he has the vision and poise offensively to wait for lanes to open and move the puck to the right areas. Peart has a firm grasp of his defensive zone responsibilities and has great coverage skill around the net, he rides opponents off the puck and moves bodies and sticks around the net to give his goaltender clear sight lines. His head is on a swivel, he doesn’t chase the puck and he is deliberate and strong on his skates to push opponents away from prime scoring areas and takes the right pursuit angles when playing the body in the corners or against the rush. Offensively he has natural instincts, he sees the play develop and can make split second decisions under duress without rushing it or forcing bad plays and can snap passes off like a pro. On the power play he did a great job facilitating and using his puck skill and passing ability to move pucks all over the offensive zone. He also had the vision and hockey sense to see numbers around the net front and would place low hard snap shots off the goalies pad to generate clean rebound chances and tip opportunities for his forwards. A subtle skill, but one he has mastered and was able to make a move and beat opponents and get the puck to the net consistently. The smooth handed, multi dimensional defenseman ended the week with 4 assists in 5 games and was a standout every time he touched the ice. He was a first round pick in the USHL and one of the best ‘03 defensemen in the country; including NTDP. College: St. Cloud Grade: A
NTDP Evaluation Camp Report, March 2019: Peart is a strong, stocky defender out of Minnesota High School who really impressed here. He doesn’t have a fluid stride but he’s balanced and strong on his edges; he can defend physically with his lower body strength and toughness or he can use his stick and hockey sense to get into the right spots and cut down angles. He has terrific stick skill and can flat out dangle oncoming forecheckers. He doesn’t need to play flashy, he’ll make the 5-foot pass and he won’t hesitate when there is lane to move the puck to but if he’s pressured and there aren’t any options and he has to skate it out of his end that is where you’ll see the depth of his skill. He’s a swift puck mover and he can put soft passes to space or he can snap a pass off cross ice with plenty of zip behind it. His passing ability makes him difficult to defend against because if you are too aggressive, he’ll expose you can connect on long range passes but if you over pursue, he can make you look foolish 1v1. He’s subtle but highly skilled with the puck and showed that on the power play where he can make clever and skilled moves to create offense for himself and his teammates. He needs to get a step quicker and more explosive at his size but he has a rare combination of toughness, strength and puck skill. He took Argentina, one of the stronger forward in camp, off his feet in an open ice body check to show he’s not just puck handler. He’s a gamer and the type of defender you want on the ice in all key moments of the game. College: St. Cloud
Minnesota Elite League Week 1, October 2018: The confidence of the young defender was very impressive. He was mobile and a strong skater. His puck skills were sharp and he moved the puck up ice very well. His shiftiness made him tough to hit on the forecheck. He created offense consistently and made plays in all zones. His game should only get better as he settles in and gets comfortable. A USNTDP dark horse. COLLEGE: ST. CLOUD STATE
World Selects Invite, June 2018: A strong, stocky built defender with quick feet and hands. He sees the ice well, he’s quick in transition, has lateral mobility and deceptive skill. He shoots the puck with power and purpose and he has good sense of when to let it go and when to make the pass on the power play. He finished the weekend with a 1-3-4 line in 7 games.
Minnesota 2003 Rankings, March 2018: A heady offensive defender who lacks size but not strength or power. He shows a tremendous amount of puck poise, eyes are always up, waiting out defenders for lanes to open or quickly finding teammates from long distance. Not afraid to rush the puck up ice, Peart is always involved in the offense. He has a hard shot but accuracy isn’t always a strength, but he gets his chances every view we saw. Nearly every puck touch is a positive one with Jack. Defends very well, smart angles, active stick, in shooting lanes, strong awareness, and ability to separate players off the puck with stick or body. He plays the style the game calls for. Another early NCAA commit player and USNTDP Camp invite.
MN Bantam Elite League, August 2017: Another smart, mobile puck mover with good hockey sense and vision. Seemed content moving puck to forwards and not joining the rush but like the movement inside the offensive zone and ability to create passing lanes. Didn’t play the entire weekend so saw less of him than others.