| Jalen Luypen | Okanagan Hockey Academy | CSSHL U16 | L | F | 5’10” | 150 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Kelowna, BC | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, May 2021: I’ve been watching Jalen’s improvement happen over the past few years and it really starts with his attitude. He flat out will not be outworked. He’s been scoring goals his whole life, but he scores them because he wants it more than anyone else on the ice. His mindset doesn’t seem to vary and he is damn good at working. So the question is simple, is he big enough and strong enough to be effective in the National League. There is no doubt that coaches will love his approach, but will 5’10” 150lbs be enough to pull it for a professional career? I don’t know, but I do know that if I was a general manager I would want him in my system. His style would be infectious. His attitude is something to build on. I’m not sure if he’ll get drafted, but I do think he gets camp invites and earns a contract. From there anything is possible.
WHL: Edmonton Oil Kings vs Lethbridge Hurricanes, May 2021: Luypen was a man on a mission in this one. He flat out wanted it more than the other players on the ice. He beat Hurricane defenders in full ice sprints to negate icings and generate offensive zone possession. On every shift his work ethic made you take notice. He won battles. He blocked shots. His stick was a thing of beauty while killing penalties. His hard work and tenacity resulted in a beautiful quick one timer goal that would not have happened without his initial effort on the forecheck. Although he kept it simple, Luypen was incredibly strong on the puck and used his low center of gravity to be a force below the goal line extending offensive zone possession. He played like a leader who his coaching staff could depend on.
WHL: Edmonton Oil Kings vs Moose Jaw Warriors, January 2020: Luypen’s feet never stopped moving. Every shift he was a ball of energy who would not be outworked. We noted that he had the work ethic to be the first man in on the forecheck as well as the first man back in the backcheck after the scrum or turnover, most times on the same shift. Offensively he kept it simple, preferring to out work his opponent along the wall and then beat them to the front of the net for scoring opportunities. This mindset led to an assist where he beat his man to a loose puck, used his point and raced to the far post creating confusion for the Warrior’s defenders.
WHL: Edmonton Oil Kings vs Seattle Thunderbirds, October 2019: Luypen played a direct straight forward game. He seemed to be much stronger and more powerful during wall battles than our last viewing, but that did not mean that he was going to over complicate things. He consistently beat his man off the wall to the net and was a very disruptive net front presence. We liked his shooter’s mentality and his ability to generate rebound opportunities on line rushes or off the cycle.
WHL: Edmonton Oil Kings vs Swift Current Broncos, September 2018: The Oil King rookie played a simple straight forward game. He was a disruptive F1 and showed game situational awareness by recognizing where his linemates where on the forecheck. Offensively it was obvious from the beginning of the game that he has a willingness to battle for net front ice while anticipating rebounds. Luypen showed a very quick stick while looking for loose pucks and seemed to have a knack for pulling pucks out of scrums to fire on net. His release was quick and seemed to be very deceptive.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images