| Mathew Ward | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | L | C | 5’8″ | 172 | Swift Current Broncos | 2019 | Kamloops, BC | 2004 | 2022-2023: C+2021-2022: C+ |
WHL: Swift Current vs Red Deer, December 17, 2022: Ward totaled 19:45 in ice time including 2:08 while on the power play and 3:49 while shorthanded. He earned a primary assist on an open net goal late in the third period, but the play was made earlier in the shift when Ward showed quickness and strength to out muscle an opponent for a 50/50 puck and then made a quick tape to tape pass up the middle. We like the awareness he showed as an F2 or F3 on the forecheck as he did not get caught outside the dots and he did an excellent job of judging his depth without needlessly giving away the lines. He used that same awareness to create a grade “A” opportunity while shorthanded as he read the “slingshot” drop pass and picked it off to create a quick 2on1. Although undersized he fearlessly attacked the middle lane as the puck carrier and drove the crease to create net front chaos. He finished the game +1 with 1 primary assist, 4 shots, 3 grade “A”, 2 PIMs for foolishly tripping the opposing goaltender while he skated through the crease, 4/11 on face-offs, 1 hit, had 3 shots blocked, 1 giveaway, 2 takeaways and he won 53% of his 15 puck battles.
WHL: Swift Current vs Lethbridge, October 26, 2022: Ward totaled 17″27 in ice time including 3:06 while on the power play and 0:36 while on the penalty kill. He scored a power play goal on a quick one-timer from below the left dot. What we liked about the goal was the mental focus he showed because just prior to the goal he lost an edge and fell, but he jumped back up and ripped it under the bar. His second goal came as a result of sound defensive zone coverage where he won a 50/50 puck battle, made a quick outlet and moved his feet after he made the pass. He then received the pass in traffic and showed nice puck protection skills as he cut to his right to take the backchecker’s legs away. He then attacked the middle lane and fired a quick release backfoot snapshot that caught the goalie off guard. Ward also had a beautiful power play assist. He was positioned below the goal line and made a perfect one-touch pass into the slot for a one-time bomb. He finished the game +2 with 3 points, 2 shots, 1 PP shot, 6 PIMs (2 trips and a post whistle roughing). 5/8 on face-offs, 0 hits, received 3 hard body checks, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 8 takeaways and he won 50% of his 12 puck battles.
Neutral Zone 2022 NHL Draft: Why a draft pick: Over the past two seasons Swift Current has scored 252 total goals with Ward being involved in 79 of them, including being involved in 57 of the 181 goals scored during the 2021/22 season. 59% of his shots hit the net. When you watch a game he leaves no doubt in your mind that he played in it. Why not a draft pick: He is listed at 5’8″ 157 pounds and has won 40% of his puck battles over the past two WHL seasons. He plays an aggressive physical style that impacts the game, but he has been on the receiving end of 1.38 hard body checks per game over his two WHL seasons.
WHL: Prince Albert Raiders vs Swift Current, November 19, 2021: Mathew is another one of the Broncos highly touted prospects. He averaged a point per game in the WHL bubble last season as a 16-year-old, and this year he is ahead of that pace. This game we didn’t see the explosive and dynamic offensive side of his game, but we did see his physicality on full-display. His skating, balance and center of gravity is incredibly impressive. He threw several bone-crushing body checks to players moving faster and who were much bigger, furthermore he leveled a few who were trying to hit him. Mathew doesn’t look small on the ice, nor does he play small. He competes very hard and attacks the puck and the opposition with a purpose. His 200 foot game was quite impressive. He was tough on the forecheck and on the backcheck. In the offensive, neutral and defensive zones he punished the opposition. With the puck on his stick he can make plays. His passing is top notch, accurate and smart – hard when required or soft touches into open ice were both executed very well. On the power play he was the main distributor, the puck was on and off his stick in a split second giving his teammates perfect dishes to shoot. The shots from the Broncos were limited in this game, however Mathew has proven he has a touch around the net. We will hear his name called in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Grade B+
WHL: Swift Current Broncos NHL Prospects, May 20, 2021: Without a doubt, the best player on the Broncos team right now. Being part of what is turning out to be a very deep 2004 prospect pool, Ward is the present and future of this program. He plays with a massively high hockey IQ. At both ends of the ice, he anticipates plays well, and makes good decisions. In his own end, he can be out muscled, and he is undersized at the moment, but he constantly puts himself in areas where he can pick off passes. He has a good stick, using it well to both take away options, but to also get in on guys and lift sticks. Everything about his game is sneaky good. He has an ultra smooth stride that looks effortless, and it does look like at times that he is missing an extra gear, but constantly, at both ends of the ice, we find him making plays that surprise us a bit. Again, in his own zone, he seems to surprise puck carriers with his ability to get in close quickly, and force awkward plays. Offensively, when it seems like he’s about to be swallowed, he is able to create that little separation to make a play, or to win a race. On the forecheck, he assesses and attacks smartly, and again, always seems to surprise opponents with his ability to get in on them quickly. Maybe it’s because he does look so casual on the ice at times, that opponents and scouts like us at Neutral Zone can undervalue his foot speed. The game looks easy to him, and when he carries the puck he does a good job of controlling the pace of play. He does seemingly like to play at a slower pace, but he is also more then capable of playing at that high end pace as well. Ward has excellent hands. He makes good passes all over the ice. Under duress, he still is able to create angles, and find spaces to pass the puck to. He sends soft passes, and even when he is passing long distance, pucks land on their target with accuracy and lightness for teammates to control easily. He sees the ice incredibly well, uses his feet and hands to create all sorts of different attacking angles, and really does a good job to make himself a dual threat to either shoot or pass when he is in possession of the puck. He has a lightning fast release. He doesn’t shoot the puck with a ton of pace, but it is deadly accurate. On the powerplay he likes to curl off the half boards and attack the middle of the ice where he can pass or shoot. Ward has the potential to be an elite player, and with more physical development, is only going to get better. He is the type of player who can make teammates better because of the way he plays, and the skill set he possesses. As a 2004, he’ll be a real name to consider next year, especially if he finds himself with a strong supporting cast. Grade: B+
WHL Cup, November 10, 2019: Ward might be the most natural playmaker in his age group. Smooth hands, quick stick handling skills, and the creativity to pull off moves that most people couldn’t envision let alone pull off. Ward does it consistently. He has great vision on the ice, and makes plays all over the place, at pace, with players all over him, he has the confidence and skills to make plays in limited time and space. Ward plays with good pace, and plays strong on his edges, but he is lacking explosion, and can struggle at times to break away from coverage with his feet, and as skilled as Mathew is, he can still be swallowed up by stronger more physical players, and they can keep him to the perimeter where he is less dangerous. Grade: B+
Rocky Mountain Classic, December 8, 2018: Ward was a machine who’s engine never stopped running through the weekend, playing in all situations and consistently being a pain in the ass to play against for the opposition. Ward is a shifty player who will create for teammates in the offensive end and though he’s not the biggest, he loves to throw the body to separate the player from puck. He’s an easy skater who can find separation through the neutral zone and has the hands and creative thinking to open up space for teammates off the rush. He can play in 1 on 1s down low with his hands and quick starts and stops. Ward is a competitive player at both ends of the ice and works hard in his own end making sure to get back in back pressure or close lanes from the point. Ward could work on becoming stronger for puck protection as he can get knocked off down low and continue to get quicker as it’s not a weakness but as a smaller player is something that allows you to escape pressure a bit easier. Grade: B
CSSHL Showcase, February 16, 2018: Mathew is a smooth skater; he has creative vision and passing. He’s quick and shifty in the corners and does well to create space for himself. The 2004 is a playmaker and thinks pass first but can score if the opportunity presents itself. He is talented with the puck and makes things happen in the offensive zone. The underage was arguably the team’s best forward over the weekend and is sure to get a lot of attention in his WHL draft year next season. He finished with 4 points through 4 games and played on the top PP unit. Grade: A-