| Nikita Meshcheryakov | Northwood School | Independent Prep | L | C | 6’3″ | 192 | Moskva | 2005 | 2022-2023: C |
U18: USHL American Cup, Northwood Prep vs Long Island Gulls, December 4, 2022: This was Meshcheryakov’s second game of the day and forth game in two days. He totaled 17:34 in ice time including 4:09 while on the power play and 1:37 while shorthanded. He had two primary assists with the first coming on a quick transitional 2 on 1 from the offensive blue line. On the play he stole the puck and drove through the dot lane. Upon recognizing that the defenseman was cheating towards him he fired a 12″ snap shot off the far pad for an easy back door rebound for his linemate. His second assist came after he “popped” an opposing forward’s stick to steal the puck and then made a ridiculously athletic head fake that actually made the next man lose an edge to go sliding past him. From there he made a rocket pass to his linemate who went in on a partial breakaway to bury it. He finished the game +1, with 1 shot and went 8/13 on face-offs.
U18: USHL American Cup, NJ Rockets vs Northwood Prep, December 4, 2022: In total Meshcheryakov earned 17:07 of ice time including 4:45 while on the power play and 2:07 while shorthanded. He finished with 1 goal, 1 assist, +1, with 3 shots on goal, 2 PP shots, 2 grade “A”, 2 PIMs on hard body check below the offensive goal line and went 10/14 on face-offs. He was one of the better players in the game. The left-shot center has some size and plays that power-forward style as he drove the puck to the net in the 1st period for a scoring chance off a set-up. He has good eyes off the rush and there were a few times he found his linemate at the net or trailing into the zone. Early in the 2nd period, he did just that finding #19 Schneid in the slot for a good opportunity. He showed good offensive awareness and used his body well in the offensive zone to protect the puck. He possesses good stick skills although not exceptional. His skating is average as seems to stride a bit stiff and lacked the breakaway separation speed. He made a nice blind pass on his backhand late in the 3rd period on Northwood’s 2nd goal. He missed a good scoring chance in the 3v3 OT period yet the next shift he took the puck in the neutral zone gained some speed and quickly snapped a shot from the top of the circle beating the goalie over the glove short-side for the winner. Grade: B+
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images