Game played on 1/12/2025.
General Game Notes: After a slow first period, Team USA was able to bounce back from being down three to zero. In fact, Team USA was able to score six unanswered goals while only converting one time on the power play. With a couple impressive individual efforts combined with stellar defense the last half of the game, Team USA was able to come away with the win.
Pavel Bocharov (D, R, 6’0″, 183, Green Bay Gamblers, 02/21/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: When it comes to his defensive end, Bocharov has a soli understanding of his responsibilities as a defenseman. He is very responsible in his own end, supporting the puck during breakouts and in corner battles, if he is not first man in. His head is constantly on the move, so when he does get the puck he knows where to go with it. He is not afraid to make a little slip pass into the middle, because of his awareness, he knows it is open. Couple times tonight he would win a loose puck race, then right before collection, turn his head to check middle, and make a slip pass into his center, an elite play that is a lot harder than it looks.
Cody Sokol (LW, L, 5’8″, 152, Green Bay Gamblers, 01/22/2008, Wisconsin)
Grade: C+
Comments: Sokol was able to show tonight that overall, his shot is one of his main strengths and it is good enough to beat a goalie from a distance off the rush, it just did not tonight. On the outside lanes he easily gets caught as he lacks that ability to push off his opponents using his shoulders and back. Because he is one of the smaller forwards on the ice, he needs to learn to use what size he has when he has the opportunity.
Will Zellers (LW, L, 5’11”, 170, Green Bay Gamblers, 04/04/2006, North Dakota)
Grade: A
Comments: Zellers was the only goal scorer tonight for the Gamblers. With a hat trick, he provided the offense when he could for his team. Other than his obvious goals, one aspect of Zellers game tonight that will not get talked about as much is his drive to compete. His tenacity on the forecheck. He is one of the first players in the corners and is constantly hounding the opposing defensemen looking to create turnovers. With the puck, Zellers is a very confident player and is able to push defenders back when carrying the puck in, however, that does hinge on him gathering enough speed in the neutral zone to do so.
Vasili Zelenov (LW, L, 6’0″, 180, Green Bay Gamblers, 02/02/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Zelenov was able to show tonight that he likes to slow down the play because he thrives during set plays with open space. This is mainly because he’s less comfortable at making decisions at high speed during the rush. He loves to take the shot and will utilize his teammates to set himself up. His best hockey is played in an established position in the offensive zone, especially on the power play where he can use extra space. This may be obvious to some, more time and space is easier to work with, but most players can not handle the time and space. Zelenov is not afraid to use his hands and pick a part defenses, showed that he is confidence with the puck.
Richard Gallant (C, L, 5’8″, 170, NTDP U18, 06/12/2007, Harvard)
Grade: A
Comments: Gallant was able to show often tonight that he does a fantastic job of being able to shoot off the rush and work into advantageous areas where he can be utilized in the offensive zone. He can stickhandle himself into good positions due to the fact he has a good sense of where the spaces will be when entering the zone and is creative with his entry angles and pace. When down-low, he can showcase his creativity with deft passes into dangerous areas that require finesse. His backhand to forehand transitions are also clean which allows him to handle bad passes and get shots off in a hurry.
Lincoln Kuehne (D, R, 6’0″, 176, NTDP U17, 11/28/2007, Colorado College)
Grade: B
Comments: Kuehne does a really good job of finding the puck carrier below the goal line and hunts for the puck using his size to an advantage.He was able to show his engine and dogged ways in the defensive zone. There is a speed and style in which he defends. It is more about timing than anything but he understands it. His size allows him get away with some things that against better skaters, probably would not work. He can be prone to getting slipped by along the end boards and half walls as he just does not have the turn radius and initial burst to cover any errors is his angles. He also can be prone to allowing fast forecheckers to disrupt him and force turnovers on breakouts.
Jack Murtagh (LW, L, 6’1″, 200, NTDP U18, 08/22/2007, Boston University)
Grade: A-
Comments: With a goal and two assists, Murtagh had himself an offensive night. He was able to open the scoring for Team USA tonight at a much needed time. Murtagh was able to show tonight that he can beat you in a straight line with the puck on his stick, skate his way into space with good separation and win a lot of battles that require him to race onto loose pucks. He is technically sound he still however needs to build more strength through his core and legs to make him a bit more sturdy on his skates as he got bumped off the puck a couple times. That added strength will help with more explosiveness, balance and also will allow for him to be more confident on wall battles and battles below the goal line.
Drew Schock (D, L, 5’9″, 135, NTDP U17, 02/07/2007, Michigan)
Grade: B
Comments: Schock does a good job at moving the puck, wether that is with a pass or his feet. He wants keep the play moving, not a lot of stopping behind the net and waiting in his game. With his skating, he sometimes bends his upper body over his knees which I would say hampers the amount of power he generates with his lower body. He still has a great stride but looks like there is some movement to unlock there that could improve his agility. As a defenseman, his first could backwards stride need to improve. Too much churning to get speed, once he has it, he is hard to beat but those first couple steps he needs to find balance earlier.
Donato Bracco (D, L, 5’10”, 170, NTDP U18, 07/26/2007, Harvard)
Grade: B+
Comments: Bracco does a lot of things well in all three zones. Tonight he was able to to show how he can get in the play and defend hard in the same shift. If he is not actively being the on puck facilitator in transition, he does a good job of finding space, making himself a viable secondary option in attack by supporting the rush. When in the cycle he remains fluid and works the blue line and walls well, using his smarts continually to find pockets where he can seek to be involved in the play. When he has time and space, his hands in conjunction with his spatial awareness make for an elusive package for a defenseman.
Jake Stuart (F, L, 5’7″, 133, NTDP U17, 01/08/2007, Denver)
Grade: B+
Comments: No doubt Stuart was able to show tonight that he has some skill with the puck. His hands seem to be more acclimated to softer touches and finesse rather than brute power. His slap shot and snapshot from distance paint that picture, as they vary in both power and accuracy. He also has inconsistencies in his stance and balance when in a shooting motion. When he is in full stride and can step into a shot, that is where we get to witness full power. He does a good job with his head up and attacking north space, he is able to slip through checks along the boards and avoid contact through the middle by letting his hands and hips lead him away from contact.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
