Game played 11/23/2024.
Zach Wigle (C, L, 6’0″, 195, Barrie Colts, 01/12/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Wigle is a average sized left-shot center that plays a detailed game at both ends of the ice. Has tallied 16 points, on four assists in 22 games this season. The January 2009 has good top line speed and carries his speed well through the neutral zone. He is balanced and has a strong lower half which lets him move around the ice well. He has a good first step and burst to hit lanes and attack through seams in the neutral zone. Dishes the puck and then drives hard to the net to draw coverages. He had nice puck touches an used his handle and edges to quickly spin away from pressure and get to soft areas to operate. He is mature and competes hard along the walls in both ends. Made several small, subtle plays in tight to free-up pucks and get pucks to teammates in shooting position. Does not cheat in his own zone and helped his defensemen in coverages around his net. Not overly dynamic but shows good speed and operates with skill on the line rush.
Beau Jelsma (C, L, 5’10”, 180, Barrie Colts, 04/28/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Jelsma is an average sized left-shot forward that was playing left-wing in our viewings. He is athletic and has a bounce in his step which allows him to react to changes in pace and cut to smart areas. The 2004 has 17 points through 16 game this season and was the captain of the Colts last season. He is relentless on the forecheck and his pursuit of the puck. Frequently was the first man on the puck and used an active stick and his straight line speed to push the pace and force problems by opposing defenders. He is used in all situations. Was effective killing penalties and uses good angles to pressure pucks. Always has his feet moving. Carries speed well on transition and through the neutral zone before slamming on the brakes and finding a tailing forward. He was just average on puck touches. Bobbled a few clean passes or put too much pace on some cross-ice reads. At times he may rely too much on his speed and play too-fast. Over skated lanes and rushed decisions on zone entries. Assisted on the winning goal by stripping a puck in the defensive end and quickly spinning a pass on his backhand to a teammate who finished in the high slot.
Dalyn Wakely (RW, R, 6’1″, 198, Barrie Colts, 03/05/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Wakely is an athletic, strong right-shot center that has 19 points in 17 games for the Colts. The March 2004 is a detailed and responsible player in his own end. Was always on the right side of the puck and helped his defenders with coverages below the dots. He moves OK, and it takes him a bit to get to top speed. He will need to continue refining his agility and quickness in smaller areas. He sees the ice well and knows where he is going before the puck gets to him. Made several smart, skilled one-touch passes to get pucks to teammates in space. Uses his body well to shield pucks from defenders and buy himself extra time and space along the half-walls. He scored the game-winner in one viewing by slipping to a quiet area in the offensive zone, softly receiving a small-area pass and ripping the puck by the goalie. He plays an honest, physical style and competes for pucks at both ends of the ice. Took good lanes and angles to pressure pucks and force bad decisions and turnovers.
Blake Smith (D, L, 6’5″, 222, Flint Firebirds, 10/05/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Smith is a big, long, strong left-shot defender. The October 2004 is used in all scenarios for the Firebirds and has 14 points in 23 games. Has a long, fluid stride and is fairly mobile as a bigger body. Covers a lot of ice with his stride and reach. He was effective on the line rush and used his body to keep forwards to the perimeter. Gap control needs a bit of work as he did not close coverage on transition as well as he should have. He is tough to play against in his own zone. Long reach and physical style along the boards and quickly cuts down time and space. Leans on forwards around his net and makes it tough to play in front of his own net. Made several nice reads tape-to-tape to get through the neutral zone and create easy zone entries. Does not force passes into tight coverage. Will chip behind defenders to keep plays moving. He was calculating in pinching at the offensive zone. Closed down on wingers well to jump routes and stifle the breakout. He is solid in his defensive coverages and does not panic or run around in his zone. Stay-at-home defender that makes high-percentage plays at both ends of the ice.
Nolan Collins (D, R, 6’3″, 215, Flint Firebirds, 04/28/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Collins is a reliable, big, strong right-shot defender that plays a solid game in his own zone. Feet are still a work-in-progress but is tough to slow down once he gets to speed. Needs to improve his agility and first step quickness. He has a soft set of hands and made a few nice plays to walk around the first forechecker and slide passes to his open winger. The assistant captain of the Firebirds has 12 points in 22 games this season. He is effective defensively in transition on the line rush. Tight gaps and makes forwards make decisions prior to entering his zone. He has an active stick and closes aggressively to break-up plays. He is a pain to play against around his net. Leans on forwards and clears them from the front of the net. He has average puck and stick skills and at times missed passes or turned pucks over. He makes a strong first pass to get out of his zone tape-to-tape. Does not panic under pressure. He is a strong defender in his own zone and plays with some jam and sandpaper.
Evan Konyen (RW, R, 5’11”, 175, Flint Firebirds, 02/22/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Konyen is an athletic right-shot winger that plays with pace and changes directions easily. The February 2004 has 14 points in 25 games for the Firebirds. He is a shifty puck-possession forward that handles smooth at pace and makes defenders miss. He has above average agility and sees lanes well. Used the give-and-go well to get through the neutral zone and has the touch to layer pucks over stick and into tight spots. He has a good first step and uses his speed and acceleration to separate and hit lanes. Changes directions with a solid base and balanced edges. He used good timing to slide in-and-out of coverage and got to areas just before the puck. Needs to be stronger on the puck and fight through pressure. He plays a bit on the perimeter and does not stop on pucks at times. He is a talented player with the puck on his stick and puts the puck into good areas for teammates.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images