Game played on 10/27/2024.
General Game Notes: Brampton blew this game open early, skating to a 5-0 lead after one period. Guelph had a number of injuries in their line-up and could not handle Brampton’s depth of attack. Brampton’s top 6 forwards were dominant, with a number of their key offensive players having multi point nights. The Steelheads dominated throughout and the game was never really in doubt.
Jack Ivankovic (G, L, 5’11”, 178, Brampton Steelheads, 05/22/2007)
Grade: B+
Comments: This young goaltender was very good in a 10-1 win for the Steelheads. At 5’11, he isn’t the mold of the towering prospects in net in today’s game but he is proving he is one of the best young goaltenders in the league. He showed lightning-quick reflexes today and made a number of saves in traffic. He stopped 39 of 40 shots and displayed impressive lateral movement on a few where he anticipated the play well and showed good power getting side to side in the net. The game finished 10-1 and was never in doubt but Ivankovic was tested throughout the game. He controlled his rebounds well and showed athleticism with a couple of highlight saves during scrambles around the net. We really liked his quickness down low. His quick feet allowed him to effectively take the bottom half of the net away all game. It looked like nothing was going to get by him down low in this one.
Jack VanVolsen (C, L, 6’2″, 190, Brampton Steelheads, 01/12/2006)
Grade: B-
Comments: Van Volsen played a solid game this evening on the cycle. He showcased his ability to dominate the young Storm defense in the offensive zone and created a number of scoring chances for himself and his teammates. He protected the puck along the boards and won battles in the corners using his size and length. Great net front presence on his goal where he broke to the net and redirected home a quality pass. Van Volsen set up two others, both in transition where he showed good vision and to hit his linemates moving with pace in transition. He is not an elite skater right now, but his combination of size and speed allows him to effectively cycle the puck and create space for himself and his teammates in the offensive zone. His line had a handful of quality shifts with extended time in the offensive zone.
Gabriel Chiarot (F, L, 5’11”, 192, Brampton Steelheads, 09/17/2006)
Grade: B-
Comments: Chiarot is a depth forward on a strong Brampton offensive unit. He plays his role well and brings a physical edge and good work ethic to every shift. His gritty style of play makes him a valuable asset in Brampton. His abrasiveness and hustle creates space for his teammates in traffic. His physicality allows him to win battles along the boards and in front of the net. Great body check on the Brampton 9th goal where he made the hit that created a turnover that led to a goal.
Lucas Karmiris (C, R, 5’11”, 181, Brampton Steelheads, 09/27/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Karmiris was a force down the middle in this game with his strong skating game and net drive. He scored once and set up two – most chances created with his ability to generate pace through the neutral zone and strong zone entry. Karmiris has a sturdy build and a powerful stride that allows him to accelerate through the neutral zone and take on defenders. He challenged the young Guelph defense all game and he made them pay if they backed in or gave him any space to create. He played a heavy North/South game with pace in this one and supported pucks in all zones of the ice. Most of his attack is straight forward and to the net. We would like to see him add a little East/West in his game – add in changes of pace, delays, and turns to keep defenders off balance. He added this element on Brampton’s sixth goal tonight. He produced a quality rush through the neutral zone, changed his pace to create some additional pace and hit the trailer on the weak side wide open in the slot.
Luke Misa (C, R, 5’10”, 176, Brampton Steelheads, 02/28/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Misa came out of the gate flying in this game. He is a highly skilled and versatile forward who possesses a dynamic offensive game. He impacted the game in multiple ways early, scoring 2 and setting up 2, he was in on 4 of the first 5 first period goals for the Steelheads. He started the game with such high energy in transition and his pace was noticeable on nearly every shift in the first period. His two goals in this game demonstrated his ability to finish scoring chances – no mistake on either, scoring one of the rush and the second in close on the powerplay. He had two primary assists in the first as well, both high quality and showcased his vision in traffic. The only real criticism in this one was his quiet second half of the game – at that point the game was well in hand though.
Martin Vaculik (RW, R, 6’0″, 176, Brampton Steelheads, 10/20/2006)
Grade: C+
Comments: This right shot forward showcased his speed game in spurts this evening. Vaculik is a depth player for the Steelheads and a new addition to their lineup. This first year player is not the most physically imposing player but he has length and reach and gets to top speed quickly. He won a number of puck races tonight and showed he has the pace in his game to play at this level.
Adam Zidlicky (C, L, 6’0″, 170, Brampton Steelheads, 01/28/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Zidlicky scored 3 goals in the first 21 minutes in this one and helped the Steelheads blow the game open early. His hustle and effort on both ends of the ice were there early this evening and he was rewarded for his efforts. His first goal was a result of his keen sense of positioning – he was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on a rebound. His second goal was a testament to his finishing ability, he converted a beautiful feed from his teammate and made no mistake on the finish. He added another goal and two assists later in the game, setup by his hustle and willingness to win pucks in the offensive zone. Zidlicky is off to a bit of a breakout season after 3 years in the OHL. He trends around 8 goals per year and tonight he scored his 7th in 11 games.
Porter Martone (RW, R, 6’3″, 208, Brampton Steelheads, 10/26/2006)
Grade: A-
Comments: This lanky, right shot, skilled, power forward is going to be an offensive force in the OHL this season. He is eligible for the 2025 NHL draft and was among the league leaders in points coming into the game. At a young age he has become a dominant force in the OHL already. He possesses a combination of size, skill, and hockey IQ that few players his age can match. Martone has always been a finisher when he gets free. He scored two in this game and might have been a bit unlucky – he could have had 4+ with a little puck luck. It is not just about offense with this player, he does many things well. He broke out of the defensive zone cleanly and rarely spent time in his zone. He used his size and reach to his advantage on both ends of the ice. He used his length to protect the puck, win battles along the boards, and disrupt opposing players’ plays. He defended on the penalty kill and throughout the game he showed an ability to transition the puck quickly from defense to offense. We at Neutral Zone have always raved about Martone. We have detailed his creativity on offense, deadly wrist shot, high hockey IQ, and his ability to drive scoring…and we are enjoying his evolution to a more complete hockey player.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images