Game played on 11/01/2024.
General Game Notes: Brampton had a bit of a scare in the early going of this game and they held the fort even though they were missing a few veteran player’s in Angus MacDonell and Mason Zebeski. The line of Porter Martone, Luke Misa and Carson Rehkopf were an unstoppable force throughout the entire contest, with Martone scoring three goals, Misa one and Rehkopf assisting on all four that the line scored. When the Battalion were still in the hunt until the midpoint of the game, it was because their team scored two seeing eye goals that eluded Jack Ivankovic through the five hole when Jack was unprepared and on his way down. The rest of the game was not particularly exciting as the rebuilding Battalion team just couldn’t match up with a Steelhead team that was able to use any line combinations, and just basically outworked the younger visiting team. One side note was that the Steelheads rookie centreman Troy Patton scored his first ever goal to close out this game’s scoring and the final score ended up a lopsided 7-2 for the home team. The crowd attendance was also 2871 in the CAA Centre and if this is a premonition of things to come, the move from Mississauga to Brampton was a good decision by the Steelhead management.
Jack Ivankovic (G, L, 5’11”, 178, Brampton Steelheads, 05/22/2007)
Grade: B+
Comments: Jack seemed to be a bit off in this game earlier, as he wasn’t very busy in the first half of the game. It just so happened that this is when Jack was scored on and both goals were between his legs when he was moving laterally. Jack was positioned square to the shots but was just a bit late closing his five hole. For the rest of the game Jack was a bit busier, and didn’t surrender another goal. Jack is going to provide a secure environment, what with his good puck handling and rebound control, it allows his mates more time to do their own jobs.
Jack VanVolsen (C, L, 6’2″, 190, Brampton Steelheads, 01/12/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Jack for us finally showed his potential as a secondary scoring player that could step in and become a first line player if need be. Jack drove the net to score both of his goals and was gaining confidence as the game wore on. When Jack did venture into the areas that he scored tonight, they were basically open spaces. If or when Jack decides to make space for himself by using his long reach and size advantage, he can be as effective as a couple of his team mates(Martone and Rehkopf). He just has to trust his abilities and compete for these spaces. No one is going to give him this space, like they did tonight, very often. He has to take the space.
Carson Rehkopf (C, L, 6’2″, 202, Brampton Steelheads, 01/07/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Carson benefits most nights because he is playing well with Luke Misa and especially with Porter Martone. Porter is a man of many offensive talents and he keeps doing things that Carson can learn to do as well. Carson is going to score a bucket of points this season and will probably score goals a great deal more if he just changes up his shot targets. Right now he is mainly top shelf happy and is making the opposing teams goalies look good when he misses. He will score if he makes them make the save as he has a very good release.
Gabriel Chiarot (F, L, 5’11”, 192, Brampton Steelheads, 09/17/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Because Gabriel is not scoring yet he is just setting himself up to be considered as a checking player that usually ends up getting bottom six minutes. Gabriel can score and usually the goals he scores are in and around the dirty areas that most players aren’t willing to go into. Gabriel is fearless so far as we have seen and will take no prisoners in his determination to get to where he needs to go. Another solid two way game chalked up and his opponents, for the most part don’t want to have any part of Gabriel.
Lucas Karmiris (C, R, 5’11”, 181, Brampton Steelheads, 09/27/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Lucas was having a decent game with him making his occasional breakthroughs to the oppositions net and he got on the scoreboard in the second period when he assisted on a Van Volsen goal in the second period. Unfortunately Lucas was injured in the third period and had to be assisted off the ice while favoring a leg.
Luke Misa (C, R, 5’10”, 170, Brampton Steelheads, 02/28/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Luke is on the top line and when playing with Martone and Rehkoph, he is a much better and more motivated player. Luke skates and passes the puck with confidence, while creating plays and space for his team mates. Luke seems to fit well against an opponent like the Battalion, who really had no answer to the speed of play or skill set that the line generated.
Martin Vaculik (RW, R, 6’0″, 176, Brampton Steelheads, 10/20/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Martin jumped out at us in this game as he is tall, wiry, smooth skating and has very good power to this smooth skating stride. Martin also showed that he can set up players with his good understanding of where the play is heading and which player he should be passing to. As the game wore on this observer was wanting to see more of Martin and when he started to get more ice time he showed a belonging that he can play at this level. Will probably see more of Martin as the season progresses.
Porter Martone (RW, R, 6’3″, 208, Brampton Steelheads, 10/26/2006)
Grade: A
Comments: Porter is just not a one trick pony and is coming up with more ways to score each and every time he gets the chance to go to the net. Very dynamic offensive player that can put the puck to a tiny opening given and in close or from medium distance. Becoming the man for his team when they need a goal and will only get better as he seems unstoppable.
Charlie Larocque (G, L, 6’3″, 175, North Bay Battalion, 07/16/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: Charlie, who is currently playing in his first season as a rookie goalkeeper, has also found himself starting as a replacement keeper, for the usual starter Michael McIvor. What we noticed was that Charlie started out the game in an optimistic and assertive manner until he got a couple of quick goals scored on him in the second period. Retreating back into his crease, Charlie was slumping his shoulders and unsure of himself, basically at the mercy of any half decent shot the home team Steelheads mustered towards his net. Charlie wasn’t getting much help from his defending teammates. The entire Battalion team, with the exception of a couple of unnamed players, didn’t have any spring in their step. For a team to fold the tent in front of a rookie goalkeeper would be considered unconscionable.
Kent Greer (D, R, 5’8″, 167, North Bay Battalion, 02/07/2008)
Grade: B+
Comments: Kent is learning his trade by suffering some attrition. Luckily for Kent he was able to continue to play when he was hit hard a couple of times in this game by bigger and stronger Brampton players. This guy is definitely skilled enough and fast enough when he tries to elude the Brampton players that are just finishing their checking assignments, most of the time. Finally, Kent hung on to the puck, too long, while carrying the puck out of his own end and took a hard hit. Kent is eventually going to be running his team’s PP as either the puck carrier/puck distributor or the trigger shooter. Hopefully Kent will keep getting up and playing, like he did tonight. Kent is a very good young prospect who isn’t physically mature enough yet, to handle the ice that his coaches are giving him.
Briir Long (C, L, 5’10”, 154, North Bay Battalion, 07/22/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Briir was just picked up in a trade from Brantford and is playing centre forward in the third/fourth line setting. As a deceptive puck moving offensive player Briir was effective in this game when he and his teammates were in possession of the puck. Where Briir will need some work ,is his defensive positioning once this possession is lost. Right now Briir is taking too long to get between the opponent and his keeper. Briir is presently assessing who to check, and then finding himself chasing from behind. One of his teams best player’s otherwise.
Ryder Carey (RW, R, 6’1″, 182, North Bay Battalion, 08/02/2008)
Grade: B
Comments: Ryder is playing as an effective rookie forward who is showing off a strong skillset offensively at times. On occasion you can see Ryder assert himself using his puck protection strength and skills to make plays against the Brampton veteran players. As a line (Long, Carey & Laird) they all played as a unit and were the most effective against one of the best teams in the OHL.
Nolan Laird (LW, L, 6’1″, 184, North Bay Battalion, 01/04/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Nolan is just a couple of shots away right now from having a breakthrough, in our opinion as he along with his line mates were the most effective unit for their Battalion team. If not for the opposing teams goalie(Ivankovic) making a couple of timely saves, when Nolan was one on one against him, the game could have had a different outcome. Nolan was getting open and separating himself from his check but couldn’t better himself from Ivankovic on this night.
Ethan Procyszyn (RW, R, 6’2″, 187, North Bay Battalion, 07/11/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Ethan is a goal scorer and you can tell that by his quick hands, accuracy of shot, confidence to shoot no matter what and manual dexterity. He scored the opening goal of this game by kicking the puck up to his stick, while skating through a crowd of opposing defenders and snapping a shot with some quickness through one of the best goalies in Canada pads. Ethan also recorded the most shots for his team (4) when the team only had 24 shots in total. You never want to question a goal scorer’s desire to take the shot. Defensive positioning is a work in progress as Ethan is not as committed to working as hard defending as he is to trying to score. Minus -3 tonight even after scoring a plus when he scored.
Stepan Chukharev (RW, L, 6’2″, 190, North Bay Battalion, 02/28/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Stephan was noticable when he was playing tonight, especially because his good skating skills and ability to shoot and stick handle in open ice or a crowd was impressive. Would like to have seen him play more frequently but did see enough to get a read of a good two way player with offensive potential.
Shamar Moses (RW, R, 6’1″, 210, North Bay Battalion, 05/06/2007)
Grade: B+
Comments: We are going to be generous by giving Shamar a plus grade mainly due to the fact that he got two assists on the only goals scored by his team on the night. Shamar was inconsistent with his compete levels as he was playing on the first line with the Battalion. Shamar is becoming a consistent scorer since he has come over in a trade from the Colts and if he can now figure out how to get his flow of effort exerted throughout the entire game he should become a player that will have his name called at the NHL draft this season. Shamar should continue using his strength and size to gain space. Shamar has a very good shot and is also learning to distribute the puck to his capable offensive team mates. Hopefully Shamar stays focused on scoring and not being an enforcer as he is a much better scorer.
Lirim Amidovski (RW, R, 6’1″, 180, North Bay Battalion, 12/22/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: For a ninth round pick in the OHL draft Lirim has caught our eye with his no nonsense up and down workmanlike play and ability to get around the ice, with or without the puck. This is Lirim’s draft year and he looked like a player of interest and he could help himself by playing a defensive first style of play and then counter punching with his good snap shot when he gets his chance to shoot.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images