Game played on 2/11/2025.
General Game Notes: This game ended in dramatic fashion as Oshawa Generals secured a 4-3 overtime victory over the Kitchener Rangers. Both teams battled hard throughout regulation, exchanging goals in a fast-paced, back-and-forth style of game. In the extra time both teams had scoring chances, but it was the Gernerals, that capitalized on a key opportunity, netting the game-winning goal to seal the victory.
Jakub Chromiak (D, R, 6’0″, 199, Kitchener Rangers, 11/02/2005)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Chromiaks’ offensive vision and creativity show up in flashes, this is not the staple of his game but he is more than capable to make plays under pressure. He uses a combination of his body and stick to try and challenge shooters. He does this by attempting to keep opposing players towards the outside, as well as attempting to poke pucks free and create turnovers by putting his stick and body in lanes. His defensive stick is a skill of his but with his size, he does show that he passes up chances to be physical letting the opposing player recover after he pokes the puck free. His skating is choppy to the point where it sometimes looks as if he is trying to run on the ice rather than take a stride. He lacks any true speed due to the lack of burst caused by his choppy skating mechanics, putting him at a disadvantage in chase downs or foot races. One aspect of his game that showed promise was his physicality, as he finishes all of his hits and boxes out the net-front well, utilizing his superior strength on players smaller than him, also given that he is not the biggest defender either.
Cameron Reid (D, L, 6’0″, 195, Kitchener Rangers, 04/08/2007)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Reid showed tonight that his game is being a mobile defenseman with a fairly smooth stride, is capable of completing crossovers, and can weave around opponents with some speed. But he needs that speed, he showed that he has a tough time getting going but when he does have the pace of play down, his maneuvers are much more fluent. It allows him to pinch and transport the puck up the ice while also being able to recover and get back to position on defense, which happened a lot. He loves to always be moving, whether that is on the pinch or wheeling the net and getting north. Not every pinch was timed correctly but he does have the footwork to somewhat recover back into position.
Christian Humphreys (C, R, 5’11”, 173, Kitchener Rangers, 02/04/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Humphreys was able to show tonight that he is not the most physically imposing player on the ice, but he is not afraid to play with an edge and punish his opponents. These displays of violence do not summarize his game. Finishing checks when he sees the opportunity is a part of his game and a good part of his game. His ability to close and wanting to be physical as a smaller player on the ice shows his determination each and every shift. Humphreys is at his best when his feet do not stop moving and when he moves the puck instantly and joining the rush as opposed to leading it.
Trent Swick (LW, L, 6’6″, 225, Kitchener Rangers, 04/25/2004)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Swick is a big man who knows how to play as such. On his goal he scored, he was able to use his reach and bump the puck past a pinching defender for an odd man rush. When it looked like right after the poke he was going to get caught, his long strides kept him out of smaller players reach and he was in on a clean two on one. He picked his head up, looked off the two on one and beat the goalie low glove. Swick is a hard player to play against and does a good job at demanding space with his size, he goes into battles knowing he will win the puck but out muscling or using his stick skill. He is able to score twenty five on the year because he is able to win his one on one and attacks the net. All this cannot be done at the end of the day if you cannot bury and Swick was able to show tonight, under pressure, that he can pick corners from a distance.
Jacob Oster (G, L, 6’3″, 187, Oshawa Generals, 03/26/2004)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Oster was able to show tonight that he is capable of making first and second chance attempts. With his ability to get from post to post, there is a possibility for him to get some type of body on puck. At times, it looked like he pushed himself out of position. After reading shot then having that player dish cross ice, he would get over hard, and almost be too out of position to make the routine save leaving rebounds at his feet. He made the save, but made it more difficult than it had to be. He did a good job at getting out of his net to play the puck, a lost art on a lot of goalies who allow rims. He recognized the simple stoppage of the puck gives his team a better chance to regroup to transition.
Brooks Rogowski (F, R, 6’6″, 219, Oshawa Generals, 06/24/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Rogowski scored a nice goal using his size to demand the crease and pick up a rebound goal that was laying at the goalies feet. He is hard to box out for smaller defenders and this was clear of his game on his goal. As one of the younger players on the ice, he has some raw parts to his game, making blind passes, and throwing pucks away on the break out when moving his feet was an option, but these are experience mistakes that will come with time. His foot speed needs to improve from a jump start. Too many times tonight he would either get caught from behind or not be able to create space in a tight space and be forced to rim or dump pucks. He has the size to ward off these types of defenses for now but someone with a smart active stick can create transition hockey on him quickly.
Harrison Franssen (C, R, 6’3″, 190, Oshawa Generals, 05/04/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Franssen is a big forward who plays a heavy game where he use a longer stride and larger size to create his space. Scored a nice goal picking up a lose puck in the slot under pressure and with a spin move, shot the puck on the ice and caught the goalie off guard to beat him between the legs. This goal showed the type of plays that he is able to make using his bigger size and reach. He does a good job at this style below the goal line and along the wall but needs to have a little more spatial awarness when it comes to contact. When he knows the physical altercation is coming, there is a good chance he is able to get his body around the puck and stay square over it to protect it and the space he is commanding. When is surprised by the contact, which was more often that it should have been, this is where he gets into trouble and loses the one on one battle.
Luca Marrelli (D, R, 6’1″, 181, Oshawa Generals, 10/04/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Marrelli can shoot from the point, as the power play quarterback he possesses a powerful shot that he is not afraid to use, but more importantly, he knows when to use it. Although there were some times it was not the best option available, he did opt to pass the puck more often than not. This is a good sign, as in most cases, defensemen have a very low chance of scoring from the point. When he did take shots, however, he often varied his position of attack. He showed that he does a good job at beating the first layer, and looked to get a stick on his shot from the second or third. A big skill of Marrellis’ is his transition play, where he is capable of making breakout passes to kick start rushes. On a specific play, he was going back for a puck, pre scanned, and on first touch, spun around and snapped a pass in the neutral zone on time to his forward also getting up ice.
Beckett Sennecke (RW, R, 6’4″, 195, Oshawa Generals, 01/28/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Sennecke is a forward who can make defenders look foolish looking to reach and cheat for space. He is clear cut one of the best forwards on the ice on just about every puck touch he has. Scored a nice goal sneaking back door for a one timer the goalie and no chance at. Right before the goal he was able to show off his puck skills extending his possession keeping the puck close to him and controlling a defender with some fancy stick work. His ability to get open even as one of the better players on the ice is shown in this goal as he was able to find some dead space and be available for a seam pass. He has some attributes that cannot be taught with his size and strength on the puck that make him hard to play against in tight.
Benjamin Danford (D, R, 6’1″, 194, Oshawa Generals, 02/06/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: As the captain, Danford showed tonight that he is a steady offensive presence. He will blow the hinges off with his offensive numbers, nor does his skillset allow for that. However, he has shown he can contribute meaningful minutes offensively to preserve a cycle or facilitate it himself. The follow through on his shot is smooth, and if he can create more high danger opportunities instead of firing pucks into traffic or with no resistance, this will be how he can create more chances. He rarely commits on odd-man rushes, respecting the possibilities of a shot or pass, which gives his goalies a fighting chance either way, especially if he is able to slow down the play. He also has great reaction speed, which allows him that extra split-second to make a decision in prevention rather than reacting after the play unfolds. He does not often fall victim to a head fake or deception.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images