Game played on 11/09/2024.
Sam Alfano (RW, R, 6’4″, 210, Erie Otters, 01/18/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Alfano is a big, strong, long, right-shot winger that plays a hard north south game. The January 2004 has 29 points, on 13 goals in 24 games this season. He has average feet and footwork for a bigger body. Moves well once he gets to speed, but will need to improve his agility and first step explosiveness. He has a long reach and uses his body positioning and angles to protect the puck easily. Is difficult to contain on the perimeter along the walls and below the dots. He has a wide base and keeps his feet moving to fight through pressure and stick checks. He has an average set of hands to make plays in tight. Handles the puck well at pace and receives passes with soft hands. He is not afraid to stand net-front although he could use some more jam and aggression to give himself some additional space. He is used on the penalty kill and has a long reach to force bad decisions and breakup cross-ice passes. He plays net-front on the powerplay and used some finesse to jump on bouncing and loose pucks in tight. Scored a goal in one viewing on the powerplay with a slick move off the goal line to reach around the goalie and slide it home.
Martin Misiak (C, L, 6’2″, 200, Erie Otters, 09/30/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Misiak is a balanced, skilled left-shot center that plays a detailed game at both ends of the ice. The Chicago second rounder has 13 points in 16 games for the Otters. He is a balanced skater and does not waste movements. Has a strong first step to accelerate and hit lanes. Gains separation easily. He can make plays at pace on both the forehand and backhand. Sees the ice well and quick identified passing lanes and seams. He slips in-and-out of coverage in the offensive zone and gets to areas just before the puck. Compete level was in question at time. Needs to be harder on the puck and compete for pucks when he loses it/turns it over. Needs to stop on pucks and use his body to win battles. Scored a goal in one viewing after taking a pass just inside the blue line on his off wing, cutting in on the goalie and ripping the puck under the bar. Offensive talent that does his best work in the offensive zone.
Pano Fimis (C, R, 5’10”, 185, Erie Otters, 06/17/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Fimis is a smaller right-shot center that is balanced and shifty in space. The former #2 overall OHL pick is used in all situations for the Otters and has 32 points in 24 games this season. He was strong on the dot in the viewing and has a quick stick to win pucks. He has a low center of gravity and a wide base which makes it tough to knock him off the puck. He has good straight line speed and handles the puck well at pace. He is balanced and can make defenders miss in open ice. He sees the ice well and has a quick set of hands to make plays in tight spots and get teammates the puck with room to operate. He changes speeds well and does not overskate lanes. Uses his edges to cut to open/soft ice and get to shooting areas. He excels in transition and wheels the puck through the neutral zone and will either drive hard wide or slow the pace and cut laterally across the blue line. Makes plays in all three zones and competed on the right side of the puck.
Zach Filak (C, L, 6’1″, 180, Sarnia Sting, 01/21/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Filak is an athletic left-shot center that plays a balanced, honest game at both ends of the ice. The January 2004 from Michigan has 19 points in 28 games for the Sting. He has a smooth stride and does not waste many movements getting to speed. At this point does not have that extra gear and will need to improve his first step in order to gain separation and hit lanes. He is smart and gets to good areas in the neutral zone and offensive zone. Handles and receives puck easily with soft hands. Playmaking forward that passes first. He draws coverage and then dishes to the open teammate. Does not panic under pressure or force decisions. Drives the puck wide and then cuts to shooting areas. He is responsible in his own zone and was constantly helping his defenders. He has a strong stick and got under opponents hands to win pucks. He uses good timing to get to areas just before the puck. Always around the net and bounces off coverage easily. He added an assist in one viewing by calmly corralling a puck and sliding to a teammate backdoor for a tap-in.
Tyson Doucette (C, L, 5’11”, 180, Sarnia Sting, 01/30/2000)
Grade: B
Comments: Doucette is a quick, skilled left-shot winger that makes plays at pace. The January 2004 has 19 points in 28 games for the Sting. He has quick feet and strong edges which allow him to cut quickly into tight areas to make plays. He is constantly in motion and slips in-and-out of coverage. He has quick hands and handles the puck well in tight areas. Head-up to identify lanes and options. He processes the game quickly with the puck on his stick. He is effective in transition and uses his straight-line speed to get through the neutral zone easily. He has an explosive first step to separate. Shoots in stride and has a quick release which he does well hiding in the defenders feet. He created a goal in one viewing by driving through the neutral zone, putting defenders on their heels and snapping a puck back to an open teammate on the line rush who snapped it by the goalie. He still is a bit perimeter and will need to play more towards the interior of the ice and win battles. He creates well with the puck on his stick and puts defenders on their heels with his pace.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images