Game played on 12/05/2024.
General Game Notes: This was the annual Teddy Bear Toss night for the Petes, where a defensive game and solid performances by both goalies held it tight. With the Petes giving up a lead late, they were able to hold on and come out on top in extra time. This report highlights the 6 overager players playing for Sarnia and Peterborough.
Gavin Bryant (C, L, 5’10”, 190, Peterborough Petes, 07/24/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Bryant is a mobile and skilled forward who uses his slightly undersized frame to bring elusiveness and offense to the line-up. In this game he excelled in open space, using spin moves and lateral mobility to find open lanes to attack seams. His first three steps and acceleration give him pace and the ability to jump through traffic, where he then can make plays in high-danger areas. With the puck on his stick he keeps his hands wide and ready, giving him the ability to make plays quickly and efficiently. He is given many opportunities in offensive situations, as he plays powerplay and any 4-4, 3-3 matchup. At 5’10 188, he has a lower center of gravity than others which can help him stay low and strong on the puck, bouncing outside and to the middle with speed. He had many opportunities in this game, including finding a loose puck back door where he had a grade A chance and other quick-hit plays in the offensive zone. After joining the Pete’s this year, he has had a slightly slow start to the year but should look to continue to improve given his history of producing offensively.
Ryder McIntyre (C, L, 6’4″, 225, Peterborough Petes, 07/15/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: At 6’4 225, McIntyre brings presence and a physical aspect to every shift. With his strength, he excels along the boards where he shields the puck well from opposing attackers, giving himself time and space to make plays. He is hard on his stick and provides good-outs and reliability in his own end and along the wing. Ryder is not shy to play physical, as he finishes many checks and gives his team life in close situations. He will need to continue to improve his footwork to be able to keep up at the next level, as he tends to fall behind plays which can hinder his style of play. Offensively, he has shown in previous years he can produce at a steady rate, as his size gives him the ability to get to dirty areas and find loose pucks. As a depth and role player, McIntyre brings a team a physical element that can often be overlooked in todays age.
Jonathan Melee (C, L, 6’0″, 185, Peterborough Petes, 01/15/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: A strong powerforward with the ability to play in all situations, Melee is the captain and leader of the Pete’s. At 6′ 185, he is strong and bulky on pucks, often shielding with his body to allow time for plays to develop, where he makes subtle and smart decisions. He also uses his body to play honest and physical, finishing lots of checks and putting pressure on opponents. Away from the puck, he supports from underneath well to aid his defensemen and provide as an extra option. He stays on the right sides of pucks and doesn’t cheat for extra offense, providing a reliable and 200ft player. Offensively he enjoys the puck on his stick and can create when given the opportunity, as seen even on the penalty kill where he broke-up a play and went on a breakaway. He shows good puckhandling and hand eye cordination with good keeps at the blue-line on the powerplay and the ability to get the puck to good areas to create. With a consistent effort, 200ft style and offensive capabilities, Jonathan is a player coaches love to have in the line-up.
Nicholas Surzycia (G, L, 6’0″, 173, Sarnia Sting, 12/17/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Nicholas was a star early in this game, fighting through traffic and shielding off an early push from the Pete’s. He moves laterally well to block off the lower half of the net, which allows him to move side-side reading the next play. He showed fight and battle in tightly contested areas, as many times through the game there were scrambles and box-outs around his crease where he was able to coral the puck and force a whistle. Listed at 5’11 180, he is slightly undersized in todays goalie world, but he pairs his fight with good agility to be able to make key saves and keep Sarnia in games.
Zach Filak (C, L, 6’1″, 180, Sarnia Sting, 01/21/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Filak demonstrated an ability to play in all situations, while creating offensive chances with his cerebral approach. Offensively he plays more as a distributer, showcasing high hockey IQ and vision to find teammates in good areas with slick and subtle plays. Not the most flashy player, Filak plays from the outside scanning the zone to assess for open lanes and chances to jump on loose pucks. At 6’1 180, he has good size and uses his body well to hold onto pucks along the boards, shielding on his hip to avoid turnovers. With the puck on his stick, he makes smart and calculated decisions and this carries through all three zones. Playing both powerplay and penalty kill, Zach shows his 200ft style and makes efforts to retrieve and break up plays both defensively and in the neutral zone. He wears an ‘A’ for his team which is visible with leadership and adaptability playing in key situations and moving around to fit in all areas. With subtle skill and the ability to read the play, Filak is a trusted forward and leader for Sarnia.
Tyson Doucette (C, L, 5’11”, 180, Sarnia Sting, 01/30/2000)
Grade: A-
Comments: Doucette had a solid offensive night, coming out with two identical one-timer goals and a high-paced effort. His speed and ability to play quick in transition is his best asset, as he often is seen beating defenders wide and breaking through the middle of the ice in support. He has quick acceleration and is able to get up to top speed fast, usually using a couple quick crossovers to propel into space. Staying low, he has a solid center of gravity and is able to shift laterally to open himself up. Away from the puck he stays in good areas, often as a support player through the middle and staying high to recover loose pucks. On the offensive side, he flashed chances throughout including a breakaway attempt and jams around the crease before breaking through with a powerplay one-timer. He shifted away from the net and used a quick release to beat the goalie from a good distance. This was replicated late in the third, as down a goal he tied it up late with an identical one timer from the right side. Overall, Doucette had a solid showing and was able to blend his pace and offensive touch to impact the game.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images