Game played on 11/30/2024.
Lucas Beckman (G, L, 6’2″, 182, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 08/23/2007)
Grade: A
Comments: Lucas is a highly skilled goalie who excels at controlling the game with his quick decision-making and strong puck-handling abilities. He is quick out of his net and makes smart choices when playing the puck, helping to create offensive opportunities. His rebound control is exceptional, as he absorbs most pucks and gives up very few second-chance opportunities. Lucas is particularly strong with his blocker on off-wing shots, though he can occasionally swing at pucks coming from a distance, his positioning usually keeps him in front of the play. He stays up as much as possible, making it difficult for opponents to find room up high. While he can have some issues with pucks in his pads when forced to react quickly, his calm demeanor under pressure and great rebound control help slow the game down. Lucas shows excellent confidence during odd-man rushes, remaining poised and making it hard for opponents to capitalize on chances. He also demonstrated great awareness, reaching out to grab a bouncing puck and quickly setting up a pass that led to a scoring opportunity. His ability to make quick lateral movements, including a fantastic T-push to get his pad on a hard shot, showcases his agility and composure in net.
Drew Allison (D, L, 6’2″, 186, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 07/04/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Drew is a smooth-skating defenseman who excels when given space, showcasing impressive speed and mobility. His ability to make smart decisions on neutral zone exits is a strength, effectively advancing the play under most circumstances. However, he needs to improve his situational awareness, particularly when handling the puck in critical areas such as behind his own net. A lapse in attention late in the first period led to a turnover, highlighting the importance of being more deliberate and aware under pressure. With refinements to his puck management in high-risk situations, Drew has the potential to be a reliable and impactful presence on the blue line.
Alexis Mathieu (D, L, 6’3″, 200, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 05/25/2007)
Grade: B+
Comments: Alexis had a standout performance, showcasing a strong, physical defensive game. He displayed excellent poise with a great pin behind the net, followed by a solid tie-up in front to maintain control. Alexis consistently stayed with his man, using his size and body effectively to control the puck and deny opportunities. His defensive awareness was exceptional, particularly in his ability to jump into lanes and disrupt plays. Known for his punishing hits, Alexis is also a strong skater, and he made a smart step-in to fire a hard shot, though it was blocked. His ability to absorb hits and efficiently move the puck out of the zone was a key asset, though he needs to avoid turning back into contact due to positioning. His grit was evident when he quickly responded to protect his goalie after a bump and laid out for a huge block late in a tie game, taking it off the head but continuing to battle. Alexis’ physicality and willingness to mix it up make him an invaluable presence on the ice.
Jabez Seymour (LW, R, 6’3″, 192, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 07/27/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Jabez is a physical forward who excels at laying big hits, making him a difficult player to play against, especially along the boards where he is always looking for the hit. His strength on the penalty kill is notable, as his size and active stick make him a constant threat to disrupt plays and spring his linemate for a chance. While he is effective using his stick to intercept passes, he must be careful as he nearly deflected one into his own net. As a center, Jabez is strong in the faceoff circle, winning many draws cleanly, particularly on the backhand. His hand-eye coordination is exceptional, as demonstrated by a bouncing pass he skillfully batted out of the air, creating a scoring chance that forced an acrobatic save. Once he gains possession, Jabez quickly uses his size to protect the puck, though he needs to focus on getting pucks deep on the penalty kill rather than trying to dangle through traffic. A very smart player, he showed great awareness by letting a pass go through him, recognizing that his linemate had the better opportunity to make a play.
Charles Beland (LW, L, 6’4″, 200, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 10/18/2006)
Grade: C+
Comments: Charles may not have the quickest feet, but he makes up for it with his physicality and strong presence on the forecheck. He is able to lay big hits, forcing opposing wingers to quickly throw pucks under pressure. His size and strength are assets in the neutral zone, where he uses them to create turnovers and send pucks deep. While his lack of speed can sometimes require his teammates to chase, Charles is a relentless competitor in the corners and along the boards, using his physicality to win battles. His hands are solid enough to help him create space for himself, and he has the ability to bulldoze through defensemen, making him a tough player to contain.
Felix Lacerte (C, L, 5’10”, 167, Shawnigan Cataractes, 06/14/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Felix is an incredibly skilled forward with great hands and impressive puck-moving ability. He can maneuver around defenders with ease, creating space for himself and making quick, smart passes, especially in the offensive zone. His positional play is very strong, as he consistently drops into open ice to help keep the puck in the zone. During a line change, Felix hopped into the rush, held up just enough to be an option, and nearly scored with a shot that went just over the crossbar. He is very difficult to contain once he has the puck, as he takes hits but keeps moving, using his patience and vision to find space for either a shot or a pass. His filthy moves are getting him around defenders, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone.
Reece Peitzsche (LW, L, 6’0″, 195, Shawnigan Cataractes, 12/08/2006)
Grade: B-
Comments: Reece has solid speed and offensive instincts, but struggles in tight areas, often getting bumped off pucks too easily. He does a good job of maintaining possession in the offensive zone, staying active and keeping his feet moving to create opportunities. He made a nice quick move to the middle and took a quick snap shot that generated a big rebound. Reece is effective at using his speed to get in behind defenders, but he struggles to maintain control of the puck when leaned on, limiting his ability to capitalize on these opportunities.
Vince Elie (RW, R, 5’7″, 182, Shawnigan Cataractes, 04/05/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Vince is a shifty forward with excellent hands and a strong ability to create plays. He made a nice backhand pass deep into the zone and showed good defensive awareness, getting back hard to support his team. Early in the game, he drew a tripping penalty with a quick move. Vince is always moving and plays a high-energy game, able to maintain control of the puck even when closely pressured. Despite this, he can sometimes make poor decisions under pressure, opting to throw pucks away rather than battle through contact. His vision is a standout, as he can thread the needle with his passes, creating great scoring chances. Vince also displayed his shooting ability, stepping into a one-timer that nearly beat the goalie.
Cole Chandler (C, L, 6’2″, 176, Shawnigan Cataractes, 05/01/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: Cole shows great potential with his acceleration, but he could utilize it more consistently throughout the game. He tends to hang back a bit in the offensive zone and needs to engage more quickly, especially when the puck is in play. Despite a hook, he does a good job staying on his feet and maintaining possession. However, he could improve by taking the extra step to get closer to the net before taking a shot, which would increase his scoring chances. His quick bursts of speed are a valuable asset when he chooses to use them, but his overall engagement and involvement in the play could be more consistent.
Matvei Gridin (RW, L, 6’2″, 190, Shawnigan Cataractes, 03/01/2006)
Grade: B-
Comments: Matvei is an explosive forward with impressive speed, able to fly with the puck and reach top speed quickly. He’s effective in the neutral zone, often dropping back to help out, then making a solid pass before picking it up again in full stride for a smooth zone entry. His love for the give-and-go is evident, as he consistently looks for opportunities to create plays with teammates. He does a great job keeping his eyes up to spot passing options, ensuring effective plays in transition. Matvei also excels at taking the extra step in the neutral zone, which allows for better zone entries and keeps the offensive pressure on.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images