Game played on 10/6/2024.
The Moncton Wildcats defeated the Charlottetown Islanders 4-1 in their QMJHL matchup. Moncton controlled the game, showcasing strong offensive play and solid defense, while Charlottetown struggled to break through Moncton’s structure. Scout: Craig Eagles
Owen Conrad (D, L, 6’3″, 214, Charlottetown Islanders, 03/10/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Saying Owen Conrad has pro potential is a massive understatement. He’s a tremendously strong skater who has solid puck skills, his first pass and vision are very good, he transitions pucks extremely well and isn’t afraid to skate the puck out of trouble if needed. His mobility and edge control are very good for a D man his size, I would like to see him continue to work on his agility below the dots in his own zone, that aspect of his game has improved, but for him to reach his full potential at the pro level, he will have to get a touch more explosive defending and closing in on players and more elusive to jump into open seams when the puck is on his stick in transition opportunities His composure with and without the puck definitely stands out, his ability to make plays along the offensive blue line and instincts to jump into the rush are outstanding. He has a very good stick in all three zones, His gap control is very good, The sky’s the limit for this kid, it doesn’t take long to notice you’re watching a future pro when you see Conrad play the game and position, Scouts will be watching this young man a lot this season, He will continue to log massive minutes in every situation, he can definitely handle those responsibilities, but it’s going to be a great opportunity to see how he manages and elevates his game as the season progresses. Two aspects that really jumped off the page for me during this game vs the Cats was his patience and composure with the puck in all three zones and his ability to get his shot consistently through traffic which will definitely pay dividends at the next level. At the junior level Conrad has translated into to a full three zone defender, I’m not sure that will be the case at the NHL level, but he definitely has the ability to generate offensive chances with his skill set. I see him as a solid 4/5 at the next level that can lock things down.
Julius Sumpf (C, L, 6’1″, 190, Moncton Wildcats, 01/11/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: I was really high on this kid a season ago, and thought he might have done enough to go in the later rounds of the draft, he’s a solid two-way forward with a pro release and thinks the game incredibly well, His game did take a slight dip in late in the season, I’m not sure if injuries or stamina played a role in that, it’s going to be very interesting to see how he adapts this year with the new regime behind the bench. He played through the middle a ton last year, so far this year he has been called on to play both, He’s had tons of jump and has looked very strong a lot stronger than last year in one on one battles and more explosive in open ice. I think the big question mark right now is consistency and can bring that same drive and determination that he has right now and stretch that out for the full season. From what I’ve seen I think he’s capable of that, he just needs to deliver that, He needs to continue to go to the middle of the ice with poise and composure to generate offensive opportunities and time and space for his line mates, he’s a great passer of the puck as well, Here’s a kid that just has to put everything together and become ultra consistent
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images