Game played on 1/15/2025.
General Game Notes: This was a great game to display a lot of different aspects of both these teams. With all goals scored in the first two period, except for the over time winner, we got to see even strength and power play goals, as well as solid shut down defense in the third period.
Brady Schultz (D, L, 5’11”, 194, Halifax Mooseheads, 07/23/2004, Quinnipiac)
Grade: B-
Comments: Defensively, Schultz was able to show that he will get into lanes protecting the net a bit more, attack passing and shooting lanes with the stick and body. Offensively, he waits for pucks to come to him, and that hurts him afterwards because he does not have that quick acceleration to allow him keep the play alive and he ends up going for safe simple plays, thus giving up possession. On the kill, he looked to make a play when icing it was the move, this hurt him and the puck ended up in the back of their net. Simplify some parts of his game with the puck will help him be more productive.
Caylen Blake (LW, L, 6’0″, 175, Halifax Mooseheads, 02/02/2008)
Grade: A-
Comments: Blake scored a nice goal getting a rebound from his own drop pass at the side of the net. He was able to collect a bouncing puck and wrap it in the other side to tie the game up. He was able to show great set of hands as well as ability to get from one post to the other. Blake has a natural ability to handle pucks quickly when given space. He is good at timing his touches and shows adequate anticipation relative to a defenders movement. Couple times tonight he crossed back over right when the defender he was attacking went to cross his own feet. His timing on the rush is a skill that makes him hard to defend combined with some solid speed.
Braeden MacPhee (RW, R, 5’10”, 174, Halifax Mooseheads, 05/30/2004)
Grade: A-
Comments: MacPhee was the hero tonight scoring the over time winner set up beautifully from his teammate. A shot from wide was put on net and the rebound came right to his stick where he as able to end the game on a far pad bounce. The rebound actually came out pretty far and MacPhee was able to get a ton on contact on it which was the most impressive part of the goal. He does a good job at not using the same approach twice off the rush and it is an aspect of his game that makes him dangerous. He uses his feet in a great way, able to stop on a dime, dip his shoulder and lean on edges, his allows him to make himself bigger than he his, or stronger than he is.
Owen Phillips (D, R, 5’11”, 191, Halifax Mooseheads, 01/12/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Phillips has some boot speed to work on but when he is able to set his gap, he does a good job at staying tight on the rush. The first couple steps from a dead stop is where he struggles, but if he can surf the zone forwards and transition this way, he had a better chance at keeping the rush in front on him. Phillips was able to show tonight that he is talented in finding ways to break the puck into the zone, but is still learning what to do with it once up the ice. His passing is strong and he is a very aware defenseman but he can still find himself troubled for passing decisions once in the offensive zone.
Antoine Fontaine (C, R, 5’9″, 171, Halifax Mooseheads, 07/10/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Fontaine picked up a nice goal on the power play getting into the bumper spot early and getting a stick on a shot from the point. This quick shot mentality his power play worked with benefited him as he was able to show off his hand eye coordination from a distance. In the offensive zone, he will try his best to wait out a defender with time, protecting the puck, but it often kills the momentum and reduces the game speed around him. Without the puck, he is able to use the stick with one hand to be at active defensively, couple times tonight he was able to create turnovers with a solid poke check. It was too often that you would see him not driving the net when he should be doing so. As for his implication on the back check, it is something that he needs to put more effort into, as he can be the last man back quite often.
Anthony Pare (D, L, 6’1″, 184, Rimouski Oceanic, 09/01/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Pare was able to show tonight that he does a good job at playing a two way role. He reads the play quickly and is able to force the puck carrier to the boards with ease. After assuring passing lanes are closed, Pare is fearless in stepping up to pressure the puck carrier, forcing turnovers consistently in transition. Offensivly, while his shot is strong and accurate, he could afford to be more liberal with his shooting. If he can continue to effectively shoot more frequently, he could find a new layer to his game. Too often tonight he would get the puck at the blue line and immediately get it off without checking lanes. He has time and space in some of his opportunities to make a move and could use his footwork to do so.
Maxime Coursol (RW, R, 6’0″, 190, Rimouski Oceanic, 03/09/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Coursol scored a nice goal one timing the puck from a two on one feed where he was able to put the puck in the corner of the net over a sliding goalie. He was ablet to show tonight that he is one of the more skilled players in tight. His hands are quick enough that he can make last minute decisions on defenseman reaching, or not having the right gap. Coursol manages to beat opposing defense set ups through a variety of different abilities. His stick handling and awareness work in tandem to open up gaps in the other teams setups that he easily exploits. He also has an incredible ability to build up speed through his crossovers and maintain that speed through open step transitions.
Alexandre Blais (LW, L, 5’10”, 152, Rimouski Oceanic, 11/14/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Blais was able to show tonight that he can keep the puck on a string. Skill is not short with his game and likes to have the puck on his stick. One of the more trickier players to keep track of without the puck and manage with the puck. He excels on lateral movement and displays his excellent edge work as he utilizes it while on the rush into the offensive zone trying to create space for his teammates. He is able to receive a pass and still maintain momentum as he shifts from his left leg to his right. Blais has the skill to do all this while keeping his hands in tact. Whenever he has some speed, his hands and feet are in sync.
Mathieu Cataford (C, R, 6’0″, 195, Rimouski Oceanic, 03/01/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Cataford is another really skilled player for the Oceanic. He plays with the puck with such fluidity that he can make a change in his path on a dime. His skating of course is one of the factors that enhance his passing ability because he uses his feet to confuse the opposing forwards and make a smart pass. One of the best parts to watch of his game is how creative he can be. Couple times tonight, off the rush he looked like he was going to attack the net, then pull up, wait for the defenseman to re gap, then make a tight turn again to beat him. He is hard to play against for slow footed defenseman and he has no problem exposing that.
Jacob Mathieu (C, L, 5’11”, 190, Rimouski Oceanic, 05/05/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: The captain was able to open the scoring off a two on way play where he got the puck back door and one timed it into the open net. His teammate set him up in a great way but it was Mathieu that saw the opening behind the defenseman to put himself in this position in the first place. In the offensive zone, and clearly off the rush, without the puck, he does a good job at slipping into open space and being available for one timer chances or just simple shots on net. On the rush, he is not as dominant, as he lacks pace and often either force the play into the middle or spin/slow down the play and wait for reinforcements. This gives the opponents enough time to get back and kill the rush.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
