Game played on 11/16/2024.
General Game Notes: Neutral Zone evaluated the 2004 players from each team in this QMJHL game between Moncton and Charlottetown. Grades are for this game only and relative to other players in the contest.
Nicolas Ruccia (G, L, 6’0″, 180, Charlottetown Islanders, 04/12/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Nicolas gave up a goal on a rocket shot from the dot in the far, top corner. He left some bad rebounds but was able to recover and make saves on those mistakes. His glove was quick, and he held pucks on several attempts to shoot top left. Ruccia handled traffic and contact with strength and helped set pucks up for his defensemen. He gave another goal up to his blocker side on a breakaway score. He made a tough save on a Lounsbury shorthanded chance. Nicolas did struggle with traffic near his crease as he seemed not to track several shots. One snuck home, low through his pads on the power play for his third goal against. The tall 2004 appeared athletic and moved well while getting big in tight in the paint. A redirect by his defenseman led to the fourth goal. Soon after, he stopped another breakaway and another play in tight. On the fifth goal, a slick redirect was not a stoppable play. Ruccia played a decent game in most areas. He was beaten on the blocker side twice but was screened on another, caught a bad break off his defender’s foot, and had no chance on a superb deflection by Lounsbury. His ability to fight through screens better and improve his blocker were his issues here. He has the ability and will improve.
Simon Hughes (LW, L, 6’3″, 203, Charlottetown Islanders, 01/16/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Simon started the game and played about 17 minutes in the 5-1 loss to Moncton. The big left shot forward played left wing and stayed in constant motion with a long stride and solid glide. He delivered some punishing hits and was tough to play against. Hughes did not take advantage of his reach; his stick was off the ice when he hit and forechecked. His puck touches in open ice were clean, and he went to the net to take the goalie’s eyes away, including a couple of center lane drives that led to chances on the rush. He played on the power play where he was at the net front and showed anticipation in retrieving rebounds and loose pucks. His puck play was average, with a few flashes of skill. Hughes did not miss a chance to hit but was ineffective in creating offense. His passes were average in accuracy. When Simon got moving, he looked to have some pace and was on pucks. The 2004 played a disruptor role and he has upside, still appearing raw as a 2004.
Thomas Sirman (D, L, 5’10”, 185, Charlottetown Islanders, 03/05/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Thomas started in the OHL, playing almost 150 games for the Ottawa 67s. Ottawa selected him in the third round in 2020. The 2004 was named the Top Academic Univ/College player (Roger Nielson) after last season in the OHL. Sirman moved to the Islanders in the QMJHL for 2024-25. He wore #27 in this game against Moncton. He showed mobility, quick feet and excellent positioning against Moncton. He read plays quickly and eliminated time and space rapidly with a quick stick. Thomas also used his body to run opponents off the puck and stop the cycle low in the zone. His gaps were tight, and he started them in the offensive zone. He moved in and out from the blue line as an option for his forwards. Thomas made indirect, saucer and low hard passes to create breakouts. He had some wiggle and carried the puck up the ice on the power play. He passed across the royal road and snapped to tips from the point. He had a long and technically sound stride that created speed and balance. Sirman could hop up in the rush and trusted his feet. He played a versatile game with the ability to defend with his feet and hit and collect loose pucks. Every situation type with vision and a high hockey IQ.
Yegor Goryunov (C, L, 6’2″, 190, Charlottetown Islanders, 03/03/2004)
Grade: A-
Comments: Egor (aka Yegor Goryunov) did not play in this game, so this evaluation is against Shawnigan on 11/20/2024. The big Russian is in his fourth season in the QMJHL, three with Victoriaville and now with Charlottetown. He scored 29 goals and 19 assists last season and is on a point-per-game pace this campaign. He was dangerous on the forecheck with speed and the ability to make heavy contact and quickly find loose pucks. Near the net, he showed jam and attacked the goal at every opportunity. He showed skill and vision with firm, accurate pass high on the power play. He used the give and go and was fast and quick. Egor drove into the zone with pace and a strong stick, stopped, and fed his point to stretch the defense out. He showed a quick release and used his frame to protect possession, and showed patience to create plays. A physically gifted player who was impactful in all three zones and looked like a goal scorer. He should attract attention from colleges and pro leagues alike. Intriguing prospect.
Jacob Steinman (G, L, 6’0″, 187, Moncton Wildcats, 05/23/2004, Bowling Green)
Grade: A
Comments: Neutral Zone has not checked in on Jacob in a few years, as he played decently in the net, with almost 100 games in his first two seasons. This season, he has improved. Goalies can take longer, and the Bowling Green commit looked comfortable and stopped 26 of 17 shots in a 5-1 win at Charlottetown. He was on the top of his crease and took angles away. On his pads, he was quick and slippery along the ice. His stick was active with paddle3s in front of his eyes. Steinman scanned plays and reacted quickly. Jacob made saves through traffic as he used strength and balance to gain space in his crease and view the puck. His puck play was diverse and helpful to his defense. Jacob bumped dumps from the net to his defensemen, set pucks up flat and in perfect spots for them to start retrievals, and also made a couple of passes up to the high forward in the zone. He held shots that hit him squarely and deflected others away from trouble with his pads and blocker. Jacob’s stick was sharp and a weapon in tight. His only goal against came on a cross-zone pass that an open player popped into the top of the net. It was not a stoppable shot and not his fault.
Markus Vidicek (C, L, 5’10”, 172, Moncton Wildcats, 03/21/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Markus was a first-round selection by Halifax in the QMJHL Draft and has played over 60 games since 2020, three of his first four seasons. The Montreal native has averaged a point a game but his playoff average is less. Now, with the Moncton Wildcats, he was on pace for a similar season and played first-line center in this contest. He was solid on the faceoff dot with quick hands. He battled hard there and in greasy areas. In the defensive one, he was reliable;e and moved to smart spots where he defended with a quick stick and some physicality and stayed low to help hi defensemen as an easy outlet. Vidicek was quick on his blades but did not show separation speed. He stayed near plays up ice and could create space with balance and lateral mobility. He showed off a long stickhandle and caught bad passes in stride. 2004 played defense on the power play and carried the mail with some wiggle and his head up to make some entries. Markus showed vision from high in the zone and snapped a low goal home through traffic in the second period. He worked the cycle well and stretched the offensive zone to his defensemen with a quick pass that started a goal-scoring play (third assist.) The former C+ NHL Prospect with NHL NZ went undrafted. He is not a large player but was difficult to square up, worked with his feet moving in rugged areas, and was influential all over the sheet. Markus looked mature and poised and played with a quality hockey IQ. His career in the QMJHL has been consistent and productive. There is no reason to believe that would stop in the NCAA.
Yoan Loshing (LW, L, 5’10”, 178, Moncton Wildcats, 02/29/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Loshing is in his second season as Moncton’s Captain. He picked up two assists in this game: one to start a line rush that led to a Morin goal and the other on an indirect to Vidicek for a power play tally. Yoan made smart, simple plays and showed a burst to separate from traffic with slick hands he could access at top speed. He has scored more each year in the QMJHL, with 70 in the 2023-24 campaign. He is on track to top that this season. A former ‘C’ rated NHL NZ prospect, he went undrafted. He has soft puck touches and went to the net front, holding ice with firm edges. His stride was strong with decent pace. He has wiggle and dragged the back of his blades on a canter drive to blow up the Islanders’ gap and dish to a driving winger. Yoan played effectively with both sides of his blade. He was decent but not great in wall battles and an area he can improve. Overall, he made his linemates better and played in any situation, picking up two assists. High compete player who led by example.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images