Mavrik Bourque (4.5 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — A-) Forward
Our 15th Ranked 2020 Draft Prospect did not have his best game here. He has good speed and play making ability which was clearly on display early on in the match, where he set up a power play goal with a good pass to the slot. He carries the puck with speed through the neutral zone, and drew a penalty. That said, it was not his best game defensively, finishing the 6-4 loss as a minus 5. Two goals against came as direct results of Mavrik trying to do too much with the puck in dangerous areas of the ice, and on the game-winner it looked as if Bourque had used his quickness and high level anticipation he may have gotten a stick on the shooter. Clearly Mavrik is an elite offensive talent, but to continue moving up in the draft class National League scouting departments will be looking for more awareness away from the puck defensively. Game Grade: C
Marc-Antoine Pepin (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Defense
The 2001-born defender has good size–he skates well, with a long stride thanks to his size. He is mobile–smooth skating, and moves the puck well. On a couple of occasions he poked the puck out of his own end and started or led the rush for the Cataractes. He pinched down the wall in the offensive zone, and though he ended up with only two shots, he was in good scoring areas often looking for passes. He skated and moved the puck well on the Power Play breakout, and worked the point as the quarterback pretty well–moving pucks hard and mostly making the right decisions. He defended the rush well, with good positioning thanks to his skating. He will have to get stronger, but the fundamentals are there. Game Grade: B-
Vasili Ponomaryov (4.5 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — B+) Forward
Grade: DNP, NHL-CSS B-Rated Skater did not play.
Xavier Bourgault (4 Star Amateur Rating, 2021 NHL Grade — B) Forward
Bourgault scored a hat-trick in the first 29:08 of the game–streaking up the ice and opening up on a 2v1 for a one-timed goal, scoring up high from the right dot as a Power Play expired, and scoring from his home bumper position five-hole on the PP in the 2nd period. What is surprising is that the 2021 draft eligible skater could have had 3 or 4 more, finding himself with the puck in dangerous areas. On top of a great shot and good scoring mind, Bourgault also set up 3 or 4 chances, 2 coming with the goalie pulled trying to come back late in the game. He skates well–particularly with the puck, and gives good energy and has a good stick on the fore-check in the neutral zone. Game Grade: A-