Game played on 11/29/2024.
Elia Pedrotti (D, L, 5’9″, 165, Sherbrooke Phoenix, 10/08/2008)
Grade: C+
Comments: Elia is a smaller defenseman who plays with grit and determination, excelling in battles around the net and in the dirty areas. Despite his size, he is unafraid to mix it up with opponents, showing a competitive edge in front of the crease and along the boards. His strong edgework and mobility are assets, particularly in the neutral zone, where he demonstrates good awareness and positioning to disrupt plays. However, Elia struggled at times defensively, allowing outside speed to beat him wide and conceding a goal on a quick cross-ice pass. Improving his ability to control faster opponents on the rush will be key to his development. With his tenacious mindset and agility, Elia has the foundation to become a reliable defenseman, especially if he can refine his defensive-zone coverage.
Olivier Dubois (LW, L, 5’8″, 155, Sherbrooke Phoenix, 02/15/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Olivier is a versatile left winger with excellent hockey sense and the ability to make plays under pressure. He exhibits great patience and composure, as demonstrated by his decision to delay a shot on the back door until the shooting lane was clear. His quick release, particularly on the off-wing, makes him a dangerous scoring threat, especially on the power play. While his shot isn’t elite in power, his ability to release quickly and effectively compensates. Olivier also shows good hands, using subtle puckhandling moves to avoid defenders without relying on excessive flair. Defensively, Olivier excels in recovery situations, highlighted by his quick backcheck and a well-timed stick lift that led to a turnover and a precise stretch pass to generate a scoring chance. However, he needs to engage more actively in blocking shots, as he often relies on his stick in the lane instead of positioning his body. Offensively, he could benefit from being more proactive, as he sometimes waits for the puck rather than pursuing it. Olivier’s durability and willingness to absorb hits make him reliable in high-pressure situations, and his ability to play significant minutes late in games shows his value as a dependable two-way player. With minor adjustments in his defensive habits, Olivier has the tools to be an impactful winger at both ends of the ice.
Robin Benoit (F, R, 6’1″, 174, Sherbrooke Phoenix, 07/15/2007, Nebraska Omaha)
Grade: B+
Comments: Robin is a smart and skilled right winger who leverages his quick feet and excellent vision to make impactful plays in the offensive zone. His hand-eye coordination and crossover agility enable him to create opportunities by moving effectively toward the net. He excels at threading passes through traffic, particularly on the power play, and demonstrates good puck-handling skills when wheeling in on his off-wing to generate chances. His offensive awareness is evident in his ability to read plays, as shown by his quick adjustment to step into a lane for a rapid shot on net during a zone exit. However, Robin’s overall speed is not a standout, and he occasionally misses optimal decisions, such as opting for a weak shot instead of a more viable pass when given time and space. He tends to shy away from physicality, often arriving as the second player to contested pucks. While not overly aggressive, Robin’s intelligence and technical abilities make him a valuable contributor, particularly in creating offense and handling the puck in tight situations. To elevate his game, more assertiveness and a quicker decision-making process in key moments will be essential.
Florent Houle (RW, R, 5’11”, 180, Sherbrooke Phoenix, 08/04/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Florent is a smaller but highly skilled right winger who uses his agility, puck-handling, and hockey intelligence to make a significant impact offensively. He excels in quick changes of direction and protects the puck well along the boards despite his size. Florent is a smart, positional player who contributes effectively as the point man on the power play, showcasing strong vision and decision-making. His ability to react quickly to pucks is a strength, though he could improve his effectiveness in physical battles, as he can be bumped off the puck too easily. Offensively, Florent thrives in transition, as seen when he received a pass in the neutral zone, executed a quick deke, and exploded past the defense for a high-quality chance. His touch on passes is excellent, highlighted by a perfectly placed chip pass for a backdoor goal to tie the game. He also has the ability to handle difficult stretch passes and turn them into immediate scoring opportunities with quick, accurate shots. Late in the game, Florent demonstrated his offensive poise by using quick cuts to evade a defender and snapping a precise shot to secure the lead. With added physical strength, Florent could further elevate his already dynamic offensive game.
Olivier Lampron (C, L, 6’1″, 170, Sherbrooke Phoenix, 03/21/2007)
Grade: C+
Comments: Olivier is a gritty and physical right winger who excels in battles along the boards and in front of the net. He is effective at protecting the puck with his solid reach, especially when moving with it, though he can sometimes struggle to get his shot off in tight spaces. His work in front of the net is strong; he is always moving, getting his stick on pucks, and creating traffic to frustrate opposing goalies and defenders. Olivier’s quick acceleration allows him to cut across the slot and fire a hard, accurate shot, making him a constant threat in scoring areas. He also shows excellent awareness and speed in the offensive zone, often beating opponents to pucks off faceoffs and exploding to the puck before the opposition has a chance to react. His physicality and determination to get to the net add a layer of grit to his game, making him difficult to play against. However, Olivier’s offensive game can occasionally lead to him getting out of position, which can allow for easier zone exits for the opposing team. Overall, his combination of skill, physicality, and net-front presence makes him a valuable asset on the wing, especially in high-pressure situations.
Louis-Alex Tremblay (D, R, 5’9″, 175, Sherbrooke Phoenix, 02/05/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: Louis-Alex is a defenseman with good offensive awareness, particularly on the power play, but there are key areas for improvement in his overall game. He has a strong presence at the top of the power play, where he does a great job moving the puck and finding the open man quickly. However, his shot lacks the power needed to be a consistent threat, and while he puts plenty of pucks towards the net, he needs to work on improving his accuracy. Defensively, Louis-Alex could be quicker to the puck, as he occasionally struggles to be first on loose pucks. His awareness when joining the rush needs to be sharper, as evidenced by an offside violation during a good offensive opportunity. Additionally, his defensive play requires refinement, as he made a poor decision on a 2-on-1 during a penalty kill, allowing the opposing player to walk in and score. He also failed to properly control his stick when an opponent was coming to the net, which led to another goal. While his offensive instincts are solid, Louis-Alex needs to improve his defensive positioning and decision-making to become a more well rounded player.
Evan Depatie (D, R, 5’8″, 165, Val d’Or Foreurs, 08/19/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Evan is an offensive-minded defenseman with a gritty edge and notable physicality for his size. He excels at keeping his man in front but needs to improve his gap control and acceleration to better handle quick plays, as he was occasionally beaten wide during this game. Despite not having great foot speed, Evan compensates with a fantastic quick-release snap shot, which he demonstrated on a rush that nearly resulted in a blocker-side goal. He is smart and disciplined, holding up to avoid a boarding penalty in a key moment. However, his decision-making at the blueline requires improvement, as he was prone to mishandling the puck under pressure. Offensively, Evan generates plenty of looks but needs to refine his shooting accuracy to capitalize on opportunities. While his gritty playstyle and ability to lay big hits stand out, he struggled to control his man off a faceoff, which led to a scoring chance and a rebound goal against. With improvements in puck management, foot speed, and defensive positioning, Evan could become a dynamic two-way player.
Jordan Labelle (LW, L, 6’4″, 193, Val d’Or Foreurs, 05/07/2007)
Grade: C+
Comments: Jordan is a defensively-minded left winger who excels in his own zone with strong positional awareness and a commitment to blocking shots. His edgework is decent, allowing him to stay open for breakout plays, but his offensive contributions were limited in this game. Jordan plays a smart game away from the puck, consistently making sound decisions to support his team defensively. However, given his size, he could benefit from incorporating more physicality into his play to maximize his impact. While his focus on defense is commendable, adding an offensive element to his game would make him a more well-rounded player.
Philippe Veilleux (LW, L, 5’9″, 170, Val d’Or Foreurs, 03/26/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Philippe is a dynamic left winger who consistently displays elite offensive instincts and skill. He is always moving, reading the play well, and finding opportunities to make an impact. His stickhandling is at an elite level, often using quick moves to beat defenders and explode wide, creating scoring chances for himself and his teammates. Philippe’s offensive awareness is exceptional; he thrives on turnovers, quickly finding open space, as evidenced by his well-timed one-timer goal. His passing ability is also top-tier, showing creativity and precision that makes him a consistent offensive threat. Philippe’s skating stride is powerful, particularly when he’s at full speed, allowing him to push past defenders and generate high-quality chances. He showcased his skill with a highlight-reel play, undressing a defenseman before wiring a shot off the crossbar. On another occasion, he turned an errant pass into a near goal with an impressive deke. However, his overall game could benefit from more physical engagement and urgency, particularly on the backcheck and in crucial defensive situations. His lack of hustle on a late-game play allowed an opponent to capitalize on an empty net opportunity. Philippe’s offensive intelligence and puck skills make him a high-ceiling player, but increased commitment to the physical and defensive aspects of his game will be essential for him to reach his full potential.
Nathan Baril (F, L, 5’8″, 141, Val d’Or Foreurs, 02/16/2005)
Grade: B-
Comments: Nathan is a skilled and intelligent left winger who combines impressive puck skills with excellent situational awareness. He demonstrates great foot-to-stick coordination and smooth puck handling, making him a reliable asset in both offensive and defensive scenarios. His breakout speed is a standout attribute, allowing him to transition quickly and create opportunities. Nathan’s aggressive play on the penalty kill is particularly notable; he forced a turnover at the blue line and then worked tirelessly down low in the offensive zone to sustain pressure. His vision is a key strength, as shown by his ability to make precise breakout passes to the high man on the fly. Nathan’s offensive instincts are sharp, highlighted by his ability to explode out of the defensive zone and position himself perfectly for a one-timer goal during a 3-on-2 rush. His combination of speed, puck skills, and hockey IQ makes him a versatile and impactful player in all situations.
Eduard Bondar (D, L, 6’4″, 176, Val d’Or Foreurs, 01/31/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: Eduard is a big, physical defenseman who excels in shutting down plays along the boards and in the corners. His size and strength make him difficult to play against in tight areas, where he consistently punishes opponents and closes them off effectively. Eduard directs traffic well in his own zone and shows smart anticipation, stepping up on zone entries to disrupt control. He uses his long reach effectively, both in breaking up plays and in retrieving loose pucks, often making quick transitions to kickstart offensive opportunities, such as a 3-on-2 rush that resulted in a goal. However, Eduard’s lack of foot speed can create challenges, as he sometimes gives too much space in coverage or struggles to react quickly to sudden plays, such as missing a pass or recovering against faster attackers. His discipline is an area for improvement, as he has taken unnecessary penalties due to stick infractions and made a costly delay-of-game error late in a period. He also struggled with positioning on a wide shot, which allowed an opponent to capitalize on a loose puck. Despite these areas for growth, Eduard’s physicality, reach, and ability to disrupt plays make him a formidable presence on the ice, especially in defensive-zone battles.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images