Game played on 12/08/2024.
Tomas Lavoie (D, R, 6’4″, 225, Cape Breton Eagles, 03/31/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Tomas is a poised and skilled defenseman whose excellent edgework allows him to evade pressure and deliver slick backhand passes to exit the zone effectively. He brings grit to his game and isn’t afraid to play physical when needed. While he could make decisions a bit quicker with the puck, he demonstrates strong, controlled puck handling, particularly at the point during the power play. His offensive zone positioning is excellent; he stays square to the puck, keeps his feet moving, and consistently makes himself available. Tomas shows a high hockey IQ with smart shot selection, putting pucks into open areas to create opportunities down low rather than forcing shots through traffic. His hands are impressive, as seen when he worked along the boards, pulled off a smooth dangle to draw in a defender, and dropped a perfect pass into the slot. Overall, Tomas combines skill, physicality, and composure, making him a reliable presence on both ends of the ice.
Rory Pilling (C, L, 5’11”, 166, Cape Breton Eagles, 02/20/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: Rory is a forward with a sneaky, opportunistic game who consistently keeps himself in motion to find open ice and loose pucks. He showcased this skill with a smart zone entry, executing a bank pass to a trailing teammate before driving the net and quickly firing a shot on goal. Rory has a knack for making nifty, creative passes when he finds space, but he struggles at times with rushed puck decisions, often throwing it away under pressure. He hesitated to engage physically on one zone entry, opting to hold back and avoid contact, which limited the play’s progression. Despite this, his ability to quietly position himself effectively and capitalize on opportunities makes him a subtle yet impactful presence on the ice.
Cam Squires (RW, R, 6’1″, 185, Cape Breton Eagles, 04/11/2005)
Grade: A-
Comments: Cam is a dynamic forward with excellent puck skills and a strong offensive presence. He showcased his high-level playmaking ability with a beautiful setup, firing a hard, accurate cross-ice pass at full speed. Cam’s skill in receiving stretch passes at full stride stood out, as he quickly transitioned into a slick low move and drop pass to create a scoring opportunity. His pace off the off-wing is impressive, generating quality chances with a quick snap shot that forces big saves. While he slowed up on a partial breakaway instead of taking the shot, he redeemed himself by breaking past a defender and finishing on a clean breakaway with a highlight-reel goal. Cam also demonstrated strong hockey sense in the neutral zone, applying great pressure to take away passing lanes and force turnovers. His patience with the puck was on full display as he pounced on a rebound, held it, and skillfully maneuvered around the goalie for a goal. Capping off a standout performance, his hat-trick goal came on a slick Michigan play, underscoring his creativity and confidence with the puck.
Callum Aucoin (LW, L, 6’0″, 185, Cape Breton Eagles, 10/22/2006)
Grade: C+
Comments: Callum is a forward with strong situational awareness and playmaking instincts. He showcased his vision with a perfectly executed chip pass over a defender’s stick, springing Patterson for the first goal. Callum demonstrated a good drive to the net on a 2-on-1, though he was unable to corral the pass to get a shot off. He did a great job positioning himself behind the defender in the neutral zone, but he lacks the explosive speed to separate and create additional space. Despite this, Callum’s ability to read the play and make smart passes makes him a valuable contributor in transition and offensive situations
Romain Litalien (RW, R, 6’0″, 190, Cape Breton Eagles, 04/07/2008)
Grade: B+
Comments: Romain is a skilled forward with excellent hockey sense and puck-handling ability. He demonstrated his defensive awareness by jumping up in the neutral zone to break up a power-play breakout and quickly turn the play back the other way. Romain has great hands, using nifty moves to evade defenders and make quick passes in traffic. He works hard in front of the net, finding loose pucks and setting up teammates with one-touch passes. His instincts are sharp, as seen when he anticipated a turnover and got behind the defense, although his subsequent pass on a 2-on-1 missed the mark. Romain tends to be more of a passer than a shooter; he often looks for the playmaking option, even when lanes for a shot are available. While he isn’t overly aggressive on the forecheck and prefers to stick-check rather than pressure the puck carrier directly, he excels at creating offensive opportunities. His ability to navigate through defenders with impressive moves and drop passes into dangerous areas further highlights his creativity and vision.
Will Murphy (D, L, 6’4″, 210, Cape Breton Eagles, 08/24/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Will is a highly intelligent defenseman with excellent puck vision and composure under pressure. He’s very smart with the puck, showing great awareness deep in his own zone to make plays that help his team transition out of the defensive end. Will plays with confidence and calmness with the puck, making him a reliable option in possession. He jumps up quickly in the offensive zone to capitalize on loose pucks but needs to ensure he’s covered before stepping up. While he can sometimes make careless plays when pressured, he’s quick to react and often negates turnovers with strong recovery. Will moves well for a big player and plays with an aggressive edge, though his physicality can sometimes lead to penalties. Overall, his hockey IQ and mobility make him a solid presence on the back end.
Evan Depatie (D, R, 5’8″, 180, Val d’Or Foreurs, 08/19/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: This player demonstrates excellent movement along the blue line, showing the ability to quickly turn and fire hard, accurate shots on net. His impressive foot speed makes it extremely difficult for opponents to beat him along the wall, while his strong puck skills and awareness allow him to consistently run the offense with confidence. He’s constantly in motion, displaying a high work rate and an ability to retrieve loose pucks quickly. His speed and puck-handling abilities also enable him to exit the defensive zone efficiently and transition the play, ensuring the puck gets deep into the offensive zone to benefit his team.
Jordan Labelle (LW, L, 6’4″, 193, Val d’Or Foreurs, 05/07/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Jordan is a big, physical forward who effectively uses his size and strength to his advantage along the boards and in tight areas. He thrives in physical battles, working hard behind the offensive-zone net to pin defenders and force turnovers. His ability to move the puck along the wall is a standout trait, as he can muscle his way through contact and maintain possession. Jordan favors shooting from his off-wing, showcasing his confidence in creating scoring opportunities. While his foot speed can lag at times, he compensates with his power and physical presence, making him a tough player to contain in one-on-one battles.
Philippe Veilleux (LW, L, 5’9″, 170, Val d’Or Foreurs, 03/26/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Phillippe is an offensively dangerous forward who thrives in the offensive zone due to his constant movement and ability to find open areas in prime scoring locations. His high-level vision stands out, as he consistently threads the needle with precise passes, including an impressive setup through the neutral zone and a perfectly timed feed for a one-timer goal. While he can get overly fancy with his passing at times, leading to unnecessary turnovers, his playmaking instincts remain a major asset. Phillippe works hard on the backcheck, though he lacks high-end speed, which can hinder his ability to recover defensively. He will benefit from simplifying his game in certain situations and maintaining awareness, as seen when he went offside early. Overall, his offensive awareness and passing ability make him a constant threat when on the ice.
Nathan Baril (LW, L, 5’8″, 175, Val d’Or Foreurs, 02/16/2005)
Grade: B
Comments: Nathan is a small but energetic forward who brings relentless effort to every shift. He excels in the dump-and-chase game, using his impressive top-end speed to get in on the puck quickly and create opportunities. Nathan’s speed is a key asset, particularly when he drives wide on defenders to fire quick shots on net. He’s effective through the neutral zone with the puck but needs to add physical strength to win more battles in tight areas. On the penalty kill, he hesitated in picking up his man, which led to a one-timer goal, highlighting an area for improvement in defensive awareness. Despite his size, Nathan’s speed and energy make him a valuable presence, particularly when pushing the pace offensively.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
