4/23/2022: In an interesting Game 1 match-up a newly formed Team Canada played USA Hockey’s existing NTDP Team. As expected Canada was working their way through some kinks, while the Americans were buzzing and came out on top 8-3 as Isaac Howard led the way offensively with 4 goals and 1 primary assist.
Isaac Howard finished with 4 goals, 5 points, was +4 and had 8 grade “A” scoring opportunities. He was constantly around the slot looking for opportunities or loose pucks to fire on net. His stick was always prepared. We loved his ability to simultaneously adjust his hands on the shaft of his stick while showing the edge control to slide laterally for better shooting angles and control. He one-timed pucks with authority while the passes did not need to be perfect. Heck of a game for Howard.
Owen Pickering led Team Canada in TOI with 21:53. Offensively the 6’4″ defender moved his feet to relieve pressure and open passing lanes. He showed a long fluid stride and the agility to move laterally while under pressure. Early in the game he showed a reverse escape during neutral zone transition that made you look at your line sheet to see if he is really 6’3″ plus. Gap control, he played with an extended active stick using his reach and stick placement to force turnovers and poor decisions in the grey areas. At the end of the second period Pickering showed good hand strength as he won a 1on1 puck battle with only his top hand on his stick. We liked his poise along the offensive blueline and his ability to love laterally along the line while the puck was on his stick. In the loss he finished -1 with 4 giveaways compared to 6 takeaways.
Lane Hutson played a game high 24:33 finishing with 1 assist and a +5. His passing skills were dynamic and his feet added to his deception. He may be undersized, but he consistently showed core strength and balance through contact which allowed him to be a factor at both ends of the ice. His movements along the offensive blueline were mesmerizing to the oncoming Canadian forwards and often times just a quick shoulder dip allowed him to alleviate pressure. Defensively he used his feet to take away lanes and maintain body positioning on much larger forwards. High end offensive catalyst who finished with 9 takeaways.
Adam Fantilli finished the game with zero points and was -1, but there were long stretches where he oozed his high end professional potential. He played with pace, showed nice defensive anticipation by picking off cross-ice passes and attacked both the scoring area or Team USA’s with the intent of making an impact. There was little doubt that Team USA’s defenders were very aware when he was on the ice as Fantilli has the disposition to finish his checks a full 3 seconds after the puck has been moved. He finished the game with 7 grade “A” scoring chances including an beautifully athletic spin-o-rama early in the first. He also attempted a Michigan in the second as well as firing a few in stride snappers threw Team USA’s defender’s legs.
Ryan Chesley finished the game with 1 goal, 2 assists, was +5 and finished tied for a game high with 9 takeaways. During neutral zone transition he played with tight gaps showing the lateral mobility and power that professional organizations crave. We loved his willingness to quickly move laterally at opposing forwards trapping them along the wall with no options other than a poor dump. His passes were firm, flat and on time. He showed good strength on net front battles by establishing his ice early and not backing down. He may have been opportunistic on his goal, but we loved the confidence he showed moving down on the panicked forward while there was such a net front scrum occurring.
Nicholas Moldenhauer showed incredible quickness in tight areas, but we liked how quickly he processed Team USA’s defensive positioning which allowed him to be very dynamic below the tops of the circles. As his teammates attacked the scoring area or defenders Moldenhauer was watching the stick placements of the opposing players or their toe caps so he could move in the direction that would be the most difficult to cover. He showed very quick hands in tight spaces and his first touch on his backhand allowed him to handle bouncing pucks very easily. On his primary assist to Bedard’s goal, the right shot Moldenhauer presented a forehand passing target, but received a rocket pass directly towards his left toe. He quickly adjusted his hands to handle the puck and cleanly moved the puck to his forehand before giving Bedard a quick flat pass. It was a was a highly skilled puck touch made while under duress that many players on the ice could have handled cleanly. He also finished the game with 9 takeaways.
Charlie Leddy played a simple two-way game and showed the hockey IQ to stay out of high risk situations. During offensive transition he worked to be an outlet for his partner and on more than one occasion we noted that Leddy passes the puck like an NHLer. In his end he took smart angles to Team Canada’s forwards which eliminated time and space and we liked how he maintained net side positioning through contact. We also like the jam he showed while protecting his net.
Rieger Lorenz showed good strength in tight areas below the offensive goal line. We liked his ability to protect with one hand on his stick while still keeping his eyes up looking to make a play. He finished with 3 scoring chances and on each he showed a goal score’s prepared stick and quick hands. On line rushes he understood proper positioning and speeds by maintaining dot lanes or by attacking the middle lane when necessary.
Logan Cooley finished with 1 goal, 1 assist, was +1 and had 3 grade “A” scoring chances. Offensively he played with pace looking to attack the middle lane whenever possible. We liked his ability to shoot in traffic while his feet were moving. Cooley led the game with 10 giveaways with 3 occurring in the grey areas. He is a creative offensive mind who looks to make plays on every possession.
Seamus Powell finished with 1 assist and 2 giveaways compared to 7 takeaways, but what stood out to us here was his penalty killing. He attacked bouncing pucks with assertiveness and after winning the 50/50 battle Powell made sure he or his penalty killing unit got 200′ clears. We also noted his hand eye coordination and ability to knock down Team Canada’s sauce passes. Offensively Powell worked well with his partner, especially below the goal line where he showed the confidence to use the net as a pick to start transition or breakouts.
Frank Nazar showed poise away from the puck, but when it was time for him to switch gears he showed that skating and explosiveness that translates to the next level and beyond. In one quick stride Nazar can be at top speed or move laterally about 6′ to make a defender miss him totally. His first touch is soft and his eyes were always up looking for an opportunity.
Connor Bedard is the type of player who makes you wait to go to the bathroom. On just about every shift he looks like he is 2 seconds ahead of his peers and it seems as though he is never surprised by bounce. His primary assist on Team Canada’s first goal is a great example of this as he recognized that the puck was going to be kept in at his offensive blueline. Rather than mindlessly racing to the wrap along the wall, Bedard took a smart route to the puck to establish body position which allowed him to pop the defender’s stick before giving a perfect one-time pass through his legs into the slot for the goal. His touches were excellent. His puck poise is as high end as we are going to see in this tournament and his goal showed the sniper’s release we’ve become accustomed to seeing.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images