Game played on 12/05/2024.
General Game Notes: In a game played in Rochester, NY, as part of the USHL’s American Cup, it started with little offense and some odd goals for both sides in the first period on bounces. Then Des Moines broke open the game in the third period with four goals. The Bucs were paced by Jack Kernan’s two goals, and Nate Delladonna added two goals and set up another one.
Keaton Orrey (D, L, 6’1″, 186, Des Moines Buccaneers, 01/12/2006, Miami (Ohio))
Grade: B
Comments: Orrey was a nice surprise from the back end for Des Moines. The smooth-skating, athletic, left-shot defenseman utilized his mobility and puck-handling skills to retrieve pucks quickly in the defensive zone and he made solid puck decisions as a puck mover or transporter on the night. He showed a 2-way game, although he kept his game fairly simple and steady with a good first pass and defended well through the neutral and defensive zones. He made a nice read and positioning play in the 2nd period to smartly break up an opposing 2v1 rush. There is potential in the ’06-birthdate native from Minnesota for the NCAA level and perhaps beyond.
Jack Kernan (F, R, 6’2″, 185, Des Moines Buccaneers, 03/30/2005, Minnesota State)
Grade: A-
Comments: Kernan was the most noticeable and effective player in the game for both sides. He was constantly getting open to receive pucks and also making plays to set up teammates for scoring chances. He showed his skating abilities with his strong balance, edges, and ability to separate from defenders. He scored the 1st goal of the game in the 1st period as he cut across the neutral zone received a pass and then as soon as he stepped across the offensive blue line, just quickly snapped a shot that appeared to deflect off the opposing defenseman slightly and trickled through the goalie’s 5-hole for the goal. He would score his 2nd goal and game-winner in the 3rd period as he again received a pass at the offensive blue line down his strong-side wing, separated from the defenseman, and quickly snapped a shot over the glove, short-side. Kernan sees the ice well and smartly diagnoses the plays that are developing to be effective. There is a reason why he currently paces Des Moines in points.
Nathan DellaDonna (C, R, 5’11”, 174, Des Moines Buccaneers, 08/22/2006, Penn State)
Grade: B
Comments: DellaDonna was very quiet for the first two periods making little impact on the 4th line. Although in the 3rd period, he possessed the puck low in the corner with a defender on his heels, he quickly spun away from the pressure on his backhand and then zipped a back door pass from the goal line to #25 Clarke for the goal. Later in the period, he again found himself in the same area in the offensive zone, though this time he peeled off the wall into the circle and snapped a quick shot just above the dot to the far side over the glove for the tally. It was a good line shift with puck possession and pressure in the offensive zone. He would cap off the win with an empty net goal from the defensive zone blue line with just one-second remaining.
Gus Thorp (D, L, 6’2″, 200, Des Moines Buccaneers, 08/18/2007, Minnesota State)
Grade: B-
Comments: Thorp is a bigger-bodied, left-shot defenseman who primarily played the shutdown, physical defenseman. He kept his game simple in defending first and moving pucks north. He threw at least three hits in open ice, along the wall, and at the blue line to break plays up. He showed little offensive ways or thoughts.
Yaroslav Bryzgalov (LW, L, 6’3″, 202, Des Moines Buccaneers, 03/23/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: Bryzgalov is a big-bodied, left-shot power forward type. He used his strength and muscle a few times at net-front presence and along the boards in puck battles. His best opportunity came in the 3rd period on the power play as he walked out from behind the net and attempted to wrap the puck in for the goal. His foot speed lacks.
Blake Zielinski (RW, L, 5’11”, 182, Des Moines Buccaneers, 03/05/2008, Providence)
Grade: B
Comments: Zielinski started the game as the 13th and extra forward who was used sparingly to start the game. Then he made the primary assist on the 1st goal by #25 Kernan as he simply and quickly moved the puck to his teammate in the neutral zone to the wing which led to the goal. Later in the 3rd period, he almost repeated the effort with a backhand pass to #25 Kernan again, hitting his linemate in stride down the wing for the goal. The ’08-birthdate Zielinski was not dominating by any means, yet simply playing smart, heads-up hockey. He gained more confidence as the game progressed and ice time increased.
Lukas Peterson (D, R, 5’9″, 167, Green Bay Gamblers, 02/15/2006, Maine)
Grade: B
Comments: Peterson is a bit of an undersized, right-shot defenseman who likes to possess the puck from the back end as he uses his mobility, agility, and quick hands to elude pressure and stick handle out of dead areas. He showed poise with the puck and the ability to make the soft, short pass in all three zones which leads the breakout or to scoring chances. Peterson showed his ability to use his quicker feet and hands to open up shooting lanes to the net along the offensive blue line. He will need to add more muscle and commitment to the defensive side of his game for the higher levels, as he was caught out on the ice for three goals.
Niles Benson (F, R, 6’0″, 192, Green Bay Gamblers, 06/25/2007, Harvard)
Grade: B-
Comments: Benson is a stronger, power-forward-style, right-shot forward who is still finding his way around the USHL. There were shifts whereby Benson showed his ability to drive the net for scoring chances using his offensive awareness and skill sets. Then there were shifts like on the power play in the 2nd period where he was all alone in the slot and just fired his shot right into the goalie’s pad with time and space. Another shift off the rush on a 2v1 again saw Benson with an open shooting lane to the net, yet he decided to try and saucer a pass that was broken up and the play died. While Benson has puck skills and shooting abilities, he is more physically effective, taking straight lines to the net, and limiting the unneeded pass or move.
Geno Carcone (LW, L, 5’9″, 187, Green Bay Gamblers, 11/14/2006, New Hampshire)
Grade: B
Comments: Carcone is an undersized, left-shot forward who was noticeable in trying to create constant offense for Green Bay. He finds success with his high compete, smarts, and offensive awareness. While he is not the biggest player he showed that having one season of USHL experience under his belt was beneficial. On one shift on an offensive zone face-off, he jumped through from the hash mark to gain possession on a lost draw which resulted in a scoring chance. He showed the ability to make the little slip passes off the rush and get to the right spots. Defensively he struggled a bit being caught out for a few goals. Carcone showed the role of a playmaker though.
Aidan Park (C, R, 6’1″, 188, Green Bay Gamblers, 01/06/2006, Michigan)
Grade: B
Comments: Park is a player who does some good in all three zones, yet is also the player who at times tries to play outside his skill sets. He has offensive qualities and showed good thoughts with the puck. However, he sometimes should have opted for the simpler or quicker play, as he turned the puck over near the blue line a couple of times because he tried too many moves in tight areas. His stride is a hindrance still at this point, as with one shift in the 2nd period he could have created a breakaway, although the lack of full extension for separation speed he was caught on the play. Park competes for pucks and tries to drive the Green Bay offense even though his puck skills are slightly above average.
Nicholas Knutson (C, L, 5’11”, 170, Green Bay Gamblers, 04/09/2007, Minnesota Duluth)
Grade: B
Comments: Knutson is an average-size, left-hand forward with a good hockey IQ, and solid all-around skill sets. The ’07-birthdate and USHL rookie showed his ability to drive into open lanes in trying to create offense in spurts. He used his smarts to find open ice through the neutral and offensive zones to receive the puck for scoring chances. Knutson lacked consistency and any real puck possession time and appeared to be continuously still learning the junior ranks.
Egor Shilov (C, L, 6’1″, 163, Green Bay Gamblers, 04/30/2008)
Grade: B
Comments: There is no question the ’08-birthdate Shilov is a talented hockey player, although he is now the little fish in the big pond, as opposed to playing with the LI Gulls U16 where he thrives. In the 1st period, he showed his offensive awareness as he gained possession off the side of the side rebound, and quickly pivoted behind the net walking out front for a quality shot on goal. He rushed his shot a bit as he had more time and space to take 1-2 more steps across the crease for a better shooting angle. In the 2nd period, he made a good play on the back check as he caught the opposition in the neutral zone, striped the puck away, and quickly transitioned back to the attack. On the flip side, Shilov struggled at the face-off dot as he was losing or getting tossed out. He was given plenty of opportunity and power play time that led to a team-high five shots on goal, yet he was snake-bitten and lacked the confidence to finish. There was also a forced pass in the offensive zone that led to a quality scoring chance. At this point, Shilov would benefit more from re-gaining his confidence, scoring touch, and attention to detail off the puck at the U16 level with the opportunity for the end of the season and next year at the junior level.
Cole Longacre (D, L, 6’2″, 190, Green Bay Gamblers, 05/26/2006, Merrimack)
Grade: B
Comments: Longacre is a good-sized, right-handed defenseman who played well in all situations and all three zones. He used his skating ability, long reach, and positioning to defend as well as his mobility and puck-handling skills to retrieve pucks and make outlet passes. He made good puck decisions. He scored Green Bay’s 1st goal in the 1st period as he gained the center ice line and dumped the puck, it took a lucky bounce off the glass partition and caught the goalie out of the net for the goal. In the 2nd period, he made a nice play to jump up on the rush and smartly made the pass to the trailer #7 Benson coming down the slot for a quality scoring chance.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images