Game played on 1/04/2025.
General Game Notes: Sioux Falls hosted Chicago as Neutral Zone scouted Saturday night’s USHL showdown. In the closer of a two game set, both teams came out a little flat with few chances in the third. The homeside finally broke through partways through the second period to go up 1-0. The Stampede’s Moore took advantage of a loose puck in front of Chicago’s bench to score in the third and put Sioux Falls up 2-0. Shortly thereafter Merrick got his first USHL goal and it was 3-0. Chicago responded quickly though, with the Schultz-Goukler-Conn line scoring twice to keep things interesting. The Stampede held on in the closing minutes to get a 3-2 victory and the weekend sweep.
Benjamin Yurchuk (C, L, 5’8″, 169, Chicago Steel, 02/01/2005, Merrimack)
Grade: B-
Comments: Ben Yurchuk is a speedy winger who plays with haste on offense. He has an eager demeanor and was constantly shifting to get into position for a play in the attack zone. Multiple times tonight, Yurchuk would showcase high end acceleration and he hurried into the offensive zone. This often lead to offensive pressure but at times he outdoes himself and loses the handle on the puck. His best play was a deke around the defenseman to get a clear shot on goal. In the attack zone, the 2005 born winger made smart feeds to set up teammates for scoring chances. However, in the neutral zone his focus seemed to wane, and he made a few lazy passes that slowed momentum. Yurchuk is a developing winger for the Chicago Steel [committed: Merrimack].
Alexander Calbeck (D, L, 6’0″, 180, Chicago Steel, 06/20/2006, Western Michigan)
Grade: B+
Comments: Alexander Calbeck is a lanky defenseman for USHL Chicago who played a 200-foot game tonight, despite not appearing on the final scoresheet. He 2006 born blueliner jumps on loose pucks and can immediately get a shot off. He showed quality puck control in both ends, responsibly clearing the puck out of the defensive zone. He has some impressive speed, and could even chug and churn to reach a next gear and win ice-length races for the puck. Calbeck is a high-effect defenseman who has natural puck control [committed: WMU].
Teddy Mutryn (C, R, 6’1″, 207, Chicago Steel, 02/16/2007, Boston College)
Grade: B+
Comments: Teddy Mutryn is a young (2007 born) winger with offensive upside. He had several chances tonight of his own creation, but just couldn’t covert. Mutryn is fast in open ice, especially for his well-filled frame He was usually the first player to get deep into the attack zone. He was in and out around the net, setting up at the net side to hunt for rebounds. He uses his size to stay in and around the crease. Mutryn’s best chance was a knee-down shot in the slot on the powerplay. Mutryn is a big-bodied, developing winger who contributes to his team’s offensive chances. [committed: Boston College].
Ashton Schultz (RW, R, 5’11”, 180, Chicago Steel, 10/03/2006, North Dakota)
Grade: A-
Comments: Ashton Schultz is a young, skilled forward for USHL Chicago who is adept with his stick. He plays both ways and played close on-puck defense to block opponent’s puck movement. Schultz can get shots off from odd angles, at one point snapping a strong wristshot on goal from a wide position along the boards. He is slick with his stick. Schultz could shift down a gear and use rapid stickhandling to fake out the defensemen upon zone entry. He had good chemistry with his linemates #14FGoukler and #16Conn, with the tandem able to produce two quick goals in the third. Schultz had the second of those goals, plopping in a shot off of some straightforward tick-tack-toe passing around the far circle. Playing Center, he won the vast majority of his faceoffs. Schultz is a 2006 forward who plays a 200 foot game and flashed some offensive prowess throughout the attack zone [committed: North Dakota].
Luke Goukler (LW, L, 5’11”, 173, Chicago Steel, 08/11/2006, Merrimack)
Grade: B+
Comments: Luke Goukler had a quiet start to the game before coming alive in the third. He had a goal with a clean shot on net, and could have been awarded an assist for his in-and-out puck movement that helped lead to #13Schultz’s goal. Goukler plays physical and confronts opponents directly in the neutral zone. He stays upright and has impressive balance and rotational strength. He was able to break up a play at the blue line despite a definite size disadvantage to the Stampede forward. Goukler is a developing winger who played some two-way hockey and contributed to the late push on offense. [committed: Merrimack].
Reid Conn (D, R, 6’4″, 205, Chicago Steel, 02/01/2004, New Hampshire)
Grade: B-
Comments: Reid Conn is an offensively inclined defenseman. He showed high end stickhandling in all three periods when on the attack, functioning essentially as a forward as the game wore on. Conn moves with urgency, circling the offensive zone. He is a high-danger creator on offense, shifting and turning to force lanes open. He was impactful on the attack and had assists on both of the Chicago goals in the third. However, at times he was a liability in his own end. Conn couldn’t handle a pass in his own zone, turning the puck over. Late in the game he had an ineffective puck clearance from the defensive zone, making a cross-ice play that did not work out. Conn is an offensive defenseman who is an asset on the attack, but may need to calm down and utilize his skillset more when in Chicago’s end of the ice. [committed: UNH].
Aidan Dyer (RW, R, 5’10”, 165, Chicago Steel, 12/28/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Aidan Dyer is an uncommitted 2005 winger for USHL Chicago that made a few plays in tonight’s game at Sioux Falls. Dyer has a straight-ahead skating style. However, he varies his puck play upon zone entry. He delivered a short feed up ice when on the charge to set up his teammate, while other times he rushed the net for his own scoring chance. He made a nice play midway through the game, turning to get set for a quick shot while sliding neatly into position, forcing the goalie to an impressive glove save. He has a compact, athletic frame. In the third he took a big hit going for the puck along the far boards (opponent was called for holding as he slammed Dyer to the ground), but bounced right back into action. Dyer is a developing forward who showed speed control and offensive IQ tonight.
Tobias Ohman (C, L, 5’7″, 154, Chicago Steel, 01/12/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Tobias Ohman is an uncommitted 2006 born defensive forward for the Chicago Steel. He is not otherwordly fast but is mobile and has good footwork laterally when on offense. Ohman battles in the corners for the puck, even when out-manned. He is scrappy and digs for the puck using his upper-body strength. The young Swedish forward lined up at right defense in a few situations tonight. He made an excellent diving keep-in in the third while Chicago was pressuring for the comeback. Ohman is a developing, smaller but tenacious two-way forward.
Joe Belisle (D, L, 5’11”, 169, Sioux Falls Stampede, 06/06/2005, St. Cloud)
Grade: B+
Comments: Joe Belisle is a strong, agile defenseman for USHL Sioux Falls. He turns on a dime. Belisle has a sharp step and gets instant puck control. He shows thoughtful puck movement, uses his stickhandling to get the puck out of his own end when under pressure. On defense, he pins his man to his board with and angled stature that keeps his vision outward. Belisle is a responsible, defensive defenseman who was effective with and without possession. [committed: St. Cloud State]
Gennadi Chalyi (D, R, 5’10”, 214, Sioux Falls Stampede, 08/22/2005, Michigan)
Grade: A-
Comments: Gennadi Chalyi is a Russian-born defensman who played an excellent game tonight. He is disciplined with the puck and was largely mistake free tonight. Chalyi is a rhythmic passer from the point on offense. He has a the puck control to set up a shot as he circles the high perimeter. Chalyi squares up on defense one-on-to stop opponents. He gets his stick on the opponent to break up passes on defense. He is always looking to move the puck out of his own zone, and at one point he pump-faked the opponent to get a passing lane opened up. [committed: Vermont]
Austin Baker (LW, L, 6’0″, 192, Sioux Falls Stampede, 02/12/2006, Michigan State)
Grade: B+
Comments: Austin Baker is the Captain and a top Center for USHL Sioux Falls. He is a big bodied forward who knows how to use his size on offense. Baker is able to push past (or through) the defense to get a shot on goal. He can break past an opponent when one-on-one against a defender to reach the net. Baker has the puck control to deke effectively on the attack. His best play tonight was dodging right-left-right to get through the defense from the far boards for a scoring chance. He won some early faceoffs, but struggled down the stretch to finished under 50% on his draws. Austin is a young (2006 born) power forward style Center for the Sioux Falls Stampeded [committed: Michigan State]
Adyn Merrick (C, R, 6’1″, 200, Sioux Falls Stampede, 12/23/2005, Northern Michigan)
Grade: B+
Comments: Adyn Merrick is a strong, energetic forward for the Sioux Falls Stampede. He works along the boards for the puck. Merrick is broad-shouldered and impacted the fight for possession. He jumps ahead in a flash when on the offensive rush, although maybe he gets ahead of the play at times. He had his first USHL goal, which ended up being the game-winner. #10 Merens backhanded a tip-pass to Merrick to set up the score in the third. Merrick is a 2005 born Center/Winger who moves with decent acceleration and fights for the puck. Coming over from the BCHL midseason, if he can figure out the timing on his zone entry with his USHL teammates, he will be impactful in the future [committed to Northern Michigan].
Ethan Wyttenbach (LW, R, 5’9″, 180, Sioux Falls Stampede, 02/10/2007, Quinnipiac)
Grade: B+
Comments: Ethan Wyttenbach is a strong-passing forward for the Sioux Falls Stampeded. There’s a lot of mustard on his long passes, and he can play pucks off the boards effectively. Wyttenbach is fast with the puck. He jumps off of the faceoff with an impressive first step to get to the loose puck, beating everyone there. He may need to work on his strength and stability, as he has a narrow frame and can get pushed of the puck at times. Still, he is an excellent puck mover who pushes play up the ice. Wyttenbach back-handed a pass to, in turn, help set up his own goal. He opened the scoring by throwing a rebound off of the backboards into a yawning net. Wyttenbach is a very young (2007 born) who, once he grows into his frame, may be a very dangerous forward in the USHL. [committed: Quinnipiac]
Javon Moore (LW, L, 6’3″, 190, Sioux Falls Stampede, 12/07/2005, Minnesota)
Grade: A-
Comments: Javon Moore is an intelligent winger with a big, strong frame. He moves quick for his size and has good stop-start motion when in action. Moore took a lead pass early on in the game and motored to get a step up on the defense for a scoring chance. A little while after, he had a shorthanded chance after playing defense and winning the puck in the neutral zone. He had an unassisted goal in the second: after his line generate offensive pressure on Chicago, the Steel cleared the zone but the puck died in front of their bench. Moore recognized that Chicago wasn’t going to touch the puck and jumped on the opportunity, doubling back for the loose puck and drilling the puck into the net. Moore is a well-built forward who plays smart on offense, and contributes defensively when needed. [committed: Minnesota]
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images