General Game Notes: High scoring game with some high scoring offenses. A lot of talent on display tonight for the Musketeers with ten different players getting on the score sheet tonight. After a tied first period, Sioux City came out in the second and score three goals back to back to back. This deflated the Steel for the rest of the game.
Kolin Sisson | Chicago Steel | USHL | R | RW | 5’8″ | 165 | Providence | 2025 | Lincoln, RI | 2006 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: B+
Sisson was ninth among Steel forwards with 13:00 of total ice time. He finished -2 with 0 points, 0 shots, 0/1 on face-offs, 0 hits, 1 giveaway, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 42% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: He can penalty kill, he’ll go to the dirty areas and make plays around the net, he battles hard and showed this tonight by winning multiple loose puck battles and scrums along the wall. What he did well tonight was use his motor to disrupt plays and create turnovers. He is constantly on the hunt and makes it hard for defenseman to make clean breakouts. Saw him tonight block more than one shot in a shift showing his effort level without the puck matches what he tries to do with is. Was not able to showcase a ton of skill but found other ways to be effective.
| Charlie Major | Chicago Steel | USHL | R | F | 5’10” | 179 | Cornell | 2024 | Skaneateles, NY | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Major led all Steel forwards with 19:19 in total ice time including tied for a game high 4:42 on the power play and 1:57 while shorthanded. He finished -3 with 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 6/13 on face-offs, 1 hit, received 1 hit, a game high 14 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 40% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Where Major excels is working to get pucks out of his own zone. He has a great first couple steps to separate him from anyone looking to trail behind him. When he gets the puck at the wing and the defenseman is pinching, he works to get his body around the puck, protecting it, and makes simple plays chipping it off the glass but gets the puck out none the less relieving pressure in his own end. In the offensive zone, he feels the pressure and tries to create something that is not there, throwing pucks in front of the goal ultimately starting breakouts for the other team.
| Michael Hagens | Chicago Steel | USHL | L | D | 5’11” | 170 | Boston College | 2024 | Hauppauge, NY | 2005 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Hagens totaled a game high 24:30 of total ice time including being tied for a team power play high 4:42 and 1:32 while shorthanded. He finished even with 2 assists, 1 shot, 1 hit, received 2 hits, 7 giveaways, 8 takeaways and for the season he is winning 57% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Hagens plays an aggressive offensive style that looks to attack off the line into the slot or even the front of the net or below the goal line. He is not afraid to use the entire zone to create offense. He’ll also regularly involve himself in the rush much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to look to put defenders on their heels with his skating and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush. This style of play makes him a higher risk and for the most part tonight, he calculated correctly when to get up and when to hang back. Still, his need to play offense and with skill forces turnovers going the other way
| Hans Martin Ulvebne | Chicago Steel | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 192 | Bemidji State | 2024 | Oslo | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Ulvebne finished tenth among Steel forwards with 11:56 of total ice time. He did not play on either special team’s unit. He finished even with 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 2 PIMs, 1/1 on face-offs, 2 hits, received 3 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Ulvebne showed that he has got good four-way mobility and an active disposition. His mobility shows up when he wants to be deceptive under pressure. He uses his size and footwork to bounce off guys and keep momentum. His balanced shooting mechanics, an eye for spacing and identifying opportunities to jump on both sides of the puck, and legit skill with the puck, make him a threat in the offensive zone with any time and space. He did a good job at getting pucks in the slot, no stick handling, and getting shots off showing how quick he can create chances
| Samuel Urban | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 196 | Arizona State | 2024 | Puchov, SVK | 2005 | 2023-2024: C 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Did not see the most shots tonight but made some good saves on the ones he did. He was able to make a couple impressive cross sheet saves where he was able to get square to the shooter when he should have plenty of time to find the back of the net. This showed that his power in his pushes were quick and efficient. Had some troubles with his rebound control leaving a couple shots right in front for opponents to whack at but with his size he was able to be big giving shooters not a lot to work with.
Ty Hanson | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | D | 5’9″ | 175 | Minnesota Duluth | 2024 | Hermantown, MN | 2005 | 2023-2024: C 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: A-
Hanson lead Sioux City with 21:28 of total ice time including a team high 4:39 on the power play and 2:41 while shorthanded. He finished +1 with 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 2 hits, received 1 hit, had 2 shots blocked, 3 giveaways, a game high 10 takeaways and for the season he is winning 57% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Hanson continues to show that he is a very skilled and creative offensive player. He has the skating to get up into attacks, the hands to beat opponents, the vision to hit seams and make tough plays and a great point shot, too. At times, he acts as a fourth forward in the rush and in zone. Tonight he had an issue with his frame and overall defensive play which got highlighted a couple times. He has the motor to be involved on loose pucks but has trouble playing one on one low defensively.
| Max Strand | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | F | 5’9″ | 193 | Vermont | 2024 | Roseau, MN | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Strand finished 11th among Sioux City’s forwards with 12:26 in total ice time. With the exception of 0:08 of power play time he did not play on special teams. He finished +3 with 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 0/1 on face-offs, 0 hits, received 2 hits, 5 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 47% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Strand always seems to show up. He plays with a great level of compete and energy, wanting to control the play every shift. He’s a smart and agile playmaker but also has a great shot, displaying patience to find the open space. He shows this patience by delaying and re attacking, unlike most players who will delay and panic and throw pucks. His playmaking instincts and shot threat from the faceoff dots were apparent tonight with multiple chances that he created for himself on entries. He doesn’t look for the extra play a lot, he seems to know what he wants todo with it when he gets in certain spots, and that is shoot.
| Ren Morque | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 190 | Grand Rapids, MN | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Morque finished fifth among Sioux City defensemen with 14:20 in total ice time including 1:49 while shorthanded. He did not play on the power play. He finished +1 with 2 assists, 1 shot, 0 hits, 2 giveaways, 6 takeaways and for the season he is winning 56% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Morque was able to show tonight that he uses his feet well to get out of situations. When going back for a puck, he usually has a step on the forechecker allowing him to create space behind the net. He is not overly offensive but can break the puck out on his own, his offense usually ends in the neutral zone where he is looking to move the puck to his forwards. Tonight he did a good job at getting early box outs showing his willingness to battle in front of the net. He has the size to dominate the paint and be a force to shut cycles down.
| Giacomo Martino | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 161 | Northeastern | 2024 | Toronto, ON | 2005 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Martino finished 6th among Sioux City forwards with 14:15 in total ice time including 1:56 on the power play. He did not kill penalties. He finished +1 with 2 assists, 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 0 hits, received 1 hit, had 2 shots blocked, 3 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 48% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Martino did a good job tonight quickly identifying second and third options on entries, often a step ahead of opposing structures. He does this with his head up as he enters and with speed. The way he shows one thing and does another is pretty unique. His little hesitations in control into quick, decisive attacking moments. He generates a burst of speed through the defensive and neutral zone and attacks the offensive zone aggressively
| Sam Court | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | D | 5’10” | 181 | Arizona State | 2024 | Winnipeg, MB | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Court finished third among Sioux City defensemen totaling 17:47 in ice time with 3:03 on the power play. He did not kill penalties. He finished +2 with 3 assists, 3 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 2 hits, received 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 1 giveaway, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 58% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Court is a very skilled and intelligent defenseman who can make a ton of plays and run a power play at a high level. His poise at the point makes it hard for the penalty kill to understand what he is trying to do. His movement with and without the puck forces defensive zone coverages to keep track of him, as he is in constant motion. He’s quite undersized though, and while he skates well, he doesn’t have amazing feet for his size. The offense is there, but let’s see some defensive improvements. He has trouble closing on guys and eliminating 50/50 chances in his own zone. He stays on his guy well but, they get to move the puck on him a little too much
| Brian Nicholas | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 192 | Michigan | 2024 | Scarsdale, NY | 2005 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Nicholas was second among Sioux City forwards with 15:19 in total ice time including 3:07 on the power play and 1:29 while shorthanded. He finished +1 with 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 7/15 on face-offs, 0 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 2 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 48% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Nicholas showed tonight that he is extremely dangerous in the offensive zone, playing with a great amount of power and strength, he is able to ward off defenders with his arm out, get low, and drive himself into scoring areas. Whether he is buzzing around the net for loose pucks, driving hard to the net or unleashing a wicked wrist shot from far out, he is focused on creating chances with his high tempo energy and willingness to play under pressure. At times, this motor only comes out when he has the puck and in his own end relies on his size and strength to break up plays. Smaller forwards and defenseman with quick feet took advantage a couple times beating him to small areas.
| Colby Saganiuk | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | C | 5’7″ | 154 | Erie Otters | 2020 | Plainfield, IL | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Saganiuk finished among Sioux City forwards with 13:46 in total ice time including 4:27 on the power play. He did not kill penalties. He finished +1 with 1 goal, 2 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 13/15 on face-offs, 0 hits, 2 giveaways, led all Sioux City forwards with 6 takeaways and for the season he is winning 46% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: When Saganiuk has the time and space, he isn’t afraid to take advantage of that, getting into position for a quick wrist shot or looking to set something up. He has great speed and edges to engage on the cycle, a couple times tonight he would extend his possession but turning back on a guy so fast that it was able to create a gap for himself. . He’s plenty smart enough in all three zones and could be used in a variety of roles. He showed his IQ by not holding on to the puck too long. Instead of wanting to create at a higher risk, he made small smart plays like getting it deep or dishing and changing.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images