Game played on April 29, 2024
General Game Notes: This was a closer game than the score. Tied game going into the third period where the Musketeers were able to find a way to break the tie ten minutes into the period. One goal game with minutes left, Force took the risk to pull their goalie two times where Sioux City was able to capitalize.
Hampton Slukynsky (G, L, 6’2″, 189, Fargo Force, 07/02/2005, Northern Michigan)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Slukynsky takes away big portions of the net very well. He stands out due to his hockey sense and athleticism, and he is really hard to beat with a clean shot. He also has very good puck-handling skills behind the net and he is not afraid to use the lanes given to him to make passes. He challenges shooters early, and does a good job recognizing numbers in his favor on rushes where he can stay back in the net more.
Michael Neumeier (D, L, 6’2″, 202, Fargo Force, 02/27/2003, Colgate)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Neumeier did a good job at finding lanes tonight, both shot and passing lanes. He hesitates just enough to force the defender to back off, quite deceptive a couple of the times. Some aspects he could improve on are being able to close the rush down at the blue, too many times he would sag back into his zone and let the oncoming rush enter without pressure.
Michael La Starza (LW, L, 5’11”, 190, Fargo Force, 01/14/2004, Vermont)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: La Starza showed tonight that he can shield the puck on the walls with a combination of edge and stick handling work and slip the puck through defenders to teammates in the middle of the offensive zone before repositioning to support the next play. This is his skill on display but his work ethic does not go unnoticed, he hunts the puck hard.
Jake Fisher (C, L, 6’2″, 192, Fargo Force, 03/27/2005, Denver)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Fisher has really good vision and the way that he sees plays developing allows him to create in the offensive zone. He pre scans before scooping a loose puck and finds his target in the slot. Or he sees a cross-seam pass between the goalie and defender and executes so his teammate has time and space.
Samuel Urban (G, L, 6’0″, 210, Sioux City Musketeers, 05/01/2005, Arizona State)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: His game has the control and movement that does not allow a lot of rebounds. His skating and speed are above average, he reads the game well, and has active hands that he is not afraid to use. Urban showed a good ability to play the puck, making breakout passes to wingers and defenseman.
Ty Hanson (D, R, 5’9″, 182, Sioux City Musketeers, 04/21/2005, Minnesota Duluth)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Hanson can flash some skill in transition, mostly by maneuvering around pressure, using his body to swoop to the middle before making an outlet pass or having enough patience to wait for an opening in the middle. Multiple times tonight he would hold on to the puck in the neutral zone, controlling the flow of the play and find a guy up the middle or stretching for an odd man rush.
Liam Hupka (D, R, 6’3″, 181, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/25/2005, Minnesota State)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Hupka is at his best on retrievals and when he gets to maneuver in his own end against pressure. Gets involved offensively in the way of rush activations and supporting the play as the trailer. He has a longer stride than most and uses it to be first on pucks. He uses his size to protect space, and last second on retrievals, will uses his strength to box out the forward.
Finn Loftus (D, L, 5’11”, 187, Sioux City Musketeers, 02/12/2004, UMass Amherst)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: There is so much more to Loftus’s game offensively than his ability to shoot the puck. A big part of his success comes from his abilities as a distributor. He makes good calls on when to join the rush or play with a more passive posture. He maintains a high work rate, with active feet and smart skating patterns, ensuring he is always open to receive a passes in a stance that allows him to create a scoring chance.
Colin Kessler (LW, L, 6’0″, 184, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/01/2004, Vermont)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Kessler pushes the pace using his skating and heads up passing ability. He was able to show tonight that he can control the neutral zone defense with a couple shoulder fakes looking one way and passing or skating the other. The rush aspect to his game is how he was able to stand out and create so much tonight. Like to see him attack the net sometimes rather than pull up and look pass most of the time.
Hagen Burrows (C, R, 6’2″, 174, Sioux City Musketeers, 10/13/2005, Denver)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Burrows does a good job at advancing the puck. Whether that is with his feet, or head up and beating multiple players with a pass, the puck gets north when he touches it. Made a couple raw mistakes looking to create, has a little risk to his game but talents is clearly there with how well he moves with the puck. He has a big frame that has yet to fill out where he can add size and strength to his game.
Kaden Shahan (RW, R, 5’11”, 168, Sioux City Musketeers, 05/24/2005, Connecticut)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Shahan will attack the net when the defense are least expecting it. Agile and deceptive, he can turn on a dime and contort his body to shift around opponents off the rush. He moves and passes with purpose as he draws defenders to him with lateral cuts and then drops the puck to teammates inside space. On top of his rush skills, he also possesses small area abilities like playing under contact.
Giacomo Martino (LW, L, 5’10”, 181, Sioux City Musketeers, 04/29/2005, Northeastern)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Martino supported the puck really well and was impactful on the forecheck. He was physically engaged and used his body to protect the puck on a few occasions. He showed that he is hard on the puck. He likes to get to the front of the net regularly and is hard to knock from his spot with his sturdy lower base.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Ben Marshall