February 24, 2024
General Game Notes: USHL action between the Fargo Force and the Sioux City Musketeers on February 24, 2024. Plain and simple. It was a goaltending battle that saw both goalies, Anton Castro #31 and Samuel Urban #31 do their best to keep a perfect game in tact. Fortunately for the Force, they were able to solve Urban once in the second period, which ultimately held up as the game winning goal, securing a 1-0 victory.
Anton Castro (G, L, 6’1″, 181, Fargo Force, 01/23/2003, Wisconsin)
Game Grade: A
Comments: Castro is a technical goaltender who plays his system and doesn’t stray away from it. He rarely comes outside the blue paint, but understands when to be more aggressive. He reads the play superbly, understanding where the shooter is and who the shooter has to pass too. His lateral movement is strong as he doesn’t over-challenge, allowing him to move well side to side, making him available for cross ice passes. He owns good rebound control, being set and square to shooters allowing him to swallow up anything that comes his way. If there are rebounds, he doesn’t panic, yet stays calm and compact, making it look easy at times.
Leo Gruba (D, R, 6’1″, 209, Fargo Force, 12/14/2003, Minnesota)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Gruba brings an offensive element to the back-end. He does so by jumping into the rush as the second wave of offense, demanding the puck and attacking the net. He owns a heavy shot and seems to find ways to get it off with a quick release, and power behind it. He is effective on the PP, as he mans the top of the unit, shifting out towards the dot-lanes letting one-timers go that create chances in the net front area. He has good stick-handling abilities that aid his passing and puck control.
Lee Parks (RW, R, 6’2″, 219, Fargo Force, 10/16/2004, UMass Lowell)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Parks created offense by being physical, winning puck battles and getting to the hard areas of the ice. His speed, along with his size makes him hard to defend against as he pushes the pace in all facets of the game, and can challenge his opponents in 1 on 1 situations. At times, showed signs of ‘tunnel vision’ as he was so hungry to get pucks to the net, but by getting there he consistently created offense with shots, jams, and second chance opportunities.
Peter Cisar (LW, L, 6’0″, 183, Fargo Force, 03/30/2005, Maine)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Cisar was hard on pucks and made simple, hard plays that were effective. For example, in the OZ, he retrieved pucks below the goal-line and made hard plays low to high that found his defenseman up top for point shots. In the process, he would get to the net and act as a screen / tip option. He was strong on his skates, not getting knocked off pucks easily, allowing him to control it, make his plays and either attack the net, or be a presence there.
Harper Bentz (RW, R, 6’0″, 176, Fargo Force, 11/29/2004, Minnesota Duluth)
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Bentz scored the GWG by going hard to the net with his stick on the ice. He was rewarded by moving his feet, beating his opponent to the net-front area and tapping home a beautiful pass to give his team the 1-0 lead (ultimately the final score). Despite the goal, it was evident Bentz did what he could do get ‘inside’ the game, always moving his feet and willing his way to the hard areas.
Iiro Hakkarainen (LW, L, 6’0″, 171, Fargo Force, 03/09/2004, Western Michigan)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Hakkarainen plays well at both ends of the rink. In the offensive zone he creates cycle plays with his line-mates and acts a responsible F3 if his defenseman are pinching. He can control the play by holding onto pucks and making simple, hard plays. He back-checks with a purpose and hunts down pucks all the way into his own end, turning pucks over, and creating transition the other way. He plays hard along the walls, regardless what zone he is in, being strong on his stick and winning many loose puck battles.
Brandon Svoboda (C, R, 6’3″, 208, Fargo Force, 02/04/2005, Boston University)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Svoboda is a power-forward who owns the puck along the walls. At times, he isn’t flashy, but certainly is effective. He wins a lot of loose pucks by getting to them first, shielding off opponents with his body, and making whatever play maintains puck possession. He is effective on the PP solely off his puck retrievals. He collected pucks that came off the goaltender and into the corners by using his size as an advantage and not panicking despite receiving pressure. He wasn’t afraid to get his nose dirty in the net-front area doing what he could to jam pucks there and act as a big, intimidating presence.
Mac Swanson (C, L, 5’8″, 167, Fargo Force, 01/10/2006, North Dakota)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Swanson is a smaller forward who shows great vision in all three zones. He is the type of player who surveys the ice before making plays, limiting turnovers and blind plays. From the OZ blue line down, he corrals pucks and finds his teammates in scoring positions by having his head up and hands in shooting/passing positions, eluding his opponents often with no look plays or head-fakes.
Samuel Urban (G, L, 6’0″, 210, Sioux City Musketeers, 05/01/2005, Arizona State)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Urban was excellent and gave his team a chance to win. He battles hard and fights to make those second chance opportunities. He is quick down low, and once in the butterfly moves well laterally to seal the ice and make rebound saves. His skating ability is his strength as he finds pucks first with his eyes, which then allows him to be square with his quick feet. Whether it’s on his feet or knees, he moves quickly, making him readily available for any shots coming his way.
Ty Hanson (D, R, 5’9″, 182, Sioux City Musketeers, 04/21/2005, Minnesota Duluth)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Hanson QB’s the PP by controlling pucks and dictating the offense. One of those rare players that can truly orchestrate a power-play and he does so with his poise, decisiveness and skill. For example, if the set breakout isn’t there, he can carry pucks into the OZ himself, set it up and start the attack. He holds onto pucks, drags defenders towards him and finds passing lanes to his teammates in scoring positions. He is a duel-threat making him hard to defend against because his ability to pass, but also shoot when he has the lanes. Aside from the PP, he plays hard in the defensive zone, ending plays with an active stick and moving pucks up the ice. He fills spots in the offensive zone, looking to catch and release pucks on net when given the opportunity.
Liam Hupka (D, R, 6’3″, 181, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/25/2005, Minnesota State)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Hupka brings a physical element to the game by shutting down his opponents in all three zones. He isn’t afraid to step up and time his hits accordingly letting his big frame do the work. He owned a good gap and made forwards think twice before putting it into his corner as he always let his presence be felt. Additionally, as a bigger body he filled shot lanes and blocked shots that came his way. He was strong along the walls and in the net-front area.
Justin Stupka (C, R, 6’2″, 207, Sioux City Musketeers, 03/01/2005, Miami (Ohio))
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Stupka is a 2-way center who was good on draws and effective on the penalty kill. Lagged pucks into his opponents zone and when he saw opportunities to strike on the kill, he would. He moved his feet to pressure the other teams power-play, having that water-bug mentality, and reading plays to break them up.
Makaio VanTassel (LW, L, 5’8″, 159, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/23/2006)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Van Tassel pushes the pace with his speed and shiftiness. He is hard to defend against as he challenges his opponents in 1 on 1 situations, and can push pucks by them, and collect them because of his gathered speed. His intent is to cut to the middle and create offense, particularly off the rush, but at times he turned pucks over by trying to make the extra move. Was most effective when he drove wide, cut to the middle (without an extra move) and attacked the net.
Colin Kessler (LW, L, 6’0″, 184, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/01/2004, Vermont)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Kessler created a lot of offense with his speed and hunger for pucks. He was able to penetrate the offensive zone by moving his feet, holding onto pucks and either attacking the net, or finding his teammates (low to high passes). His quick feet allowed him to get back on pucks as well, which in turn created turnovers and started transition towards the offensive zone for himself and his line-mates. His ability to jam pucks to the net, or tight turn in the net-front area was effective as he got inside the game and was able to get second chance opportunities.
Kaden Shahan (RW, R, 5’11”, 168, Sioux City Musketeers, 05/24/2005, Connecticut)
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Shahan puts himself in scoring areas by going unnoticed in the honey hole/slot areas. He finds the space and can one-time pucks with a quick release or catch and shoot. Had some great scoring opportunities, but was unable to bury his chances, particularly on the PP
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images