Game played 12/31/2024.
General Game Notes: This game not only needed extra minutes but half the team in the shootout as well. Middle of the third period, down two goals, the Musketeers were able to get two back to back within minutes of each other to tie the game. Force decided to stabilize after that where they were able to find the extra points in the shootout.
Jordan Ronn (C, L, 5’10”, 175, Fargo Force, 06/09/2005, Minnesota State)
Grade: B+
Comments: Ronn scored the winner in the shootout with a nice little at the goalies feet. He was able to show off his hands and ability to close with a twirl around the puck that got the goalie to bite, then a forehand backhand pulled the goalie to one side while he finished on the other. Throughout the game Ronn, likes to dance with the puck a little extra, sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes not. His quick stick handling in tight one on one usually leaves the defender swinging or reaching, while these types of moves do not work as well at the blue line, and causes the puck to go the other way and Ronn finds himself chasing.
Gavin Kor (C, R, 5’7″, 170, Fargo Force, 03/22/2007)
Grade: B+
Comments: Kor is on the smaller side for his position but this does not stop him from being at the net front. Scored a nice goal to open the scoring for his squad. His game is all about how quick he is, on his goal he first got the puck at the blue line where he made a smart chip into the zone and avoided contact that could have eliminated him from the play. From a dead stop, he got right back into the play, drifted to the slot where he was able to band home an open one timer. He is small yes, but he moves so well out there that he makes it difficult to make contact on him. Of course, it is inevitable that he gets it, and when he does, he does his best to use his feet to get out of the situation and back into the play to keep the puck going north.
Ryan Zaremba (C, L, 5’9″, 180, Fargo Force, 03/30/2006, Minnesota State)
Grade: B
Comments: Zaremba has an accurate wrist shot and heavy slap shot. He was able to show tonight that he is a prominent shooter and is always looking to get pucks on net quickly, aiding in his ability to generate rebounds. He uses his good shooting ability in power plays, especially along the half wall from the left side. He can shoot from blue line, acute angles or parked at the net waiting for rebounds or a tip-in. He likes to be around the net and does a good job at not second guessing his move. When he sees a play at the net whether that means skating in it or getting something on net, he takes it.
Reid Daavettila (C, R, 6’2″, 202, Fargo Force, 05/04/2005, Michigan Tech)
Grade: A-
Comments: With two goals on the night, Daavettila was an offensive catalyst for the Force. Scored a nice goal unassisted showing off his strength on the puck and driving the net hard. As he flew down the side, he dipped his shoulder and drove right to the net, not worried about contact or where the goalie was positioned. Got a little bit of a lucky bounce at the net but it was the play itself that stood out. He plays like this in other areas of the ice as well, using his size and determination to create space that may not look like it is there at first glance. Daavettila does a good job at playing a puck protection game and showed tonight that it can be difficult to take the puck from him when he has it in his pocket.
Pavel Prusek (D, L, 5’11”, 175, Fargo Force, 02/06/2006)
Grade: B-
Comments: Prusek is a mobile defenseman north and south. Adding more deception and versatility east west will do him good. It seems as if he is trying to simplify his game. It is noticeable, especially in offensive zone. He wants to move but choses to dump pucks back in corner after receiving them on the blue line with time and space. In two different plays tonight, he walked the blue line, created a lane for himself, and found a shot on net. Another time he stayed stationary in the corner of the zone with space to get lateral and chose to wrap it back around the wall. A safe play no doubt, but he needs to show off his skating when the space presents itself.
Elias Zimmerman (C, L, 6’6″, 218, Fargo Force, 08/08/2005, UMass Amherst)
Grade: B
Comments: Zimmerman is a big body who knows how to use his size to his advantage. He sticks his butt out along the wall and in front of the net making himself hard to play against. He often carries the puck through the middle ice lane and more often than not will find an entry pass and follow the play up. He should make more effort to create danger chances by himself. He has a great combination of being huge and has the stick handling skill to draw guys in and make plays around them. With his size, more net drives and cutting to the middle can be so beneficial to his game. He tends to favor being a peripheral option too often.
Trey Jefferis (LW, L, 5’10”, 192, Sioux City Musketeers, 07/29/2005, Sacred Heart)
Grade: B+
Comments: Jefferis was one of the better players tonight for the Musketeers. He is a waterbug on the ice and his motor never seems to stop running. He is smaller in stature but the way he gets low and creates a sound base makes it harder for larger opponents to knock him off the puck. This was shown quite clearly with an offensive chance tonight, driving the net hard, embracing for contact, and still find a way to reach the far side of the net and almost sneaking it past the goalie. He makes smart 200ft decisions, showing that he is not lazy in his back checking but he typically stays higher in the defensive zone to support his defensemen as an exit support and to cover the slot areas.
Luke Garry (C, L, 5’11”, 165, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/07/2005, St. Thomas)
Grade: B+
Comments: Garry scored a nice goal tonight in the third period that started somewhat of a push for his team. After a flurry of shots, Garry found himself back door with a rebound that landed right on his stick, he was able to bury this home and put his team within one. Offensivly he was fine tonight, nothing crazy but something that was noticable was his shot selection. Shooting from distance is a regular occurrence for him. Therefore sometimes it seems like he is lacking of vision of where the open space is and panic shoots to get something on net. Multiple times tonight he had space to walk downhill and put a quality chance at the cage.
Kason Muscutt (RW, L, 5’11”, 170, Sioux City Musketeers, 02/03/2005, Maine)
Grade: B
Comments: Muscott scored a nice shorthanded goal following up a chance from his teammate and buried home a rebound goal that was crucial in timing. He was able to tie the game up with his goal late in the third period. Muscott was put into more of a role player tonight and excelled in this category. He was able to show tonight that he does lot of aggressive fore checking and he can develop great amount of pressure being on top of his opponents. His style of play and his resilience can be very unpleasant for his opponents, which was a huge reason for his goal tonight. His constant pursuit of the puck catches opponent puck carriers off guard.
Giacomo Martino (LW, L, 5’11”, 186, Sioux City Musketeers, 04/29/2005, Northeastern)
Grade: B+
Comments: Martino was able to get on the scoresheet tonight but his defensive game was where he made a real difference. He makes very smart decisions when it comes to his defensive play. He uses his hockey senses to read the play and disrupt an opponnents, he is on time with his takeaway execution. Although it is apparent on both ends of the ice, his high level intelligence and vision really shines through in the defensive aspects of the game. Martino processes the game quickly and reads an opponents next move in time to disrupt any sort of high quality execution. Not the most offensively flashy forward, anything Martino may lack in that area, is easily compensated with the way he is able to create turnovers and transition hockey the other way.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images