Played on March 6. 2024
General Game Notes: This was a dominating win for the Capitols, in a game where they were losing two to one after the first period. They held strong defensively limiting the Gamblers to twenty eight shots on the night, a big reason why they were able to have such deciding victory.
Benjamin Poitras (C, R, 5’11”, 181, Green Bay Gamblers, 07/18/2005, Northeastern)
Game Grade: B+
Poitras is effective when he pre-scans for options, then quickly moves the puck to the inside. He is generally in supporting position and transitions into shooting quickly. He has a consistent motor and shows constant pressure and scanning that physicality made him an effective play-killer throughout the game tonight. Not the teams best effort but he was involved defensively best he could.
Geno Carcone (LW, L, 5’9″, 187, Green Bay Gamblers, 11/14/2006)
Game Grade: B
Carcone takes every opportunity to make contact, big or small, and looks to win body positioning in every situation. Beyond hits and back checks, there is a subtle skill to his game. He ties up opponents around his own net, then sets picks to create a seamless breakout. As he skates up the ice, he starts passing plays and takes defenders sticks along the way, creating space for his teammates.
Tanner Bruender (C, L, 6’0″, 180, Green Bay Gamblers, 12/09/2005, Northern Michigan)
Game Grade: B-
Bruender plays a power forward style. Has a big body and is good along the boards, and can win puck battles. He owns a hard shot, but needs time and space to step into it. Combined his fine hockey sense, puck handling and shooting with an aggressive, in-your-face, type of game, he makes himself hard to play against. He competes hard and is very difficult to play against in small areas.
Charlie Michaud (D, L, 5’11”, 183, Madison Capitols, 08/12/2006, Miami (Ohio))
Game Grade: B+
Defensively, Michaud stood players up at the blue line and made good plays with his stick to take away space. On the breakout, he relies on his partner to make the outlet pass. His default is to draw the forecheckers to him, move it to his partner, and allow his partner to make the decision where he can then join the play. Solid mobility on the blue line, usually showing a quick pump fake then shot to create lanes.
Rainers Rullers (C, L, 6’4″, 176, Madison Capitols, 12/11/2004)
Game Grade: A-
With a quick series of shoulder-checks before touching the puck, Ruller does a good job at mapping out his options and threats, then establishes body positioning with his oversized frame. He is rarely stationary, consistently finishing his off puck routes, playing between checks, and using subtle bumps and stick lifts to keep passing lanes open. He created chaos in front of the net, a big part to his game.
Sam Rice (C, R, 5’7″, 162, Madison Capitols, 12/31/2003, Minnesota State)
Game Grade: A-
There’s no doubting Rice’s motor. He is invested in every second of every shift, demonstrated by his proactive positioning away from the puck and overwhelming pressure in pursuit. The combination of intelligence and motor drives much of his offense value where he is able to show that he is a retrieval creator. Always scanning to map out the ice, the second he forces a turnover, he already knows the next play to further the offense.
Aiden Long (LW, L, 6’2″, 200, Madison Capitols, 03/13/2005, Cornell)
Game Grade: B+
Long is another Capitol big body who skates into pressure to compress the opposition and has the good sense to either quickly dispatch of the puck to a teammate in space or processes his way through it one defender at a time. He is at his best carrying the puck on the perimeter, scanning the defense, waiting for a passing opportunity to open up. He is able to play close to defenders with his size giving him more time to make plays.
James Hong (C, L, 5’9″, 168, Madison Capitols, 11/22/2004, Minnesota State)
Game Grade: A
Hong pushes pucks through and around defenders faster than they can react. Shoulder shakes and head fakes set up his best moves, making the defender freeze before he attacks his desired space. He can instantly turns passes into dekes and curl-and-drag wrist shots. He elevates the top arm, narrows his stance, and drives his entire body weight through the shot ‘ pucks explode off his stick.
Austin Burnevik (F, L, 6’4″, 197, Madison Capitols, 01/03/2005, St. Cloud)
Game Grade: A-
Burnevik is a naturally gifted skater who moves around the ice with ease. Excels in pressure situations and uses his vision to predict where the puck is going to be, and proactively gets his body into a position where he can either take it away or take off up the ice. Offensively, he has a very creative streak, and knows what kinds of plays he can make under pressure.
Brendan Lamb (C, R, 5’11”, 177, Madison Capitols, 05/14/2004, Penn State)
Game Grade: B
Lamb did a good job at taking care of the puck, he can distribute through layers in the neutral zone, and is not afraid to use the centre of the ice, and just displays a high level of competence with the puck on his stick. Lamb smartly scans the ice with shoulder checks as he skates to collect the puck, then smartly and decisively acts in a way that quickly moves play in the other direction.
Nathan Tobey (D, R, 6’0″, 170, Madison Capitols, 01/02/2005, Quinnipiac)
Game Grade: B+
Defensively, he makes good decisions quickly and consistently, never looking out of place when pitted up against the other team’s top players. He pressures the opposition and limits options, never getting in the way of his goalie. He moves through his pass receptions with his head up. He plays off the opponent’s momentum, attacking space on their heels. This type of explosiveness in his game is usually shown in his own end looking to break pucks out.
Colton Jamieson (D, L, 6’0″, 199, Madison Capitols, 11/28/2004, St. Thomas)
Game Grade: B+
Jameison keeps a tight neutral zone gap, has well-timed physicality, and supporting instincts to match. He maneuvers with the puck kept in his hip pocket, with his top hand in control, free from his body. With a smooth and gracious skating stride scaffolded on top of those mechanical handling skills. His game usually is displayed in his own end but with two points on the night, was able to show an offensive side.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Ben Marshall