Game played on 10/18/2024.
General Game Notes: The Lincoln Stars earned a three to zero victory over the Youngstown Phantoms in a well disciplined performance tonight. Lincolns defense was sharp, limiting the Phantoms chances, while their goaltender posted a shutout with important saves throughout the game. On offense, the Stars capitalized on their opportunities and their power plays with three different players finding the back of the net. Despite Youngstown’s efforts, they struggled to generate sustained pressure, allowing Lincoln to control the pace and secure the win. Scout: Ben Marshall
Yan Shostak (G, L, 6’0″, 185, Lincoln Stars, 03/30/2004, St. Cloud)
Grade: A-
Comments: Shotack did not see a lot of pucks tonight, but was in control when he did. His range of movement makes most saves look routine, with trouble arising only when quick adjustments open up his form and create holes through his body. He times the drop into his butterfly to coincide with the pucks arrival, swallowing up pucks and containing rebounds effectively. Shostack plays fairly deep in his crease, resulting in quick lateral movements over shorter distances. He approaches his posts with control, and displaying great patience and foot holding when the puck is in a more perimeter location. Shostack’s anticipation and patience allow him to remain in control and let shooters make the first move before reacting. Well deserved performance of the shut out tonight.
Caeden Herrington (D, R, 6’2″, 203, Lincoln Stars, 01/26/2006, Vermont)
Grade: B-
Comments: Herrington moves well. He rarely gets caught out of position, and his awareness in the defensive zone minimizes the chances for high-quality shots from opponents. Offensively, he showed the IQ of when to join the rush or support the play from the blue line. He takes a lot of shots some are heavy shots from the point, which he uses effectively on the power play and in low to high situations. He was not able to get on the scoresheet tonight but his ability to get pucks on net through traffic creates rebound opportunities for his teammates and was close at times to getting that assist from the blue line. His slap shot is a much greater point of focus for him when he has time and space. His mobility allows him to cover large areas of the ice quickly, making him effective in both defensive coverage and offensive transitions. He can get back on defense after a rush, or join in on the rush as needed because of his speed. Gets hit a lot.
Layne Loomer (RW, L, 5’11”, 187, Lincoln Stars, 07/17/2005, Penn State)
Grade: B+
Comments: Loomer finally gave the Stars some breathing room after holding a one to nothing lead until he as able to tally one with four minutes left in the game and on the power play. He saw the opportunity at the net after the goalie bobbled the puck, he was able to out muscle his way back door and bury home the loose puck. Loomer uses this ability to open up plays offensively and defensively, as his agility and quick strides give him the space he needs to see open lanes occupied by his teammates. When he chooses to be stationary and is backed up against the boards, his skating fails to let him evade the forecheck, he can get pinned quite easily and the puck can quickly get turned over. This happened when he decided to rely on others to move rather do what he was good at, for the most part, the whole night.
Alex Pelletier (LW, L, 5’10”, 189, Lincoln Stars, 06/01/2005, Cornell)
Grade: B+
Comments: After a pretty impressive give and go with the flanker on the wall, Pelletier took it amongst himself to skate the perimeter and find the opening which was about tops of the circles to take his chance. He beat the goalie showing power from his wrist shot from a distance. When Pelletier is at his best, he is constantly moving himself or the puck with purpose, leveraging the confusion caused by quick puck movement to slip into open space, set up a shot, or execute a give-and-go pass, like he did on his goal. His skating technique is sound, but he struggles to show the game-breaking speed in open ice. His style is shown better in small area situations. Pelletier constantly forces the opposing defense to react, keeping them on their heels and disrupting their structure.
Daniel Shlaine (C, L, 6’1″, 172, Lincoln Stars, 10/30/2005, Minnesota Duluth)
Grade: B
Comments: Not only can Shlaine get a tough pass in through coverage, but =by prioritizing quick puck movement, he showed that he can beat multiple players at once with a dish. He will bear down on draws helping him win the face off clean to create scoring chances in the offensive zone and break the puck out in the defensive zone. When he gets the puck it can be pretty difficult to strip it from him with skill alone. This ability to create offensive plays by finding open ice makes him a threat in every part of the ice. His willingness to pay the price at the net is another reason why he is able to create. He is not afraid to make some risky passes, most the time he showed the abilty to make the fancy play. At times tonight, the puck went the other way, if these do not happen, he could of had a couple points and may have been the best player on the ice.
Jack Pechar (RW, R, 6’1″, 197, Lincoln Stars, 03/20/2005, Northeastern)
Grade: B+
Comments: Pechar exhibits a wide array of offensive skills, he prefers to under handle the puck and make a quick pass to a teammate before darting into a soft spot on the ice, looking to open up a shooting lane or to set up a give and go passing play. He was able to show tonight his release is quick, and he has the ability to catch and shoot, fire the puck in stride, or release it off of a pivot. He can also incorporate a one-timer into his game, but that is still a work in progress from the looks at some shots. He starts his release from too far behind the puck, causing him to catch too much ice, giving the opposing goalie a split second longer to square himself to the puck.
Matthew Maltais (C, L, 6’2″, 183, Lincoln Stars, 09/02/2004, Nebraska Omaha)
Grade: A-
Comments: Maltais not only showed off his speed during his opening goal of the game but was able to bury in tight under pressure. As he blew pass the defender who bobbled the puck the point, he beat out some desperate opponents looking to take him down. He was able to show mobility and he looked like a nightmare to play against, especially in transition, where he does not hesitate to step up into middle ice. In the offensive zone, when working the puck around the perimeter, Maltais will make his move just as the opposition shifts their attention, ensuring that he is in the right place at the right time to capitalize on scoring opportunities. He is not the best in his own zone but even when he loses a puck battle by the boards, he usually stays between the attacker and the net showing off a reliable side to his game.
Luke Osburn (D, L, 6’1″, 172, Youngstown Phantoms, 09/09/2006, Wisconsin)
Grade: B-
Comments: Osburn is physically imposing and uses his body effectively in battles along the boards and in front of the net. He is not afraid to get physical, leveraging his size to outmuscle opponents and protect the puck. His strength and checking allow him to clear the crease and win puck battles, making him a reliable defender in his own end. While Osburn has shown promise offensively, his production in creating chances was inconsistent. He could benefit from improving his wrist shot and offensive vision, though has shown less willingness to prioritize this over defensive play. He wants to join the rush and did so tonight, but with opponents still behind him the puck not being one hundred percent out, he showed his risk. He has that shimmy to his game but needed to be pick better times to be effective tonight.
Louis Wehmann (C, L, 6’1″, 209, Youngstown Phantoms, 04/12/2006)
Grade: C+
Comments: Wehmann is a big boy, who wants to play hard. He showed that he has the ability to move given how big he is. He frequently uses dynamic crossover patterns to build momentum in transition, often attacking defenders at an angle rather than directly. This approach makes him more difficult to defend, as he leverages his skating ability in tandem with his puck handling to create offense. Finding a balance between being tough and discipline will be key to avoiding trips to the box, especially in situations late in the game. He has the ability to be a dynamic power forward, but needs to keep it clean as it not only cost him but maybe his team the game tonight.
Ryan Rucinski (C, R, 5’10”, 167, Youngstown Phantoms, 12/01/2006, Ohio State)
Grade: B-
Comments: Rucinksi was able to show his ability to maintain control of the puck at top speed while navigating around defenders that highlights his dynamic offensive capabilities. At times he got stuck on walls, where his use of his outside edges to cut back when a defender is pressuring him in the offensive zone can make it easier to play off a guy. Incorporating more cutbacks into his game would allow Rucinkski to create additional space for himself, especially on the rush. You can tell he has some flash to his game though, his strategic off puck movement and his ability to read the game did make him a consistent scoring threat, he slips in and out of coverage to position himself as a scoring threat off the puck. At times his routes to the net, exploited moments when the opposition has momentarily lost track of him.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images