Game played on 9/11/2024.
After trailing by a goal at the end of the first period, the Sioux City Musketeers showcased their resilience, battling back as the game progressed. They tied the game in the second period and followed up with two more unanswered goals in the third, securing a well-earned victory with a determined effort. This comeback performance highlighted their ability to respond under pressure and take control when it mattered most. Scout: Ben Marshall
Kash Crawford (D, R, 6’0″, 170, North Iowa Bulls, 03/10/2006)
Grade: B-
Comments: Crawford processes the game quickly and makes decisions quickly. On the power play his first two looks are pass and because of this, he misses shot opportunities but does move the puck well. He has good vision when passing the puck and leads teammates up ice on the rush. He did a good job tonight at getting back on pucks first with a shoulder check to scan the forecheck. He takes hit when he has to but looks to beat forecheckers with his feet. His smaller stature and quick feet help with this most of the time.
Hugo Daniel (F, L, 6’2″, 200, North Yarmouth Academy, 08/18/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Daniel opened the scoring and made the Lancers look like they were going to be off the a great night. The big forward showed a couple different traits during his goal that made him one of the better players on the night. He not only created the turnover with a relentless hunt, his first steps out of a stand still even with his larger size, were able to beat everyone to the net. He went forehand backhand in tight at the goalie and beat him easy over the glove. Daniel started and ended the play, he has a unique combination of being a big man that can play heavy, but also has the skill to keep pace with the smaller more agile players.
Luke Baker (D, R, 6’1″, 190, Omaha Lancers, 07/02/2005)
Grade: C+
Comments: Baker showed that he has the reliable stay at home defenseman style in his game, with good size and impressive strength. He demonstrates composure in the defensive zone, reading the play effectively and containing opponents with consistency. He excels in battles along the boards and uses his strong skating to maintain positioning. While his puck moving skills are limited, he is strong on the puck, has a powerful shot, and delivers a clean, accurate first pass to start the breakout. At times, can get a little hot headed and needs to control his where and when he wants to be effective physically.
Samuel Urban (G, L, 6’0″, 210, Sioux City Musketeers, 05/01/2005, Arizona State)
Grade: B
Comments: Urban was able to show tonight that he is an extremely calm net minder, generally playing deep in his crease and letting his size work for him. He did not see the most shots ever in a game but the ones he did face, he kept them relatively in front. He shows his calmness with the way he is able to play the puck, quickly and confidently. Was not afraid to move the puck right up or bypass defenders and look to his wings. Urban made a statement for himself early on in the season as the team looks to make a goalie number one decision.
Tate Pritchard (F, R, 6’1″, 187, Sioux City Musketeers, 11/19/2004, Minnesota State)
Grade: B
Comments: Pritchard was able to earn two assists tonight, with his head up and ability to scan, he moves the puck with pace and to the right player on the ice. His impact is most evident in transition, where he excels through intelligent activation and deception rather than sheer explosiveness with and without the puck. He uses his vision to deceive forecheckers, looking off opponents and passing through pressure to open up space up the ice. He also accelerates out of his passes to seamlessly join the rush, contributing effectively to the offensive transition game.
Giacomo Martino (LW, L, 5’10”, 181, Sioux City Musketeers, 04/29/2005, Northeastern)
Grade: B
Comments: Martino scored an impressive goal in tight. After he went low to high and beat his guy off the wall, he attacked the net and received his give and go pass at the top of the crease, where he made a forehand backhand move to beat the goalie. It was the dagger that put the Lancers in a shell for the last six minutes of the game. It was the other end of the ice that also made Martino a threat. He was able to show tonight that he can handle long shifts and tough defensive assignments without a problem. His strength and balance make it easy for him to play opponents tight, while his mobility helps him shut down passing lanes and take away space quickly.
Jackson Crowder (F, R, 6’2″, 166, Dallas Stars Elite U16, 04/26/2007, Ohio State)
Grade: B-
Comments: Crowder puts his great size to use and shows his offensive skills under pressure while also containing the opposition. He wants to get in the up in the play but Lacks top end speed and usually will not beat defenders on the rush wide. His game is small battles like when he held on the puck in the corner, with a scrum accumulating, found the open man in the slot. He can invite pressure and relieve it with a pass pretty effectively. Crowder is not afraid to throw down, as he showed tonight.
Anthony Allain-Samake (D, L, 6’0″, 165, Rockets Hockey Club, 09/10/2007, Connecticut)
Grade: B+
Comments: Allain-Samake is a mobile offensive defenseman. Scored a nice and important goal at the second period tying the game up. As he caught the puck in the high slot, without stickhandling it, he was able to beat the goalie clean over the glove from quite a distance. Allain-Samake was able to show tonight that he can spin off checks, cut to the inside, scan for cross ice passes, and even fake out oncoming pressure with deceptive shoulder and head fakes. He wants to rush the puck up the ice from his own end and has the ability but forced it a couple times tonight when a simple quick dish could have relieved the pressure.
Landen Gunderson (F, R, 6’0″, 190, Sioux City Musketeers, 11/28/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Gunderson is deceptive with his skating. He skates so smooth and is not afraid to travel around the perimeter of the offensive zone in order to create an opening. He showed this on a certain power play, the ability to travel distance in order to create holes in the defense. The moves he makes are intentional, either to get a better angle for a shot or to open up the defense for a seam cross ice. His ability to control the puck under pressure, makes him just as effective at setting up plays as he is at taking them himself, because he will. After a broken play, his initial steps to get back could improve and equal that of his steps to create offense.
Nikita Klepov (LW, L, 5’11”, 161, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/27/2008)
Grade: B
Comments: Klepov followed up a his own rebound for the go ahead and eventual game winner tonight. The smaller forward made a statement for himself tonight and was able to show the skill that he brings to the table. Klepov excels at breaking through defenses, maintaining puck control in traffic, and driving the net with possession. His movements reflect the poise of a skilled player, characterized by strong posture and elusive, deceptive maneuvers. He effectively baits defenders into attempting poke checks, using this to his advantage to freeze them and create additional space on the ice. He is smaller on the ice but use his speed to evade big blows.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images