General Game Notes: Sioux City Musketeers vs the Omaha Lancers. USHL action in Omaha on November 9th, 2023. Unfortunately for the Lancers, the home crowd couldn’t give them the push they needed as Sioux City won the game in commanding fashion by a score of 4-1.
| Samo Meritahti | Omaha Lancers | USHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 192 | Providence | 2024 | Seinajoki, FIN | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Meritahti is a smooth skating defenseman who is able to play at both ends of the ice. Defensively, he uses his size and skill to kill plays and move the puck up the ice. Has a good hockey IQ and makes plays according to the pressure he receives. He lets his skating do most of the work as he’s able to carry pucks out of harms way and start the transition play quickly. Scored the first and only goal of the game for the Lancers by breaking up a play in the defensive zone, catching a defender pinching. He then carried the puck end to end, looked pass the entire time and with the flick of a wrist, put a bullet of a shot upstairs, beating the goaltender clean. His 2-way abilities allow him to read plays accordingly and play offense because of it.
| Ethan Fredericks | Omaha Lancers | USHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 208 | Northeastern | 2024 | Sandy Springs, GA | 2004 | 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Fredericks is a hard-nosed, 2-way type player. Moves his feet to hunt down pucks in the offensive zone and pressure the puck carrier. Is relentless in the process and will hack and whack if necessary to get the puck back. Regardless of the zone, Fredericks has this mind-set as he will hunt pucks back into his own zone as well. Commits to playing the right way as he stops on loose pucks, finishes his checks and will block shots.
| Aleksi Kivioja | Omaha Lancers | USHL | R | LW | 6’5″ | 205 | Providence | 2024 | Helsinki, FIN | 2003 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Kivioja is a power-forward who plays an honest, 2-way game. Commits to both sides of the puck as he stops in the defensive zone and allows his bigger frame to fill shot lanes. Offensively, does his best to get to the hard areas of the ice and uses his size to get there.
| Noah Jones | Omaha Lancers | USHL | R | D | 6’4″ | 212 | Bridgewater, NJ | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Jones is a towering right-shot defenseman who makes a clean first pass. Did a good job in his own end by retrieving pucks and zipping passes up the ice. He would do so by having his head up, moving his feet and hands in proper passing positions. Owns a long reach and can push pucks out in front of him, which makes it hard for his opponents to knock the puck loose from him. Additionally – didn’t quit on pucks regardless if he was to bobble or make a mistake. Uses his frame to guard / protect it and showed off a nice set of hands if necessary to maintain possession and not lose control of it.
| Liam Hupka | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 181 | Minnesota State | 2024 | Eden Prarie, MN | 2005 | 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Hupka is a big defender who clears out the net-front and gets pucks out of harms way. Effective on the PK by being a big body, blocking shots, and making simple/hard plays.
| Finn Loftus | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 187 | UMass Amherst | 2025 | Blaine, MN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Loftus shows a lot of confidence, especially on the offensive blue line. He was able to corral pucks, open his hips to buy space with the puck, and eventually either shoot it or make passes to open teammates. Loftus wasn’t afraid to make mistakes with the puck which showed his confidence, but it also led to more puck possession / scoring chances. Displayed his hockey IQ in all three zones by having his head up, surveying the ice and making the right play according to the pressure he received. Zipped quick, hard passes and moved his feet to join the rush to be the second wave of offense.
| Colin Kessler | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 184 | Vermont | 2024 | Anchorage, AK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Kessler is a speedy winger who likes to use his speed and attack off the rush. Showed some patience with the puck, which translated to some high end opportunities. Had an opportunity in the 2nd period where he caught a puck in the middle of the ice (in the OZ), pump faked his opponent, stopped on a dime, held onto the puck and wrung a shot off the crossbar. This sequence was a great example of his skill, patience, and IQ.
| Kaden Shahan | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 172 | Connecticut | 2024 | Everett, WA | 2005 | 2023-2024: C2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Shahan was able to find loose pucks in the slot and get pucks towards the net quickly. Seemed to slip into the soft spots around the net where he could find some space, pop away from defenders and get shots on net.
| Giacomo Martino | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 181 | Northeastern | 2024 | Toronto, ON | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Martino did a good job at maintaining puck possession and not throwing pucks away blindly. He was able to collect pucks, hold onto them, drag opponents towards him and distribute to his teammates (who have more time and space). Was always moving with or without the puck in the offensive zone, which made him hard to defend against.
| Joseph Mense | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 222 | Port Jefferson, NY | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Mense is a right-shot defenseman who is strong on pucks and doesn’t shy away from the physical play. Not the fastest feet, but plays his angles accordingly and will pinch off his opponents along the walls to kill the play. Leads with his stick first and body second, breaking up 50/50 pucks. Was able to get some shots through from the point, but his physicality in the d-zone is what made him most effective.
| Dylan Godbout | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | RW | 5’11” | 194 | Ohio State | 2024 | Woodbury, MN | 2004 | 2023-2024: C2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Godbout scored the fourth goal of the game by popping into the high slot area and one-timing a snap shot top shelf. The goal itself displayed what he did all game – continually found space in the high slot area and ripped shots on net. Owns good offensive instincts as he knows where to go in the offensive zone, whether that be in the high slot, or net front area. A true duel threat as he can pass the puck, but also shoot it, making it hard to defend/contain him in the OZ.
| Sam Court | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | D | 5’10” | 180 | Arizona State | 2024 | Winnipeg, MB | 2004 | 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Court is a right shot, 2-way defenseman. Broke up plays in his own end by hitting and sticking his pins along the walls, particularly below the goal-line. Not the biggest defender, but keeps his feet moving to shadow his opponents and break up plays with an active stick. If he or his team can control the puck, he immediately moves his feet with the purpose of joining the rush. Looks to play offense when given the chance, keeps his head up and hands ready to catch and release pucks (especially off the rush).
| Colby Saganiuk | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | R | C | 5’7″ | 151 | Erie Otters | 2020 | Plainfield, IL | 2003 | 2020-2021: C+ |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Saganiuk is a smaller forward who keeps his feet moving and doesn’t shy away from the hard areas. Will go to the net with a purpose, beat his opponent there and be ready for whatever comes his way. For example, in the 2nd period, scored the eventual GWG by beating his man to the net, the puck bounced off the goaltender, hit him in the chest and went in the net. For an under-sized forward he kept his feet moving and did whatever it took to win puck battles and get to the hard areas of the ice.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images