Game played at 11/29/2024.
General Game Notes: This game needed a shootout to decide the winner tonight, where Sioux Falls was able to take the win scoring in both attempts only needing two shooters. Defensive play was on tonight from both teams in this low scoring game with no power play goals and strong goaltending.
Justin Stupka (C, R, 6’2″, 207, Sioux City Musketeers, 03/01/2005, Miami (Ohio))
Grade: A-
Comments: Stupka provides a power game, that has some skill to it and showed this on his goal tonight. Scored a nice goal providing a cycle in the offensive zone and while he was being covered, in order to get lost, he drifted backwards when his opponents took his eyes off him and decided to puck watch for one second. This provided the perfect timing to not only be in the slot ready for a pass, but his original opponent looking to cover him was just close enough to provide a little screen on the shot. This goal was a lot of IQ showing that he understands where to be for offense. This little sample size showed his two way game as well, he was still above the entire opposing team, so in the case that there was a turnover, Stupka was ready to provide numbers on the back check.
Gavin Garry (D, L, 6’2″, 185, Sioux City Musketeers, 06/07/2005, St. Thomas)
Grade: B-
Comments: Garry did a good job at protecting the puck below the goal line tonight. Anytime a player would charge at him, he would lower his shoulder, spin his body, and extend his possession allowing other plays to open up. In the offensive zone, he will often lay his stick around but does not really put the pressure he is supposed to. He really needs to work on exerting his energy in all aspects of the forecheck. On the other hand, he will use his judgement and make the extra effort of skating down the ice to help on the back check when needed. His compete level is definitely there when he wants it to be.
Easton Hewson (D, L, 6’4″, 220, Sioux City Musketeers, 07/08/2005, Minnesota State)
Grade: B+
Comments: Hewson is a large defender whose game is at his best in his own end but can extend to the offensive zone. Scored a nice goal tonight finding a way to get his shot through. His game really excels in his own end where he can show off his strength and willingness to close and move opponents out shot lanes. Where he surprises is his ability to maintain gaps off the rush, his size implies that he might have slow feet but he does a good job at maintaining speed amongst the smaller players. He also is not going to be relied on to skate the puck up the ice himself. He is certainly capable of doing it when he has the space, but he does not have the first couple steps to explode out of pressure.
Landen Gunderson (C, R, 6’0″, 190, Sioux City Musketeers, 11/28/2004, Notre Dame)
Grade: B-
Comments: Gunderson has all the tools to be a complete player. He battles in his own end, works hard to get to the other, and has the skill to create that type of transition on his own. Not his best game tonight, but he makes himself noticeable with the small area plays that he is able to make. One part of his game that shines regardless of how he is doing productively, is his engine. He can get quick bursts of speed going, and loves to get around the defenders and being the first one to reach loose pucks. At times, this can be a small detail in a game, but when he makes defenders consistently go back for pucks and race him, it wears on them through out sixty minutes.
Ryan Manzella (G, L, 6’0″, 176, Sioux Falls Stampede, 03/17/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Manzella showed his athleticism on a lot of shots tonight. The speed he was able to show during a fury of shots was a reason why he was able to stay square to the puck. He moves laterally so well that his chest is the part of his body that is usually stopping pucks, and this is not because the opposing shots are inaccurate, it is because he can slide over and get to a spot of the crease that covers a lot of net. He did only see twenty four shots tonight but the shots he did see, he smothered for the most part or at least batted away into the corners or glass. Not too many times tonight did a shot happen, and something was left in front for the other team to try and get a stick on.
Tai York (LW, L, 6’0″, 180, Sioux Falls Stampede, 06/18/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Tai scored a nice goal getting on his horse and creating a turnover in the neutral zone. After his teammate went in on a mini breakaway, York was there to get a deceptive back door pass for an empty net, but this goal was created due to Yorks with ethic in the middle of the ice. The big man can move and once he hits top speed, he combines his size and speed to make himself difficult to play against. Characteristics that he uses throughout his game that were shown on his goal, are his ability to read plays and his jump with and without the puck. His awareness and jump were shown both on attacking the net on what looked like a breakaway, his ability to attack the net and how hard he did due to his feet is why this goal was one of the better goals scored throughout the night.
Austin Baker (LW, L, 6’0″, 192, Sioux Falls Stampede, 02/12/2006, Michigan State)
Grade: B
Comments: Baker did a good job tonight using his size, he is not the biggest on the ice, but he has the size to make his game powerful and a difference against smaller more mobile defenseman. He was fast off the rush but too many times he tends to repeat the same move where he pushes the puck behind the defenseman with one hand and tries to get around him. It barely worked one time but insisted on to try it again. His best hockey is when he plays it simple uses his feet to take defenseman wide to make them skate, lower a shoulder, and get to the net. He had a great couple plays where he would draw players in, use his skill, and seam passes through an attacking player.
Ethan Wyttenbach (LW, R, 5’9″, 180, Sioux Falls Stampede, 02/10/2007, Quinnipiac)
Grade: B-
Comments: As one of the more skilled players on his team, his game was a bit surprising tonight. He showed so many flashes of skill that just did not translate to the scoresheet but had more mistakes that he should have made. He can be pretty inconsistent with his plays in the offensive zone and will sometimes give the puck away after bad decisions with the puck. He often forces a deke on the rush when he should simply get the puck deep or wait for support. One thing he does well is to rapidly increase the pace of the game in the offensive zone to sneak through his opposition. That speed also gives him time to get a good look at the net or the players around him. He is good at making use of that extra time and space.
Aleksandr Rybakov (D, L, 6’3″, 212, Sioux Falls Stampede, 01/14/2005, Providence)
Grade: B+
Comments: I am not sure if Rybakov knew he scored when he did, the puck had to travel through so many screens, that is it did reach the net, there was no way the goalie was going to see it. With his powerful step into slap shot, Rybakov put power behind a rolling puck at the blue line that ended up being an absolute snipe and was a huge game tying goal. He provided tonight what he does on a consistent basis, a large frame that can get pucks through at the blue line and a defensive game that makes himself hard to play against. One thing he needs to correct is his pivots backwards, he has the size to ward off smaller players at this level but larger faster players are going to be able to bully to the puck, he needs to be first on pucks no matter what.
Sam Spehar (RW, R, 5’8″, 180, Sioux Falls Stampede, 04/20/2007, Denver)
Grade: B
Comments: Spehar has a motor that can get up and down the ice quickly. He is smaller but plays with enough speed that he can evade contact. During a rush, he was able to show his speed and quickness with his feet and hands by sneaking himself on the outside off the rush, making the lane open in between the two defending players. When receiving the pass, he knew exactly where the puck was, gave the net a slight look and the puck instantly left his stick for a chance at the goalie that left a rebound. His two way game could increase, when defending a counter attack, Spehar will sometimes want to conserve energy and float around a little bit. He is always in movement but doesn’t show enough threat.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images