Impressive game from the Lumberjacks not losing a single period and posting a 4 goal first period. This was the key to their victory having a really fast start and response after giving up the first goal of the game. Capitalizing on power plays as well as killing penalties off was also a factor. Neutral Zone primarily focused on players eligible for the 2024 NHL draft. Game played 9/29/23.
| Sacha Boisvert | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 165 | North Dakota | 2025 | Trois-Rivieres, QC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: The way Boisvert is able to drive down the wall pull up, and create space is why is a threat with the puck in the offensive zone. Uses his size well protecting the puck but this also allows plays to develop and create chaos within the defensive zone coverage. Tonight he would stall making plays when nothing was there to make, he does not force passes instead has a great puck possession game. His footwork in his own end needs to improve to become a complete 200ft player. He got beat in small spaces with no speed to recover. Battles hard in the face off circle out muscling 50/50 pucks back to his defenseman.
| Ethan Whitcomb | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | RW | 6’4″ | 201 | Nebraska Omaha | 2024 | St. Catherines, ON | 2004 | 2023-2024: C+2022-2023: C+2021-2022: C+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Whitcomb has a unique combination of being taller with a long stride and being quick at the same time. It is hard to take the puck away from him because he gets low creating strength within his stride and stays big given how tall he actually is. Recognizes the size difference with defenders and attacks the net with authority. Offensively he plays big but on defense, he tends to get small. He tries to use a skating game rather than being physical, when he could potentially eliminate guys earlier on.
| Matvei Gridin | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 181 | Kurgan, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Has the release to be able to shoot from anywhere in the offensive zone. Couple times tonight he would let it fly from close to the goal line, which you might think would be a waste of a shot, but it caught the goalie off guard and created rebounds at the net. His ability to take contact and stay on his feet showed that he can possess the puck at length and be relied on during line changes when he has the puck in the offensive zone. Extremely elusive for his larger size and shifty in the offensive zone enough to slip through or around defenders with superior puck handling.
| Austin Baker | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 191 | Michigan State | 2024 | White Lake, MI | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: One thing Baker does well is shoot the puck out of his stride. Tonight when he entered the zone with speed, he could keep that speed and use his momentum into his shot producing grade A chances from the tops of the circles. His stops and starts are irrelevant, he has all this speed but does not reciprocate on the back end. He did a good job at changing sides with the puck in the neutral zone. When there was not space for him to attack, he got his head up and made cross ice zips to his teammates in stride.
| James Hagens | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | F | 5’10” | 168 | Boston College | 2024 | Hauppauge, NY | 2006 | 2024-2025: A |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Speedy forward whose stick handling really sets himself a part. He is able to weave through the neutral zone keeping the puck tight to his body allowing him to attack at different angles. He attacks opponents one on one tight so when he beats them, he has more ice to work with. His speed off the wall makes him hard to play against when defenders think they have him closed off, he changes speed, leaving opponents flat footed. He created scoring chances getting shots off that were in tight instead of needing a ton of space for a wind up.
| Teddy Stiga | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | C | 5’10” | 177 | Boston College | 2024 | Sudbury, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Stiga was all over the puck tonight showing anticipation and winning races to loose pucks in all three zones. He had a secondary assist simply because he recognized a Muskegon potential breakout pass and jumped the passing lane. He also showed improved strength and confidence when driving the net as there were a few times when he carried the puck through royal road traffic to the far post. Stiga had a quick stick on net front rebounds, slid off to the right dot-lane for power play one-timers and showed a quick sweeping curl and drag wrist shot off a face-off that created a secondary scoring opportunity. He played both the bumper and right dot-lane on the power play.
| Christian Humphreys | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | C | 5’11” | 170 | Michigan State | 2025 | Canonsburgh, PA | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Humphreys showed tonight that he has got excellent touch, regularly pulling pucks through feet and sticks and into space. But he also mixes in fakes and stutter-steps to create transition separation or go inside-out on defenders. He plays a creative style to complement a 200-foot game, with an emphasis on his offense. He is an elusive skater who is hard to stop when he is moving. He can display as a dual-threat scorer, who can make smart passes to teammates and get quality shots to the net.
| Max Plante | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | C | 5’11” | 170 | Minnesota Duluth | 2025 | Hermantown, MN | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Plante is a hardworking puck transporter and distributor who leads his line mates into the offensive zone and then gives them the puck in their wheelhouse with perfect timing and weight. He showed that he is a playmaker who wants to move the puck. At times, he passes up chances to look for the highlight reel play and forces pucks but if they connect, they would be impressive. He has feet that are as fast as his hands. Couple times tonight he would draw defenders in low in the offensive zone, slip a pass by while he did the same thing creating scoring chance in the slot.
| Cole Eiserman | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 197 | Boston University | 2024 | Newburyport, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: A |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Eiserman has tons of skill, he can make plays and can score from a lot of places in the offensive zone but at times he is not willing to get to scoring areas, rather play on the perimeter. An absolute danger to opponents with the puck on his stick and he can generate chances in the offensive zone in multiple ways. His super quick release and crisp passing ability make him a weapon on the half wall for the powerplay, with flashes of serious offensive skill showing at even strength as well. He is a dynamic threat who can get out of small spaces with quick footwork and stick handling.
| Ryan Koering | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 184 | Colorado College | 2024 | Eden Prairie, MN | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Koering is an essential situational player who makes smart plays like first available passing option or simply off the glass. He never pulled the puck back into his own end rather would keep the play moving north whether this was with his feet or usually zipping the puck to an open man. His game is not flashy but he logs crucial minutes in his own end defending with an active stick and being positionally sound. He stays tight to his man being able to shut down a play but also loose if the puck transitions the other way.
| Jack Sparkes | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | R | D | 6’8″ | 234 | Michigan State | 2024 | Ottawa, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Sparkes is a massive presence on the ice and plays that way in his own end. Obviously with his size, he can and does bully guys on the ice. Scored a nice goal in the first period, getting a puck at the point with time and space to step into it and he did. Let a bomb go from the blue line with a ton of traffic and the goalie was unable to locate the puck. When he scored this goal rather than have his head buried in the ice, it was up trying to pick a spot at the net to put it. No stick handling, just caught the pass and stepped into it, showing soft hands with this goal as well.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images