General Game Notes: The first game of a back to back on January 19th, 2024. USHL action between Waterloo Black Hawks and the Des Moines Buccaneers. A great goaltending battle was the story of the night in this one, as both goaltenders did their part. A low scoring affair that saw both teams battle to the end, which ultimately had Waterloo ending up winning the game by a score of 3-1.
| Ethan Dahlmeir | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | L | G | 6’4″ | 225 | Miami (Ohio) | 2024 | Lakeville, MN | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Dahlmeir is a great example of size and athleticism in a goaltender. As a bigger goalie, he plays a little deep in the net, and doesn’t over-challenge because his size allows him to do so. If the play calls for it, he will get out to the top of his paint, setting his feet in the process and track the puck accordingly. Has good rebound control as he lets the puck come to him, instead of chasing it. Made some big saves in the slot area by having a big presence in net, covering space and getting hit with the puck. Will be athletic when called upon, but overall he is a technically sound goaltender.
| Aiden VanRooyan | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 199 | Sacred Heart | 2024 | Dakota Dunes, SD | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B-
VanRooyan earned 19:00 in ice time (2nd among D) including 0:07 on the PP and 1:17 on the PK (2nd among D). He finished -2 with 0 points, 1 shot, 3 hits, received 1 hit, 12 giveaways, 10 takeaways and for the season he is winning 60% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: VanRooyan brought a physical element to the game, especially in the defensive zone. Smothered his opponents along the walls not allowing them any time or space. Used his size and strength to hold his pins and either win puck battles himself, or wait for support. Didn’t overcomplicate the game and if there was no play to be made, kept it simple by utilizing high flips or shots off the glass to get the puck out.
| Ben Kevan | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | R | RW | 6’0″ | 179 | Arizona State | 2025 | Fairfield, CA | 2007 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: B
Kevan earned 15:02 in ice time (8th among fwds). He did not play special teams. He finished-1 with 5 shots (team high), 3 grade “A” opportunities, 1/1 on face-offs, 7 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 39% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Kevan showed off his speed and versatility by catching pucks in the neutral zone, attacking wide and getting shots towards the net. At times, he was a little perimeter, but he did create problems with his speed, continually challenging defenders by keeping his feet moving and making plays, especially off the rush.
| Braedon Ford | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | L | F | 5’9″ | 167 | Miami (Ohio) | 2024 | Pittsburgh, PA | 2004 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Ford earned 17:47 in ice time (5th among fwds) including 3:34 on the PP (2nd among fwds). He finished -1 with 1 goal, 4 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 2 PIMs (first period neutral zone leg check), 9/16 on face-offs, received 1 hit, 4 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Ford is a slippery forward who does a good job at handling pucks, distributing them and then finding pockets where he can receive them. He was effective on the PP, but relieving pressure from his teammates by holding onto pucks, dragging defenders towards him and distributing to the open player. He dragged pucks in tight to his body, with his feet moving so he could avoid turnovers, and stick-checks from his opponents. Additionally, owns a good shot and can one-touch pucks quickly with emphasis towards the net.
| Ashton Dahms | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 169 | Minnesota Duluth | 2025 | Lakeville, MN | 2005 | 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B+
Dahms earned 20:50 in ice time (2nd among fwds) including 3:40 on the PP (tied for team lead). He did not play PK. He finished -1 with 4 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 1 hit, received 1 hit, had 4 shots blocked, 4 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 44% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Dahms is a rangy forward who made cerebral plays all night. At times, if his feet weren’t moving, he showed the ability to make plays regardless. Whether it was a simple hold of the puck, or a sauce pass to his teammate attacking with speed, he was able to execute. In the offensive zone, held onto pucks, especially on the walls where he was able to curl up the wall, cut middle and get shots towards the net. He had a good mix of shooting and passing skills, making him hard to defend against and unpredictable at times.
| Liam Watkins | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 199 | Nebraska Omaha | 2024 | Okotoks, AB | 2004 | 2023-2024: C 2022-2023: C+ 2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: B
Watkins earned 18:59 in ice time (3rd among fwds) including 3:21 on the PP (4th among fwds) and 1:49 on the PK (3rd among fwds). He finished even with 1 assist, team high 5 shots, team high 5 grade “A” opportunities, 17/29 on face-offs, 1 hit, received 1 hit, 3 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 47% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Watkins did a good job at creating offense by driving wide on the defenders and attacking the net. Kept his feet moving during the process, really leaning on the defenseman and was able to get shots on net. He will engage in the physical play, using his size to separate his opponents off the puck. Sturdy on his skates and hard to knock off the puck as well, using a combination of skill and strength to shield off defenders.
| Ilya Protas | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | L | LW | 6’4″ | 184 | Vitebsk | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B+
Protas earned 22:33 in ice time (fwd high) including 3:40 on the PP (team high) and 1:44 on the PK (4th among fwds). He finished -1 with 1 assist, 3 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 0/1 on face-offs, 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 10 giveaways, 6 takeaways and for the season he is winning 53% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Protas is a tall, lanky winger who can make some high-end plays. Considering he has a long reach, he can collect pucks, hold onto them and control the play. For a big player, owns a high skill set where he can make some nifty passes, particularly little sauce plays, or drop passes. Sees the ice well, because he plays with his head up and reads where the pressure is coming from. He isn’t an overly physical player, but he does play with hunger, hunting pucks when necessary using his long stick to disrupt plays with the intent to get pucks back.
| Calvin Vachon | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | G | 5’11” | 163 | Hamilton, MT | 2005 | 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Vachon used his athleticism and skill-set to make saves, as he is a bit under-sized. Being so, he relies on his hockey IQ and ability to read plays before they happen. He did a good job all night of reading where his opponents were before the puck was to get to them – in this process, he head checked, stayed on his feet, stopped and made his save accordingly. He battled on loose pucks and was able to make some nice second chance saves, utilizing his quick legs, sealing the ice. Vachon was active playing the puck, stopping many rims and making simple, effective plays to his outlets in the defensive zone.
| Adam Zlnka | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | R | LW | 6’0″ | 177 | Detva, SVK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Game Grade: B
Zlnka earned 10:24 in ice time (10th among fwds). He did not play special teams. He finished even with 2 PIMs (offensive zone clean body check that would not be called in professional hockey), 2 hits, received 2 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 5 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 41% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Zlnka plays a fast-paced game and challenges his opponents with his speed. Keeps his feet moving, especially off the rush, and will do what he can do get to the middle ice. If that means attacking wide, and cutting to the middle, he will attempt it and get shots from the high slot area. He has a good shot and will let it fly from all angles, His quick release can catch a goalie napping, and it will create second chance opportunities in the process.
| Griffin Erdman | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 186 | Northeastern | 2024 | Wilmington, DE | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C+
Erdman earned 14:58 in ice time (7th among fwds) including 1:29 on the PP (6th among fwds) and 0:07 on the PK. He finished +2 with 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 1 hit, received 2 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 4 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 51% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Erdman scored the GWG by going to the net with a purpose, spinning off a check and high tipping a puck past the goaltender. It was a good example of going to the net hard and having a hockey sense on when to skip off his check and tip the puck in.
| Gavin Lindberg | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | R | C | 6’1″ | 201 | Colorado College | 2024 | Fergus Falls, MN | 2004 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B
Lindberg earned 14:38 in ice time (8th among fwds) including 2:05 on the PP (3rd among fwds) and 1:13 on the PK (4th among fwds). He finished a team high +3 with 1 goal, 4 shots, 4 grade “A” opportunities, 8/19 on face-offs, 7 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 50% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Lindberg plays a 2-way game. His defensive play translates into his offensive play because he stops on pucks in the d-zone, instead of swinging by. When doing so, he collects pucks low and can start the transition play right away. Using his powerful frame, he can get ‘inside’ the game, especially off the rush and in o-zone play. He does so by moving his feet, leaning on defenders and having a will to get to the hard areas. Owns a quick release and a heavy shot that can beat a goaltender clean.
| Myles Hilman | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 194 | Nebraska Omaha | 2024 | Blackfalds, AB | 2003 | Free agent |
Game Grade: B-
Hilman earned 18:25 in ice time (4th among fwds) including 2:05 on the PP (2nd among fwds) and 1:32 on the PK (3rd among fwds). He finished +1 with 4 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 1 hit, received 2 hits, had 1 shot blocked 14 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Hilman is a shifty winger who did a good job at coming low into the defensive zone to help his team out with breakouts. By getting low in the zone, he was able to receive pucks with speed, utilize his edge work to buy some time and wheel pucks north/south towards the opposing teams net. Once gaining the zone, liked to attack off the rush, using his speed and a shot mentality.
| Michael Phelan | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | R | D | 5’10” | 161 | Arizona State | 2025 | Hinsdale, IL | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B-
Phelan earned 16: 55 in ice time (5th among D) including 1:29 on the PK (4th among D). He did not play PP. He finished +1 with 1 assist, 4 giveaways, 6 takeaways and for the season he is winning 59% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Phelan did a good job on the PK by filling lanes with his body and being unselfish by blocking shots. On 50/50 pucks, his attack mentality was effective and he won battles, clearing pucks out of the zone. He had an active stick net front, and despite not being the biggest defender, his hunger was evident and it allowed him to play a hard/effective game.
| Will Felicio | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | D | 5’10” | 161 | Denver | 2025 | Holden, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A-
Felicio earned 21:07 in ice time (2nd among D) including 2:37 on the PP (2nd among D). He did not play PK. He finished even with 1 shot, 1 hit, 8 giveaways, 11 takeaways and for the season he is winning 62% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Felicio is a high-end talent on the back-end. Particularly in the offensive zone, he has the ability to create offense with his boldness and ability to attack. He has confidence on the blue line by holding pucks in, standing his ground and making plays once gaining possession. As a smaller d-man, he is shifty and creates space by keeping his feet moving, opening his hips and having his hands in a passing/shooting position. Sifts pucks towards the net with traffic with a flick of his wrist, not wasting time. Moves up and down the walls efficiently, squeezing by checks, maintaining possession and making plays that create offensive looks.
| Teddy Townsend | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | C | 5’10” | 162 | Minnesota | 2024 | Eden Prairie, MN | 2005 | 2022-2023: |
Game Grade: B+
Townsend earned 10:23 in ice time (12th among fwds). He did not play special teams. He finished +2 with 1 assist, 1 shot, 8 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 42% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Comments: Townsend competed hard at both ends of the ice. He committed to playing in the defensive zone by reading plays, filling shot lanes and if necessary, picking pucks off and starting the transition play. If he was to chip and chase it in the offensive zone, he kept his feet moving, often beating his opponents to pucks, where he was then able to shoulder check, see where his teammates were, and play in the offensive zone effectively. He did a good job of going low to high in the OZ, then going to the net. Despite not being an overly big player, he took his bruises in order to get there and created chaos by doing so
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Mike Garteig