Game played on 12/6/2024.
Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev (G, L, 6’2″, 170, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 10/26/2004, Michigan Tech)
Grade: B+
Comments: Muskegon: Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev (2004) The Slovak/Russian goaltender for the Lumberjacks sees a more athletic style of play that is agile and active. Staying mobile and using a stance differential allows his eyes to track pucks visually and make up for the lack of uniformity to his game. His athletic style will see him sprawl and find himself outside of his crease creating problems. Reading plays and scanning the ice reduces the frequency of this and aids in precise movements to get on angles. In a very physical game, he saw himself in some scrums and losing composure which is something to watch for. These scrums created from rebounds created from ‘Shika’ that were bounced back into second chance opportunities from all different parts of his body. Overall, the Muskegon goaltender is a phenomenal puck stopper aided by his puck tracking and athletic ability but could clean up some movement and rebound control to create even more consistency.
Melvin Strahl (G, L, 6’3″, 166, Youngstown Phantoms, 03/18/2005, Michigan State)
Grade: A-
Comments: Youngstown: Melvin Strahl (2005) The Swedish goaltender has a strong fundamental base to his game that sees powerful movement and solid body control sealing the ice and holes through his body efficiently. These components allow him to keep an upright chest and control rebounds to his upper body very effectively. Setting his feet at a mid-depth location and centering his body on pucks creates a calm presence in the crease. Comfortable in awkward angles as well as in his posts and taking reads to scan the ice well aid in his movement and create precision. A solid effort in this one but some odd man rushes and breakaways cause the blemishes on the score sheet leading to the 4-3 loss.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
