Game played 11/27/2024.
General Game Notes: This USHL matchup was won by the the Youngstown Phantoms as they were able to squeak out a win with under a minute left to play. A back and forth game came down to a costly penalty late in the game that the Phantoms were just able to take advantage of.
|Sammy^Nelson|
Grade: B
Comments: Nelson provides a bigger frame in a game where his team could use some size. Nelson tied the game up going into the third period providing a spark that clearly was needed to finish the game. Tonight Nelson was able to show that it did not take very long to notice how much he is willing to throw his weight around. Any chance he gets to play the body, he takes it. Not only does he take it, but he will almost always finish his check hard. One of the better aspects to his game is that he is not putting himself out of position on any of these hits. He knows when to do it and not be caught out of position because of it, especially in his own zone.
|JP^Hurlbert|
Grade: B+
Comments: Hurlbert is one of the more skilled players for Team USA, with the puck on his stick, he is not afraid to make moves one on one and attack space. He also did a good job at creating space, with tight turns and his ability to open up, he faces the play with his head up and can see where the next play is. Hurlbert consistently shows great foot speed, in a specific play where he was able to create a chance he uses his teammate standing in the crease to get around his opponent which opens the lane for the shot. He follows it with a quick release, using the three players in front of the net as a screen.
|Lucas^Zajic|
Grade; B-
Comments: Zajic skates well with the puck being able to get on his inside and outside edges, gain speed, and attack with pace off the rush. He showed this a limited amount of times but when he did, it ended up a successful entry. He is able to notice movement in structure, as soon as the weak side defender stepped up on him, he was able to recognize the lane it was going to create. He made no mistake in delivering the puck at just the right time to set up the mini breakaway. At times in his own zone he also had a tendency to chip pucks off the glass or the boards just to get it out of the zone, even when he had plenty of time to start a breakout the other way. There was nothing wrong with using the boards when under pressure, but there is a confidence play to make here like settling it down and maintaining possession rather than golfing the puck into the neutral zone.
|Victor^Plante|
Grade: B+
Comments: Plante is smaller in stature but plays with a ton of grit. If he is not first on the forecheck, he does a good job at finishing his routes and letting know the defenseman that he is there. In his own end, he simply didnt get beat. He maintains his gap, moves play away from the middle of the ice, blocks shots, breaks up passes, finishes his hits, his feet keep him squared. He does not close well on bigger players but forces them to make a play under pressure they do not want to make. When he did use his feet, in a rush against he starts by attacking up the ice from the breakout pass, sees the first defenseman blocking the outside lane, quickly shifts to the inside, is able to stickhandle the puck through two different sticks, his speed gives him enough time to get a great look the second wave.
|Kazimier^Sobieski|
Grade: A
Comments: Sobieski can control the game. It looked like after coming back from college hockey, he was on a revenge tour and made himself noticeable in all three zones of the ice. He made the first play with the puck and showed his offense is about puck moving then using his feet, he is a very smart and simplistic offensive player. He does a good job of jumping into the cycle and looking for passing options or open ice for him to attack himself. His game can go to another level is he were to push into more dangerous areas of the ice with the puck. He has the skating to do so, and he did it more as the game went on and was able to generate some nice chances because of it.
|Landan^Resendes|
Grade: B
Comments: Resendes is for sure one of the more active players on the ice. With or without the puck, he is looking to hunt and gain possession. In a specific play off the rush, the moment he sees where he can get open, he makes the nifty drop pass, gets into the right spot and opens up to shoot. He does a good job being available when theres is a chance at the net. at he’s more willing to make the smart, efficient play as opposed to the one that makes the highlight reels. There is an aspect to his game where he does a good job at complementing other skilled players to retrieve pucks, forecheck heavily and contribute offensively. Where he can take a back seat and do the dirt work, he is capable of playing both roles on the ice.
|Cal^Huston|
Grade: B
Comments: Huston was able to showcase himself as a puck moving defenseman. With two assists on the night, he was moving the puck to open players and to the net effectively. Huston was able to showcase tonight that his hands are quick enough that he can make the one touch passes with ease. These types of passes are much more difficult to execute than they look, especially when passing into a contested area of the ice or on the power play where the plays have to happen quick. What really separated him tonight is when sometimes the passing lane will not be there right away, and Huston has the vision to attack his second option to create the play and set up dangerous chances.
|Luke^Osburn|
Grade: B+
Comments: Osburn scored the game winner on the power play with under a minute left in the game. The mobile defenseman controlled the offensive zone with puck movement and his shot selection. Obviously, Osburn can be an offensive threat but his defense is notable as well. His defensive positioning is very sound. I hardly ever found Osburn out of position in his own end, and he has the reach and skating ability to cover a lot of ground. He’s capable of quickly winding up on his edges, skating through traffic in the neutral zone and gaining entry into the offensive end of the ice, this is where he excelled tonight, with time and space, he will carry the puck with another gear and create an entry on his own, looking to set something up in zone.
|Jakub^Hes|
Grade: B-
Comments: Hes is a bigger forward and plays this way. When Hes gets around the net, most players would pass the puck straight ahead to their defenseman, but Hes notices how deep the far side winger has dropped, on this certain play, and knows if he can get the puck to that far side defenseman instead, a better shooting lane would be available. He made a quick cut inside, pulls back a bit so his defenseman can creep in and delivers the pass. One of the better parts of his game is that he can be a threat without the puck. Usually this means attacking the net, but he is always looking to challenge guys one on one for space.
|Kuzma^Voronin|
Grade: B+
Comments: Voronin is a smaller sized forward but has the type of water bug energy. He is able to get quick wrist shots off without much of a delay, especially in transition. His release is a very quick and fluid motion that can be difficult for a goaltender to get a good read on. When he has a bit of space he is able to use that release to accurately get it on net. Even though Voronin is not the biggest player on the ice, a couple times he showed tonight that he does not back down. He is the type of player that usually will not go for the big hit if it will put him out of position defensively. But when he gets the chance to lower the boom, he will at least close his gap on you quickly and make it known that he is there to disrupt.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images