Played on Nov 18, 2025
Game Played in Temple Gardens Centre
Filip Ruzicka (G, L, 6’6″, 204, Brandon Wheat Kings, 03/24/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Filip is a massive goaltender, standing 6’7′, and his size alone allows him to play deeper in his crease while still covering a ton of net. But he also has notable athleticism, preventing him from relying solely on his frame. He stays compact in his stance, tracks the puck well through traffic, and has excellent rebound control. Stopping 30 of 34 shots for a .882 save percentage, Filip was not beaten cleanly on a single goal. He made multiple breakaway saves, including one with a perfectly timed poke check. With one goal against coming off his defender, another on a 2 on 0, and two backdoor plays, Filip essentially stopped everything he could reasonably be expected to.
Jaxon Jacobson (LW, L, 5’10”, 181, Brandon Wheat Kings, 12/11/2008)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Jaxon is an incredibly skilled player whose most underrated ability is finding time and space in the offensive zone. He has a good shot with an excellent release, soft hands in tight, and can feather passes into small windows. But before any of those plays happen, he creates the space for them. He constantly gives false information-head fakes, shoulder fakes, or selling one move while doing another. Through the neutral zone he uses his feet to evade pressure and slip into pockets between defenders. On the power play, Jaxon works the half wall, moving the puck quickly and rolling off the wall to attack when lanes open. Tonight he played center, won 58% of his draws (11/19), recorded a goal and two assists, and finished plus-three. He was an offensive threat all game.
Caleb Hadland (LW, R, 5’10”, 186, Brandon Wheat Kings, 03/06/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Caleb is another Wheat Kings forward with high end offensive skill and a will to win battles. He consistently wins one on one confrontations through sheer determination before finding teammates quickly to extend zone time. Without the puck, he’s underrated in how well he sneaks around the ice. At times he relaxes his posture, appearing non-threatening, only to explode into space for quick shots or to make himself available as an outlet. One of his two assists tonight came from a subtle bump pass on a rimmed puck, imperfect but exactly where it needed to be. It may look like a simple play, but it’s a highly skilled touch that many players don’t possess. These small but detailed skills often go unnoticed, but they highlight Caleb’s high end hockey sense.
Grayson Burzynski (D, L, 6’4″, 212, Brandon Wheat Kings, 06/04/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Grayson is an offensive defenseman who reads plays well and consistently attacks with his forwards. Both of his goals tonight came from sneaking backdoor as his forwards rolled high, burying rebounds that popped out to him. His breakouts were crisp and simple-finding teammates early before joining the rush. At one point, as his partner made the breakout, Grayson did exactly what coaches ask from an off-side defenseman: he instantly joined the rush as the fourth man. On the power play he worked the blue line and at times was overly eager to shoot, firing pucks with no screen and getting blocked. Later, he redeemed himself by faking a shot and snapping a pass backdoor for what should have been a tap-in, if not for a bad bounce. Despite two goals, he finished even, suggesting defensive areas to improve. He’s strong in corner battles and handles one-on-ones well, but adding a bit more toughness in front of the net would benefit him, as Moose Jaw wasn’t shy about driving the crease.
Carter Klippenstein (LW, L, 6’3″, 182, Brandon Wheat Kings, 11/25/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Carter is a highly competitive centerman who deserves credit for being able to play anywhere in the lineup. He plays with an edge, finishes every hit, and loves to battle in the corners. Yet he also has the skill to beat opponents one-on-one, find teammates in space, and use his speed to attack wide. Tonight he showcased all of these qualities and capped it off with a huge shot block late in the game to help secure the win. His goal came early in the first: he executed a great center swing on the breakout, received the puck in the middle, and sprung a teammate for a breakaway before driving the net and burying the rebound. Moments later, he rushed down the left wall, dropped his shoulder, beat his defender wide, and found a teammate backdoor for a two-point shift. Winning 14 of 23 faceoffs (60%), adding a goal and assist, and finishing plus-two, Carter showed he can do it all.
Luke Mistelbacher (C, R, 6’0″, 196, Brandon Wheat Kings, 11/02/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Luke has a lot of talent and pairs it well with his in your face style. Defensively, he is a smart winger who takes away passing lanes and forces opponents back into traffic. He uses his stick well to disrupt low to high plays and pressures defensemen into making non-dangerous decisions at the blue line. Offensively, Luke excels at moving himself after he moves the puck, allowing him to find openings for give-and-go plays and utilize his incredibly quick release. Off the rush he often curls to find trailing options when nothing else is available. Luke understands his game well and consistently finds ways to be dangerous. He did show visible frustration tonight, which is never ideal especially from an older player but even after that moment, he redeemed himself producing a nice assist out of the corner.
Daniil Skvortsov (D, L, 6’4″, 222, Brandon Wheat Kings, 01/13/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Daniil is a well-rounded defenseman with great size and even better mobility. At 6’4′, 215 lbs, he takes up a lot of space, making it extremely difficult to beat him one-on-one. Combined with his smooth skating, it’s hard to get him off balance or into awkward positions-something opponents often try against bigger defenders. On retrievals, Daniil surveys his options and escapes using his feet, leading breakouts efficiently. He isn’t looking to hold onto the puck unnecessarily; he takes available ice and zips passes when teammates open up. Tonight he also showed a more physical element, adding multiple hits off the rush and in defensive-zone battles. With his size, skating, and growing physicality, he stands out as a defensive defenseman in the WHL.
Chase Wutzke (G, L, 6’3″, 161, Moose Jaw Warriors, 07/26/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Chase is a competitive goalie who gave his team a chance to win tonight. Stopping 24 of 29 shots (.827), he showed composure while stopping multiple breakaways. Chase moves well side-to-side with strong pushes. His fourth goal against came from an overly aggressive cross-crease push, leaving him unable to recover to the far post-likely the only goal that can truly be pinned on him. He continues to read through screens well and stay big in his net. Improving rebound control would help his numbers, as a few rebounds tonight were directed out front for second-chance opportunities. Overall, a solid performance, and with fewer defensive breakdowns, Moose Jaw would have a better chance in games like this.
Landen McFadden (C, L, 5’11”, 177, Moose Jaw Warriors, 08/04/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Landon has shown the ability to find space and deliver the puck to teammates in stride. He reads the play well and finds holes to jump into as an outlet, which led to his breakaway tonight when he slipped behind the defense after recognizing they were puck-focused on the counterattack. With the puck, he skates with a tall chest posture, using his legs to drive up ice while evaluating his options. On the power play he was excellent on zone entries, taking available ice and either kicking the puck wide or controlling play to set up the unit. Down the wall, Landon likes to look for his bumper, setting up multiple quick-shot opportunities. His deception and no-look passes make his game look fluid and effortless.
Colt Carter (D, R, 5’9″, 162, Moose Jaw Warriors, 07/23/2009, Denver)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Carter is a dominant offensive factor from the Warriors’ blue line. He is a creative playmaker with explosive bursts of speed and a very high hockey IQ. He understands attacking pressure well, consistently pushing the play into areas that give him time to make plays. Carter’s neutral-zone transitions are underrated, as he always has his head up looking for options while using his edges to escape pressure. His second assist tonight illustrates his creative mindset. As he walked the offensive blue line, Carter chipped the puck off the far-side glass, retrieved his own chip, and skated backward facing the play before feeding a slot pass that eventually led to his second of three assists. It’s hard to critique his defensive game when he finishes with three assists and a plus-two rating. His ability to dominate the game offensively was truly impressive tonight.
Connor Schmidt (D, R, 6’0″, 188, Moose Jaw Warriors, 03/20/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Connor is a thinking defenseman as he is always looking to outsmart opponents through positioning, puck placement, or escapes under pressure. He has a great first pass and loves to join the rush, adding layers to the attack. Along the offensive blue line he likes to slow the play down, sometimes relying on teammates to get open when he’s not shooting. Defensively, Connor relies on reading the play and anticipating opponents rather than providing a physical presence. Taking away time and space, plus a good stick, he can break up plays efficiently and win corner battles. Tonight, Connor executed his style very well, finishing with a goal and a plus-two rating.
Riley Thorpe (C, L, 5’10”, 177, Moose Jaw Warriors, 03/27/2008)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Riley is combining his endless effort with the ability to put up points in his sophomore WHL season. He never gives up on a play. On the forecheck he forces opposing defensemen to work to break the puck out, and when his line has possession, Riley is never afraid to go to the net. It’s not that he is the fastest skater, but his legs never stop moving. Riley truly earned his points tonight as his effort shift to shift rewarded him with a goal and an assist tonight, he has already matched his point total from his rookie season. With plenty of hockey left, it looks like a breakout year for the 17-year-old forward.
Jan Trefny (LW, L, 5’11”, 173, Moose Jaw Warriors, 03/16/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Jan is another Moose Jaw forward who makes his opposition work incredibly hard against him because he simply never gives up on a play. Combine that effort with a quick first three steps and great full-ice speed, and it feels like he is always on top of the play. Jan and his linemates created multiple turnovers on the forecheck through relentless pressure. With the puck in the offensive zone, he matches his effort with his ability to protect the puck in the corners. He isn’t afraid to use his body, but he’s at his best when he skates away from pressure looking for options. Defensively, Jan is quite responsible. His best play of the night may have been a backcheck on a Kings’ three-on-two, where he broke up the play with great effort and a perfectly timed stick in the passing lane.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images