General Game Notes: Led by 2023 NHL first-round pick Nate Danielson, the Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Edmonton Oil Kings by a score of 5-3 in WHL action. Neutral Zone focused on players eligible for the 2024 and 2025 NHL Drafts and has graded players below who are worth considering for these drafts. Each player below has been given a grade based solely on their performance in this game, which is not an overall indication of the player’s upside or ability.
| Charlie Elick | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 201 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Charlie scored twice in the first period against the Oil Kings. On his first, he received a pass at the line from down low on the right side of the ice. He took a step towards the middle of the ice and fired a low shot, which deflected off a defender’s skate and in. On his second goal, Charlie followed up the rush, received a pass from Danielson in the middle of the ice, and quickly fired the puck past the goaltender. On this play, he did a great job of identifying that Danielson had backed the defenders off and created space in the middle of the ice that he exploited. Charlie is a below-average straight-line skater for this level of play. He moves well for his size, and is generally smooth but struggles to create space. He also panicked with the puck on his stick at times in the defensive end, and this led to turnovers. Charlie didn’t stick-handle the puck well and coughed it up on multiple occasions. Defensively, Charlie struggled as the puck was in his corner a ton. He also over-committed in his positioning, and on Edmonton’s first goal, Charlie and three of Brandon’s forwards were above the hash marks. On Edmonton’s second goal, Charlie failed to lift the stick of the Edmonton forward at the net and was boxed out by the forward who scored. Despite his difficulties, there were a number of bright spots in Charlie’s game. He was excellent with the puck at the line and was able to get low, hard shots through to the goal. His second goal displayed his ability to read the play and hop into the rush. He also made a two-line tape-to-tape pass at one point and, for the most part, displayed an ability to read the play but wasn’t always able to execute it. On another two-line pass, he identified the forward up ice, but his pass ricocheted off a defender’s skate before luckily finding its mark. Overall, this was an up-and-down game for Charlie. He has some of the tools necessary to succeed at the NHL level but will require considerable development in terms of his explosiveness, defensive zone positioning, and stick handling. As a big, fairly mobile, right-shot defenseman, he will be given every opportunity to succeed at the pro level.
| Caleb Hadland | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | LW | 5’10” | 174 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Sylvan Lake, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Caleb is an under-sized forward for the Wheat Kings. He read the play well throughout the game and made a number of intelligent passes to teammates. The best play of the night for Caleb came in the first as he identified a loose puck behind the net and quickly moved it to an open teammate in the slot, who missed the grade-A chance. Caleb positioned himself well off-puck to be a passing option and was especially adept at this around the net. Despite his smaller stature, Caleb was able to carry the puck through contact and was willing to take the hit to make the play. Caleb displayed a good first step and is an average straight-line skater for this level of play. As it stands, Caleb has the intelligence to play at the NHL level but will need to add considerable size and speed.
| Roger McQueen | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | RW | 6’5″ | 192 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Saskatoon, SK | 2006 | 2024-2025: A |
Game Grade: C
Comments: This was a disappointing performance from McQueen, who was a non-factor in this contest despite playing on the top line with Danielson. Roger’s stride mechanics were poor, and he struggled to generate any form of speed. When striding, Roger brings his knee forward with his knees and toes pointed out (rather than forward) and thus loses power as he cuts down on the length of his push. He also struggles to get to his outside edges when turning and is thus slow when changing directions. Roger is overly reliant on his size and strength and thus attempts to skate through defenders rather than using skill to get around them. Overall, this was a disappointing performance from Roger, who appeared disengaged for the full 60 minutes.
| Joby Baumuller | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 190 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2022 | Wilcox, SK | 2007 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: Limited Viewing
Comments: The Wheat Kings’ first pick of the 2022 WHL Draft was used in limited minutes on the fourth line. He is a bigger forward who protects the puck well at times and moves well for his size. It is going to take some time for Joby to adjust to this level of play, and he will hopefully begin to put it together after the Christmas break.
| Carter Klippenstein | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 170 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2022 | Lethbridge, AB | 2006 | 2024-2025: |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Carter is in his first full season with the Wheat Kings after captaining The Edge School to a CSSHL U18 Championship last season. Carter is a large power forward who created chances and space off the forecheck and cycle for his teammates. He positioned himself well to get to loose pucks, and overall played an intelligent game. Carter is an average straight-line skater for this level of play, and despite not being an overly skilled player, he did a good job of pushing play. He was 4/7 in the faceoff dot and did a lot of things right despite playing on Brandon’s fourth line (with little to no support). Carter benefits from being a late 2006 birthday and is thus not eligible until the 2025 NHL Draft. If he can continue to develop, he has the chance to be a bottom-six forward at the NHL level.
| Parker Alcos | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 181 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 2023 | Port Moody, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Parker was one of the more noticeable Oil Kings players on an otherwise forgettable night for the team. He is settling into WHL play nicely and appears to be getting more comfortable with the pace of play. Parker carried the puck with his head up and made accurate passes up to his forwards. Moving forward, Parker must become more comfortable carrying the puck, as he is rather hesitant to go with it. Defensively, he timed his jumps well and was able to close the gap quickly to force a turnover or dump-in. Parker is not a quick skater, nor is he dynamic, and thus struggled to escape pressure at times. and on one play, turned the puck over behind his net, which led to a chance against. As Parker was not drafted in the 2021 WHL Draft and signed with the Oil Kings as a free agent, his development curve is unique and interesting. As a big and smooth right-shot defenseman, he is one to continue to monitor.
| Gavin Hodnett | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | L | C | 5’7″ | 158 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 2021 | Winnipeg, MB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Gavin scored a beautiful goal at the end of the second while on the power play. He made a great cross-ice pass to Lajoie (through the tripod of Danielson), which led to an errant shot. The puck came all the way around the board and was held in at the line by Port. Port made a short pass to Gavin who attacked the killers with speed from the line. He used the nearest killer as a screen and wired a quick shot past the goaltender. Gavin is an intelligent player who positioned himself well defensively and was able to find open teammates and space defensively. Gavin continues to get out-muscled at times and must work to add size and strength if he wishes to play pro. Gavin finished the game a disappointing -4 but 8/14 in the faceoff circle. It is worth noting that Gavin plays top-line minutes for the Oil Kings and doesn’t get the benefit of protected minutes like most players his age.
Photo Credit; Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Player Evaluations: Nick Earle