Neutral Zone focused on players who we feel have attributes to turn into NHL prospects.
| Hyde Davidson | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 160 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Edmonton, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Davidson was third among Seattle defenders with 22:56 of total ice time including 1:06 while on the power play and 1:49 while shorthanded. He finished the game +1 with 0 points, 1 hard one-timer from the right point, 0 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 7 giveaways, 9 takeaways and for the season he is averaging sixteen 50/50 puck battles per game and he is winning 49% of them. He has an NHL frame with an easy glide and full length stride. His knee over to skating posture will allow him to gain speed as he gains strength and weight. Davidson looked to join the rush as a secondary option understanding how to fill lanes and add depth to the rush. Of his seven giveaways 1 came on an icing where he failed to reach the redline for a dump-in, 1 came on the power play in front of his net where he tried to get too cute and another came on his first shift in the third period where he became hurried to force a pass high in his zone into the middle. Defensively he used a hidden pike check to cause bobbled pucks and he then used his body to separate his opponent from the puck and create transition. He played with his head up and his passes were generally flat.
| Bryce Pickford | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | R | D | 5’11” | 160 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Edmonton, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Pickford was second among Seattle defenders with 25:24 in total ice time including 1:14 on the power play and was third on the team with 3:14 of ice time while shorthanded. After defending his goalie during a net front scrum that turned into extended digging for a loose puck that wasn’t there, Pickford had a spirited fight with 13:40 remaining in the second period. On the night he finished +1 with 0 points, 2 shots, 5 PIMs, 1 hit, received 1 hit, 7 giveaways, 6 takeaways and on the season he is averaging fourteen 50/50 puck battles per game and winning 57% of them. Pickford did have two shots blocked with one of them ending offensive zone time for Seattle.
| Simon Lovsin | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 150 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Qualicum Beach, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Lovsin is a slightly below average sized right shot right wing who stopped on every puck and looked to be a disruptive force as the F1 on the forecheck. He played an aggressive style that made his opponents continually look over their shoulder to see if he was coming and where he was on the ice. He had seven minutes in penalties that came after his teammate was hit from behind and Lovsin went right after the offending player to make him answer the bell. He scored an empty net goal and had the primary assist on Seattle’s forth goal of the game after he won a loose puck battle along the wall and found his linemate on the face-off dot. Although he spent 7 minutes in the penalty box he earned 16:04 in total ice time including ranking forth among Thunderbird forwards with 4:49 on the power play and was third among forwards with 2:02 while shorthanded. On the night he finished even with 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 shot, 1 grade ‘A’ opportunity, 7 PIMs, 2 hits, received 1 hits, 8 giveaways, 2 takeaways and on the season he is winning 40% of 50/50 puck battles.
| Kaleb Hartmann | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | D | 5’11” | 170 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2022 | Langley, BC | 2007 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Hartmann is an smooth skating undersized left shot defender who has above average acceleration, lateral agility and passing skills. On the night he totaled 7:05 in ice time. He did not play on either special team units. He finished even with 0 points, 1 shot, 0 hits, received 1 hit, 3 giveaways, 2 takeaways and on the season he is winning 48% of his puck battles.
| Kazden Mathies | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | C | 5’11” | 172 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2022 | Martensville, SK | 2007 | 2024-2025: B- |
Game Grade: C
Comments: The 2007 Mathies is a slightly below average sized left shot center with a forward leaning skating base that allowed him to have a quick first three steps. He played with his head on a swivel and in the defensive zone he did a nice job of staying on the defensive side of the puck. For the game he totaled 12:24 in total ice time including 0:49 while shorthanded. On Brandon’s first goal his failed clearing attempt led to their first goal of the game. On the night he finished -2 with 0 points, 0 shots, 2 PIMs on an offensive zone trip, 4/7 on face-offs, 1 hit, received 2 hits, had a team and game high 3 shots blocked, 5 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 50% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Nishaan Parmar | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | R | RW | 6’1″ | 185 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Surrey, BC | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Parmar is a right shot right wing with an NHL frame and a deep knee skating base. On the night he totaled 14:55 in total ice time including 3:38 on the power play and 0:08 while shorthanded. He finished -1, with 1 assist, 1 shot, 1 grade ‘A’ opportunity, 2 PIMs for a high stick in the offensive zone, 1 hit, received 2 hits, 6 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 39% of his 50/50 puck battles. At this point Neutral Zone does not see Parmar as a potential 2024 NHL draft pick.
| Braeden Cootes | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | R | C | 5’11” | 172 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2022 | Sherwood Park, AB | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: A
Comments: The 2007 Cootes is a slightly below average sized right shot center who went 11/25 on face-offs, including going 3/5 in the defensive zone. He was second among Seattle forwards with 25:24 in total ice time including being forth among forwards on the power play with 4:31 and second among forwards while shorthanded with 2:03 time on the ice. He had a team high 6 grade ‘A’ scoring opportunities which lead to six shots on a net and quick stick sweeping one-timer for a power play goal. He also had two assists with one coming off an extended cycle and the other coming when Brandon’s net was empty and he won a center ice face-off. We love the confidence he showed when looking to make plays but he did have 8 giveaways with all of them coming as a result of Cootes trying to force plays into the royal road rather than using his skill set to protect the puck.
| Antonio Martorana | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | R | F | 5’7″ | 154 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2022 | Edmonton, AB | 2007 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: C
Comments: The 2007 Martorana is an undersized quick agile right shot right wing who played forth line minutes for the Thunderbirds. His quickness is his real asset and he gains strength he could turn into an offensive catalyst for Seattle. For the night he totaled 11:43 in ice time. He did not play ion special teams with the exception of 0;04 seconds of clean-up shorthanded time. He finished +1 with 0 points, 1 grade ‘A’ opportunity, 0 hits, received 1 hit, 2 give aways, 0 takeaways and on the season he is winning 33% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Samuel Charko | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | F | 5’11” | 174 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2022 | Whitecourt, AB | 2007 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: The 2007 Charko is a slightly below average sized left shot left wing who competes hard and expects to win every loose puck battle. He may have been drafted in in the 9th round at #192 overall by Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft but is playing forth line minutes for the Thunderbirds right now. Tonight he earned 6:22 in total ice time, was +1, had 1 grade ‘A’ opportunity, 1 giveaway, 4 take aways and for the season he is winning 61% of his puck battles.
| Spencer Michnik | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 185 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Sylvan Lake, AB | 2006 | 2024-2025: C+ |
Comments: The late 2006 did not play. For the 2023/24 season he has played in two game with 1.50 GAA, 0.946 sv% and has a 1-0 record.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images