Carson Bjarnason (G, L, 6’3″, 202, Brandon Wheat Kings, 06/23/2005)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Bjarnason faced 54 shot attempts with 27 hitting the net and 13 of those from inside of the house. He gave up four goals with the first coming on a quick 2 on 1 from the offensive blueline. On the play his defenseman slid but the Saskatoon player was able to evade the slide and fire a goal mouth pass to the to of the crease, It’s tough to say he could have gotten a stick on the pass but there is no doubt that he wanted it back. The second while Saskatoon was on the power play on a one-timer from below the face-off circle to his left. The Blades showed good puck movement and deception and Bjarnason read the passing sequence but the puck squeezed through. The third goal was also on the power play but on this one Bjarnason had a clean look at the puck but was just beaten cleanly high to his blocker on the short side. Yes the shot was a heater but in a tie game midway through the second period it is a save he has to make. The 4th goal came on a partial breakaway from the defensive blueline in where the goal scorer cut hard across the top of the crease from Bjarnason’s left to right and chipped the puck short side shelf above his glove. Again it was a heck of an individual effort by the goal scorer but it a shot that Bjarnason would like to have back. The 5th goal was an empty netter.
Seth Tansem (D, R, 5’11”, 176, Brandon Wheat Kings, 01/03/2006)
Game Grade: C
Comments: Tansem is an undersized smooth skating right shot defender who moves the puck quickly and does a good job of understanding how to stay out of trouble. He earned 8:13 in total ice time including 0:13 on the power play. He did not kill penalties. He finished even had 1 shot blocked, 1 giveaway, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 54% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Charlie Elick (D, R, 6’3″, 201, Brandon Wheat Kings, 01/17/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Elick is a long rangy right shot defender who plays with physicality and an edge. In this one his night ended with 10:03 remaining in the second period after he was penalized for a kneeing major after miss timing a neutral zone step up. Prior to that he had earned 8:46 in ice time including 1:49 shorthanded. He did not play any power play minutes during the first two opportunities that he was available for. He finished with a secondary assist on Brandon’s second goal after he recognized Saskatoon was caught in a bad line change and fired a rocket pass from his end to the far blueline. It was a simple heads up pass that will be required in the NHL. He finished +1 with 15 PIMs, 2 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 53% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Jaxon Jacobson (LW, L, 5’8″, 162, Brandon Wheat Kings, 12/11/2008)
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Jacobson is an elite December 2008 who has a knack for creating mismatches in speed and finding space where there seems to be none. He showed a smooth first touch without needing to settling rolling pucks before giving a flat pass. He is quick agile and showed four way explosiveness. His cross-under when coming off of contact allowed him to generate speed and separation. He earned 18:56 in total ice time including 3:14 on the power play and 0:23 on the penalty kill. He finished even with 1 goal, 1 primary assist, 1 shot, 2 PIMs, 4/13 on face-offs, had 2 shots blocked, 6 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Caleb Hadland (LW, R, 5’10”, 174, Brandon Wheat Kings, 03/06/2006)
Game Grade: B
Comments: Hadland is a below average sized left shot forward who played an abrasive style. He used his low center of gravity and powerful frame to knock opponents off their stride and had a beautiful open ice hit at his defensive blueline. With 4:01 left in the second he came to the defense of a teammate after he was hit from behind and although he took the worst of the confrontation it is the type of play that endears you to teammates, coaches and fans. He earned 14:49 in ice time including 1:01 on the power play and 3:18 on the penalty kill. He finished -1 with 1 shot, 9 PIMs, 1 hit, had 2 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 47% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Roger McQueen (RW, R, 6’5″, 192, Brandon Wheat Kings, 10/02/2006)
Injured
Joby Baumuller (RW, R, 5’11”, 190, Brandon Wheat Kings, 07/19/2007)
Injured
Carter Klippenstein (F, L, 6’3″, 170, Brandon Wheat Kings, 11/25/2006)
Did not play
Brady Turko (F, R, 5’7″, 130, Brandon Wheat Kings, 09/12/2007)
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Turko is an undersized right shot forward who is very light on his feet and showed a willingness to go to the dirty area at the top of the crease. He earned 15:46 in total ice time including 1:33 on the power play. He did not kill penalties. He finished even with 1 goal (deflection off his left foot), 3 shots, 3 grade “A” opportunities, 5 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 56% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images