General Game Notes: Neutral Zone viewed a high-scoring affair as the Kelowna Rockets came away with a 7-6 win over the visiting Calgary Hitmen on December 30, 2023. Our scout focused on draft-eligible players in this game. Tij Iginla was a standout in this game and currently sits fourth in scoring for draft-eligible WHL players. Hitmen defender Carter Yakemchuk did not play in this contest. Each player below has been given a grade based solely on their performance in this game.
| Carson Wetsch | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 165 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | North Vancouver, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Carson recorded 2 power play assists (one appeared to be a phantom assist) in this game and now has 23 points in 34 games. On his assist, Carson threw a hard hit on the Rockets’ defender behind the net, which forced a turnover. He then fed a pass to Valliant in the high slot, who one-timed it for the goal. Carson is listed at 6’2′ and 187 pounds and can play a power-forward style of game. On multiple occasions, he forced turnovers with stick-checks and positioning before hemming the Rockets deep in their end. He dominated the cycle offensively and routinely made strong passes to teammates. Due to his anticipation and ability to battle and get in lanes, Carson was trusted to kill penalties. Despite being just an average straight-line skater for this level of play, Carson was able to rush the puck up ice effectively and displayed skill with the puck. At the moment, he projects as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level. He is someone who will be able to infuse size and physicality into the lineup, as well as depth scoring. As Carson plays on Calgary’s second line, he does not get much help from his linemates in the way of scoring, which has hurt his point totals this season. After a strong showing at the Hlinka this summer, Carson should suit up for Canada at the U18 Championships this Spring.
| Chase Valliant | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 181 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Surrey, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Chase recorded a goal in this game and now has 14 points in 33 games. On his goal, Chase snuck to open space in the high slot after Wetsch forced a turnover. He was open for his teammate to pass the puck to him and hammered it past the goaltender for the goal. In the offensive zone, he consistently positioned himself to be a passing option and did a good job of identifying weaknesses in the defense. He made strong passes to teammates and was overall responsible with the puck. He displayed a commitment to the defensive side of the puck, and on one rush, he turned a 2-on-1 into a 2-on-2 and stifled the play. Unfortunately, on Kelowna’s fifth goal, Chase was turned inside out by Szturc and faced the end wall, as Szturc cut back toward the slot and buried it. Overall, Chase showed glimpses of strong positional play and is someone who is still raw but looks to have a promising future at the WHL level.
| Tij Iginla | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 186 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: A- |
Game Grade: A
Comments: Tij recorded 2 assists in this contest and now has 47 points in 35 games this season. On his first assist, Iginla received a pass from Gojsic from behind the net. As a left shot, Tij was low down on the left side and thus had a tough angle from which to shoot. Most players would have forced a bad shot, but instead, he patiently allowed the goaltender to come across and then slipped a pass to Cicek, who was open at the top of the crease for the goal. This was a patient and intelligent play from the ’06 forward. On his second assist, Tij showcased his strength and poise in tight as he was initially held against the wall in the right corner. He was able to break free, deked past three Hitmen defenders, and slip a backhand pass to Gojsic in the slot, who one-timed the pass into the net. Tij is an average straight-line skater for this level of play but showcased a strong first step and quickness in tight. Listed at 6’0′ tall and 186 pounds, Tij looks bigger than listed and looks like he could still grow and will most surely fill out. He is currently a beast in transition as he is able to force turnovers in the defensive end and the neutral zone, and then deke his way up ice with the puck. He uses quite a long stick, and he consistently was able to get it into passing lanes and tipped passes away from their intended targets. On one penalty kill shift, Tij controlled the puck for 15+ seconds and managed to play keep away from the Hitmen while generating chances for himself offensively. In tight to the goal and along the boards, Tij did a good job of boxing out opponents while keeping his stick loose to handle pucks. This was an impressive performance from Tij, who should hear his name called very early in June. Iginla projects as a power forward who can skate and handle the puck like a small forward. He is as dominant in traffic as he is in open ice, and he is poised to excel at the NHL level. It is also worth noting that Tij is an August birthday and is thus one of the youngest players in this year’s draft cohort.
| Ethan Mittelsteadt | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 178 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2020 | Victoria, BC | 2005 | 2023-2024: No Grade |
Comments: Ethan is a smooth skating defender who was excellent when defending the rush due in large part to his ability to cross over laterally while moving backward to close gaps. The left-shot defender stopped a 2-on-1 rush against, as he read the pass perfectly and was able to dive to get in the way of the puck. Due to his ability to get into passing lanes, he was trusted by his coach to be out on the ice to kill a 5-on-3 penalty. Offensively, he managed an assist on a power play as he fed a pass through the killers’ box to Szturc, who moved it to Cristall for the goal. Ethan is generously listed at 6’0′ tall and was pushed around the ice at times. Due to his lack of size and strength, as well as the fact that he is an ’05+, it is unlikely that Ethan will be drafted in June. Due to his skating and his defensive reads, he will more than likely have a strong WHL career before joining the USports ranks.
| Hiroki Gojsic | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | R | RW | 6’3″ | 198 | Victoria Royals | 2021 | Langley, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Hiroki recorded a goal and an assist in this game and now has 19 points in 35 games. On his assist, Hiroki won a puck battle down low and moved the puck to Iginla, who moved it out front to Cicek for the goal. On his goal, Iginla fed a pass to Hiroki in the slot, and he one-timed the feed into the back of the net. It is worth noting that Iginla was dominant in this game, and he was the main catalyst on both of Hiroki’s points. If Hiroki continues to play with Iginla, then his point totals will become a bit inflated. That being said, Hiroki made intelligent reads with the puck and often identified strong passing options. He did struggle to get his passes off in time, and defenders were often able to deflect them out of harm’s way. In all aspects of his play, Hiroki must be quicker if he wishes to play at the pro level in the future. Given his size, physicality, and intelligence, an NHL team may risk a late-round pick on him.
Scout: Nick Earle