Played on Mar 4, 2025
Western Hockey League
Game Played in accesso ShoWare Center
General Game Notes: After the Blazers were able to score three first period goals, this game looked to be over quickly. It took the Thunderbirds a couple periods to get going but were able to strike twice early in the third period. This one goal game made the last couple minutes gripping as chances were traded back and forth, but the Blazers were able to hang on.
Emmitt Finnie (LW, L, 6’1″, 183, Kamloops Blazers, 06/27/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Hands down, one of the best players on the ice tonight with the puck. Not so much without it, but his skill is undeniable. His ability to shake a defender one on one is a reason why he is able to create so many scoring chances out of nothing. offensive generator, and his isolated impact measure him as an elite 5v5 play driver on offense. He sees the ice well and has phenomenal puck skills, allowing him to create chances for himself and his line mates out of nothing and while also being under pressure. In his own zone, despite his lack of size, his strong skating allows him to be a plus defender thanks to his quickness and ability to stay with and pressure puck carriers.
Tommy Lafreniere (C, R, 5’11”, 172, Kamloops Blazers, 01/16/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Lafreniere was able to show tonight that he is a dynamic and creative player with excellent hands and technical skills, always capable of surprising opponents with the puck. He has strong hockey sense and an impressive passing game. However, his skating could use some improvement, along with his work in his own end. He is pure offensive, and his motor changes when a lose puck creates a transition game. In a game where his team went up early because of him, some of his defensive mistakes can be forgiven because they are up, but need to be managed. Given his elite offensive upside, to be more of a complete player he will need to refine his defensive value.
Harrison Brunicke (D, R, 6’3″, 200, Kamloops Blazers, 05/08/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Brunicke was able to show tonight that he is a natural puck mover and is at his best with the puck on his stick exiting his own zone and entering the offensive zone. He is not overly flashy with the puck, but a puck mover who helps his offense in ways that start in his own end. Much of Brunicke value also comes from his defense. He has good vision and reads and reacts to the play in his defensive zone well, allowing him to interrupt passing lanes and block shots more quickly than others. He has solid size and has some decent mobility that he was able to show getting lateral on the blue line.
Jordan Keller (F, L, 5’10”, 175, Kamloops Blazers, 03/08/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Keller is an offensive weapon every time he touches the puck. He has the agility and vision to make plays at top speed which makes him one of the harder players to play against, a reason why he is near a point per game this season. His aggressive offensive game causes him to be a little bit mistake-prone, but his elite skating and strong vision allows him to make an impact on the back check. Too many times tonight he was lost in his own end. It is clear when he has the puck, what he can do in the offensive zone, but in order to be more of a complete player, he needs to find his positioning more in the defensive zone.
Kalan Anderlini (D, L, 6’3″, 190, Kamloops Blazers, 01/09/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Anderlini was able to show tonight that he is a big, strong stay at home defenseman who plays a reliable defensive game and maintains strong positioning. He keeps things simple and safe with the puck and is not afraid of physical play, though he could utilize his size even more. While he has decent hockey sense, he is not expected to be a high scoring defenseman. With that being said, every defensemen needs to be somewhat dynamic from the blue line, getting shots through, finding passing lanes dow low, and Anderlini had chances to make some of these plays and chose to fire it back down into the corner. Not a turnover, but not a dynamic play either.
Oren Shtrom (LW, L, 5’9″, 183, Kamloops Blazers, 09/28/2004, Alaska Anchorage)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: With two assists on the night, Shtrom was able to use the space he created on the ice effectively. One of the better aspects of his game was he was able to show tonight is that he is a relentless, hardworking player who forechecks with intensity and consistently gives maximum effort. He skates hard and times his hits well. While not the most technically skilled under pressure, he still finds ways to contribute offensively when time and space is presented to him. He was able to create space tonight showing off his quick skating movements an solid footwork. He is on the smaller side but his style presents a challenge for larger, slower footed defenseman.
Radim Mrtka (D, R, 6’6″, 210, Seattle Thunderbirds, 06/09/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Mrtka can join the rush and look completely in his element playing the role of an extra forward, and has the awareness to get back on defense when he is caught. He has great puck skills and is a threat at the point in the offensive zone. In his own zone, Mrtka is efficient enough to be able to read and react to plays adequately, and despite his slower boots due to his size. He was able to show tonight that he is an offensive minded defenseman with a powerful shot and excellent playmaking instincts, making him a key asset on the power play.
Braeden Cootes (C, R, 5’11”, 185, Seattle Thunderbirds, 02/09/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Cootes is a player, he has tools to be dynamic shift in and shift out. Where he gets himself into trouble, like all skilled forwards, is wanting to do too much. As the game went on and the more desperate his team became, he really looked to make plays, sometimes at the cost of it being too risky. At minimum tonight, Cootes, plays with high intensity, using his speed to drive the net while actively looking for shooting opportunities and physical battles. His aggressive style adds an edge to his game, making him a valuable asset on the ice.
Matej Pekar (C, L, 5’10”, 170, Seattle Thunderbirds, 09/08/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: While Pekar may not have great puck skills, phenomenal size, or elite offensive or defensive instincts, he is a fantastic skater with great straight line speed and the ability to be a relentless and frustrating force on the forecheck. This, along with his willingness to play a scrappy, hard-nosed game despite his lack of size is what keeps him noticeable more shifts than not. His game needs to include holding onto pucks longer if he wants to get to the next level, how he does that is up to him.
Antonio Martorana (RW, R, 5’8″, 182, Seattle Thunderbirds, 06/18/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Martorana was able to show tonight that he is a speedy winger with strong acceleration, creating space for himself and his teammates in the offensive zone. With a powerful shot and excellent vision, he is a dynamic playmaker. He possesses good hands and puck-handling skills while also maintaining a well rounded game. Defensively, Martorana lacks overall awareness and positioning skills. He too often gets caught in his own end, unable to process the game quick enough to read and react to what’s unfolding before him and make a defensive impact. Due to his smaller size, he gets bumped around on both sides of the puck, but with his work rate, always stays in the play.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images