Played on Mar 14, 2025
Western Hockey League
Game Played in Prospera Place
General Game Notes: Emmitt Finnie led the way for the visiting Kamloops Blazers over the Kelowna Rockets with a goal and two assists as he was a threat all night. The win keeps the Blazers slim playoff hopes alive. The difference in the game seemed to be Finnie’s goal which was shorthanded putting the visitors up 2-1. Will Sharpe scored a beauty going end to end on the powerplay beating goaltender Dylan Ernst over the glove.
Matteo Koci (D, L, 5’11”, 182, Kamloops Blazers, 06/07/2005)
Game Rating
B
Matteo Koci showcased his impressive hockey skills in this game. His high energy level and willingness to hustle back into his own end set a strong tone for his team’s defense. Koci possesses excellent feet, allowing him to move quickly and efficiently across the ice. His mobility backwards is also notable, enabling him to effectively cover his defensive zone. The player demonstrates good overall speed and handles the puck with confidence, making accurate passes to his teammates. On special teams, Koci proves himself to be a valuable asset, and his ability to play on the top pair with Brunicke highlights his versatility as a defenseman.
1 Viewing
Comments: Koci is an impressive defenseman for the Blazers, showcasing exceptional skating ability and mobility that make him a dynamic presence on the backend. His skillful puck handling and poise under pressure allow him to effectively evade would-be checkers, often using just a couple of quick strides to create separation. Koci is not only reliable defensively; he actively contributes to the offensive game by confidently jumping into the attack as a third or fourth man or even leading the rush with his speed. His awareness is evident as he pre-scans during puck retrievals, consistently making solid first passes to initiate plays. On this particular night, Koci logged over 19 minutes of ice time, demonstrating his versatility and reliability in both power play and penalty-killing situations, further underscoring his value as a two-way defenseman.
Emmitt Finnie (LW, L, 6’1″, 183, Kamloops Blazers, 06/27/2005)
Game Rating
A-
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1 Viewing
Comments: Finnie is a high end player with an overall excellent skill set that makes him a constant threat on the ice. His very good skating ability allows him to effectively drive defensemen back through the neutral zone, creating space for himself and his teammates. Finnie’s combination of speed and excellent hands enables him to attack the middle or turn back to find late forwards crashing the slot. His relentless work ethic is evident, particularly on the penalty kill, where he showcased his persistence by forcing a turnover and setting up a teammate for a goal. Offensively, he consistently generates scoring opportunities, demonstrated by him going ‘around the world’ and fire a precise wrist shot into the top shelf. His stats at this point are also excellent, as he has 79 points on 35 goals in 51 games played. Additionally, Finnie excels in his defensive zone coverage, making him a reliable asset in all phases of the game. Overall, his skill, work ethic, and versatility make him a key player every time he steps on the ice and with continued upward trend he has a very good opportunity to succeed at the next level.
Nathan Behm (C, R, 6’1″, 195, Kamloops Blazers, 04/18/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Nathan Behm’s gameplay showcased his impressive skillset, with quickness and speed being key aspects of his performance. He excelled at cutting to the middle on the attack, creating opportunities by darting into holes in the offensive zone and using his body to push defenders back. In the defensive zone, he displayed great maneuverability, making it difficult for pursuers to gain possession. Behm’s high-end puck skills allowed him to get away from opponents and move pucks out of danger. He possesses a range of tools that enable him to play at a high level, including his ability to shoot accurately and handle the puck in tight spaces. His skating is also noteworthy, making him a threat on the attack from various angles. As a passer, Behm showed a willingness to move the puck quickly, helping his team maintain possession.
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Comments: Behm is an impressive right winger standing 6’1 who combines size with high end skill, demonstrating strong skating ability and great hands that allow him to be shifty in tight spaces. His patience with the puck is notable, as he often waits for the right moment to unleash his excellent shot or can create plays for teammates, making him a dual threat on the ice. With 31 goals in 56 games and a total of 66 points, he has proven to be a consistent offensive contributor. His deceptive quickness with the puck allows him to accelerate effectively and maintain high speed while making plays, showcasing his versatility. However, an area for improvement lies in his puck battles, where he has struggled, winning only 36% in this particular game, somewhat low for a player with his size and skill. Enhancing his effectiveness in these situations could elevate his game further and make him even more formidable presence on the ice. With that, he is a player with tremendous upside.
Tommy Lafreniere (C, R, 5’11”, 172, Kamloops Blazers, 01/16/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Lafreniere’s game is characterized by his reliability and solid skill set, which enables him to excel in various areas of the ice. He demonstrates strong positional awareness on defense, making him a dependable asset in his own end. On offense, he leverages his hockey IQ to create scoring opportunities and find open spaces. He showcases quickness in tight spaces and evasiveness along the boards, allowing him to maintain possession and evade defenders effectively. His solid skating ability is complemented by his game intelligence, which enables him to make effective decisions on the ice. While not an overly physical player, Lafreniere demonstrates persistence in recovering loose pucks. Lafreniere’s excellent maneuverability allows him to get into position for forechecks, and he shows awareness of his role in both zone coverage and breakouts. His release is also noteworthy, and he has a knack for getting himself open in the offensive zone. While he has some areas for improvement, such as being more physical in face-offs and digging deeper in defensive zones, Lafreniere’s overall skill set makes him a valuable contributor to his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lafrenière is an impressive prospect who showcases solid skating ability and speed along with high end work ethic, making him a dynamic presence on the ice. His quickness allows him to be an effective stop-and-start defender in the defensive zone, while also enabling him to maneuver swiftly through the neutral zone and evade defenders in tight situations within the offensive zone. Lafrenière demonstrates a keen hockey IQ, consistently making smart, slick plays with the puck, which contributes to his effectiveness as a key player on both the top power play and penalty-killing units, logging an impressive 21 minutes of ice time in this outing. While he excels in many areas, including puck release and offensive zone creativity, he does need to improve his performance in puck battles, having won only 36% on this occasion. Overall, Lafrenière possesses a well-rounded skill set that translates well to higher levels of competition, making him a valuable asset for any team.
Jordan Keller (F, L, 5’10”, 175, Kamloops Blazers, 03/08/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Keller’s two-way play style sets him apart as a solid contributor to both the offense and defense. He consistently demonstrates positional awareness, which allows him to effectively block shots on the penalty kill. While his skating is technically sound, his speed leaves room for improvement in driving through the neutral zone. However, Keller excels in puck retrieval and making plays under pressure when in the offensive zone. His intelligence and ability to lead are evident, as he carries significant ice time and has a strong faceoff win percentage. Overall, Keller’s dedication and skill make him a valuable asset to any team, with his versatility and work ethic being notable aspects of his game.
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Comments: Keller is an very good left handed centre who displays a strong work ethic and has put up some good offensive numbers this season. His excellent speed allows him to drive the attack effectively, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone. Keller’s awareness is a standout trait; he demonstrated this as he won a puck battle down low in his own zone, then executed a savvy bump pass to a supporting teammate in the middle, facilitating a smooth breakout. That being said, an area for improvement is more attention to detail on the down low coverage as his plus/minus currently stands at a disappointing -36. As a key contributor on the top power-play unit, he leverages his speed as a late option on breakout effectively navigating his way through traffic allowing for consistent, clean entries and showcases his playmaking ability on the flank. With an impressive stat line of 29 goals and 32 assists in 63 games, Keller proves to be both a capable scorer and a skilled distributor, making him an invaluable asset to his team and will be a key contributor at the next level.
Kanjyu Gojsic (RW, R, 6’0″, 190, Kelowna Rockets, 01/11/2008)
Game Rating
B
Kanjyu Gojsic displayed a well-rounded skill set in his performance, showcasing his physicality and speed. His stocky frame allowed him to play aggressively and separate opponents from the puck, but he also demonstrated agility by diving into open ice for a goal. On offense, Gojsic exhibited strong hand-eye coordination with quick shots on net, including a highlight-reel wrister. He is an effective forechecker, using his speed to outmaneuver defenders and create scoring opportunities. Additionally, Gojsic’s ability to read the game and make smart decisions in both attack and defense was evident, as he effectively rolled off checks and found open space behind the net.
1 Viewing
Comments: Gojsic is an intriguing 2008 prospect with a solid combination of speed and physicality that makes him a compelling player to watch. He possesses very good top-end speed and agility, allowing him to effectively beat defensemen wide, as demonstrated during a notable play where he did just that and cut hard to the net, creating a significant scoring opportunity. His robust, physical style of play is a standout aspect of his game, as evidenced by his current ranking as 24th in the league for hits but he needs to be more consistent with this aspect of his game. While his hands are decent, his quick-release shot adds a valuable dimension to his offensive game. At a young age, Gojsic has the potential to develop into an effective power forward if he fully commits to playing a hard-nosed style, focusing on playing the body, winning puck battles and improving his takeaway numbers. With continued growth in these areas, he could become an effective contributor at higher levels.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images