The 2004s.
Dylan Ernst (G, L, 6’2″, 171, Kamloops Blazers, 02/06/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Athleticism: Ernst is an extremely athletic goaltender with quick reflexes and excellent lateral movement. His explosiveness going post-to-post is one of his standout attributes. He consistently battles through traffic to track the puck, making him difficult to beat on initial shots. Rebound Control: Ernst excels at managing rebounds, directing pucks out of high-danger areas or absorbing shots to limit second chances. Glove Hand: His glove hand is particularly strong, catching pucks cleanly and quickly. It serves as a reliable tool to neutralize scoring opportunities. Competitive Edge: He has a ‘never quit’ mentality, always staying in the play regardless of the situation. Even when out of position, his athleticism allows him to make desperation saves. Positioning on Screens: Ernst works hard to maintain vision through traffic, showing a willingness to battle for sightlines and his ice. Weaknesses: Overplaying Situations: Ernst has a tendency to overcommit to puck carriers, especially on plays involving royal road passes. This often leaves him vulnerable to backdoor or cross-ice tap-ins. Technical Refinement: While effective, his movements can lack technical soundness. At times, his saves appear unorthodox, relying on athleticism rather than precise positioning. Crease Management: He can wander from the top of his crease, occasionally leaving himself exposed during scrambling situations. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Dylan Ernst is adjusting well to his role as a number-one goaltender in Kamloops and has shown promising development. However, refining his technical game and improving his situational reads are crucial for his professional potential. Playing in an NCAA environment would greatly benefit Ernst by providing: Enhanced Off-Ice Development: The NCAA schedule emphasizes strength, speed, and explosiveness training, which would allow Ernst to add muscle to his 6’2′, 170-pound frame. Improved physical development would increase his durability and ability to hold his crease more effectively against bigger, faster competition. Practice-to-Game Ratio: The NCAA’s reduced game schedule offers more time for technical refinement, such as crease management, angle play, and reading offensive setups. Ernst would have more opportunities to work closely with goalie coaches to address his overplaying tendencies. Adapting to Diverse Play Styles: NCAA hockey’s varied styles of play, which include exposure to older, more experienced players, would help Ernst develop better anticipation and puck tracking skills in high-pressure situations. Conclusion: Dylan Ernst is a highly athletic goaltender with potential to play professionally. While he has shown strong competitive instincts and physical tools, his game would benefit from enhanced technical precision and decision-making. An NCAA pathway would offer him the structured development environment needed to refine his raw athleticism and transition to the pro game with a more complete foundation. Ernst is a player to watch as he matures and addresses the areas of his game that require refinement.
Layton Feist (D, L, 5’10”, 175, Kamloops Blazers, 01/26/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Skating and Agility: Feist’s quick feet and smooth lateral mobility are standout assets. His ability to contain cycles in the defensive zone and maintain a tight gap in transition showcases his excellent skating mechanics, particularly his lateral movement without over-relying on crossovers to maintain gaps. Hockey IQ and Awareness: Feist demonstrates strong situational awareness, as seen in his ability to win 50/50 puck battles and make smart plays under pressure. His decisions in the defensive grey areas to chip the puck to the neutral zone illustrates his ability to quickly assess and execute effective plays. Offensive Contribution: Feist has an active stick in the offensive zone and understands how to create opportunities for his forwards. His shot on a quick-release one-timer shows his awareness to capitalize on offensive chances and get pucks through traffic efficiently. Special Teams Presence: Feist is a reliable secondary power-play option who can distribute pucks effectively from the blue line. His confidence in his shot and passing ability make him a valuable contributor in man-advantage situations. Weaknesses: Size and Physicality: At 5’10’ and 175 pounds, Feist is slightly undersized for a defenseman, which can make him a target for physical forwards. He struggled against physicality in the game versus Prince George, absorbing four hard body checks and occasionally losing body position along the walls and in tight areas. Decision-Making Under Pressure: Feist’s tendency to turn his back to the play highlights a need to maintain better puck awareness in high-pressure scenarios. Turnovers: Feist recorded four giveaways versus Prince George, signaling a need to improve puck security, especially in contested areas or when pressured by aggressive forechecks. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Layton Feist is a smart, agile, and offensively capable defenseman who could further develop his game by transitioning to the NCAA. The structure of NCAA hockey would provide the following benefits: Increased Physical Development: The extended offseason and emphasis on strength training in the NCAA would allow Feist to add muscle mass to better handle the physical demands of professional hockey. Improved strength would help him hold his position against larger opponents and improve his effectiveness in puck battles. Enhanced Practice Time: The NCAA’s practice-to-game ratio offers the opportunity to refine his defensive positioning, particularly inside of the house and while defending line rushes. More practice time would allow Feist to address issues like his tendency to lose puck awareness and reduce turnovers under pressure. Special Teams Growth: With more structured special teams systems, Feist could hone his power-play quarterbacking skills and further develop his penalty-killing acumen, making him a more versatile player at the next level. Adapting to Physicality: Competing against older, stronger players in the NCAA would prepare Feist for the rigors of professional hockey, allowing him to acclimate to playing against more physically mature opponents. Conclusion: Layton Feist is a promising, agile puck-moving defenseman who thrives on his skating and hockey IQ. While his size and decision-making under pressure need improvement, the NCAA route would provide the structured development environment required to address these areas. With time to physically mature and refine his defensive game, Feist has the potential to transition to the professional level as a dynamic, two-way defenseman.
Oren Shtrom (LW, L, 5’9″, 183, Kamloops Blazers, 09/28/2004)
Comments: Strengths: High Work Ethic and Motor: Shtrom’s relentless effort stands out. He competes hard on pucks, consistently demonstrating a second and third effort in all areas of the ice. His ability to backcheck with purpose and communicate effectively with defensemen highlights his maturity as a 200-foot player. Speed and Agility: Shtrom’s quickness and explosiveness make him a threat in transition and in the offensive zone. He wins races to loose pucks and creates space with his acceleration, both with and without the puck. His ability to hit open gaps at high speed makes him a presence in transition. Puck Skills and Poise: He shows above-average puck skills, scanning the ice with his head up and making quick, decisive plays. His vision and ability to create offensive opportunities for himself and his linemates are notable. Escape Ability: Shtrom’s agility and slipperiness in tight spaces make him difficult to pin down. His top-end escape ability allows him to maintain puck possession in high-pressure situations. Defensive Awareness: As a responsible 200-foot forward, Shtrom plays hard end wall to end wall, showing strong defensive instincts and a commitment to tracking back. Weaknesses: Size and Physicality: At 5’9′ and 183 pounds, Shtrom lacks ideal size for professional hockey. While he competes hard, he will need to add muscle mass to handle physical battles and protect the puck more effectively at the next level. Turnovers: In the game versus Prince George, Shtrom recorded four giveaways. This highlights an area where he needs to improve puck security, particularly in contested areas. Finish in Scoring Opportunities: Despite creating chances, Shtrom’s offensive production could benefit from a more deceptive release, as evidenced by only one Grade ‘A’ scoring opportunity in this game. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Oren Shtrom’s motor, agility, and hockey IQ make him an intriguing prospect, but further development is necessary to maximize his potential. Choosing the NCAA route would provide him with the following advantages: Physical Development: The NCAA’s structured off-ice training programs and detailed strength coaches would allow Shtrom to add muscle mass and improve his physical strength, enabling him to better compete in puck battles and withstand the rigors of professional hockey. Practice Time: With a higher practice-to-game ratio in the NCAA, Shtrom would have more time to refine his puck protection, decision-making, and finishing ability in high-pressure situations. Competing Against Older Players: Facing older, stronger players in the NCAA would help him adapt to the physicality and speed of professional hockey, allowing for a smoother transition to the pro ranks. Expanded Role: The NCAA’s style of play and focus on player development could allow Shtrom to explore expanded offensive and defensive roles, further rounding out his game. Conclusion: Oren Shtrom is a high-motor, quick, and agile forward with strong 200-foot game potential. His ability to create offense and battle hard in all three zones makes him a valuable asset. However, he must focus on adding strength, improving puck security, and capitalizing on his opportunities. The NCAA environment offers an ideal setting for Shtrom to build upon his strengths and address his weaknesses, positioning him as an effective depth forward in professional hockey.
Borya Valis (LW, R, 6’1″, 196, Prince George Cougars, 04/01/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Skating Mechanics and Speed: Valis is an excellent skater with smooth mechanics, above-average speed, and excellent balance. His long stride allows him to cover ice efficiently, making him a consistent threat in transition and off the rush. Net-Front Presence: His size and strength enable him to drive to the net effectively, particularly on wide attacks. Valis uses his body to protect the puck, create space, and capitalize on rebounds. Offensive Instincts: Valis exhibits timing and awareness in the offensive zone, often positioning himself in scoring areas before the defender is aware. His shot is powerful and accurate, making him a legitimate goal-scoring threat, particularly on the power play. Puck Protection and Playmaking: He works hard along the boards and in the corners to win puck battles, scan the ice, and set up teammates. His ability to make quick decisions and effective plays under pressure adds to his offensive value. Two-Way Play: Defensively, Valis is reliable and uses his size and skating ability to disrupt opposing plays. He consistently tracks back hard and makes positive contributions in the defensive zone. Physical Edge: Valis does not shy away from physicality, as evidenced by his involvement in post-whistle scrums and his willingness to lay hard body checks. His ability to play with an edge while remaining effective makes him a difficult player to compete against. Weaknesses: Turnovers: Valis recorded seven giveaways in this game, suggesting room for improvement in puck management and the ability to adapt on the fly, particularly under pressure or in transition. Consistency in Physical Engagement: While he shows flashes of using his size to dominate physically, there is potential to increase his physical involvement in more game situations. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Borya Valis has the potential to be a productive two-way forward at the professional level, but continued development in several areas will be key. The NCAA path would offer Valis the following advantages: Physical Development: The NCAA’s structured strength and conditioning programs would allow Valis to maximize his 6’1″, 196-pound frame, improving his ability to dominate puck battles and maintain net-front positioning against stronger opponents. Refinement of Puck Management: The NCAA’s practice-to-game ratio provides more time for skill development, allowing Valis to work on puck protection, decision-making under pressure, and minimizing turnovers. Special Teams Role Expansion: The NCAA environment would allow Valis to fine-tune his effectiveness on both the power play and penalty kill, further rounding out his skill set. Exposure to Mature Competition: Competing against older, more experienced players in the NCAA would help Valis refine his physical game and improve his discipline, preparing him for the rigors of professional hockey. Conclusion: Borya Valis is an intriguing prospect with an intriguing combination of size, speed, and overall instincts. His ability to create havoc both offensively and defensively makes him a consistent contributor. While he must improve his puck management and discipline, the NCAA route would provide him with the tools and environment to refine his game. Valis projects as a versatile, two-way forward with secondary goal-scoring upside and the potential to transition successfully to the pro game.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images