The 2004s.
Dylan Ernst (G, L, 6’2″, 171, Kamloops Blazers, 02/06/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Dylan is currently in his fifth and final season with the Blazers. Despite a lopsided score in this game, he did his part to keep his team competitive. Dylan excelled at getting square to initial shots and maintained an upright chest position when down in his butterfly or moving laterally across the crease. However, we noted that on the first goal against, Dylan was beaten five-hole while moving laterally, as he failed to keep his stick down. This was the only instance we observed of this issue. Dylan competed hard to make saves, moving quickly post-to-post and tracking pucks effectively through traffic. He also directed rebounds well off his pads, often steering them into corners or other safe areas. Moving forward, Dylan can work on improving his balance, as there were moments when he lost his positioning while moving across the crease. With time—or with stronger defensive support to reduce the need for him to play the role of Superman—he should be able to address this. As it stands, Dylan is one of the top WHL goaltenders and is likely to attract significant attention from NCAA programs.
Layton Feist (D, L, 5’10”, 175, Kamloops Blazers, 01/26/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Layton is a veteran of over 250 WHL games with the Regina Pats, Spokane Chiefs, and now the Kamloops Blazers. The standout aspect of his game is his skating; Layton effectively uses his edges to create space for himself before making a pass out of the zone. He also demonstrated excellent edgework at the offensive blue line, creating passing and shooting lanes while stepping up to hold the line and suppress breakouts. Defensively, Layton controlled his gap well and used his skating to force the rush to the outside. However, he needs to continue adding size and strength, as he was out-muscled in puck battles on several occasions, leading to opportunities against. As it stands, Layton would thrive in an NCAA program that allows him to develop while playing middle- or bottom-pairing minutes.
Oren Shtrom (LW, L, 5’9″, 183, Kamloops Blazers, 09/28/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Oren scored a shorthanded goal in this game by winning the puck at the defensive blue line and moving it to Finnie for a rush up ice. Finnie made an excellent pass from down low, which Oren received in the slot and one-timed past the goaltender. What impressed us most about Oren was his edgework and his off-puck spacing. In terms of edgework, he consistently wore down defenders in the offensive zone. On one play, he escaped his check and made a great pass out front, though the recipient was unable to convert. Off the puck, Oren did an excellent job of spacing himself in dangerous areas as a passing option, demonstrating strong spatial awareness and hockey intelligence. Oren’s speed also stood out, as he rushed the puck effectively and showed the ability to drop his shoulder through contact to drive up ice. He displayed patience with the puck, confident enough to wait for the right play rather than forcing a bad one. As it stands, Oren is a skilled, quick forward who would thrive at the NCAA level in a middle-six role.