Played on Dec 10, 2025
Game Played in InnovationPlex
Harrison Boettiger (G, L, 6’2″, 189, Kelowna Rockets, 12/11/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Harrison was solid for Kelowna in this game. It was a slow start for him, as his team dominated much of the early play. Despite long stretches without action, Harrison stayed focused and engaged, and once tested he was locked in and active in net. His greatest strength is his quickness, including his post-to-post movement and ability to locate pucks in traffic during scrambles around the crease. Facing only 23 shots, Harrison allowed four goals against. He was only beaten cleanly on the final goal, which came on a mini breakaway and a well-executed move by the opponent. Overall, it was a solid performance that tested Harrison’s ability to remain present despite limited action.
Owen Hayden (D, L, 6’6″, 207, Kelowna Rockets, 01/09/2009)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Owen is adapting to the WHL level and doing so very well. He is not an offensive defenseman, but rather a defensive defenseman with solid puck skills that allow him to move the puck up to his forwards. He has a strong first pass, but his main attributes at this stage are his size and strength when defending. His reach is incredibly long, and with an accurate, active stick, Owen breaks up plays effectively. When opponents try to beat him wide off the rush, Owen shows he is a very capable skater for his size, with no issues surfing the play and re-attacking. A major positive from this underage player was his net-front presence. He did not allow opponents to stand in front of his goalie and was very active in clearing the crease and protecting his netminder. Owen has a lot of room to grow into his frame while continuing to learn his game. If he continues to focus on his details, he projects as a strong shutdown defenseman in the near future.
Levi Benson (LW, L, 5’7″, 156, Kelowna Rockets, 10/04/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Levi is what some coaches would call an energy player. He is relentless, fast, and very quick. As a smaller player, he makes up for his size with these qualities and a high hockey IQ. Levi thinks the game away from the puck, finding the right times to dive into holes or become the best outlet for his teammates. With Kelowna missing some important offensive players, this game saw players like Levi step up and take control. His relentless forechecking created turnovers, and he consistently held onto pucks in the offensive zone while finding open space and making plays despite pressure from behind. Levi’s goal came off a change, as he came off the bench streaking down the far side and received a well-timed pass. With time and space heading downhill, Levi showcased his excellent release with a well-placed shot that beat the Broncos goalie. Adding in his assist and a plus-two rating, this was a very solid game from Levi.
Hayden Paupanekis (C, R, 6’5″, 206, Kelowna Rockets, 02/04/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Paupanekis is an extremely large centerman who has a well-rounded game in every zone for the Kelowna Rockets. With his size, defense comes naturally. His reach with his stick and on-ice awareness allow him to take time and space away from his opponents, shutting down their offense. When factoring in his hardworking and powerful demeanor in corner battles, Hayden escapes with the puck more times than not. Offensively, Hayden blends a power forward style with elevated puck skills and skating ability. He can weave up the ice through opponents with powerful strides and wide hands. A clear example of this came in the third period when Hayden came streaking through the neutral zone and toe-dragged the opposing defenseman without missing a stride. With his size and overall skill set, it would be no surprise to see Hayden reach the professional level if he continues to develop his overall game. Tonight, he finished with an assist and won 14 of 24 faceoffs for a 58 percent success rate.
Aiden Eskit (G, R, 5’9″, 160, Swift Current Broncos, 02/07/2008)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: As an undersized goaltender, Aiden works extremely hard, which is evident in how much he moves within his crease. He entered the game ten minutes in after his goalie partner was pulled following three quick goals. This situation can be challenging for a goaltender, but Aiden managed the remainder of the game very well. In tight, he is difficult to beat due to his mobility and ability to quickly square himself to the puck. He plays aggressively in his crease and relies on quickness and movement more than larger goaltenders who sit deeper. Another strength of his game is his puck-handling ability and active stick on wraparounds and net drives. He is an active goaltender who is constantly moving and challenging shooters. With his low stance, the primary area to beat him is high. In relief, Aiden stopped 32 of 35 shots and was well deserving of first star honors. His performance allowed the Broncos to come back and make the score 5 to 4 before a Rockets power-play goal sealed the game.
Jackson Gillespie (D, R, 5’11”, 193, Swift Current Broncos, 02/26/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Jackson is a well-balanced defenseman who can play throughout the defensive pairings. He is not an offensive defenseman or defensive defenseman, but rather a steady and reliable presence who supports all areas of the game. One of his greatest qualities is his breakout passing as he likes to get his feet moving up ice before delivering accurate, crisp passes to streaking forwards. When he is the weakside defenseman in the defensive zone, he has no issue joining the rush and adding layers to the Broncos’ attack. Through the neutral zone, Jackson surfs the opposition’s attack well, taking away time and space and forcing plays to the outside. He has an active stick at the blue line and trusts his skating to stop attacks before zone entry. While there are times he could benefit from being more aggressive in his own zone, Jackson consistently ensures he remains on the defensive side of the puck.
Noah Kosick (C, L, 5’11”, 167, Swift Current Broncos, 08/18/2008, Michigan)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Noah possesses very strong puck skills and awareness with the puck on his stick. His ability to create offense on his own is something many players do not have. The most impressive part of this ability is that he does not force plays too often. While Noah can make high-skill plays and creative moves, he balances them with simple, smart hockey decisions. These include dumping the puck and winning retrievals before moving it to his defensemen and crashing the net, or pulling up off the rush to find the trailer. He showed the ability to beat the first defender off the rush before slipping a well-timed backdoor pass to a streaking teammate. On other plays, he held onto the puck, beat an extra defender, and generated dangerous shots from the slot. If Noah can continue to add size and strength to his frame, he will become an even more dangerous and well-rounded player.
Easton Laplante (D, R, 5’10”, 192, Swift Current Broncos, 06/03/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Easton is a competitive defenseman who impacts both ends of the ice. While slightly undersized for a WHL defenseman, but this does not affect his game. He competes extremely hard in one-on-one battles, and what he may lack in size he makes up for with effort and determination. Easton focuses on separating the body from the puck, which was evident when he defended much larger Rockets players off the rush. With strong body positioning and effective hand pinning, he consistently outmuscled opponents and retrieves pucks. When adding in his activation as a weak-side defenseman and his accurate shots from the blue line, it is clear why Easton has been a strong fit after coming over from the Penticton Vees.
Daxon Yerex (D, L, 6’1″, 192, Swift Current Broncos, 01/26/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Daxon is a tough defender who makes it very difficult to play in Swift Current’s zone. In this game, he showcased his defensive style while also recording an assist. He is a big and strong defenseman who trusts his feet while using his body effectively. He never shies away from contact, making opponents think twice about entering the zone on his side. He delivered a massive hit in front of his bench that sent a Kelowna forward hard into the boards. Daxon is heavily relied upon on the Broncos’ penalty kill, where he blocked multiple shots in key moments. He plays with grit, does not allow opponents around his goalie, and consistently boxes out with purpose.
Sawyer Dingman (LW, L, 6’4″, 226, Swift Current Broncos, 05/11/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Sawyer does many things right for the Broncos and was rewarded for it in this game. He is a large power forward with a very long stick that can be deceptive in creating turnovers. As the third man high in the offensive zone, Sawyer understands where to take ice away from the opposition’s breakout. He consistently puts opponents in difficult decision-making situations that can lead to costly turnovers. If players attempt to beat him wide, he uses his body to punish them, while in other situations he uses his stick to break up cross-ice passes. He executed this multiple times in the game. Later in the third period, Sawyer was rewarded with a highlight-reel goal, finishing backhand to forehand top shelf after blocking a shot with a toe save. He consistently does the little things correctly.
Zachary Pantelakis (LW, L, 5’11”, 167, Swift Current Broncos, 10/18/2007)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Zach deserves credit for his special teams play in this game. He shows solid speed when collecting the drop pass on the power play and uses three quick strides to burst through the neutral zone. With strong puck skills, he can find teammates through traffic or stickhandle through defenders when necessary. On the penalty kill, Zach took excellent angles that forced an efficient Rockets power play into poor positions. With strong stick positioning, he broke up multiple seam passes. A notable aspect of his game is his lack of fear when it comes to contact, as he consistently looks to finish checks and make an impact physically.
Anthony Wilson (C, R, 5’11”, 199, Swift Current Broncos, 04/27/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Anthony’s best offensive attribute is his understanding of time and space. In all situations, he finds ways to create time and space for himself or take it away from his opponents. Off the rush, Anthony enters the zone with possession and often pulls up to find streaking teammates. Once he has moved the puck, Anthony regularly explodes into open space to open up one-timers or backdoor plays. Late in the third period while killing a penalty, Anthony demonstrated this skill set by funneling Kelowna’s power play and forcing a turnover. Then once recovered, on two separate occasions, he held onto the puck, took ice, and killed additional time. Anthony could benefit from playing with linemates who think the game like him. Some plays tonight his teammates did not see the same plays he was hoping for, as Anthony has a very pond-hockey creativity to his game.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images