Game played 1/26/2025.
General Game Notes: Neutral Zone viewed the WHL matchup between the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oil Kings on January 26, 2025. Edmonton was the stronger team in the game, owning a higher percentage of puck possession and offensive zone time, but Lethbridge did what they had to do to win the game. The Hurricanes kept the Oil Kings to the outside and took advantage of the offensive opportunities they were given.
Josh Mori (D, L, 5’11”, 175, Edmonton Oil Kings, 03/27/2004, UMass Lowell)
Game Rating
B+
Josh Mori showcased his exceptional hockey IQ by making smart plays in his own end. He demonstrated quick transition skills, effortlessly moving the puck up the ice and into the opponent’s zone. With good skating ability, he was able to maneuver around defenders and get down low before releasing a pass to an open teammate on the weak side. Mori also displayed excellent decision-making, swiftly reacting to plays and choosing his next move with confidence. His strong skating stride allowed him to control the pace of the game, creating scoring opportunities for his team. Overall, Mori’s quick thinking and agility made him a formidable force on the ice.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mori was a strong defensive defenseman who kept all plays to the outside and didn’t give an inch. He blocks shots any way he can, getting tight to shooters, and making sure he gets his body in front of the puck. Against the rush, he pressure puck carriers early and isn’t afraid to step up before the blue line to force dump-ins or create turnovers with body and stick checks. Against a crashing forward, he kept himself in the right position and with his strength, forced the player away from the net and got his stick on the puck to knock it into the corner. Mori also can go for a skate and rush the puck up the ice. He had one great chance where he started down the middle, faked to the wing, and cut hard on the defenseman back to the middle where he got a good shot. On another rush, he skated the puck deep into the offensive zone and dropped the puck off for his teammate to start the cycle.
Cole Miller (C, R, 6’4″, 190, Edmonton Oil Kings, 02/04/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Cole Miller is an asset to his team due to his exceptional defensive skills and strong work ethic. He consistently recovers well in his own zone, provides crucial support to his defensemen, and applies pressure when necessary. His ability to quickly accelerate from a standstill allows him to gain speed and create scoring opportunities by bursting into the middle of the ice from the boards. Miller’s agility and endurance enable him to recover quickly and intercept passes, setting up his teammates for one-on-one chances. His all-around skillset makes him a valuable contributor to his team’s success.
1 Viewing
Comments: Miller skates hard! With the puck, he was very effective. After getting a shot off on a rush, he checked the defenseman in the corner, took the puck away, and moved it back to the middle of the ice. He made a quick move to pull around the puck around a defender at the blue line, rushed down the ice and got another shot off from just outside the slot. On the powerplay, he moves around the ice nicely, getting into open areas where his teammates could feed him the puck. Late in the game, his coach had him out on the ice and he did all he could to try and tie the game up for his team. He battled hard in the corners, pick-pocketed a defender before they could clear it out, and had a good look at the net for a shot.
Rylen Roersma (LW, L, 5’11”, 190, Edmonton Oil Kings, 07/25/2004)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Roersma was a shifty forward this game, getting into the dirty areas and finding ways to get into open ice through traffic. In the offensive zone, he picked up a loose puck, skated around the top of the circles, took a shot from the outside, and followed his shot to get another shot off his own rebound. Off the wall, he made a slick move to the net, making a deke around the defenseman, using his edges to cut into open space, and got a backhand shot off in tight. Roersma scored the only goal for his team by being in the right place at the right time as the opposing team’s defenseman coughed up the puck to him right in front of the net. Roersma made no mistake and took a quick shot that beat the goalie before he could get ready. He also played well in his own end, playing with an active stick and making poke checks on defensemen trying to move in from the point, leading to rush chances the other way.
Gavin Hodnett (C, L, 5’7″, 158, Edmonton Oil Kings, 04/09/2006)
Game Rating
C+
1 Viewing
Comments: Despite Hodnett’s size, he finds ways to be effective, specifically in the offensive zone thanks to his quick decision-making. He skates well with the puck in the offensive zone, moving off the half-wall and toward the top of the circles where he had more time and space. He made a great set-up for his teammate from the corner to the high slot for a one-timer. Hodnett had a great chance to shoot point blank on the goalie but sailed it by the net after cutting in behind the defensemen.
Luke Powell (LW, R, 5’10”, 185, Edmonton Oil Kings, 04/23/2007)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Powell uses his speed with the puck on his stick to move quickly into the middle of the ice. After skating down the ice, he made a quick move to the middle, split two players, and had a good look at the net. He battles hard and comes away with the puck more often than not. At a smaller size than most defenders, he doesn’t back down from the dirty areas and gets to the front of the net to fight for loose pucks and to get to rebounds.
Miroslav Holinka (RW, R, 6’1″, 187, Edmonton Oil Kings, 11/10/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Holinka was strong in the corners, he spun off checks and made fantastic tight turns below the goal line to create space and get into open ice. Against heavy pressure, he kept his feet moving and showed off his skating ability, picking up speed through checks and along the wall. Hoinka did a good job of creating chances as he moved into the offensive zone. On one chance, he made a hard stop just inside the blue line and made a quick pass through the slot to his forward. On another 3 on 2 chance, he fired a cross-ice pass to his teammate for a great chance in open ice.
Jackson Unger (G, L, 6’2″, 195, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 01/13/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Unger had a great game and was a major reason why his team was able to hold on for the 2-1 win. He didn’t need to make any huge saves, but kept the game in front of him quiet, limited rebound opportunities, and read shots from the outside well thanks to his positioning. It would be impossible to fault him for the one goal against as it came off a bad turnover from his own defenseman, right to a forward who was all along in the net with nothing but time. He looked confident on point blank shots, staying with shooters and taking up the net. Late in the game, he came up with clutch saves including one from the high slot that was labelled for the top corner and in the dying seconds during a scramble in front of the net. Overall, it was an impressive performance from puck drop to the final buzzer.
Noah Chadwick (D, L, 6’4″, 202, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 05/10/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Noah Chadwick is a well-rounded player who excels at using his size and puck smarts to control the game. He has a strong physical presence on the ice, utilizing his reach to disrupt opponents and pin them into the boards with effective hits. At the blue line, Chadwick demonstrates excellent positioning and timing, allowing him to intercept passes and make crucial pinch plays. His shot from the point is also a valuable asset, showcasing his ability to release accurate pucks that can find the target. While he may need to work on increasing the accuracy of his shots and capitalizing on scoring opportunities, Chadwick’s overall skillset makes him a formidable force for his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Chadwick is strong on the puck and with his great size, he holds off pressure very well to move the puck effectively up the ice. He is a new-age stay-at-home defenseman who also can create offense when the opportunity presents itself. He uses his physicality against the rush to not allow skaters deep into his own zone. With the puck on his stick in his own zone, he is super calm. He skates what seems slowly up the ice but surveys his options and makes accurate stretch passes. Chadwick picks his spots to rush the puck and when he does, he moves smoothly through the neutral zone, protecting the puck and dumping it into the corners. He made a nice deke when at the point around a winger and found space to get a hard shot off.
Logan Wormald (F, L, 5’10”, 165, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 08/12/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Logan Wormald showcased his impressive skill set in this game, displaying exceptional speed and agility that allowed him to control the puck and create scoring opportunities. He effortlessly navigated the ice, moving with precision from the half-wall to the far side of the ice, delivering pinpoint accurate passes to his teammates. Wormald’s ability to keep pace with defenders while maintaining possession was a key factor in his success. His quick release and accuracy on shots were evident as he converted two goals, including the game-winner, showcasing his potent scoring ability. Additionally, his speed allowed him to quickly change direction and create space for himself, making it difficult for defenders to anticipate his next move.
1 Viewing
Comments: Wormald is a high-IQ player, reading the play well to create turnovers or move into open ice. Against a breakout, he stood his ground at the blue line and saved the puck from exiting the zone. He made another smart defensive play in the middle of the ice, watching the play develop and then jumping in to intercept the breakout pass. He has nice speed to win puck races, especially when his team dumped it in. His quick first step also allowed him to burst into open lanes both along the wall and to the middle on the rush. Wormald finished this game strong, blocking a one-timer from the point in the last minute to help his team keep their one-goal lead.
Brayden Edwards (RW, R, 6’0″, 186, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 12/23/2004)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Edwards is a great skater and uses his first three strides to jump into open ice, allowing him to blow by players in the open ice. He scored a terrific goal which ended up being the game-winner. After skating hard down the wing, he pushed to the middle, and held off the defenseman with one hand on his stick. Once he got close to the net, he moved the puck back to his forehand around the goalie and slipped it inside the post. Edwards isn’t afraid to get involved when the play is below the goal line. He moved to the corner during a battle, snuck the puck out, and made the quick pass to his forward in the slot for a one-timer. Throughout the game, he made smart passes through lanes and into the slot where his teammates had high-quality looks. In his own zone, he battles well and showed off his strength by shoving a player aside to pass the puck up the wall.
Anthony Wilson (C, R, 5’11”, 200, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 04/27/2005)
Game Rating
B-
Anthony Wilson showcases exceptional agility on the ice, effortlessly gliding into the offensive zone with precision control. His quick first step allows him to accelerate rapidly, maintaining a keen awareness of his surroundings as he navigates through space. This enables Wilson to create numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates by bursting down the wing and either penetrating deep into the corners or quickly turning towards the net. With his ability to rapidly change direction, Wilson proves himself to be a formidable asset in driving plays and generating chances for his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Wilson made a physical impact in this game. He laid out one player with a big check after the forward dumped the puck in, finishing the play with his body. On the forecheck, he did a good job of smothering defensemen, hustling hard into the corners, and making sure they didn’t have a clean lane to get to the puck so he could hold him up and try to move the puck to a teammate coming in late. He made another nice play on the back check, stopping a pass to the slot by lifting the opposing player’s stick just in time.
Caden Price (D, L, 6’1″, 192, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 08/24/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Price played a smooth game. He recovers the puck well in his own end, and takes smart angles to the puck so that when he picks it up, he continues with his speed around the net or back up the half wall and finishes his play off with a quick pass to his winger. Against the rush, he keeps a close gap, forcing players to the outside and sticks with faster skaters as they try to take off and get around him. With the puck on his stick, he showed off nice hands, pulling the puck around one checker, took a look, and made a great stretch pass to a streaking forward which started an odd-man rush.
Brayden Yager (C, R, 5’11”, 171, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 01/03/2005)
Game Rating
A-
Brayden Yager brings a unique combination of speed, skill, and physicality to his game. His ability to quickly separate from defenders on the rush allows him to create scoring opportunities through hard shots. In the offensive zone, he excels at finding open space using clever stop-and-start moves, making it difficult for opponents to anticipate his next step. Yager’s strong skating skills also enable him to absorb contact and maintain momentum, allowing him to drive towards the net with confidence. His vision on the ice is evident in his ability to find teammates in scoring positions, making him a valuable asset to his team. Overall, Yager’s well-rounded skill set makes him a formidable opponent on the ice.
1 Viewing
Comments: Yager continues to prove why he is such a coveted prospect and was a priority for the Hurricanes to pick up in a trade. He got the scoring started this game on the powerplay with a fantastic shot. After getting the puck at the top of the circle, he took a couple of steps in and wired a wrist shot top corner past the goalie. He has the skating and hands to rush through the middle and sets his wingers up with quick passes to the outside while he makes his way to the net to find a rebound. In tight in the offensive zone, he showed off his quick hands, keeping the puck close to his body while maintaining speed and finding open ice. He has a unique ability to know how defenders are going to apply pressure and knows to go the other way into open space.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images