Played on Nov 14, 2025
Game Played in Prospera Place
General Game Notes: The hometown Kelowna Rockets held a 4-3 lead going into the third period, but could not hold on and lost 5-4 in overtime to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Hurricanes got the game tying goal from Will Scott, off of fortunate bounce off the end boards, and the game winner from a Kai Anderson one timer in overtime. The Rockets had several good chances in the third period but, Cane’s goaltender Koen Cleaver made some good stops when he needed to.
Mazden Leslie (D, R, 6’1″, 201, Kelowna Rockets, 04/15/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Mazden Leslie is an undrafted right-shot defenseman who excels in driving the offense with his energetic style and vision. He consistently creates chances through his puck movement and shooting, showcasing his ability to make plays from the top of the zone. Leslie’s skating skills are strong, allowing him to navigate the ice with ease and evade forecheckers. While he struggles with retrievals at times, his physicality and special-teams value are notable assets.
1 Viewing
Comments: Leslie (6’0′, 190 lb, 2005) is a mobile, high-end skating right defenseman whose game tilts offensively — he consistently leads rushes or jumps into the attack as a third/fourth layer and shows very good puck-moving instincts. A regular on the top power play and penalty kill, he averaged ~23 minutes in this game and won roughly 55% of his battles, delivering consistent, game-in/game-out impact for the Rockets. His physical play has stepped up and been effective, though he must curb a couple of untimely penalties (trying to be physical on one of them, it just went too far) — he’s far more valuable on the ice than in the box. Overall he projects as a two-way power-play-capable defender with strong mobility and playmaking upside. He’s a player that will have great success at the collegiate level.
Tomas Poletin (RW, L, 6’1″, 206, Kelowna Rockets, 04/30/2007)
Game Rating
A-
Tomas Poletin is a physically gifted left winger with a strong understanding of his playing style. He possesses a powerful stride and effective shot, which allows him to finish chances and create scoring opportunities. Poletin’s ability to play a physical game, consistently battling for loose pucks and winning stick battles, makes him a valuable asset on the power play. While he may not possess elite speed, his balanced edges and strength enable him to be effective in scrums and battles for the puck.
1 Viewing
Comments: Poletin (2007) — 6’1′, 205 lb left wing and New York Islanders draftee — is a power-forward winger who consistently grinds in the the hard areas and competes for pucks. He is always in the middle of scrums, and pushes back. In this game he showed his high end net-front instincts and power-play value, scoring first as a weak-side net driver who stopped at the top of the crease, and banged home a rebound, and later ripping a one-timer from the slot to beat the goalie cleanly. In this game, he logged 19+ minutes of ice time. Not only is he a key contributor on the top power play unit, he is also very good on the penalty kill for the Rockets. Strong on his edges, physical on the walls and difficult to handle both with and without the puck, he brings constant competitive drive and reliable finishing; his skating is good overall, but his top-end speed and acceleration could use refinement to unlock his high upside at the next level.
Kalder Varga (RW, R, 5’11”, 181, Kelowna Rockets, 06/24/2008, Denver)
Game Rating
B
Kalder Varga is a skilled right wing with a strong foundation in skating, stick-handling, and vision. He exhibits speed, mobility, and quickness on the ice, allowing him to drive play and control the puck with patience and poise. His high-end stick skills enable him to make plays in tight spaces and create scoring opportunities. Varga displays potential as a top-six forward, but consistency and effort remain concerns. To reach his full potential, he needs to maintain a higher level of compete and decision-making. He has shown flashes of play-driving forward ability, but must work on playing with more assertiveness and making cleaner reads under pressure.
1 Viewing
Comments: Varga (2008) is a 5’11’, 175 lb right wing who has steadily improved his consistency and compete level; in this game he battled for pucks and won many puck races, although his battle win-rate can vary from game to game (currently just over 50%). He skates well with very good top-end speed and maneuverability, shows growing confidence carrying the puck and making plays with poise, and does not hesitate to drive through the neutral zone or attack the net with or without the puck. He contributes on the second power-play unit, projects as a reliable secondary scoring option, and has shown improvements defensively —backchecking hard and developing his defensive zone play—while continued physical strength and more consistent battle intensity would help him take the next step.
William Scott (D, R, 6’0″, 161, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 05/03/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Scott — 6’0′, 190 lbs, 2008, right-shot defenseman — is a composed, puck-moving blueliner whose effective stride and good overall mobility allow him to drive play and create with the puck; he shows good puck skills, poise under pressure, and makes a strong first pass, demonstrating above-average hockey IQ and the ability to read and anticipate plays. He logged steady, reliable minutes for the Hurricanes and played on the top power-play unit, using his mobility across the blue line to free up lanes and get pucks through to the net. Defensively he competes down low and pre-boxes out well in front of the net. His close-quarters quickness in tight spaces and his hit/pin technique could be refined to improve board battles and one-on-one physical play. Overall, a heady two-way prospect who projects as a power-play quarterback with room to add quickness and some physicality.
Nathan Maloney (D, R, 6’1″, 182, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 09/16/2006, Quinnipiac)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Maloney (2006), a 6’1′, 180 lb right-shot defenseman, is a composed first-year 19-year-old, logging 23+ minutes in this game and winning better than 70% of his battles in this game (about 55% on the season). A key contributor on the Hurricanes’ second power play and the penalty kill, he profiles as a steady, all-around defenseman — not an overly physical presence but competitive on the boards — with very good skating and puck skills. He carries the puck through traffic with his head up, makes smart outlet decisions, and shows patience and poise under pressure; notable highlight was an early power-play breakout where he navigated through traffic ending up alone on the goalie, where he couldn’t finish. Defensively he defends the gap tightly in the neutral zone and uses his stick well in defensive zone coverage, projecting as a reliable two-way puck mover, and someone who could be very effective at the university level.
Luke Cozens (RW, R, 6’1″, 179, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 06/30/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Cozens (2006) — right wing, 6’0′, 175 lbs: A polished, deceptive winger with strong skating, good acceleration and top-end speed. Cozens pairs good puck skills with an opportunistic, high-impact style that frequently puts him on the scoresheet. Tonight he was relatively quiet but, he sees the ice well and makes plays for teammates, yet also has a knack for finding soft spots in the offensive zone and unloading a quick, heavy release when opportunities present themselves. On special teams he provides excellent net-front presence — hard to move, puck-hungry, and effective at cleaning up chances — and he complements that by screening, grinding, and attacking the crease both with and without the puck, making him a valuable contributor on the top power play and penalty kill.
Easton Daneault (C, R, 5’8″, 161, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 04/23/2008, Merrimack)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Daneault (2008) is a 5’8′, 160 lb right-shot centre, is an explosive, high-end offensive prospect with excellent top-end speed and high end puck skills. He attacks with pace and poise, carrying the puck with his head up, capable of beating defenders one-on-one or executing effective playmaking feeds. This skill package makes him a very effective late man on power-play breakouts. Strong in puck battles and board work, he wins them by cutting off opponents and using his body position smartly. Offensively he has been somewhat snake bit putting the puck in the net himself but, scored his first goal of the season in this game. That being said, he is third on the team in scoring with 17 points, again, proving his ability to be a dangerous playmaker. Defensively he shows good awareness and reads for down-low coverage, and overall he stands out for his composure, consistent decision-making, and high level of skill across all phases of the game.
Logan Wormald (C, L, 5’10”, 156, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 08/12/2005, Nebraska Omaha)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Wormald (2005), a 5’10’, 155 lb Nebraska Omaha commit, is a compact, high-impact forward who is noticeable and dangerous every shift; a high end skater with excellent top-end speed who maintains pace while handling the puck, he consistently creates time and space to be effective as both a playmaker and a shooter. He flashes quickness and strong puck skills in the offensive zone—able to dangle defensemen and finish or find teammates—and is trusted on both the top power play (as a dual-threat passer/shooter) and the penalty kill. Defensively he shows reliable awareness in the defensive zone, while understanding his size he smartly wins puck battles by winning races and getting a half-step on opponents, cutting them off, protecting the puck, and making smart plays from there. With his speed, skill and two-way instincts, he projects as a scoring/puck-moving, impact middle-six winger at the college level.
Matteo Fabrizi (D, L, 6’6″, 247, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 03/23/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Fabrizi is a 6’5′, 245 lb left-shot defenseman (2005) who plays a steady, highly effective all-around defensive game for the Hurricanes. Despite his size, he is a deceptively good skater with surprising quickness and an ability to play at pace, defending the rush well and excelling in down-low zone coverage where he uses a long wingspan, heavy hits and smart pinning to stifle opponents. He provides timely pushback, reads plays well, and possesses reliable puck skills — including a clean first pass that can jump-start transition. His versatility showed in overtime when he was the first defenseman over the boards and handled the open ice confidently, underscoring his deceptive quickness, mobility and ability to keep pace with some very dangerous Rockets forward. A staple on the top penalty kill, Fabrizi projects as a consistent, defensively effective blueliner at higher levels.
Gavin Lesiuk (LW, L, 6’5″, 222, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 01/14/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Lesiuk is a physically imposing 6’4′, 220 lb left wing who projects as a power-forward type; his skating mechanics are sound and allow him to get around the ice effectively, though he lacks true top-end speed and quickness. He plays an engaged, physical game; consistently competing hard in board battles, closes hard on the forecheck, regularly digs into scrums, face washes and will push back and finish checks, not caring how big or how old they are. He seems to demonstrate a clear understanding of his role within a lineup. Offensively he is a decent puck handler with reliable net-front instincts and an average passer; while not a high-end creator, his size, work ethic and physicality make him a useful complementary piece who should be effective in a middle-six, hard-to-play-against role with upside if his speed and quickness improve.
Owen Berge (C, R, 6’0″, 198, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 05/02/2006)
Game Rating
B+
Owen Berge is a dynamic player with an impressive skill set, marked by his exceptional speed and high level of compete. Despite being relatively small, he uses his agility to stay ahead of opponents and create scoring opportunities. His physical finish is particularly notable, as he brings a relentless effort to every shift, often creating turnovers through his aggressive playstyle. Berge’s ability to cover the ice effectively on defense is also noteworthy, with him displaying tenaciousness in tight spaces against opposing forwards. With increasing time in more advanced offensive situations, it will be interesting to see Berge’s goal-scoring numbers expand upon his promising start.
1 Viewing
Comments: Berge — 6’0′, 185 lb, right centre (2006) — is a hard-working, reliable 200-foot center for the Hurricanes who consistently eats minutes and does the little things that coaches trust. A very good skater with strong top-end speed, he creates danger on the attack with excellent puck skills and is smart around the opposition net — he was rewarded this game with a goal off a goal-mouth scramble. He shows good vision and playmaking ability, particularly on the power play, and complements that with a quick release, making him a dangerous shooter also. Berge finishes checks physically and plays effectively on both the top power-play and penalty-killing units; defensively he’s dependable in late-game, defensive-zone draws and was the first forward off the bench in three-on-three overtime. Overall, a coachable, two-way pivot who projects as a dependable middle-six center, who should be very effective at the college level.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images