The 2004s.
Brayden Schuurman (C, R, 5’10”, 200, Moose Jaw Warriors, 02/22/2004)
Comments: Current Role: Brayden Schuurman is a top-six, two-way center for Moose Jaw, trusted in key situations and contributing significantly on both the power play and penalty kill. He takes on a leadership role, excelling in face-offs, defensive reliability, and generating offensive opportunities. Player Type: Schuurman is a gritty, 200-foot center with a strong skating base, a high hockey IQ, and a relentless work ethic. His ability to combine skill, physicality, and intelligence makes him an impactful player in all situations. Strengths: Skating Power and Balance: Schuurman’s low, powerful stride allows him to generate strength and explosiveness, particularly when driving out of turns or battling in tight areas. His edgework is well above average, giving him agility, stability and balance in traffic. Two-Way Play: A responsible player in all three zones, Schuurman uses his strong hockey sense to anticipate plays defensively and create turnovers with his aggressive footwork and active stick. Face-Offs: Winning 60% of his draws this season, Schuurman is a reliable option in key face-off situations, providing his team with consistent puck possession. Offensive Facilitation: Schuurman is a playmaker who can also finish plays. He moves well without the puck understanding how to create open ice for his linemates, uses his vision to find teammates in scoring areas, and possesses a hard, accurate shot to capitalize on opportunities. Special Teams Play: Schuurman plays significant minutes on both the power play and penalty kill, showcasing his versatility and ability to contribute in high-pressure situations. On the penalty kill, he is quick to clog shooting and passing lanes, while on the power play, he effectively drives possession and scoring chances. Compete Level: Schuurman plays hard in every shift, battling in corners, driving the net, and consistently making smart, high-effort plays that impact the game positively. Weaknesses: Durability and Physical Wear: At 5’10” and 200 lbs, Schuurman absorbs 1.38 hits per game, which is a concern for his long-term durability, especially in professional hockey. Building strength to better withstand physical play will be critical. Loose Puck Battles: Winning 51% of his 50/50 puck battles indicates room for improvement in using his strength and positioning to dominate these situations consistently. Puck Management: Averaging five giveaways per game, Schuurman needs to improve puck management when under pressure, particularly when transitioning out of the defensive zone. Offensive Ceiling: While effective offensively, Schuurman’s playmaking and shooting could be further refined to increase his consistency and impact in the offensive zone. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Schuurman has the potential to develop into a reliable depth center with strong special teams value. Transitioning to the NCAA would provide significant developmental advantages: Strength and Conditioning: The NCAA’s focus on off-ice training would allow Schuurman to improve his durability and physicality, enabling him to withstand the wear and tear of professional hockey. Skill Refinement: More practice time would help Schuurman address puck management issues, refine his shooting mechanics, and enhance his offensive creativity. Defensive Development: The environment of NCAA hockey would allow him to hone his defensive positioning and expand his penalty-killing capabilities. Expanded Role: Competing in the NCAA could provide Schuurman with opportunities to grow into a top-line role, further developing his leadership and offensive skill set. Adapting to Physicality: Facing older, stronger players in the NCAA would prepare Schuurman for the physical demands of professional hockey, particularly in tight spaces and along the boards. Conclusion: Schuurman is a strong, versatile, and intelligent two-way center with the tools to make an impact at the professional level. His skating, hockey sense, and work ethic make him a player who can excel in key situations, while his offensive skills and defensive responsibility add depth to his game. Choosing the extended NCAA route would allow Schuurman to refine his puck management, improve his durability, and expand his offensive toolkit, positioning him for a career as a two-way depth center.
Rilen Kovacevic (RW, R, 5’11”, 180, Moose Jaw Warriors, 08/02/2004)
Comments: Current Role: Rilen Kovacevic is a hardworking, high-energy winger who primarily plays in a middle-six role for Moose Jaw. He contributes at even strength, on the power play, and in penalty-killing situations. Kovacevic’s game is centered around effort, physicality, and creating offense through his tenacity and willingness to battle in high-traffic areas. Player Type: Kovacevic is a grinding, two-way winger who thrives on effort and physical play. While his offensive skill set is still developing, his ability to win battles, force turnovers, and create chances through sheer determination makes him a valuable depth contributor. Strengths: Compete Level: Kovacevic consistently plays with high intensity and effort. His relentless puck pursuit and physicality make him a disruptive presence in all three zones. Physical Play: Averaging 1.67 hits per game, Kovacevic does not shy away from contact and frequently wins battles along the boards and below the goal line. Defensive Contributions: Kovacevic’s effort extends to the defensive side of the puck, where he uses his active stick to force turnovers. Offensive Zone Play: He excels at working the puck below the goal line and generating chances by crashing the net or digging for rebounds. His willingness to play in the dirty areas leads to secondary scoring opportunities. Vision and Playmaking: While not elite, Kovacevic shows good vision in the neutral zone, finding teammates in space and setting up plays along the boards or behind the net. Special Teams Potential: Kovacevic’s work ethic and willingness to engage make him a useful player on the power play and a developing asset on the penalty kill. Weaknesses: Skating and Speed: Kovacevic’s skating is adequate but lacks a dynamic top gear. Improving his explosiveness and overall speed would enhance his ability to separate from defenders and transition more effectively. Puck Management: Averaging seven giveaways per game, Kovacevic needs to refine his decision-making and puck-handling under pressure to reduce costly turnovers. Offensive Skill Set: While he works hard to create chances, Kovacevic’s stickhandling and ability to make plays in tight spaces are areas for improvement. Developing these skills would make him a more consistent offensive threat. Shooting Accuracy: Kovacevic has a decent shot but tends to rely on distance attempts. Improving his accuracy and shot selection would increase his scoring efficiency. Consistency in Passing: With an 81% pass completion rate, Kovacevic’s playmaking could become more reliable, particularly under pressure or in high-stakes situations. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Rilen Kovacevic has the potential to develop into a bottom-six, energy winger at the professional level, with the ability to contribute in special teams roles. Choosing the new extended NCAA path would provide several developmental advantages: Strength and Conditioning: The NCAA’s emphasis on off-ice training would allow Kovacevic to add strength and explosiveness, enabling him to be more effective in puck battles, improve his skating mechanics and potentially add to his natural work ethic to be a valued penalty killer. Skill Development: With more practice time, Kovacevic could improve his stickhandling, puck management, as well as shooting accuracy and deception, making him a more versatile player. Skating Improvement: Focused attention on his stride and acceleration would help Kovacevic develop the speed necessary to excel in transition and on the forecheck. Defensive Role Expansion: The NCAA’s structured environment would allow Kovacevic to grow as a penalty killer and refine his overall defensive game. Adaptability Against Older Competition: Competing against older, more physically mature players in the NCAA would help Kovacevic adapt to the physical and mental demands of professional hockey. Conclusion: Rilen Kovacevic is a high-energy, physical forward with a relentless work ethic and the potential to develop into a valuable depth player at the professional level. While his offensive tools are still evolving, his compete level, physicality, and defensive instincts make him a prospect worth monitoring. Transitioning to the NCAA would provide Kovacevic with the opportunity to refine his skills, improve his skating, and expand his role, positioning him for success as a versatile, two-way depth winger in the professional ranks.
Keaton Dowhaniuk (D, L, 6’0″, 172, Moose Jaw Warriors, 02/08/2004)
Comments: Current Role: Keaton Dowhaniuk is a versatile, two-way defenseman for Moose Jaw, logging significant minutes in even-strength situations and contributing as a secondary option on the power play. While not heavily utilized on the penalty kill, he shows the intelligence and skill set to expand his role as he develops further. Player Type: Dowhaniuk is a smooth-skating, mobile defender who excels in transition. His ability to read the game, make quick decisions, and contribute in all three zones highlights his potential as a modern two-way defenseman. He plays with poise and displays strong puck-moving abilities combined with a sound defensive game. Strengths: Skating and Mobility: Dowhaniuk’s fluid stride, lateral quickness, and ability to maintain tight gaps without crossing over make him effective in defending rushes. His backward skating is stride-for-stride with speedy forwards, and his loose hips allow him to pivot and adjust effortlessly. Puck Movement: He is a strong passer with zip on his cross-ice feeds and finesse on shorter or saucer passes. His quick decision-making ensures his teammates receive the puck in stride, enabling fast transitions. Offensive Blue Line Play: Dowhaniuk is poised and active at the blue line, using lateral movement to open up shooting and passing lanes. His quick-release snapshot and ability to slide laterally for one-timers make him a threat on the power play. Defensive Play: Dowhaniuk defends with an active stick and strong gap control, forcing turnovers and disrupting plays in the neutral zone. His physicality in the corners and ability to angle opponents effectively along the boards show his defensive reliability. Hockey IQ: He scans effectively in all three zones, anticipates plays, and positions himself intelligently to intercept passes or cut off lanes. His calm demeanor under pressure allows him to make effective decisions with the puck. Two-Way Impact: Dowhaniuk transitions seamlessly between offense and defense, demonstrating the ability to contribute offensively without sacrificing his responsibilities in his own zone. Weaknesses: Physical Strength: At 6’0′ and 172 lbs, Dowhaniuk will need to add lower body strength to improve his ability to battle effectively against professional forwards in front of the net and along the boards. Penalty-Killing Role: While he shows promise, he has not been heavily utilized on the penalty kill. Developing this area of his game will add versatility and increase his value at the next level. Offensive Ceiling: Dowhaniuk is an effective secondary power-play option but does not project as a primary offensive driver. He can improve his shooting accuracy and creativity to elevate his offensive contributions. Consistency: While he displays high-level ability, maintaining his impact throughout games and over a full season will be crucial as he moves to higher levels of competition. Projection and NCAA Pathway Benefits: Keaton Dowhaniuk has the potential to develop into a solid depth defenseman at the professional level. Transitioning to the NCAA would provide several developmental advantages: Strength and Conditioning: The NCAA’s focus on off-ice training would allow Dowhaniuk to add muscle and explosiveness, enabling him to handle the physical demands of professional hockey and improve his effectiveness in puck battles against larger players in professional play. Expanded Special Teams Role: The NCAA would give Dowhaniuk more opportunities to develop as a penalty killer, complementing his power-play contributions and rounding out his overall skill set. Skill Refinement: With more years to develop, Dowhaniuk could continue to improve his shooting deception, puck management, and offensive creativity, allowing him to become a more complete offensive threat. Consistency Development: Competing in the NCAA’s hectic environment would help Dowhaniuk maintain his high-level play over longer stretches, preparing him for the grind of a professional season. Adapting to Physicality: Facing older, stronger opponents in the NCAA would prepare Dowhaniuk for the physicality and strength of professional hockey, enhancing his ability to defend effectively. Conclusion: Keaton Dowhaniuk is a poised, mobile, and intelligent two-way defenseman with the tools to succeed at the professional level. His ability to defend with his feet, move the puck efficiently, and contribute offensively makes him a well-rounded and versatile player. Choosing the extended NCAA pathway of development would provide Dowhaniuk with the ideal environment to address his physical strength, develop his two-way game, and refine his consistency. With continued growth, Dowhaniuk projects as a reliable depth defenseman capable of excelling in all situations.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images