Over the weekend of Feb 16-20, Neutral Zone took in a pair of WHL games featuring the Calgary Hitmen, who faced off against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday the 16th , and then battled the Saskatoon Blades on Sunday. Both games featured some high end draft picks, some high ranking prospects for the upcoming NHL draft, and some strong, younger prospects to keep an eye on as they start their WHL careers. From the three teams, the players of note are listed below in no particular order, focusing mostly on undrafted players from the three teams. Moose Jaw Warriors: Defeated the Hitmen 3-2 in a back and forth, and at times sloppy game. On the second night of a back to back, this was slightly expected. Calgary outshot Moos Jaw 40-30 on the game, and Moose Jaw goaltending prospect Jackson Unger was named first star of the game.
| Jackson Unger | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 181 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2020 | Calgary, AB | 2005 | 2022-2023: C |
Unger is a technically sound, agile and mobile goaltender that fits the mold of an elite goaltender and checks off all the boxes to be successful. Unger has good size and his body make up benefits him well in the grind of the WHL. Being a tall, relatively thick but athletic goaltender suggests that he will be able to play a lot of minutes before wearing down and out. Unger showed exceptional rebound control throughout the game, kicking high risk shots to low danger areas, out of play, or freezing pucks for whistles when the time called for it. Unger communicates with his defensemen, calling out pressure points and supports on puck retrievals, and showed poise several times, faking off a forechecker before moving pucks to a flanking defender, particularly on the powerplay for Moose Jaw. As a 2005 birth year, Unger has a few years of growth and development to go before he will be a top flight prospect for the NHL, but his size, fluidity in net, and confidence should go a long way in helping him be a part of the conversation when his draft year comes. Grade: A
| Jagger Firkus | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | R | RW | 5’10” | 154 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2019 | Irma, AB | 2004 | 2021-2022: B |
Firkus is a slick, fun player to watch. Firkus was the player that dominated the pace of the game for the Warriors. As he becomes more mature, Firkus has the skill and intelligence required to be a game breaker. Firkus has a fluid stride, that has a fair bit of pop to hit, which he uses to beat defenders inside and out. Firkus has strong hands and incredible puck skills, meaning that not only was he hard to contain, he was hard to beat in battles along the wall when he was engaged. Defensively, Firkus does have to figure out how to be more reliable 200 feet, but his offensive upside, skating ability, and ability to impact the game on the puck and off the puck in the offensive zone make him a nightmare for opposition players. Firkus finished the game with a powerplay goal and 4 shots on goal. Firkus should be a household name in the coming months leading up to the NHL draft. Grade: B+
| Denton Mateychuk | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | L | D | 5’11” | 187 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2019 | Winnipeg, MB | 2004 | 2021-2022: B+ |
Denton is a slightly undersized, but mobile defender for Moose Jaw that makes a strong and accurate first pass, is a smart defender that pushes the rush to the outside, and creates a lot of offensive opportunities from the back end. Denton has strong edges, and is a strong passer on both sides of his blade. While not the physically strongest player, Denton does a good job of holding battles on the wall, pinning players as primary support, or digging pucks out as secondary support defensively, and then quickly moves pucks to streaking teammates. Denton finished the game with 1 secondary assist on the opening goal by Firkus. Throughout the remainder of the game, Denton played a smart defensively game, minimizing high risk chances and pushing players to the outside. Grade: B-
| Daemon Hunt | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 201 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2018 | Brandon, MB | 2002 | 2019-2020: B+ |
Hunt is a slick, evasive defenseman for the Warriors that is a strong two way player who is a risk to either lead the rush, provide second or third layer of support on the attack offensively, while also being an adept defender, keeping a tight, controlled gap with strong stick placement, strong powerful strides, and the ability to transition quickly and effectively losing as little momentum and speed as possible. Hunt showed the ability to run a very effective powerplay from the top of the umbrella, and was smooth on his lateral walks of the offensive blueline at full strength and on the powerplay. As a draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, fans should be excited to have Hunt as apart of the Warrior organization while they can, as he may make the jump to the big leagues sooner than many expect with his slick playmaking ability on the back end. Grade: A-
| Brayden Yager | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 161 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2021 | Dundurn, SK | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Few players have the ability to step into one of the toughest junior leagues in North America and make an immediate impact; Brayden is one of those few special players. Not only is Yager a deceptively quick skater, his puck skills are off the charts, and his poise for a 2005 player (grade 11) in his first full season of Junior hockey is remarkable. Not only did Yager command a lot of big minutes for the Warriors tonight, he also commanded the play when he was on the ice. As a player away from the puck, opposition teams need to ensure that they know where Yager is at all times, which is difficult to do as he bobs and weaves through defensive pressure to open lanes, and his ability to jump to open pockets and get off quick shots is something to be marvelled. While he did not find the scoresheet in the game, the fact that Yager is almost a point per game player this season as a 17 year old (just turned 17) is an impressive feat on its own. Combine his current ability with his projected ceiling, and you have a player that should be monitored closely to be a high value prospect of his draft class. Grade: A
| Atley Calvert | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 194 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2020 | Moose Jaw, SK | 2003 | Not yet rated |
Calvert is a below the radar type of player for the Warriors, who seemed to be a swiss army knife for the team, seeming to be involved in all situations throughout the game. While not an offensive powerhouse like some of his teammates, Calvert is a defensively responsible player who doesn’t give up defensive roles in the pursuit of offensive chances. Calvert has average puck skills, which will need to improve to improve his long-term stock, but his flexibility to play as a depth role player could prove valuable to a team making a push for the Memorial Cup. Grade: C+
| Luke Brenton | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 196 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2018 | Winnipeg, MB | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Probably the toughest player to play against for Moose Jaw, Brenton is a big, physical defender that features long reach, an active (and aggressive) stick that he uses to clear lanes, push opposition players from the front of the net, and decent footwork for a big man (6’4). While not fleet of foot, Brenton moves around relatively well, and showed a solid understanding of his responsibilities in the defensive zone, held the offensive blue line several times with smart pinches, though he did get burned on two occasions and was bailed out by his goaltender on a high value 2 on 1 for the Hitmen. While he may not be high on a team’s draft pick board, he is definitely a player that deserves some recognition as a project player who has some tools, but just needs to develop his toolbox to be a more well rounded player. Grade: C+
Calgary Hitmen: Over the weekend, the Hitmen dropped both games, 3-2 to Moose Jaw and 4-1 to the Saskatoon Blades. While not a successful weekend record wise, there were several Hitmen players who had solid weekends playing wise.
| Maxim Muranov | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | RW | 6’2″ | 168 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Moscow | 2004 | 2021-2022: B- |
A rocket on the ice, Muranov has speed to burn and used it exclusively throughout both games. Muranov is a bit of a wild card on the ice, seeming to lack structure to his game and had a few shifts where he did Nascar laps around the offensive zone, not really building any offensive pressure, but his ability to build speed while moving laterally and protect the puck at the same time was a skill that helped him in the offensive zone. Muranov has a quick, deceptive release and showed the ability to change the angle of attack and release throughout the two games on the weekend, but did struggle to find the back of the net to this point on the season. As a draft eligible player for the 2022 NHL draft, Muranov has a lot of tools that will make him an interesting prospect, but whichever team decides to take him on will need to develop a better understanding of supporting the puck away from the play, as well as changing speeds and pace to better suit his tools. Grade: B-
| David Adaszynski | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | F | 5’10” | 168 | Calgary Hitmen | 2020 | Burnaby, BC | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Another young player to watch in the coming years. Adaszynski shows the confidence and poise of a vetern player, even though he is sixteen years old, playing his first season in the WHL. While he did not dominate in ice time on the weekend, Adaszynski’s ability to impact the game during his brief moments on the ice should give the Hitmen organization confidence in their prospect, as he is not shy to engage in battles in all three zones, whether he needs to support the puck in the defensive zone, or engage in offensive zone battles and pull pucks from piles and drive to the net. Adaszynski only registered a pair of shots between the two games, his nose for the net, poise on the puck, and ability to eventually play up and down the line up in all situations should make him a prospect to watch develop into a strong player for the Hitmen. Grade: B-
| Oliver Tulk | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | F | 5’8″ | 172 | Calgary Hitmen | 2020 | Gibsons, BC | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Tulk is another player that Hitmen management and fans should be excited about having as apart of their organization. Tulk plays a strong 200 foot game, battled for position in all three zones, and was a menace to contain in the offensive zone. While undersized at 5’8 and 170 pounds, Tulk is not shy to engage in battles with bigger, stronger players and use his lower centre of gravity to knock bigger players off the puck. Tulk has a quick release, but will need to improve the power behind his shot as he develops into a more physically mature player. Tulk is a player that was used exclusively at even strength, but did get 2 shorthanded shifts and 2 powerplay shifts between the two games, showing that the Hitmen coaching staff does have confidence using him in all situations, and as his confidence in these situations arise, look for Tulk to be an impact player for the Hitmen in the coming years. Grade: B
| Riley Fiddler-Schultz | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 194 | Calgary Hitmen | 2017 | Edmonton, AB | 2002 | 2021-2022: C |
An offensively gifted and dominant forward, Fiddler-Schultz is the engine that drives the Hitmen bus on the ice. While he did not find the back of the net on the weekend, Fiddler-Schultz did chip in an assist on the Hitmen’s lone goal on Sunday, setting up Zac Funk with a nifty pass for a powerplay goal to tie the game up early in the 2 nd period. Fiddler-Schultz is a dynamic skater, using his footspeed to be a pain for opposition defenders trying to break out of their zone. While not the most physical player, Fiddler-Schultz was not shy to engage in battles in all three zones, but was a defensively responsible key for the Hitmen, playing a smart game on the d-side of the puck throughout the weekend. Fiddler-Schultz’s ability to impact the game defensively and chip in at over a point per game average on the season speaks to his commitment to bettering his ability to play, and as an undrafted 2002 player, he should be on some teams’ radars to be a player that can provide some secondary scoring, and defensive support. Grade: B+
| Cael Zimmerman | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | C | 5’11” | 181 | Calgary Hitmen | 2016 | Humboldt, SK | 2001 | Not yet rated |
Zimmerman is a swift footed centre for the Hitmen who’s biggest value lays in his ability to be a strong, smart penalty killer that can almost singlehandedly kill off chunks of penalties by holding pucks in the offensive zone, blocking shots in the defensive zone, and clearing pucks with almost 100% accuracy on the PK. At even strength, Zimmerman is not a player that will drive a line, but his ability to move pucks effectively and shut down other teams players make him a valuable asset for the Hitmen. As an undrafted 2001 born player, Zimmerman’s stock as a depth player should make for some interesting conversations as he looks to move onto the next step of his career. Grade: C+
| Ethan Buenaventura | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | G | 6’1″ | 187 | Calgary Hitmen | 2019 | Winnipeg, MB | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Buenaventura is a big, mobile goaltender that benefits from his size and athleticism in the net. Buenaventura checks off a lot of the boxes for an elite goaltender, but did seem to lack the ability to make the game saving stop over the weekend. While he did receive his fair share of shots in the two games (30 shots and 35 shots respectively), he did let in a pair of goals that we felt he should have had if he played his angles better. As a big goalie, Buenaventura should learn to rely less on his athleticism and focus on having smart positioning and using angles to force players to hit him with pucks, or miss the net. As a big body, Buenaventura did seem to play a smaller man’s game in the two games. Additionally, Buenaventura will need to push his puck skill development, as he fanned on a few clearing attempts that lead to high quality scoring chances for both the Warriors (16th) and the Blades (20th). Grade: C
Saskatoon Blades: Topped the Hitmen 4-1 on the 20th , helped by a three goal third period to win the game.
| Kyle Crnkovic | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | L | LW | 5’7″ | 165 | Saskatoon Blades | 2018 | Chestermere, AB | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Crnkovic is a smooth skating, high IQ player for the Blades that is a dangerous player on and off the puck. As a smaller player, Crnkovic relied heavily on his footspeed to generate time and space for himself. Crnkovic is able to move pucks quickly, accurately, and jump to open space to receive passes back, or pull defenders in as a high risk player on the ice to give his linemates more time on the puck. Crnkovic seemed to be a water-bug on the ice, buzzing around the whole sheet with speed and tenacity, snapping the puck around, and snapping pucks on net to the tune of two goals (one shorthanded) on Sunday. While he is undersized at 5’7, Crnkovic is the type of new age player that a team would be lucky to have as apart of their long term plans. Crnkovic is over a point per game player, on pace for over 100 points on the season, which speaks to his commitment to playing the game at a high level despite his size. Grade: A+
| Trevor Wong | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | R | LW | 5’9″ | 154 | Kelowna Rockets | 2018 | Vancouver, BC | 2003 | 2021-2022: C |
Another slightly undersized, highly skilled player for the Blades, Wong controls the pace of the game with patience on the puck, assertiveness off the puck defensively, and seemed to be able to find quiet areas in the offensive zone and pop to open pockets to get quality shots on net. Wong opened the scoring for the Blades on Sunday, taking a pass from teammate Brandon Lisowski and snapping the puck behind the Hitmen goaltender. Wong’s use of his footspeed, ability to create speed using crossovers and quick stride made him a difficult player for Hitmen defenders to control, and his ability to create space in the offensive zone for himself and his teammates made him a player that was enjoyable to watch. Grade: B+
| Brandon Lisowsky | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | L | C | 5’9″ | 172 | Saskatoon Blades | 2019 | Port Coquitlam, BC | 2004 | 2021-2022: B- |
Lisowski is a smooth skating, deceptively quick skater for the Blades who is valuable on and off the puck. A highly ranked prospect for the upcoming NHL draft, Lisowski’s value lay in his ability to create offensive opportunities seemingly out of nothing plays, and his shot explodes off his stick and seemed to catch the Hitmen goaltender off guard several times over the course of the game. Lisowski is an adequate option on the penalty kill, but as an offensively gifted player, Lisowski’s biggest value lay in powerplay time, giving him the time and space to move to open ice and snap pucks on net, generating second and third chance opportunities with his shot. As a shoot first type of player, Lisowski is difficult to defend as he also showed the ability to draw defenders in on odd man rushes and make a smart, accurate pass to teammates, making him a difficult player to contain. Lisowski should be a player that will be taking in the 3 rd -4 th round in the upcoming draft, and should be an every day NHLer by hismid-20s. Grade: A
| Tanner Molendyk | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | L | D | 5’11” | 176 | Saskatoon Blades | 2020 | St. Albert, AB | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Molendyck is the type of player that brings excitement to not just the fans, but also to whatever team has him in their line up. Molendyck is a shifty, smooth skating new age defenseman that is just as likely to join the rush as a net drive option, late attacker, or lead the rush from the back end. Molendyck has the puck skills to run the powerplay in his first full season in the WHL as a 17 year old (2005 birth year). Molendyck checks off a lot of boxes of tangible skills, but also checks the boxes for intangible skills as well, seeming to help motivate his team with heart, making several key defensive stops on odd man rushes, transitioning pucks from defense to offense, finishing several checks against bigger bodies, and his mouth seemed to move as quickly as hit feet did on the ice, seeming to get under the Hitmen skin several times over the course of the game. Molendyck is a prospect that should be watched closely over the next two years for the Blades, as he should be a household name soon, and not just in Saskatoon. Grade: B+
| Aidan De La Gorgendiere | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 183 | Saskatoon Blades | 2018 | Langley, BC | 2002 | 2021-2022: C |
De La Gorgendiere is a key member of the back end for the Blades, using his size, skating ability, and defensive awareness to shut down opposition players with relative ease during the game, while also contributing to offensive pressure throughout the game, providing several key zone holds in the offensive zone, throwing pucks down low for his forwards to maintain the cycle. While not an overly offensive style defenseman, De La Gorgendiere did show poise with the puck, moving it to his defensive partners throughout the game, or finding streaking teammates cutting through the defensive and neutral zones on breakouts and regroups. As an undrafted free agent, De La Gorgendiere’s combination of skating ability, size, and on ice awareness will make him a player that should be sought after as a free agent signing. Grade: B
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images