General Game Notes: Neutral Zone was in attendance at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB, as the Oil Kings hosted the Regina Pats. The home side staged an exciting comeback as they scored 4 unanswered goals in the third for the come-from-behind victory. Our scout focused on players eligible for the 2024 and 2025 NHL Drafts, and have given players grades based on their performances in this game alone.
| Blake Fiddler | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 193 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 2022 | Frisco, TX | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Blake’s game appears to be rounding into form at the WHL level. In this contest he displayed excellent passing in transition as he was able to escape pressure with his edges, before getting his head up and firing a pass to a teammate. This was something he struggled with earlier in the season, so it is great to see that he is becoming more coordinated and calmer under pressure. Defensively, Blake gapped up puck carriers well for the most part and stepped up in the neutral zone at times to lay a hit or force a dump in. Blake can continue to improve his straight-line speed and his balance, but this should come as he grows into his body. Overall, this was a promising performance from Blake whose game is moving in the right direction.
| Aaron Krestanowich | Regina Pats | WHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 190 | Regina Pats | 2021 | Winnipeg, MB | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Aaron displayed effective backward and lateral skating for this level of play. He has soft hands and was able to control the puck well when given time. Defensively, he can work to control his gaps better when defending the rush. Aaron appeared hesitant to gap up carriers and must trust himself to operate with less of a safety net. He also appeared hesitant with the puck and rushed his decisions.
| Kolten Bridgeman | Regina Pats | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 197 | Regina Pats | 2022 | Regina, SK | 2006 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Kolten is a 6’4′ defender who is still adjusting to playing at the WHL level. He is a below-average straight-line skater for this level of play and can get turned when defending the rush. Kolten can get out-muscled in puck battles and must work to be stronger at the net front in order to not let opponents get established. When breaking out of his own zone, Kolten was able to get his head up to make an accurate pass. Given his late birthday, Kolten has another season to get adjusted to the WHL before his draft season.
| Corban Almen | Regina Pats | WHL | R | LW | 5’10” | 160 | Regina Pats | 2022 | Saskatoon, SK | 2007 | 2024-2025: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Corban displayed strong spatial awareness as he was able to find pockets of space to get open off puck to be a passing option. He was especially effective at this around the net, and as he adjusts, he will begin to convert more of his chances. Corban is a below-average straight-line skater for this level of play, and improving his speed is his greatest growth opportunity. Corban cycled the puck well in the offensive zone, but due to his lack of explosiveness and pace, he struggled to create space for himself. Corban can also continue to improve the velocity of his shot.
| Cole Temple | Regina Pats | WHL | L | C | 5’9″ | 160 | Regina Pats | 2022 | Brandon, MB | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: The hallmark of Cole’s game is his speed, and despite being one of the youngest players in the league, he was able to drive the pace of play with his feet. Cole is a smaller player but was able to carry the puck through contact and carried it with his head up. He supported the defenders well in the defensive end and on breakouts and was overall responsible. In the offensive end, Cole was elusive at the net front and was able to get to scoring areas to be a threat. It is worth noting that Cole took a regular shift in this game and was on the ice with the goalie pulled as Regina looked to tie it up. Cole is a dynamic player who is a bit undersized but is one to watch for the 2025 NHL Draft.
| Parker Berge | Regina Pats | WHL | L | D | 5’11” | 189 | Regina Pats | 2018 | Edmonton, AB | 2003 | 2023-2024: Free Agent |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Parker was a standout in this contest for the Pats as he played heavy minutes and fired a team-high 9 shots on goal. He is an above-average straight-line skater for this level of play, and his skating would be an asset at the pro level. Due to his explosiveness and speed, he gapped up carriers extremely well and was able to knock pucks away with his stick. At the pro level, he will have to back off a bit, but his confidence is promising. When defending a specific rush, Parker took off backward from the offensive blue line and stayed gapped up to the puck carrier all the way into his zone. Parker read passes well and had a number of takeaways to turn the play the other way. When going for loose pucks, Parker positioned himself well to get his body between his opponent and the puck, which allowed him to make plays with his stick. He was especially astute at bumping the puck off the wall while under pressure to a teammate who was able to skate the puck out of the zone. Offensively, Parker displayed a quick release and heavy shot. He can continue to refine his shot selection as he occasionally shoots from low percentage areas of the ice. Parker recorded an assist on Regina’s first goal of the game as he carried the puck up the right wall and past three opponents. He was closed off in the corner and thus spun with the puck and fired a tape-to-tape pass to Peskett at the net front for the tap-in. Parker is a player who has a number of pro qualities, namely his skating, puck movement, and shot and is thus someone worthy of at least an AHL contract at the end of this season. It is also worth noting that his 25 points are the most he has ever recorded in a season (despite having only played 26 games), and he is one of only three players on the team who has a positive plus/minus.
| Tanner Howe | Regina Pats | WHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 182 | Regina Pats | 2020 | Prince Albert, SK | 2005 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Tanner led the way offensively for the Pats with a goal. On this play, he positioned himself at the top of the left circle as F3. With a puck battle occurring below the goal line, Tanner was well-positioned to collapse along the wall to stifle the breakout if Edmonton came up the puck. As the Pats came up with the puck, he pushed off towards the middle of the ice to create separation from the Edmonton winger, and one-timed the pass up top past the goaltender. It is worth noting that the puck was just a bit outside his wheelhouse, but Tanner still managed to get off an excellent shot. Tanner is only an average straight-line skater at the WHL level which is a bit concerning considering his size. That being said, he generated speed quickly and was able to handle the puck through contact. He is also strong on his edges in tight and can stick-handle the puck effortlessly under pressure. Tanner was able to find space with and without the puck, and overall read the defense well to create opportunities for himself. On the power play he must work a bit harder to find space, as it was clear that the Pats were trying to work it to him for a one-timer, and the defenders adjusted accordingly. Defensively, Tanner came back to support the defenders down low and was able to win pucks to get them out of the zone. Despite his size, he threw a number of hard hits and is overall comfortable with the physical aspect of the game. Tanner plays a 200′ game at the WHL level, but his game projects as being pro-caliber from the blue line in as he is quick in tight, but not fast in open ice. Tanner is also the type of player who needs to play with linemates who get him the puck, and is at his best when he doesn’t have to do the dirty work himself. Tanner was 7/21 in the faceoff circle and projects as a winger at the NHL level. This was a strong showing from Tanner who is now the go to guy offensively for the Pats.
| Jaxsin Vaughan | Regina Pats | WHL | R | C | 6’1″ | 206 | Regina Pats | 2021 | Kelowna, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Jaxsin is a massive forward for the Pats, listed at 6’1′, 205 lbs. Due to his size he controlled the puck well through contact and displayed soft hands. He received a bad pass in his feet in transition and was able to kick it up to his stick to keep the play going. Jaxsin is a below average straight-line skater for this level of play and adding speed should be his number one priority. That being said, he showed excellent hustle as he was able to beat out an icing to keep the play alive for the Pats.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images