The 2004s.
Max Hildebrand (G, L, 6’1″, 188, Prince Albert Raiders, 06/29/2004, Bemidji State)
Grade: B+
Comments: The Bemidji State commit made 35 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Raiders defeated the Pats 5-0. Max did an excellent job of keeping his chest up, especially when moving laterally across the crease. He stayed square to shooters and controlled his depth well, effectively taking away as much of the net as possible. He battled hard to make saves and, during the Pats’ power plays, made several consecutive stops to keep them off the board. Moving forward, Max can focus on improving his control of rebound direction off his pads, as he was occasionally prone to kicking the puck into high-danger areas.
Niall Crocker (RW, R, 6’4″, 200, Prince Albert Raiders, 07/31/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Niall is currently in his fifth season with the Prince Albert Raiders and recorded an assist in this game. While on the power play, he carried the puck into the offensive zone, pulled up, and moved it back to Dragicevic at the line, who scored. Niall was effective in the dirty areas of the ice, using his physicality to win puck battles along the wall. We noted that Niall’s playmaking is his primary area for improvement, as his passing was inconsistent. On one play, he carried the puck up ice in transition but missed his intended target, resulting in an offside. On another, he misfired on a breakout pass, leading to an icing. However, he also connected on some smart plays, including one instance where he used his edges to create space before making a great cross-ice pass to a teammate. Niall’s speed was an asset, helping him win races to loose pucks, and he was trusted on the penalty kill due to his quickness and grit. As it stands, Niall would thrive at an NCAA program where he could contribute in bottom-six minutes.
Krzysztof Macias (LW, L, 6’0″, 200, Prince Albert Raiders, 05/14/2004)
Grade: C+
Comments: Krzysztof is in his second season with the Raiders after previously playing in Czechia. He is a veteran of eight professional games, including five in the top division and one in the second division. As a bigger forward, he protects the puck well through contact and displayed effective hands and edgework along the wall. His strength stood out, as he consistently withstood physical challenges while cycling the puck down low. We noted that his footspeed is an area for improvement, as he struggled to keep up when the game became more free-flowing. As it stands, Krzysztof would benefit from joining an NCAA program where he can play a heavy, physical style in a middle-six role.
Logo courtesy of The Prince Albert Raiders