Played on Feb 16, 2026
Game Played in Langley Events Centre
Grayson Malinoski (G, L, 6’0″, 169, Seattle Thunderbirds, 04/11/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Malinoski came up big multiple times throughout the game to keep the score close. He has solid size and athleticism that allows him to be extremely active when the puck is getting worked around the perimeter. His short shuffles that make him stay square to the puck are quick and effective, and the reason why he’s able to see so many shots square. I was able to make a couple of break away saves showing his dominance of the game.
Coster Dunn (C, R, 6’1″, 191, Seattle Thunderbirds, 09/13/2005, Northern Michigan)
Game Rating
A-
Coster Dunn’s skills are evident in his ability to create scoring opportunities. In the power play set-up as flanker, he excels at catching and releasing pucks quickly and accurately, often beating goalies over the shoulder. His speed and agility allow him to make plays without relying on stick-handling, showcasing his overall hockey IQ. Dunn’s range of skills extends beyond shooting, as he can also pass with precision, using various techniques such as sauce passes behind the back or backhand. He effectively reads the ice and deceives defenders, creating opportunities for himself and others. His ability to control the tempo of the power play is notable, allowing him to dictate when to shoot and when to pass.
1 Viewing
Comments: Dunn will shoot the puck from almost anywhere. He has a quick release and a powerful release. That makes sense for him to take more shots than the next guy. His ability is slow to play down. That’s why he’s so effective in the offensive zone. He does not seem forced to take the shots he takes, and when he does not take them, he is just as good in a playmaker role. Small little sauce passes into the bump or seen plays off the rush. He I was able to show that he was one of the more skilled guys with the puck on the ice tonight.
Sawyer Mayes (C, L, 6’4″, 202, Seattle Thunderbirds, 01/08/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Mayes’ goal showcased his ability to create scoring opportunities through his size and positioning. As a big man, he effectively uses his space to push opponents around, often forcing turnovers by re-gapping and creating room for himself. While not the fastest off the jump, Mayes is able to generate strength with his stride when he gets into a rhythm. This allows him to beat smaller forwards to loose pucks.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mayes was able to seal the deal with the empty netter on the power play, but he provided much more than just his insurance goal at the end of the game. He does a good job at manipulating defenders and exploiting when they have bad gaps. He will stop and start off the rush, and take his time to make a play, showing patience with the puck, which allows a second wave of attack and other teammates to get open. He has some solid size that allows his defensive game to be effective, but needs to put the same amount of energy in his own zone that he does in the offensive zone.
Simon Lovsin (RW, R, 6’0″, 189, Seattle Thunderbirds, 01/22/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Lovsin showcases impressive agility and mobility in game situations, allowing him to outmaneuver defenders and create scoring opportunities. He effectively uses his quickness to evade the goalie’s reach and find openings to unleash shots. Lovsin demonstrates a strong ability to control the puck with his stick, keeping it in front of him while maintaining a keen sense of spatial awareness for teammates. His shot is powerful and well-placed, despite being relatively small in stature.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lovsin could have been the most valuable player tonight, scoring two goals for the Thunderbirds at a crucial time. After working the puck around on the power play, Lovsin slipped back side and got a great pass back door. He tapped the puck five-hole between the sliding goalie’s legs to tie the game up. Lovsin is a skilled player with the puck on his stick, able to control the flow of the play with deceptive stick handles and fakes. He showed tonight that he’s hard to get a body on always finding a way to avoid the next check getting into open ice.
Joe Gramer (D, L, 6’0″, 195, Seattle Thunderbirds, 07/14/2005, Nebraska Omaha)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Gramer this is solid reliable Defenseman where his first pass is crisp and his first read is usually the right one. He moves well for a bigger defenseman, showing his backwards skating is smooth, and he does a good job of keeping his gaps to smaller on shifty or more agile forwards. He wants to be first on the puck when it is dumped in his corner, knowing he is going to get hit, but his ability to make the first play is a huge reason why the puck was out of his teams zone more often than not when he was on the ice.
Noah Kosick (C, L, 5’11”, 167, Seattle Thunderbirds, 08/18/2008, Michigan)
Game Rating
A-
Noah Kosick displayed a well-rounded skill set on the ice, showcasing his ability to create scoring opportunities through individual effort and vision. His speed and agility allowed him to evade defenders and create space for himself, while also providing a threat off the rush where he could utilize his quick movements to make plays. However, Kosick’s lack of physicality was evident in his struggles with board and net front battles, where he often finds himself bumped off pucks. To improve, he would benefit from developing a stronger presence in these areas and learning to absorb checks. Despite this, Kosick demonstrated excellent stick handling, creativity, and vision, which enable him to make plays and create scoring chances for his teammates. His motor and agility also allow him to quickly escape trouble and create rushes, making him a formidable opponent when he can get the puck.
1 Viewing
Comments: Kosick is a classic forward who is a little smaller in stature but is immediately effective with his skating ability and agility in all three zones. He made a couple of nice plays off the rush tonight where his deception in his skating allowed him to beat defenders one on one. His ability to stop and start and pick up speed quickly is what makes it so hard for a defenseman to cover him. The ability to move his feet and his hands at the same time is a large reason why he is able to be so effective in the offensive zone. His speed is the biggest part of his game, and this part of his game is at an elite level.
Matej Pekar (C, L, 5’10”, 167, Seattle Thunderbirds, 09/08/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Matej Pekar’s playing style is characterized by his strong skating ability, which enables him to maintain a high level of speed and momentum on the ice. He excels at being a physical presence in front of his own net, using his straight-line speed to harass opponents on the forecheck. Pekar’s willingness to engage in a hard-nosed, scrappy style of play makes him a force to be reckoned with, often creating frustration for opposing teams. While he may struggle with puck possession and shot selection, his determination to succeed makes up for these limitations.
1 Viewing
Comments: Pekar was able to show that he is a small, agile forward, but his small area agility is a huge reason why he is so effective in the offensive zone. He is able to spin off bigger defensemen looking to play tight to him and beat them with little ice to use. Made a couple nice attacks tonight where he noticed the defender defending him last second, but was still able to find a way to get to the top of the crease. Even though he is one of the smaller players, he is not afraid to attack the dirty areas, showing the unique combination he has of being quick and fearless.
Lance Mccloskey (D, R, 5’11”, 192, Vancouver Giants, 09/13/2007)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: For more of a stay at home defenseman, McCloskey did a good job tonight at getting his shots through and to the net. A couple of his shots created second chance opportunities for his forwards to dig loose at the net front. Where he excelled at was getting his shot on net when the lane was provided for him, and where he struggled was creating his own lanes for himself. He is not the most agile defenseman, but has good enough mobility where he should be able to get up into the play more.
Brett Olson (C, R, 6’2″, 191, Vancouver Giants, 02/24/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Olson struggled a bit tonight at the face off dot, where he was outmuscled and lost possession just not being quick on pucks. For a player of his size he needed to find better ways to impose his physicality and win space. Below the goal line is where he was good tonight, extending his possession, where given time and space and with a little speed, he was given the opportunity to use his size more and attack the net. He showed some solid backwards skating, defensively, absorbing rushes and keeping smaller, more agile forwards to the outside.
Blake Chorney (LW, L, 6’0″, 194, Vancouver Giants, 05/13/2009)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Chorney open the scoring tonight driving the net and getting a rebound that was sitting for him to bury home at the top of the crease. Chorney has solid size, but showed great instincts on this goal, anticipating where the puck is going to be. He played that type of game tonight where his scrappiness and drive can take over a shift. He does not score the most goals, but tonight he was rewarded for his hard work and overall work ethic.
Luca Pura (F, 6’2″, 185, Vancouver Giants, 07/26/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Pura is a big body who imposes his physicality each and every shift he has. He tries to find ways to allow his checking to break down forechecks and breakouts. He does a good job at keeping himself involved and not letting his physicality take him out of the play. Like to see him extend his possessions more and hold onto the puck and add some skill to his game. He makes smart reads and simple plays but does not have a part about his game that is a significant difference maker with the puck.
Jakob Oreskovic (LW, L, 6’1″, 187, Vancouver Giants, 01/10/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Oreskovic was able to grab an assist on the long goal for the Giants tonight. Oreskovic sees the ice well and is not afraid to make higher risk passes, and does a good job of converting them with his skill and ability to play with the puck. When he bears down in the offensive zone he showed that he can be strong on pucks and get shots off from awkward angles and awkward stances. For a bigger body, his skating is solid, being able to show tight turns and escapes under pressure.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images