Played on Oct 4, 2025
Game Played in South Okanagan Events Centre
General Game Notes: In this lopsided affair, the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds actually took a 2-1 lead early in the second period off of a shorthanded goal by talented 2009 Brock England but, that would be it. The hometown Penticton Vees erupted for 8 goals in the second and cruised to a 10-4 victory. Brittan Alstead led the way with three goals while captain Ryden Evers and Jacob Kvasnicka added four points apiece.
Ethan Weber (D, R, 6’0″, 187, Penticton Vees, 12/10/2006, Penn State)
Game Rating
B+
Ethan Weber’s skillset is characterized by his balanced approach to the game. He excels at reading plays in the neutral zone, allowing him to cut off attacks and finish physically on defense. In the defensive zone, he consistently wins positioning battles and pins opponents effectively. Weber’s puck skills are also noteworthy, with effective first passes that showcase his poise with the puck. On the blue line, he displays patience and calmness when receiving a pass, allowing him to beat his defender and create scoring opportunities. He also shows toughness on the boards and versatility in handling special-teams roles.
1 Viewing
Comments: Weber — 2006 right-shot, 6-foot defenseman — continues to impress with a high overall skill level and consistent poise; he is an excellent, mobile skater who defends hard, competes physically in front of his net and in board battles, and isn’t afraid to dig in for teammates. This is reflected in his battle numbers as he was 70% on this night and has a 60% success rate overall on the season. Offensively he can contribute reliably from the point with very good puck skills and a knack for getting pucks through to the net — his mobility and decision-making created a rebound goal off a great play at the offensive blue line doing just that. The result of this is minutes on the top power-play unit. He shows strong gap control, jumps into plays when needed, and projects as a two-way defender who can play in high-pressure minutes. He should be a key contributor at the university level.
Callum Stone (D, L, 5’8″, 171, Penticton Vees, 02/08/2007)
Game Rating
B
Callum Stone is a compact but agile left-shot defenseman who excels in defensive situations with his quick movements and excellent gap control. He effectively disrupts opponents’ plays by using his positioning and body awareness to limit their space. While not the most physical player, he makes up for it with his intensity and hustle, consistently tracking back on retrievals and anticipating teammates’ positions.
1 Viewing
Comments: Stone (2007) is a 5’8′ left-shot defenseman who projects as a reliable, defense-first rearguard; he logged a team-high ~26 minutes on this night (well above his ~20-minute season average), recorded 15 takeaways and a respectable battle-win rate at 50%, showing competitive tenacity despite his smaller frame. His skating is a little above average as his stride is not exactly fluid, refinement of his mechanics would go a long way, but it doesn’t hinder his quickness in defending the rush or his mobility in the defensive zone—he consistently gets into lanes, impedes opponents and closes gaps effectively. Plays heavy minutes, is a steady puck handler and a dependable first passer, making smart outlet decisions and keeping play manageable under pressure.
Brooks DeMars (C, L, 6’1″, 184, Penticton Vees, 06/09/2009, North Dakota)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Demars (2009), a 6’1′ left wing committed to the University of North Dakota, projects as a power-forward with a competitive edge; he competes hard along the boards, finishes checks on the forecheck, showing a willingness to make the dirty plays and score from traffic. With that, his battle numbers were low on this night as he only had a 36% success rate. He displays sound puck skills and good offensive instincts with and without the puck — not the primary play driver, but effective at crashing the crease, creating rebounds and creating chances through physical presence. In this game, he logged 17+ minutes of ice time and was used on the second power-play unit. The primary area for development is his skating: his stride is a little better than average but with targeted skating coaching on mechanics refinement, will be very beneficial. With skating improvements, while continuing to leverage his physicality and puck instincts, he has clear upside as a college/pro-level power forward.
Brittan Alstead (F, L, 5’9″, 177, Penticton Vees, 01/06/2006, Connecticut)
Game Rating
B+
Brittan Alstead is a dynamic and competitive forward who consistently attacks the dirty areas of the ice, using his body and stick to win battles despite being undersized at 5’9″. He showcases relentlessness and tenacity in these efforts, winning nearly half of his battles. Alstead also demonstrates strong puck protection skills, quick hands, and a rapid release. His agility allows him to be effective in tight spaces, making him a threat on the attack. Additionally, he is a reliable two-way contributor due to his good skating and overall quickness.
1 Viewing
Comments: Alstead — 5’9′, 2006 left wing and University of Connecticut commit — is a compact, quick winger who brings high-end compete every shift and consistently impacts play over 200 feet. He shows a knack for being in the right spot around the net with an ability to finish, currently tied for the team lead with five goals in seven games, scoring different ways in this game…driving through the slot using his quick release (as he did in this game resulting in a goal) and by battling in tight to cash in traffic against bigger defensemen. A reliable presence on the top power play, he works the walls hard, wins puck battles, and screens and competes in front of the crease, projecting as a diligent, hard-working depth scorer who can drive possession and finish chances in traffic. He should be a key contributor at the university level.
Vanek Popil (D, R, 6’1″, 178, Seattle Thunderbirds, 05/14/2008)
Game Rating
B+
Vanek Popil showcases an impressive all-around skill set, making him a valuable asset on the ice. His exceptional skating ability allows for fluid movements, enabling him to quickly change direction or accelerate towards the puck. He possesses excellent hand control, maintaining composure under pressure to create scoring opportunities. A key strength is his ability to read the game, drawing defenders and releasing crisp passes to teammates. Popil also demonstrates strong net-front skills, utilizing both hands to shield opponents’ sticks and box out for rebounds. His calm demeanor and effective communication with teammates make him a reliable option in various situations.
1 Viewing
Comments: Popil — a right-shot, 6-foot, 2008 draft-eligible defenseman — was very good despite his team’s struggles on this night. He played a steady, composed game that emphasized reliability over flash. He skates very well, showing mobility to close gaps and get in lanes to disrupt attacks, and he defends physically with effective body positioning and strong hit and pin on the down coverage low in the defensive zone. With the puck he’s calm and poised, consistently making sound first passes and communicating effectively with teammates; his decision-making and steadiness earned him nearly 18 minutes of ice time, a spot on the penalty kill. Also impressive was the fact he was even in the plus-minus category in a lopsided loss. There is definitely plenty of upside with this player to have success at the next level.
Brock England (C, L, 5’11”, 174, Seattle Thunderbirds, 08/22/2009)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: England — 2009, left-shot center (5’10’) — showed an impressive all-around game, blending high-end skating (top-end speed and excellent edge work) with strong puck skills and playmaking patience; he consistently created time and space by backing off the Penticton defense, then used his quickness and shiftiness in both open ice and tight areas to drive the attack. Though not the biggest, he competes hard in the tough areas along the walls and netfront, winning battles and supporting at both ends. He was utilized on both the teams, top power-play and penalty killing units. He did struggle on the face off dot as he won only four draws in 17 attempts. He also lost his way a few times down low on the defensive zone coverage, playing a more stop and start approach would be beneficial. He also displayed some finish, evidenced by a shorthanded breakaway goal on a slick move, and projects as a confident puck-handler and primary play driver at this level.
Brendan Rudolph (LW, L, 5’11”, 183, Seattle Thunderbirds, 03/08/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Rudolph (2008 draft-eligible) is a left winger who plays with a very good compete level and consistently uses his top-end speed to pressure opponents on the forecheck and will finish on the body; his skating — both acceleration and stride — forces defenders to respect him at the blue line and creates separation in transition. In the game he logged nearly 13 minutes of ice time, was noticeably physical, and displayed reliable puck-handling in open ice. He won 57% of his battles, very respectable for this young 6′ player. On the plus minus side, he was an impressive even, given the very lopsided score. He is a pace-driven player and with continued strength work and refinement of his finishing and playmaking in traffic would boost his upside.
Tai Riley (D, L, 5’8″, 188, Seattle Thunderbirds, 09/23/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Tai Riley brings a unique combination of skill and tenacity to the ice as a defensemen. His small stature belies a big presence, and he plays with an assertiveness that allows him to dominate opponents in the neutral zone. Riley’s excellent skating ability enables him to stay mobile and create turnovers. He is also a physical player who finishes checks hard and wins battles at the netfront, demonstrating his willingness to be involved in the play. His puck skills are complemented by his agility, allowing him to efficiently move pucks through tight spaces and set up teammates for scoring chances. Overall, Riley’s impressive all-around skillset makes him an asset on both the power play and penalty kill units.
1 Viewing
Comments: Riley is a highly competitive 5’9′, late 2007, draft-eligible defenseman who plays far bigger than his stature, showing physicality and fearless engagement in board battles and net-front scrums; he protects the house effectively and wins key interior puck battles. A very good, effective skater, he retrieves pucks and activates efficiently, consistently making a reliable first-pass. On a tough night for his team overall defensively where his team conceded 10 goals, Riley stood out for consistency — finishing even on the plus/minus side and leading the club in ice time at nearly 27 minutes. Trusted on both the top power play and the top penalty kill, which speaks to his versatility and two-way value. The reality is this player has picked up right where he left off last season.
Cameron Kuzma (C, L, 6’2″, 192, Seattle Thunderbirds, 07/17/2008, Lake Superior)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Kuzma (2008), a 6’2′ left-shot center and draft-eligible forward, showed a steady, hard-nosed performance despite his team’s struggles — he is a very good skater, competes hard and provides reliable down-low defensive zone coverage. He brings a willing physical element, consistently finishing checks and willingness to go to the hard areas at both ends. Several occasions on the attack, he displayed a willingness to drive the defence wide and cut hard to the net. He saw power-play deployment on the second unit. In almost 13 minutes of ice time he won 8-of-14 faceoffs, underscoring his competitiveness and value on the dot; projects as a two-way, physical pivot with upside if his offensive finishing and playmaking continue to develop.
Grayson Tash (D, R, 5’11”, 171, Seattle Thunderbirds, 04/12/2009)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Tash is a 2009 right-shot, 5’11’ defenseman who displays very good fundamental skills — notably strong skating, confident puck handling and the willingness to carry the puck and make plays out of pressure. He showed poise and the ability to move the puck effectively, though he did make a few questionable decisions with possession in this game. His primary area for improvement is low-zone coverage and decision-making in the defensive zone; he tended to circle rather than execute controlled stop-start positioning, which contributed to a minus-4 on the night, a night when his whole team struggled. With his skating, puck skills and room for tactical growth, Tash projects as a player with upside who should develop into a steady, reliable defender on the Thunderbirds’ blue line.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images