General Game Notes: Neutral Zone viewed Lethbridge’s 6-3 home win over the Swift Current Broncos. This game featured a number of NHL-level prospects, both drafted and draft-eligible. Our scout focused on players eligible for the 2024 NHL and 2025 NHL Drafts. Each player has been given a grade based solely on their performance in this game.
| Miguel Marques | Lethbridge Hurricanes | WHL | R | RW | 5’11” | 172 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 2021 | Prince George, BC | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Miguel had a strong game offensively against Swift Current as he recorded 2 assists and 3 shots on goal in Lethbridge’s 6-3 home win. On his first assist, Miguel made a great cross-ice pass to Chadwick while Lethbridge was on the power play. Chadwick one-timed the puck, and although his initial shot was stopped, Zimmer put the rebound home. Miguel’s second assist came on Edwards’ empty net goal at the end of the game. Miguel is an above-average straight-line skater for this level of play, and he skates with a wide and strong base. He is a dynamic skater who uses his edges well to create space for himself and change directions with and without the puck. On multiple occasions, Miguel slammed on the breaks with the puck in the offensive zone and threaded a pass to the middle for a chance on goal. Miguel was quick to identify space up ice. He was great at swinging across to support the breakout, or he would cheat up ice to back the defensemen off. On one play, he sprinted up ice, and the defender went with him. He received a difficult pass on his backhand near the blue line and the wall while under pressure to enter the puck into the zone. On another entry, Miguel had the puck in the neutral zone as Lethbridge was changing. Rather than dumping the puck into the zone, he stopped abruptly before entering the offensive zone and threw a pass wide to a teammate who had joined the rush. This delay allowed Lethbridge to change their lines and better forecheck the dump-in. If Miguel had dumped the puck in himself rather than swinging it wide and delaying, it would have been an easy breakout for Swift Current. Miguel is not known for his defensive abilities (and was -2 in this game despite the win), but he did show an ability to force turnovers. On one play, he double-teamed a puck carrier who had his head down and came in from behind to steal the puck. On another play, he swung across to intercept a breakout pass and quickly sauced the puck over the stick of a defender to an open teammate for a chance on goal. Overall, Miguel is a talented and creative offensive player who is required to produce against opposing teams’ top defensive units, as he has minimal support around him offensively. Miguel projects as a late-first-round or second-round pick.
| Will Sharpe | Lethbridge Hurricanes | WHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 190 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 2022 | South Delta, BC | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Will was very noticeable in this contest and appeared to be taking a regular shift. Will is an above-average straight-line skater for this level of play and was also quick backward and when changing directions. He often stepped up to win pucks and force turnovers. Will would occasionally hop into the rush and showed some offensive instincts despite modest point production this season. He was responsible defensively and gapped up the rush well. On one specific play, he defended a 2-on-1 well as he stayed in the middle and took the centering pass away, which enabled his goaltender to make the initial save. Swift Current eventually scored on the play, but it is tough to fault Will as he played the 2-on-1 the right way. Will’s skating ability is what stands out the most and is what will propel him into the pro ranks. Continuing to be confident with the puck and becoming more comfortable offensively will be Will’s next growth area. As of right now, he projects himself as an early-round pick next season who could sneak his way into the first round if his offense improves.
| Landen Ward | Lethbridge Hurricanes | WHL | L | LW | 6’3″ | 205 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 2021 | Lloydminster, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Landen is a big power forward, listed at 6’3′ and 205 pounds at just 17 years old. At times, he was able to excerpt himself physically on the game. On one play, he forced a turnover down low and was able to move the puck to an open teammate to put Lethbridge on the attack. Due in large part to his size at a young age, Landen’s skating is currently his biggest growth area. He must also continue to improve his play with the puck in order to be more of an offensive threat. As of right now, he is not a pro-level prospect.
| Peyton Kettles | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 156 | Swift Current Broncos | 2022 | Winnipeg, MB | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Peyton is a massive ’07 defender, listed at 6’4′ tall and 185 pounds at just 17 years old. Due to his size, Peyton struggles to generate speed for himself, and whether or not he can get faster will be the main determining factor on whether he plays at the NHL level in the future. That being said, he was able to get to loose pucks and escape pressure before making a breakout pass. Peyton often made accurate passes to teammates in the offensive zone and was able to get pucks through to the net from the point. When defending the rush, he used his long stick effectively to poke pucks away and was also able to defend physically. Like many defensemen, he is a better backward skater than he is forward, which points to him being able to play bottom-pairing minutes at the NHL level, at least. That being said, he was hesitant at times to gap up the carrier and relied on his reach quite often to win pucks. At higher levels, this space would be exploited by skilled forwards. Overall, there are a number of tools in Peyton’s belt that point towards success at higher levels, but until he can add speed, his potential will largely remain untapped.
| Luke Mistelbacher | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | R | C | 6’0″ | 195 | Swift Current Broncos | 2021 | Steinbach, MB | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Luke recorded 2 assists in this game and now has 17 points in 33 games played. On his first assist, Luke tipped a puck in deep into the zone, and Caswell dangled his way to the front of the net for the goal. Luke often identified good lanes to the net with and without the puck. He was able to cycle the puck down low and made quick decisions and passes. In all three zones, he made accurate passes. His spacing was also a strong suit as he was able to defend well or get open to be a passing option. Luke was undrafted to the WHL and has done a good job of becoming a full-time player at this level. As of right now, he hasn’t quite shown enough offensively to justify being selected (especially considering his age) but is someone who will have a strong WHL career before going on to the USports level.
| Clarke Caswell | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | L | LW | 5’11” | 171 | Swift Current Broncos | 2021 | Brandon, MB | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Clarke led the way offensively for Swift Current as he factored into all three of the Bronco’s goals in this game. On his goal, Clarke hopped on a puck deep in the offensive zone on the right side of the ice. He cut back toward the hash marks from the goal line between the defenseman and the winger and fired a shot past the goaltender. On his first assist, he carried the puck in on a 2-on-1, and his first shot created a rebound, which was eventually put home by Gabriel. On his second assist, Clarke had the puck up near the blue line. He cut to the middle and pushed in towards the top of the circle, which drew two defenders towards him. This opened up space for Filmon, and Clarke made a great pass down low on the right side to Filmon, who moved it cross-ice to Hvidston for the goal. Clarke is an effective two-way center who has a great deal of offensive flair, as evidenced by his 39 points in 37 games. Despite strong offensive totals, he doesn’t quite have the offensive abilities of a Miguel Marques or a Tanner Howe, but he is stronger defensively than both of those players. He routinely helped win pucks down low by supporting his defensemen, and was also able to intercept passes short-handed. Offensively, he spaced himself well to get open as a passing option and displayed excellent vision in his passing. He is an above-average straight-line skater for this level of play, but projects as average for the NHL level. Clarke is a player who could be selected in the second or third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. He is a safer pick than a number of other draft-eligible WHL forwards due to his strength defensively. He is more likely to stick in the NHL than a Howe or a Marques, but it would be as a bottom-six forward. Clarke doesn’t have one tool that sticks out, but his overall game is well-rounded.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Nick Earle