Played on March 10, 2024
Jaxen Adam (D, L, 6’3″, 204, Tri-City Americans, 08/19/2007)
Game Grade: B
Adam is a hulking August 2007 who was playing in his ninth WHL game of his junior career. At this point he has the frame that every NHL team will be looking for but is still developing his explosive first step and all around agility. He showed a bit of a forward leaning posture with his knees over his toes alignment. He was strong through contact and we liked how he looked to initiate contact whenever possible as we feel this shows he understands that he can have a monster presence on the ice. After protecting his goalie in a post whistle scrum Adam had a first period five minute major for fighting. As he fought a 6’3″, 205lbs opponent the fight showed his overall strength and balance. In the defensive zone Adam hit and stuck his man to the wall allowing his low support to dig the loose puck off the wall to start transition. Offensively he went with his first choice and stayed out of trouble by keeping things simple yet highly effective. He did not play on the power play but was a consistent member of the penalty killing unit. In the defensive zone Adam also showed nice puck anticipation by gathering rebounds to start a breakout or simply flipping the puck out of the defensive zone.
Merrek Arpin (D, R, 6’3″, 180, Tri-City Americans, 05/31/2006)
Game Grade: B-
Arpin is a long lanky right shot defensive minded defenseman. He showed good straight line speed and a smooth heel to heel pivot but he is still gaining the hip flexibility needed to have a full powerful cross-under when coming out of power turns or when crossing over while wheeling the net looking to start transition. Arpin finished minus two on the night with the first goal coming after a turnover on a snap shot from the high slot. We feel he could not do much about the goal. The second goal against came on a clean full ice 3 on 3 with a backchecker where Arpin and his partner failed to communicate with their backchecking forward which allowed easy zone access for Seattle. The shooter scored on a floater on a zone entry that we fee never should have happened. Defensively he is still learning to lower his hips for better leverage during wall battles and gaining the strength needed to be a shutdown defender. Offensively Arpin showed he could make the passes that needed to be made but we feel there were too many times in offensive transition that he exposed the puck allowing for Seattle players to get their sticks on the puck. He was a member of both special teams units.
Kainoah Brankovich (D, R, 6’2″, 175, Tri-City Americans, 03/12/2007)
Game Grade: C
Brankovich is a long right shot defenseman who was playing in his ninth WHL game. He showed good backwards acceleration and trusted his feet and retreating lateral mobility to try to meet the oncoming line rush in the neutral zone. In the defensive zone Brankovich looked to establish his ice early and then prevent the opposing forwards from getting in the shooting lanes by planting his edges in the ice and not being moved. Offensively He moved the puck quickly and when he felt pressure Brankovich used the boards as a way to get Seattle’s forecheckers trapped below the puck. He did not play special teams.
Jackson Smith (D, L, 6’3″, 190, Tri-City Americans, 05/07/2007)
Game Grade: B+
As a 2007 Smith is a 6’3″, 190lbs left shot defenseman with a powerful stride, good game awareness and the overall two-way game to have NHL eyes watching him closely through his 2025 NHL draft year. He was used by the coaching staff to be a key member of the top power play unit as well as being a steady contributor to the penalty kill. Offensively he showed deception in his passing by not telegraphing his intended target and his passes were flat and where his teammate could make the next play without needing to adjust hands as he received the pass. Smith also showed the kind of 1 on 1 elusiveness to juke a defender in open ice and make them miss. He has a curl and drag snapshot that hits the net and the foot work to slide laterally when one-timing a shot from the point. Defensively he did not watch the puck or follow the pass. He showed very good strength by winning his 50/50 battles and then moving the puck quickly to his partner or low support. He is an exciting high end young defender who we should expect to be seeing play big minutes at higher levels.
Nicholas Anisimovicz (C, R, 5’10”, 179, Tri-City Americans, 08/31/2006)
Game Grade: C+
Anisimovicz is a below average sized right shot right wing. He played a simple direct low risk game and showed an inside edge skating posture. Physically he is still gaining the strength to confidently go into 50/50 pucks with the expectations of winning but he did engage. He handled passes cleanly and had a nice shot from the slot on a second period line rush where he broke his skating down to be the second wave of the attack. Anisimovicz did not kill penalties but he was the left side flank on the power play where he had the freedom to slide top of the circle to the goal line depending on the penalty killer’s coverage.
Camerin Cardona (C, R, 5’10”, 166, Tri-City Americans, 01/01/2006)
Injured. Season ending injury on December 2, 2023.
Evaluation from World Hockey Trophy Nashville 2006s, July 11, 2021: Cardona is a smooth skating, dangler that loves to have the puck on his stick and dance around defenders. Whether on the rush or in the offensive zone he looks to make a move on at least the first guy and has quick hands to be able to do it especially at top speeds. Camerin can attack fast and swiftly pushing defenders on their heels. He is able to play a power game if needed but prefers to stick to the perimeter to make plays with a heavy shot or getting the puck to a dangerous scoring area. GRADE: B-
Maxmilian Curran (C, L, 6’2″, 167, Tri-City Americans, 08/27/2006)
Injured. Curran has not played since January 20, 2024.
Jordan Gavin (LW, L, 5’11”, 179, Tri-City Americans, 11/13/2006)
Game Grade: A-
Gavin is a below average sized left shot forward who took shifts at both wings. During offensive transition we liked the awareness he showed to play off the walls so he could spin off contact if needed or uses an indirect to a slashing linemate when the opposing defender stepped up on him. He had the primary assist on Tri-City’s fifth goal of the game. On the play he understood to fill the left lane as his linemate attacked the middle. After receiving the pass Gavin showed a quick burst which allowed him to drive wide around the defenseman, gain the net and then locate the goal scorer in the high slot. The assist showed awareness, skill and power. Gavin’s passes were well timed, accurate and flat. He was a key member of both special teams units and we liked how his off puck movement made him effective even when he did not have the puck on his stick. The late 2006 is playing at a point per game pace and has high end game processing but this summer will be a huge one for him in terms of gaining the strength and power to be more impactful when battling along the walls and cycling.
Clayton Gillmore (RW, R, 6’2″, 208, Tri-City Americans, 03/30/2007)
Did not dress. Up until this point the 2007 born Gilmore has played five WHL games with zero points and zero PIMs.
Jake Gudelj (C, L, 6’2″, 192, Tri-City Americans, 12/05/2005)
Injured. Gudelj has not played since November 1, 2023 but is expected back at some point in March. From previous viewings: A speedy forward with some power and skill. Good sized centerman will power through opposition to win ice. Keeps his feet moving making him tough to stop. Has decent 1 on 1 skill and moves and can get by defenders. Then he goes to the net where he has good battle instincts in the blue paint area.
Cash Koch (LW, L, 5’11”, 179, Tri-City Americans, 03/31/2007)
Game Grade: B
Koch is a fleet footed below average sized left shot left wing who is not afraid to throw his body around. We liked that when he made contact he stayed on the right side of the puck and did not just throw a hit to make it look good. He showed the type of acceleration that puts him at top speed after one hard thrust. During defensive neutral zone transition he understood to set his width and depth off of the opposing forwards so he was not trapped below the puck. He earned a secondary assist on Tri-City’s fifth goal by cleanly receiving a pass on his backhand to then attack the middle lane with pace which sucked the defenders to him so he could dish it to his linemate in space in the wide lane. Although he did not play on the top units he earned secondary special teams minutes.
Kale Margolis (RW, R, 6’1″, 200, Tri-City Americans, 12/24/2006)
Did not play. Margolis is a recent Tri-City call up from the Prince Albert Mintos U18 AAA in the SMAAAHL where he had 40 points in 44 games including 19 goals.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images