Played on March 24, 2024
Kyle Kelsey (G, L, 6’1″, 185, Tri-City Americans, 01/22/2004)
Game Grade: C+
Standing at 6’1″ Kelsey is a slightly below average sized left catching goalie. Tonight he faced 33 shots stopping 29 for an 0.880 sv%. He did a good job of tracking shots into his body or glove but while pucks were moving down through the dot-lane and then laterally he had a tendency to get his tailbone in line with his strongside post which allowed too much net to shoot at on the wide side. All four of the goals he gave up were to the wide side.
Lukas Matecha (G, L, 6’3″, 196, Tri-City Americans, 05/21/2005)
Did not play.
Jaxen Adam (D, L, 6’3″, 204, Tri-City Americans, 08/19/2007)
Game Grade: B-
Adam is a big bodied 2007 left shot defenseman who’s game revolves around physicality and intimidation. Tonight he had a few big hits that sent his opponents flying but two that stood out. The first was an exploding shoulder that he threw at a forechecker as he came in to hit Adam. He gave a reverse hit that knocked the Everett player on his butt and he drew a penalty in the process. The second came after he worked to set his gap during defensive neutral zone transition and was a clean open ice hit that sent his opponent flying. Offensively he kept things simple and used the wall when he was supposed to but he still completed 84% of his passes and won 67% of his 50/50 puck battles. There is no doubt that Adam is a big body who will have NHL eyes watching him closely over the next 14 months.
Merrek Arpin (D, R, 6’3″, 180, Tri-City Americans, 05/31/2006)
Game Grade: C
Arpin is along lanky right shot defenseman who is at his best when he keeps things simple. Tonight he looked a bit stiffer than we have seen him in the past and we don’t think he had one of his better performances. He finished -2 with the first goal coming after getting trapped in his end for an extended period of time because if a poor decision he made on a puck retrieval. On the play he reversed the puck back up the strongside with his backhand. From that point on they were running around their end. Teh second goal against came on a full length 2 on three where he got caught flat footed and beat wide. Yes his forward could have helped him out a bit more but he was still the one caught flat footed. Physically he finished the game with zero hits and he won two of ten 50/50 puck battles.
Kainoah Brankovich (D, R, 6’2″, 175, Tri-City Americans, 03/12/2007)
Game Grade: C
Brankovich is a long lanky 2007 right shot defenseman who is still getting his footing under him in the WHL. Tonight he earned 7:35 in total ice and after a stretch pass a secondary assist on Tri-City’s first goal of the game. He played a simple steady game and played to his strengths by winning 67% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Jackson Smith (D, L, 6’3″, 190, Tri-City Americans, 05/07/2007)
Game Grade: B
The 2007 born Smith is a 6’3″, 190 pound left shot defenseman who is averaging just under 20 minutes per game for Tri-City. Tonight he earned 19:32 in total ice time including 2:10 on the power play and 2:27 while shorthanded. He was -2 on the night with the first goal coming in a clean one-timer from his side of the ice but he was fully engaged and boxing out an opposing forward. The second minus came on a full length 2 on 3 where the puck carrier attacked his partner and Smith was responsible for the weakside. He had little to do with the goal. He is strong through contact and showed the power to knock opposing forwards down in what looked like incidental contact. On the night he won 56% of his 50/50 puck battles and offensively he had nice puck management and his passes were crisp.
Nicholas Anisimovicz (C, R, 5’10”, 179, Tri-City Americans, 08/31/2006)
Game Grade: B
Anisimovicz is a below average sized right shot forward who went 3 for 3 on face-offs. On the forecheck he took smart angles while in pursuit and although he did not out anyone through the boards we like how he finished his checks rather than following the pass. In the defensive zone he was patient and we like his willingness to get big low to block point shots. Offensively he kept things simple playing a give and go style that allowed him to complete 12 of 14 passes and have a grade “A” scoring opportunity simply because he beat his defender to the front of Everett’s net for a rebound. He won 50% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Camerin Cardona (C, R, 5’10”, 166, Tri-City Americans, 01/01/2006)
Injured. Season ending injury on December 2, 2023
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 November 2006 left shot forward who is not draft eligible until 2026. Tonight he earned 22:14 in total ice ice time including 6:57 on the top power play and 2:27 while shorthanded. Offensively he played with confidence and he showed the wiggle to make opponents miss in open ice and the deceptiveness to get defenders to cross their feet when he was the puck carrier. His passes were well times and on the tape as he completed 92% of his attempts. He is still gaining strength and power as tonight he won only 33% of his 50/50 puck battles and on the season is winning only 41%.
Jake Gudelj (C, L, 6’2″, 192, Tri-City Americans, 12/05/2005)
Game Grade: C
Gudelj is a lanky left shot forward who went 3 for 3 on face-offs and scored a goal while earning 11:47 in total ice time. Although not particularly deceptive he showed poise with the puck and the ability to slow the play down as the driver through the neutral zone. He is still gaining the strength and power needed to go along with his size and potential as a WHL power forward. In this game he won 38% of his 50/50 puck battles and completed just 56% of his passes.
Cash Koch (LW, L, 5’11”, 179, Tri-City Americans, 03/31/2007)
Game Grade: B+
Koch is a below average sized left shot forward who has the mindset that he is going to run into everything in his path. And sometimes out of his path as he finished with a game high 6 hits and tied for a game high 4 PIMs that were the result of a glorious post whistle scrum immediately following Tri-City’s second goal of the game. Koch plays with the type of edge and combative nature that NHL teams are looking for outside of their top six forwards. Tonight the 2007 born Koch won 75% of his 50/50 puck battles and he is winning 46% on the season.
Cruz Pavao (C, R, 5’10”, 183, Tri-City Americans, 08/24/2008)
Game Grade: A-
Pavao is a below average sized 2008 born right shot forward who earned 19:13 in total ice time including 6:23 on the power play. He showed quick strong hands and played with the mindset of generating grade “A” scoring opportunities through his shot or someone else’s. By using his low center of gravity he won 56% of his 50/50 puck battles. Pavao has a bright future.