Played on Dec 30, 2025
Game Played in South Okanagan Events Centre
General Game Notes: From the way the Royals were able to open the scoring with a minute left in the first period, you would think that early momentum would carry them for the next two periods. The Vees regrouped, and scored three unanswered goals along with a dominating puck possession performance for the win.
Ethan McCallum (G, L, 6’4″, 198, Penticton Vees, 04/11/2006)
Game Rating
A
Ethan McCallum displayed strong shot control during the game, effectively managing rebounds and minimizing second-chance opportunities for opposing shooters. By positioning himself deep in his crease, McCallum provided ample space for quality shooters to operate. McCallum’s athleticism allows him to recover from initial shots, but he will need to refine his angles as more skilled opponents take to the ice. He excelled at playing pucks and making solid break-out passes to defensemen and wingers within range. However, McCallum struggled with longer-range passing, which could be a challenge for him moving forward. His ability to control shots and distribute the puck effectively makes him a valuable asset in his team’s defensive strategy.
1 Viewing
Comments: Tonight was a great night for McCallum stopping twenty three of twenty four shots. He is a big goaltender with an excellent frame and outstanding vision. He tracks the puck well through traffic and consistently makes his presence felt in the crease. Flexible and athletic, McCallum is capable of making difficult saves that require strong lateral movement. Unlike goalies who rely on desperation or reactionary flailing, he moved with purpose, maintained strong positioning, and consistently squares up to the shooter.
Sean Burick (D, R, 6’8″, 211, Penticton Vees, 01/09/2008, Denver)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Burick really is not the flashiest defenseman, nor is he a true minutes eater. That said, he brings good size and mobility on the back end and can contribute to clean zone exits. His puck skills and shot are limited, but with a higher volume of offensive opportunities, there is some potential for modest improvement. Defensively, he is a reliable presence in his own zone, focusing on limiting mistakes and using his skating to avoid being beaten by faster forwards. However, he can struggle with the urgency and coverage awareness required to handle heavier minutes effectively. One thing you cannot teach is his size.
Nolan Stevenson (D, R, 6’2″, 177, Penticton Vees, 01/04/2005, St. Cloud)
Game Rating
B+
Nolan Stevenson is a versatile defenseman with a strong two-way game. He combines physical play with excellent passing skills, making him a valuable asset to his team. When in control of the pace, he can create turnovers by outmuscling opponents and quickly transitioning the puck to his teammates. Stevenson’s defensive skills are equally impressive, as he excels at reading plays, containing opponents, and battling for pucks along the boards. His strong skating ability allows him to stay ahead of his foes, and he possesses a hard shot that can be utilized in various situations. Overall, Stevenson is a solid defenseman who makes an impact on both offense and defense with his smart playmaking and physicality.
1 Viewing
Comments: Stevenson showed tonight that his offensive approach can lead him to take unnecessary risks, occasionally resulting in scoring chances for the opposition. When pinned in his own zone, he can appear uncomfortable and struggles to consistently shut down sustained offensive pressure. He is best utilized as the quarterback of a first power play unit and paired with a defensively reliable partner on a sheltered second pairing. When he uses his offensive side of his game, he is one of the more notable players on the ice, for good reason. The only thing was tonight, in his own zone, there were a couple times he was more notable but not for a good reason.
Brady Birnie (C, L, 5’8″, 171, Penticton Vees, 09/07/2005, Bemidji State)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Birnie is a quick and agile forward whose hands move just as fast as his feet. His smaller stature suggests that he gets bumped off the puck a lot but this is just not the case. His speeds allows him to often evade physical contact, of course, when he does get along the boards, it is easier for larger defenseman to pin him. Scored a nice goal literally on the goal line and beat the goalie over his shoulder sliding to his post to cover the top part of the net. It was on the power play so he had some extra time and space to make this shot but regardless, this was an absolute snipe in tight.
Chase Valliant (C, L, 6’1″, 187, Penticton Vees, 05/18/2006)
Game Rating
B+
Valliant’s goal was well-taken, showcasing his ability to crash the net and capitalize on rebounds. His size is an asset, as seen in this instance where he was able to position himself advantageously despite being boxed out. However, Valliant sometimes struggles with maintaining possession of the puck under pressure, indicating a need for improvement in controlling the tempo of the game. This is partly due to his tendency to play on the perimeter, which makes it easier for defenders to anticipate and intercept passes. To maximize his effectiveness, Valliant would benefit from relying more on his feet and using them to create space rather than trying to make passes while stationary. By doing so, he can become a more dominant force in the game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Valliant really sealed the deal tonight with the insurance goal late in the third period. As a shot came in from the point, Valliant just simply won his battle at the net front to bang home a puck laying at the crease. It really was the cherry on top to win the game with both the timing and just how it went in. Valliant, not the biggest, but has a solid frame worked harder than the player next to him and was rewarded for it. He does need to use his feet more in his own zone. At times tonight, he could obviously be seen using his motor to work twice as hard in the offensive zone as he does in his own.
Ryden Evers (C, L, 6’4″, 196, Penticton Vees, 06/22/2005, Clarkson)
Game Rating
A-
Evers’s skillset lies in his unique ability to score multiple ways, thanks to his size, strength, and agility. He excels at being a physical presence in front of the net, using his frame to shield smaller defenders. Evers also demonstrates impressive speed and mobility for his size, allowing him to quickly accelerate down the ice and change direction with ease.
1 Viewing
Comments: Evers is a completely dominant offensive force with an excellent command of his full skill set. He skates well, competes hard on the puck, and checks all the boxes of a true play driving, offense minded forward. He plays with aggression, which can occasionally lead to mistakes, but he also shows a high level of diligence and maturity in his overall game like the way he back checks into his own zone after a turnover. With his size and strength, he can battle effectively for pucks and, when needed, match up against top offensive opponents, using his intelligence and physical presence to limit their time and space on the puck. One of the better players on the ice in terms of small area plays, especially for how big he is.
Matteo Danis (C, L, 6’1″, 187, Penticton Vees, 03/27/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Danis tied the game up with a sneaky little play behind the net where he fooled the goalie going one way and popped out the other side for an empty netter. Danis has this type of skating and stick handling ability where you can tell he has soft hands and feet, meaning that both are smooth. One of the better parts to his game tonight was his ability to turn on a dime when possessing the puck. He can evade defenders looking to get a body on him with quick and agile movement. He is able to do all of this and still have a decent frame on him. Some guy at his size cannot move the way he can.
Henry Peterson (D, R, 6’3″, 203, Victoria Royals, 05/25/2007, St. Thomas)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Peterson is a lot of things as a defenseman but at his best he is a physical, polished, potential minute eating defenseman. While he consistently brings a physical element, his overall skill set is fairly replaceable and he did not make a significant defensive impact. He offers limited offensive upside, struggles to move the puck efficiently, and lacks higher end puck skills. Defensively, Peterson tends to prioritize big hits over sound positioning, at times sacrificing effective defensive plays in favor of being the most physical presence on the ice.
Seth Fryer (D, R, 6’7″, 197, Victoria Royals, 06/23/2006)
Game Rating
B
Fryer’s skillset is defined by his mobility, intelligence, and size, which allows him to effectively cover a lot of ground on the ice. While his puck skills are not overly impressive, he can contribute to his team’s transition game through his skating ability. However, Fryer struggles in tight spaces and lacks physicality compared to other defensemen.
1 Viewing
Comments: Fryer is a big boy, and he was able to show tonight that his overall defensive awareness still needs refinement. He clearly has the size and strength to become a true impact defensive defenseman, but he must show meaningful improvement in his defensive consistency to handle more impactful minutes. At this stage after tonight he can be classified as a strong puck moving defenseman who benefits from being paired with a reliable and mobile partner. Fryer has the upside to grow into a higher end two way defenseman with legitimate puck moving value who can contribute more offense with his long stride and powerful shot.
Timofei Runtso (D, R, 6’2″, 187, Victoria Royals, 07/06/2007, Miami (Ohio))
Game Rating
B+
Timofei Runtso’s defensive contributions are often overlooked, but he makes significant efforts in both ends of the ice. In the offensive zone, he excels at creating shot lanes and joining rushes, allowing teammates to capitalize on scoring opportunities. His stickwork is notable, as he consistently breaks up plays with his active stick, positioning himself first on pucks.
1 Viewing
Comments: Runtso was able to show tonight that he is a mobile defenseman with a large frame and higher end puck moving ability. An effortless skater, he moves the puck up ice with a sense of calmness, quickness, and skill. He is a major asset in transition and regularly creates offensive chances whenever the puck is on his stick. Defensively, Runtso plays an aggressive style, using his speed and size to shut down plays, though he still needs to refine his positioning. More shoulder checks and anticipation, less standing still, would elevate his defensive impact where he could shut plays down earlier using his skating.
Caleb Matthews (RW, R, 6’2″, 174, Victoria Royals, 06/04/2007)
Game Rating
C+
1 Viewing
Comments: Matthews does have a bit of a two way game in him but tonight struggled more in the defensive zone. He should not be relied upon in defensive situations. Tonight, he was able to show that his value to a team comes from his physical presence and his willingness to do whatever it takes to wear down opponents and impose his will through sheer competitiveness and toughness. Like to see him hold on to the puck more, make himself more of an offensive threat.
Cosmo Wilson (D, R, 6’0″, 171, Victoria Royals, 01/09/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Wilson was able to get his shot through from the point to find the back of the net late in the first period. He did a good job at getting his hips around the puck in order to get the most power out of his shot, he tended to do that often throughout the game and even putting some defensive shot blockers off their lanes because of the deception it caused. He needs to work on his footwork that provides him speed. Too many times he was late to pucks or barely won races to loose pucks that he should have had more time to make a play. Laterally, he moves well, north and south, he could improve his first three steps.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images