Game played 11/20/2024.
General Game Notes: Neutral Zone was in attendance at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB, as the Oil Kings hosted the visiting Victoria Royals on November 20th. The home side came away with a 5-1 victory. Our scout focused on players eligible for the 2025 and 2026 NHL Drafts, as well as 2004-born players who are now eligible to compete in the NCAA. Each player has been given a grade based solely on their performance in this game.
Josh Mori (D, L, 5’11”, 175, Edmonton Oil Kings, 03/27/2004)
Grade: A-
Comments: Josh was the Oil Kings’ best defenseman in this game, recording one assist in the process. On this play, he rushed the puck up the left side of the ice and fired a shot on goal. He corralled his own rebound and quickly moved the puck to Miller in the slot for the goal. Josh has excellent edges and a quick first step, which he used to beat defenders in races up the ice. He consistently rushed the puck and made smart passes under pressure. A standout moment came while killing a penalty. Josh won a puck battle and sprinted up the ice, ultimately drawing a penalty and ending the Royals’ power-play advantage. At the offensive blue line, he showcased his dynamic edges and skill. On one play, he received a pass in his feet and quickly kicked it up to his stick to keep the play alive. As it stands, Josh is a defender who, despite being on the smaller side, excels in all situations. With his skating and intelligence, he is best suited as a number-two defenseman, complementing elite partners. We project him as a player who would thrive at a mid-sized NCAA program.
Blake Fiddler (D, R, 6’4″, 210, Edmonton Oil Kings, 07/09/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: This was a disappointing showing from Blake, as he struggled to complete passes effectively. Blake had difficulty generating speed in his first few strides, which prevented him from creating the necessary space to make breakout passes under pressure. When given time and space, he displayed accuracy and intelligence in his passing, but at the NHL level, such time and space are rare. Defensively, Blake faced challenges as well. On one play, he was beaten to the outside and resorted to holding his opponent, resulting in a penalty. On another occasion, he lost his check at the net front, leading to a scoring chance against. However, when defending the rush, Blake generally managed his gap control well and used his long reach to disrupt passing and shooting lanes effectively. As it stands, Blake possesses the size to play at the NHL level and skates well enough to compete. However, he currently projects as a player who will require significant development time in junior and the AHL, and he may ultimately settle into a second- or third-pairing role. If he can improve his explosiveness and decision-making under pressure, his game could transform significantly.
Marshall Finnie (RW, R, 6’2″, 191, Edmonton Oil Kings, 01/02/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Listed at 6’2′ and 190 pounds, Marshall is a big, strong forward who plays an extremely heavy game. He delivered several hard hits throughout the game, forcing opponents to keep their heads up whenever he was on the ice. Marshall is an average straight-line skater for this level and demonstrated good acceleration in his first few strides. His skill set is satisfactory, particularly given his 20-goal performance last season, but he projects as a player who would excel in a bottom-six role for a smaller to mid-sized NCAA program. A program seeking energy and physicality in the lower half of its lineup should strongly consider Marshall.
Joe Iginla (F, R, 5’10”, 170, Edmonton Oil Kings, 08/13/2008)
Grade: B
Comments: Joe came alive in this game after scoring his second goal of the season. While the goal was flukey — the puck arced over the goaltender after being deflected by an opposing defender — it completely invigorated him. Afterward, he showcased the style of play that made him so highly regarded by our Western Canada scouts during his WHL Draft year. Joe was relentless on pucks down low in the offensive zone, consistently entering battles first and winning his fair share. We hope Joe can maintain this momentum throughout the rest of the season, as earlier in the game, we noted some struggles. On one breakout, he rushed the play to avoid contact, resulting in a turnover. Additionally, he was easily overpowered in puck battles and lacked the strength necessary to consistently succeed at the WHL level. We remain cautiously optimistic that Joe will return to form following this performance and expect a strong second half from the youngest Iginla.
Brayden Boehm (RW, L, 5’11”, 182, Victoria Royals, 01/15/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Brayden played a gritty style in this game, winning a number of puck battles. He carried the puck well through contact and drove hard to the net. On one rush, he powered to the outside and made a pass to a teammate in the middle of the ice. Defensively, he positioned himself well in the neutral zone to intercept passes and overall showcased intelligent reads. However, we did note a play in the defensive end where Brayden had an opportunity to win the wall but instead passed the puck directly to an opposing defender, leading to sustained pressure against. Moving forward, Brayden must continue to improve his puck skills, as he struggled to create separation from defenders with his stickhandling. As it stands, Brayden is a player who is unable to drive a line at the major junior level but projects as someone who could succeed at a smaller NCAA program or a USports school.
Cole Reschny (C, L, 5’11”, 183, Victoria Royals, 04/04/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Cole’s energy in this game matched the overall flow, as he was quiet through the first two periods but ramped it up in the third. His game relies on his intelligence, as he lacks standout physical tools and must outthink opponents to make plays. Cole’s positioning was excellent; he consistently got open as a passing option on the breakout and quickly moved the puck to teammates to advance the play. Defensively, he did an excellent job tracking opponents and forcing turnovers. As F2, he excelled at reading the breakout and pressuring the winger to create turnovers. One standout defensive play occurred when Cole tracked an opponent through the neutral zone, laid a hit to force a turnover, and then made a difficult pass under sticks to a teammate, turning the play the other way. With the puck, Cole handled through contact effectively and used his strong edges to find and exploit open space. A highlight play came when he rushed the puck up the left wall, and as he cut toward the net, he hooked the puck directly behind him to an open teammate for a shot. He appeared calm and confident in traffic, drawing defenders toward himself before passing off to an open teammate. While Cole is excellent at the WHL level, questions remain about his skating ability to create the space needed to make plays at the NHL level. He is shifty in tight spaces but lacks high-end straight-line speed and acceleration, which are average for the WHL level. Considering his smaller frame, selecting Cole at the top end of the draft carries significant risk. We currently project him as a second-round NHL draft pick, though a team with two first-round picks could take a chance on him.
Nolan Stewart (LW, L, 5’10”, 160, Victoria Royals, 01/12/2008)
Grade: B-
Comments: This was a quiet game for Stewart, who received limited ice time. Despite this, Nolan demonstrated his intelligence by being quick to loose pucks and positioning himself well on both sides of the puck. He was consistently available as a passing option and tracked back effectively through the neutral zone to disrupt passing lanes. Notably, Nolan was elusive around the net, often being the first to rebounds, showcasing his opportunistic playstyle. Nolan’s skating remains the most significant area for improvement. He lacks explosiveness in his stride and still has a noticeable hitch. Additionally, he struggled with balance, falling or being knocked over on multiple occasions. That said, Nolan possesses the intelligence and scoring ability to develop into a standout player at the WHL level. However, his skating limitations currently hinder his potential to draw much NHL attention.
Keaton Verhoeff (D, R, 6’4″, 207, Victoria Royals, 06/19/2008)
Grade: A
Comments: Keaton was arguably the best or second-best player on the ice in this game. The young defender excelled on both sides of the puck and scored his sixth goal of the season. On this play, Keaton activated off the blue line, received a pass, and buried a shot in the top corner over the goaltender’s blocker. He had another notable play where he toe-dragged an opponent while cutting off the line and fired a rocket that hit the knob of the goaltender’s stick to stay out. Offensively, Keaton made NHL-level passes to teammates and consistently rushed the puck with his head up. On one occasion, he rushed up the right wall before moving the puck to the middle for a shot that rang off the post. Defensively, Keaton was very strong, though Edmonton’s first goal highlighted a minor error. On the play, Keaton positioned his stick to the outside, leaving a passing lane between him and the net that was exploited. This is a minor fix, and Keaton’s defensive game will only improve with experience. He was trusted to kill a 5-on-3 power play, showcasing excellent gap control and positioning by disrupting passing and shooting lanes. He also defended the rush effectively, using his quick acceleration and physicality while skating backward to control gaps. One standout moment came when he defended a 3-on-1 rush as the last man back, keeping the puck carrier to the outside and taking away passing options, though the shooter ultimately scored with an excellent shot. Keaton’s dominance at the WHL level mirrors his success in minor hockey. He currently projects as a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and has the potential to be selected in the top 10. With his combination of physical and mental tools, Keaton has the makings of a number-one defenseman at the NHL level, driven by his impressive two-way play.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images