Game played on 10/19/2024.
General Game Notes: Kamloops was consistently the better team in this game as Wenatchee could not generate much offensively with too many players not being noticeable. On many occasions Kamloops simply outworked them down low resulting in goals, making the final 4-1. 07 Tommy Lafreniere was was a big factor in this game. Scout: Bill Maguire
Matteo Koci (D, L, 5’11”, 182, Kamloops Blazers, 06/07/2005)
Grade: B+
Comments: Koci was very noticeable in this game as he is very energetic, hustles back in his own end pre scanning to move pucks, leads the attack or will move it and not hesitate to jump in. He has good feet, is very mobile backwards and is shows good overall speed. He handles the puck well makes good passes. He is used on both special teams and plays effectively on the top pair with Brunicke.
Nathan Behm (C, R, 6’1″, 192, Kamloops Blazers, 04/18/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Behm brings many tools that will allow him to play at the next level. He is a big body, and a shooter that has the ability to get the puck on and off his stick quickly. He has high end skills with the puck with an ability handle it in tight and protect on the walls with his head up to make plays. He has very good skating ability that allows him to be dangerous on the attack and, coming off the walls or from behind the goalline. He’s also a very good passer that displayed a willingness to move the puck ahead quickly helping his team play fast. With that, he needs to dig in more and bring a more consistent work ethic to go along with the elite skills he possesses such as using his skating ability down low in the OZ to attack the middle more because he is tough to handle.
Ty Bonkowski (RW, R, 5’10”, 160, Kamloops Blazers, 07/09/2008)
Grade: B
Comments: Bonkowski is not a big player by any means (5’10’) but makes up for it with several very good skills. His IQ is very good as he can prescan and make plays such as receive a pass on the wall, get his feet moving and make a play, which is excellent for a young player (08). He is a very good skater that is not afraid to engage in battles for pucks and go to the tough areas, for which he got a result tonight from a netfront goal. Given his lack of size, he also protects very well on the wall. Even through this game you could see him become more comfortable which should translate for him resulting in ‘instant’ confidence moving forward in every game.
Tommy Lafreniere (C, R, 5’11”, 172, Kamloops Blazers, 01/16/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Lafreniere definitely has some high end skills…specifically his release and a knack of getting himself open in the OZ. He is a good skater with very good puckskills and quick hands. His IQ is excellent, he thinks the game in all areas..he is aware of his job on breaking out of his own zone by being low and slow, changes direction quickly to provide outlet option…and is on PK1 and PP1. By no means is he a physical player but he needs to be harder on the FC. It seemed he wanted others to go get the puck, as displayed by his stats to this point (11GP 6G 0A). In the DZ he also needs to dig in more.
Oren Shtrom (LW, L, 5’9″, 183, Kamloops Blazers, 09/28/2004)
Grade: B+
Comments: Shtrom was very effective in this game, he is not a big player (5’9′), has a very good motor that doesn’t stop which was very much on display down low in the OZ along with carrying the puck quickly through the NZ. He is very persistent on pucks and shows an excellent 2nd and 3rd effort all over the ice, specifically this game on pucks in the OZ and on the BC. He shows very good puck skills and poise with the puck and can made quick plays, thus his PP1 status.
Miles Cooper (LW, L, 5’10”, 165, Wenatchee Wild, 08/04/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Cooper is a very effective player. He is quick with very good overall speed, handles the puck very well with his head always up and can make quick plays without the window closing on him…the result of this is him being on PP1. He can make plays in tight and will battle on the walls for pucks and will not hesitate to finish checks in an attempt to separate people from the puck.
Luka Shcherbyna (F, R, 5’10”, 165, Wenatchee Wild, 06/01/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Shcherbyna was very effective in this game. He displays a consistent work ethic from start to finish so you know exactly what you will get every shift. His wide stance skating style makes it difficult for opponents to knock him off the puck and, he uses this effectively going into battle as he was first on the FC a lot. He has very good speed and puck skills, coupled with his battle made him very noticeable in this game. He was more than willing to use his speed to drive D wide and then take it to the middle. He was utilized on PP1 along with 4v4.
Caelan Joudrey (C, R, 6’4″, 175, Wenatchee Wild, 01/17/2008)
Grade: B+
Comments: Joudrey is a big (6’4′), mobile RC. He is an impressive young player (08) with a willingness to go into battle in all the tough areas, both netfronts and along the walls…he really digs in. He was consistently first on the FC and would finish with contact. He is very aware defensively in his own zone. Put this together with his very good puckskills, which will allow him to put up good offensive numbers, leads to a player with a very high upside.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images