Author: Gord Susinski

WHL Red Deer (2) @ Moose Jaw (3) (OT) November 9, 2025 @ 15:00

Beckett Hamilton, #21 Red Deer Rebels – March 28, 2008, Right shot centre, 5.10 / 173

Strength: Hamilton is an offensive minded forward. In this viewing he was about 25% in the face off circle. Does a good job stripping pucks and gaining possession from the opposition. Reliable centreman on the PK1 unit.

Opportunity: Needs to finish his checks more consistently and challenge goaltenders more often with his shot.

Projection: 6th round

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 5

Jan Trefny, #43 Moose Jaw Warriors – March 16, 2008, Left shot left wing, 5.11 / 172

Strength: Trefny is a reliable 2-way forward with solid defensive instincts. Jan Shows strong hustle and compete level. Effective in the defensive zone by stripping pucks and making smart clears. Has decent hands and defends well with an active stick.

Opportunity: None noted

Projection: Undrafted

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 6

Brek Liske, #42 Everett Silvertips – January 9, 2008, right shot defenseman. 6.01 / 190

Strength: Moves the puck well with crisp outlet passes. Maintains a solid gap and uses an active stick effectively. Displays good edge work and battles hard along the boards. Smart and crafty with body positioning, consistently preventing opponents from gaining the advantage.

Opportunity: Needs to add more strength to win battles more decisively and improve his ability to separate players from the puck. Could increase urgency in transition to move play up ice quicker.

Projection: undrafted but reliable two-way defenseman with potential to develop into a steady shutdown presence.

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 5

Brett Olson, #12 Vancouver Giants – February 24, 2008, right shot right wing. 6.01 / 185

Strength: Smooth skater with average speed. Applies good pressure in the offensive zone and supports the play well.

Opportunity: Needs to improve lower-body strength to stay on his feet and compete more effectively in board battles. Should look to get more puck touches and be more assertive in challenging goaltenders with his shot. Lacks physical engagement.

Projection: Undrafted depth forward with potential to contribute more offensively as confidence and strength develop.

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 4

Offensive upside:4

Defensive upside: 5

WHL Kamloops (8) @ Spokane (2) November 4, 2025 @ 20:00

Chase Harrington, #26 Spokane Chiefs – October 30, 2007, Left shot left wing, 6.00 / 196

Strength: Harrington is a power forward. He shows good foot speed and a heavy shot. Plays a physical, high-compete game and consistently battles to win races to the puck. Willing to go to the hard areas in front of the net. Displays strong hockey IQ and anticipation, with good puck patience and the ability to make accurate passes on both the forehand and backhand. He scored Spokane’s only two goals in this viewing.

Opportunity: None noted

Forecast: Late first round

Skating: 6

Shooting: 7

Passing: 6

Puck Handling: 6

Hockey IQ: 6

Physicality: 6

Offensive upside: 7

Defensive upside: 6

Ty Bonkowski, #24 Kamloops Blazers – July 9, 2008, Right shot right wing. 5.10 / 161

Strength: Bonkowski is a 2-way forward. He is a strong skater with good balance and control. Establishes a solid net-front presence and handles the puck with confidence and authority.

Opportunity: Continue to work on improving overall speed to enhance effectiveness in transition and on the forecheck.

(*Saw limited ice later in an 8-2 game when rookies and 4th liners were getting more shifts). Will have to watch again in a better game to get a better evaluation. 

Forecast: Possible 3rd or 4th round. 

Skating: 6

Shooting: 5

Passing: 6

Puck Handling: 6

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 6

Defensive upside: 6

Peyton Shore, #31 Red Deer Rebels, July 21, 2008, left catch goalie, 6.02 / 187

Strength: Stays square to the shooter and shows good athleticism, capable of making acrobatic saves when needed.

Opportunity: Tends to play a bit deep in his crease and can overcommit when challenging pucks in tight. Has some vulnerability through the five-hole and can improve his puck tracking

Projection: Undrafted

Technical Fundamentals: 4

Positioning: 4

Skating: 5

Athleticism & Reflexes: 6

Situational Play / IQ: 5

Rebound Control: 4

Compete: 4

Scouting Reports

Cameron Allard, #6 Brandon Wheat Kings, January 11, 2008 right shot defenseman, 6.03 / 185

Strength: Joins the rush effectively and plays a physical game. Moves the puck well and possesses a strong, accurate shot.

Opportunity: Needs to improve recovery speed when activating offensively to ensure he gets back into position quickly.

Projection: Early 6th round

Skating: 5

Shooting: 6

Passing: 6

Puck Handling: 6

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 6

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 6

Giorgios Pantelas, #84 Brandon Wheat Kings, April 24, 2008, right shot defenseman, 6.02 / 214

Strength: Anticipates plays well and disrupts opposing attacks. Willing to activate and jump into the rush. Responsible on the backcheck, consistently picks up his man. Moves the puck effectively with a solid first pass. Uses an active stick to play larger than his already good size.

Opportunity: Needs to move the puck with more purpose—slow or forced passes tend to get intercepted. Should focus on making the easy play instead of forcing it through traffic. Can get caught up ice at times and holds onto the puck too long. 

Projection: Late 3rd round

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 4

Hockey IQ: 4

Physicality: 4

Offensive upside: 6

Defensive upside: 6

WHL Red Deer (2) @ Moose Jaw (3) (OT) November 9, 2025 @ 15:00

Beckett Hamilton, #21 Red Deer Rebels – March 28, 2008, Right shot centre, 5.10 / 173

Strength: Hamilton is an offensive minded forward. In this viewing he was about 25% in the face off circle. Does a good job stripping pucks and gaining possession from the opposition. Reliable centreman on the PK1 unit.

Opportunity: Needs to finish his checks more consistently and challenge goaltenders more often with his shot.

Projection: 6th round

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 5

Jan Trefny, #43 Moose Jaw Warriors – March 16, 2008, Left shot left wing, 5.11 / 172

Strength: Trefny is a reliable 2-way forward with solid defensive instincts. Jan Shows strong hustle and compete level. Effective in the defensive zone by stripping pucks and making smart clears. Has decent hands and defends well with an active stick.

Opportunity: None noted

Projection: Undrafted

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 5

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 6

BCHL Okotoks Oilers (3) @ Sherwood Park Crusaders (7) October 31, 2025 @ 19:00

Joseph Sinclair, #91 Sherwood Park Crusaders – October 6, 2007. Right shot centre. 5.10 /176. 2-way Centre

Strength: Smooth skater with strong edge control. Drives to the front of the net to create traffic and generate scoring opportunities, contributing to a goal. Displays a clear team-first mentality, playing an unselfish, pass-first style.
Opportunity: His team-oriented approach can sometimes hold him back from showcasing his individual skill and offensive presence.

Forecast: Probably a career ‘AHL’ candidate, but could sneak into the later rounds for a team willing to take a chance. 

Skating: 6

Shooting: 6

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 6

Hockey IQ: 6

Physicality: 4

Offensive upside: 6

Defensive upside: 5

Gleb Semenko, #29 Sherwood Park Crusaders – March 21, 2008. Left shot right wing. 5.09/137. 2-way forward

Strength: Solid skater with good edge control. Willing to engage physically and mix it up when needed. Moves the puck well, showing strong awareness and vision. Has a nice shot and competes hard every shift. Effective in the bumper role and contributes in multiple areas of the game.
Opportunity: None noted

Forecast: Probably a career ‘AHL’ candidate, but could sneak into the later rounds for a team willing to take a chance. 

Skating: 6

Shooting: 4

Passing: 6

Puck Handling: 6

Hockey IQ: 6

Physicality: 6

Offensive upside: 4

Defensive upside: 5

Danick St. Pierre, #10 Sherwood Park Crusaders – May 13, 2008 Left shot right wing. 6.02/185. 2-way forward

Strength: Strong edge work and a high compete level. Battles hard and stays engaged throughout the play.
Opportunity: Needs improvement on the defensive side of the puck. Has limited puck touches, and when he does have possession, decision-making can lead to unforced turnovers.

Forecast: Unlikely to get drafted. 

Skating: 7

Shooting: 4

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 4

Hockey IQ: 6

Physicality: 4

Offensive upside: 4

Defensive upside: 5

BCHL Sherwood Park Crusaders (1) @ Spruce Grove Saints (2) November 1, 2025 @ 19:00

Gabriel O’Brien, #8 Sherwood Park Crusaders – April 3, 2008, Left shot left wing. 6.03/198. 2-way forward

Strength: Strong skater with good tenacity. Shows impressive compete level — drew two penalties on one shift and stayed focused, getting right back into the play instead of engaging the ref. Willing to go to the net and battle for position.
Opportunity: Needs to play heavier on the body. When he does engage physically, he tends to get in too tight, leading to holding penalties instead of clean checks. Can be knocked off his feet too easily.

Forecast: Unlikely to get drafted. 

Skating: 7

Shooting: 4

Passing: 4

Puck Handling: 4

Hockey IQ: 4

Physicality: 4

Offensive upside: 4

Defensive upside: 4

Gage Brandon, #82 Sherwood Park Crusaders – June 10, 2008, Left shot left wing. 5.10/148. 

Strength: Limited sample size to evaluate.
Opportunity: Skating needs improvement. Didn’t see much ice time — only about three shifts over two periods — making it difficult to assess overall impact.

Forecast: Unlikely to get drafted. 

Skating: 4

Shooting: 4

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 4

Hockey IQ: 4

Physicality: 4

Offensive upside: 4

Defensive upside: 5

WHL Prince George Cougars (1) @ Vancouver Giants (2) November 2, 2025 @ 17:00

Arseni Anisimov, #8 Prince George Cougars – November 25, 2007 – Left shot defenseman. 5.11 / 174

Strength: Anisimov is a Uses an active stick effectively. Strong skater who closes gaps quickly and holds the blue line with confidence.
Opportunity: Could improve his overall quickness to better match elite forwards with high-end foot speed. Needs to sharpen situational awareness, particularly in tracking opponents behind him when he shades toward one side of the ice. Adding more strength would help him win a higher percentage of board battles.

Currently not listed and I feel it is unlikely he will get drafted. 

Skating: 4

Shooting: 4

Passing: 5

Puck Handling: 4

Hockey IQ: 4

Physicality: 5

Offensive upside: 6

Defensive upside:6

Kayden Lemire, #28 Prince George Cougars – January 27, 2008 – Right shot right wing. 6.04 / 194

Strength: Shows decent agility for a big player. Willingly blocks shots and uses his size effectively to play a physical game. Extremely strong and capable of overpowering opposing defensemen in front of the net.

Opportunity: Needs to play with more assertiveness in the defensive zone. Could benefit from improving his speed. Tends to favor a dump-and-chase approach rather than carrying the puck over the blue line and driving to the net. Took an undisciplined penalty behind the play in the neutral zone during this viewing.

Currently not listed and I feel it is unlikely he will get drafted.

Skating: 4

Shooting: 4

Passing: 4

Puck Handling: 5

Hockey IQ: 4

Physicality: 6

Offensive upside: 5

Defensive upside: 4

Joe Iginla – #21 Edmonton Oil Kings – August 13, 2008 – Right shot right wing – 5.10 / 174

Strengths: Displays good hands and a solid shot. Willing to drive to the net and absorb contact to create scoring chances. Plays with strong hustle and energy, showing a consistent effort on the backcheck.

Opportunities for Improvement: Has a tendency to over handle the puck and force plays, whether by passing into traffic or holding onto it too long. Needs to show quicker decision-making and greater composure in the defensive zone. His smaller stature can make him easier to contain when battling against larger defensemen.

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

6

6

4

7

5

4

6

3

Power forward

Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu – #5 Edmonton Oil Kings – May 28, 2008 – Left shot defenseman – 6.02 / 237

Strengths: Possesses a long reach and effectively uses an active stick to disrupt plays. Once he gains control, he can make a clean outlet to relieve pressure. Though primarily a defensive defenseman, he will occasionally join the rush to support the play.

Opportunities for Improvement: Needs to improve the timing of his pinches, as misreads can lead to odd-man chances against.

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

5

4

4

4

4

4

4

7

Defensive

JP Hurlbert #2 Kamloops Blazers – April 11, 2008 – Right shot right wing. 6.00 / 182

Strength: Competes at a high level. Quick feet with strong edges and soft hands. Shows a bit of grit and consistently engages himself in the play every shift. Recorded 2 faceoffs taken with 50% success. Hard night for him – double teamed all night long speaks to the threat he poses. Opportunity for Improvement: None noted. Potential – First round

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

7

8

8

8

7

6

8

6

2-way forward

Cooper Williams #16 Saskatoon Blades – February 18, 2008 Left shot centre. 6.01 / 159

Strength: Strong skater with good wheels and smooth edge work. Decent speed. Went 100% on faceoffs. Opportunity for Improvement: Needs to be stronger and more effective in board battles. Potential – Late 1st / early second

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

6

5

6

7

6

4

6

5

Power Forward

Mathis Preston #96 Spokane Chiefs – July 21, 2008 – Right shot right wing. 5.11 / 177

Preston is a skilled forward. Strength: Anticipates the play effectively and consistently gets pucks through traffic to the net. Possesses a quick, accurate shot and competes hard along the boards, often regaining possession when he loses it. Willingly takes a hit to make a play and immediately re-engages in the action. Uses his body effectively and can make crisp, accurate passes even under heavy pressure. Opportunity for Improvement: None noted.

Skating	Shooting	Passing	Puck Handling Skills	Hockey IQ	Physicality	Offensive Upside	Defensive Upside
8	9	7	8	7	6	7	6

Ossie McIntyre #19 Spokane Chiefs – March 18, 2009 – Left shot centre. 5.09 / 163

McIntyre is a defensive forward. Strength: Thinks the game quickly and consistently finds open ice. Anticipates the play well with strong situational awareness and keeps his head up as a puck carrier. A reliable backchecker who disrupts opposing rushes effectively. Shows good edge work and balance, often battling through traffic—even when triple-teamed along the boards—to come out with the puck. Finishes his checks with a touch of grit, even got into a fight in this viewing. Opportunity for Improvement: Can be knocked down too easily; would benefit from improving his stance and lower-body strength to increase stability. 

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

7

4

4

7

6

7

4

4

Carter Esler #30 Spokane Chiefs – November 28, 2008 – Left catch goalie. 5.10 / 166

Strength: Handles the puck well and challenges shooters aggressively at the top of the crease. Maintains strong positioning, staying square to the shooter with a solid glove hand. Recovers quickly to his feet and effectively directs pucks out of play or into the corners. Holds his ground under pressure in front of the net. Opportunity for Improvement: None noted. 

Technical Fundamentals

Positioning

Skating

Athleticism & Reflexes

Situational Play / IQ

Rebound Control

Compete

Starter / Back-up

6

6

5

6

6

6

5

Starter