By Tyler Ballesteros-Willard

Game Report – January 15, 2025
OHL East 5 VS OHL West 4 OT
Venue: Brantford Civic Center

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#77 F, Michael Misa
Team: OHL West (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 16, 2007

Overview:

Michael Misa undeniably an incredible talent and the main offensive engine for the Saginaw Spirit. With his elite hands, tremendous hockey IQ, and exceptional poise in the offensive zone, he consistently finds ways to make an impact on both ends of the ice. His passing ability is his biggest stand out, with quick, accurate, and soft feeds that often thread the needle under pressure. Though not the fastest skater when it comes to using his full strides, Misa uses his agility and edgework to remain elusive which then allows himself to open up opportunities that were not available prior. His shot is quite accurate, and he knows how to manipulate goalies with deceptive timing which in-fact, he’s been using more often which is a positive sign which allows himself to become less predictable. Defensively, Misa excels at disrupting plays, particularly on the penalty kill, where his “patient aggression” forces turnovers. However, he could improve his faceoff timing and physical engagement in board battles. Misa’s durability, vision, and offensive creativity make him a surefire top-5 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the potential to be a first-line center who displays great reliability.

Strengths:

• Playmaking Ability/Offensive Awareness: Elite-level passing and vision make him an offensive catalyst.
  • Example: With 2 minutes left roughly in the 1^st, on the powerplay, Misa displayed great confidence handling the puck and taking advantage of open space on the left side, this allowed him as well to perfectly thread the needle to Jack Nesbitt for a wide-open net tap in for a 3-2 lead for OHL West.
  • Example: Each offensive zone entry Misa performed, he was very precise on his cross ice passing as the majority of the time, Misa would connect it on the tape.
• Agility and Edgework: Exceptional mobility helps him evade defenders and create space.
  • Example: Used his tomahawk like edges to make him a little more effective with his puck-handling ability in the 1^st period to separate himself from the opposition and begin to open himself some space to really walk in and shoot.
• Excellent bottom-hand activation on his shooting mechanics.
  • Example: 2 minutes and 40 seconds left in the 1^st, while falling down and being tied up, Misa displayed excellent strength and rotation with his bottom hand to get under a lot with a dangerous rebound chance that Nansi generated for OHL West. This notably drew a powerplay as well for OHL West.

Weaknesses:

• Faceoffs: Needs to refine timing and technique for consistent success in the draw.
  • Example: Lost some critical defensive-zone draws in the third period, leading to sustained offensive pressure from the East.
• Physicality: Avoids board battles at times, limiting his impact in tighter situations.
  • In-game example: On the play that Czata had a dangerous scoring chance early in the 1^st, Misa wasn’t urgent enough for the puck and Martone forechecked well which Misa to lose balance easier than normal and ultimately, lost possession of the puck.
  • In-game example of improvements needed: He however becomes less engaged in the board battles as Desnoyers takes in charge while he plays center when it should be Misa getting the puck for Desnoyers and act as an active winger when he plays wing.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 8
• Scoring Ability: 6
• Playmaking Ability: 8
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 6

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#44 F, Brady Martin
Team: OHL West (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 175 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: March 16, 2007

Overview:

Brady Martin no doubt about it is the most skilled two-way forward for the Greyhounds who combines great grit with unique creativity to contribute at both ends of the ice. He excels in board battles for the puck, using his strong puck-handling and awareness to maintain possession and create opportunities for his teammates. While Martin’s great passing is his key traits, he occasionally tries to force plays that aren’t there, leading to key turnovers which in these cases, he needs to become a little more precautionary with the puck by becoming a little simpler. His quick-release shot is very accurate and effective in close quarters, but he needs to shoot the puck a little more from far out. When it comes to his defensive play, he’s a very supportive player which displays his great commitment to be a jack of all trades, blue collar type of player. What is very underrated about Brady Martin is that although he may not be the biggest guy, he certainly plays big as for players at his size, he is one of the most impactful when it comes to throwing the body clean and effectively (Highly translatable to the NHL).Martin’s balanced playstyle and strong work ethic make him a middle 1^st round prospect, with the potential to develop into a top-six reliable yet creative centerman who can be slotted in any situation acting as a mega Swiss-army knife who can do anything asked of him, and perform it 100%.

Strengths:

• Board Play and Puck Handling: Maintains possession under pressure and creates opportunities.
  • Example: Chipped the puck into open space during a second-period cycle, leading to sustained offensive pressure, especially when he got pinned in the boards as he demonstrates great footwork with the puck.
• Passing and offensive creativity/Hand-eye: Keeps plays alive with smart, accurate passes.
  • Example: In the 1^st period, he kept the play alive after making a drop pass in the o-zone to keep sustained pressure after drawing two players to him in the boards.
  • Example: Deflected a readable shot from Cameron Reid which ultimately was the 2^nd goal of the game for the West
• Defensive Contributions and instant physicality:
  • Example: 30-second mark of the game, Brady not only wins a faceoff cleanly, but performs it in a manner in-which he can control the puck and distribute it closely to one of his defensemen.
  • Example: In 10-and-a-half-minute mark of the 2^nd, while OHL East was putting on the pressure, because of his great motor, Martin backchecked hard to knock his man off the puck and gain possession and ultimately, counter attack the play.

Weaknesses:

• Shot: His shot can become quite predictable and needs to be much quicker and slightly needs to improve his accuracy for it to be effective.
  • Example: 2.5-minute mark of the 2^nd, Martin didn’t display the greatest hand placement when it came to providing torque on his short snap shot which made it readable for the goaltender to stop.
• Acceleration: Needs quicker first steps to be in better position
  • Example: Brady lost position on one of the opposing players which Jack Ivankovic was forced to make a great save a early-mid second-period shift due to a little loss of explosiveness in him which could have propelled Brady in tighter positioning to get a stick on the A+ scoring chance

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 7
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 7
• Defensive Play: 5

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#29 F, Travis Hayes
Team: OHL West (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 170 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: September 3, 2007

Overview:

Travis Hayes is the definition of a player who brings energy and versatility to every shift, making him a key contributor for the Soo Greyhounds alongside of the gritty and creative Brady Martin. His quick bursts of speed and decent hockey IQ allow him to create offensive opportunities while maintaining a strong defensive presence by maintaining that offensive zone pressure. Hayes excels at applying pressure on the penalty kill and in positioning himself to support his teammates, especially in puck battles near the boards in which he becomes like a sponge for his defensemen. Offensively, Hayes demonstrates confidence and puck control on the rush, though he really needs to add more variety to his moves to make himself less predictable with the puck. In the first period, he created a scoring chance by using his speed to split two defenders but relied too heavily on stride dekes, which the goaltender anticipated with ease, making it look like a one-trick pony type play. Defensively, Hayes excels in reading plays and maintaining pressure but struggles physically against larger opponents due to his height. His relentless work ethic, adaptability, and strong awareness make Hayes a likely third-fourth-round pick, with potential to develop into a J.T. Compher-style forward who displays an all-around 200ft game.

Strengths:

• Explosiveness and Offensive Activation: Very high-effort player with quick bursts of speed and setting the pace of play to a high standard.
  • Example: Right after the 2^nd West goal, Hayes received a breakout pass and dropped it to his teammate in Brady Martin which led to him creating some separation from him and the defense so that Nesbitt could swiftly cross-crease it to Travis in-tight for a dangerous scoring chance.
• Puck Skills and Confidence: Strong handling and deking abilities in high-pressure situations.
  • Example: Maintained possession under pressure during a zone entry in the second period as he helped Martin and Nesbitt create a very dangerous odd man rush.
• Defensive Awareness: Reads plays well and applies effective pressure in his own zone.
  • Example: Intercepted a pass during a highly pressured situation in the third period and cleared the puck down the ice.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality: Struggles to win board battles against larger players.
  • Example: Lost a board battle in the second period, to a taller defender, allowing OHL East to retain possession of the puck and recreate the offensive pressure.
• Creativity in Transition: Needs to diversify his rush tactics to keep opponents guessing.
  • Example: Relied too heavily on stride dekes in a rushes up the neutral zone, making his plays too predictable to get fooled by while defending it, even with the energy in which he brings in every play.

Note* Needs to be mindful about his aggression due to occasions where he takes penalties.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 4
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 6

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#17 F, Malcolm Spence
Team: OHL West (Erie Otters, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: September 22, 2006

Overview:

Malcolm Spence is one of the most dynamic and physically imposing skaters in the OHL, with a blend of speed, strength, and lateral agility that makes him a consistent offensive threat. He is a very fast and powerful playmaking winger who uses his NHL like skating to deeply pressure opponents and create underrated scoring opportunities from out of nowhere. Spence’s puck skills are refined, with soft hands that allow him to make plays at top speed. His passing is sharp, especially on short plays, but he’s also capable of threading the needle in crowded areas. His anticipation and hockey IQ shine on the penalty kill, where he disrupts passes on the powerplay and uses his speed to transition quickly into odd-man rushes. Offensively, Spence’s shot is accurate with a quick release, though it lacks the power to be a true weapon. Defensively, he’s effective at pickpocketing pucks during rushes and forcing turnovers. However, his overall defensive awareness can improve, as he sometimes plays too high in his zone, allowing opponents to exploit gaps. Spence also has the frame to dominate physically but doesn’t yet consistently throw his body around to disrupt plays. With his elite skating, strong puck skills, and ability to read the game, Spence projects as a top-15 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. If he continues to develop his physicality and defensive game, he could become a high-end, top-six winger capable of scoring 60+ points per season.

Strengths:

• Elite Skating: Combines high-end speed, balance, and lateral agility to dominate in transition.
  • Example: 10-minute mark of the first, because he was stable on his feet and be able to be mobile on his edges in one single spot, this forces a tripping penalty on OHL East to occur.
• Puck Skills and Passing: Soft hands at top speed and crisp short-area passes make him a playmaking threat.
  • Example: Smooth controlling and possession of the puck consistently throughout the game, especially one play early in the 2^nd where he smoothly dropped it to Michael Misa so that he can effectively one touch toe-drag around the defense to rapidly shooting.
• Offensive Awareness: Great positional awareness in the offensive zone and is effective at becoming a center of attention.
  • Example: On chances that OHL West has generated which created a lot of havoc around the net, Spence does an excellent job losing his man in a way that is he was fading like a ghost, next thing that happens he enters the scrum and acts as a screen which is key.

Weaknesses:

• Defensive Awareness: Plays too high in his own zone at times, on occasion cheating for offensive
  • Example: On the powerplay in the 2nd, he played too high up behind and did not anticipate quickly enough that a shot was going to be blocked which led to a counter attack, noticing that behind the play, Malcom was the last guy back which he should have put a little more effort to getting back.
• Physical Engagement: Needs to use his size more consistently to impose himself on opponents.
  • Example: In the 2^rd period, while Carson Cameron was carrying the puck up the neutral zone, Spence was the guy backchecking and the only thing that he did was trying to reach in to poke the puck away, instead he should have really been imposing physically, driving his body onto Cameron’s shoulder.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 8
• Puck Skill: 7
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 6
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 5
• Defensive Play: 5

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#18 D, Cameron Reid
Team: OHL West (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6”, 174 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: April 8, 2007

Overview:

Cameron Reid is one of the most dynamic defensemen with the puck in the 2025 NHL draft class, excelling with elite skating, high hockey IQ, and composure under pressure. His game is defined by strong positional play, the ability to read plays effectively, and making consistently smart decisions in all zones. Offensively, Reid is a dependable puck mover with patient and accurate passing. He prioritizes finding the perfect play, but his shooting needs improvement. What is key is that along with the skating and poise with the puck, he can be quite unpredictable when it comes to his patterns of handling the puck in the o-zone. To be effective at the NHL level however, Reid must add more power and quickness to his shooting mechanics, especially if he hopes to score from the point. Reid’s skating is his strongest asset. He blends agility and a powerful stride, creating smooth transitions that allow him to evade forecheckers and maintain control of the puck. However, improving his explosiveness would help him reach top speed more quickly. Defensively, Reid’s awareness and stickwork is considered average but he needs to really develop an understanding of gap control on the rush as when defending it, isn’t the most proficient at understanding his distance from him to the opposing player trying to beat him. While not overly physical, his core strength and stability allow him to effectively rub opponents off the puck along the boards. To elevate his game further, Reid could benefit from developing more muscle, which would improve his ability to box out opponents and deliver punishing hits. With his skating, hockey sense, and poise, Reid has the potential to become a key transitional, puck-moving top-four defenseman. He is projected as a late 1st- or early 2nd-round pick in the NHL Draft.

Strengths:

• Great Skating: Combines smooth agility and explosive edgework to dictate pace and evade pressure.
  • Example: At the 14-minute mark of the 1^st period, with confidence in his skating ability, he joined the rush at a high speed due to great extension in his cross overs which allowed him to really drive the play in the offensive zone off an unorganized rush.
  • Example: No concrete example as he displays continuous fluidity in his skating while carrying the puck up the neutral displaying also his unpredictability when carrying.
• Offensive IQ: Great awareness in the offensive zone and not being predictable in his actions with the puck.
  • Example: In the 3^rd period, he saw Martone about to stride outside of the defensive zone and noticed as well that Misa was gaining tons of speed which he had the cognisant mind of starting a simple short pass to Martone which Martone then redirected the pass out to Misa for a decent chance off the rush on that breakout. 
• Passing Ability: Delivers crisp, accurate passes that spark offensive transitions.
  • Example: Schaefer all game on the powerplay displayed he’s been the best at bouncing the puck to his wingers on the umbrella formation of the powerplay by redirecting the puck to them smoothly which generated great momentum.

Weaknesses:

• Shot Quickness and Power: While accurate, his shot lacks the velocity to consistently beat goaltenders from the point.
  • Example: Fired well-placed wrist shot from the blue line early in the second period that was easily saved due to its lack of power behind the shot (Needs to get a bit stronger).
  • Example of Improvement: On the 1^st OHL West powerplay, Reid let a shot rip after Nesbitt won the draw immediately at a readable height for Martin to deflect it.
• Physicality: Not overly imposing physically, though he holds his own in battles.
  • Example: Delivered a few solid checks in the corner during the first and third periods but avoided consistent physical engagement when it comes to boxing out players (With time by getting stronger, he’ll be stronger at boxing out).
• Defensive IQ:
  • Example: Right after the 1^st goal for OHL West, Amidovski put a lot of pressure already which Cameron wasn’t the squarest defensively in his position which made Cameron get flat footed by Amidovski which he almost scored on a breakaway.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 7
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 6
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 5

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#86 F, Luca Romano

Team: OHL West (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)

Height/Weight 5’11”, 168Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB: June 25^th, 2007

Overview:

Luca Romano is no questioned to be one of OHL’s fast most explosive marksmen. When Luca is on the ice, he looks like he is a race car due his agility. Romano is the definition of a fast and electrifying winger who seems to never miss a scoring chance whether it’s a goal or an assist while maintaining a grit portion of his game. His shot is just a laser beam locked on to one target from anywhere on the ice. His agility seems to give him a huge advantage over the opponent as he is one of the best at maneuvering with the puck in tight. He has great offensive awareness as he seems to always be at the right place at the right time to either stop a player from making a play, or if its even creating his own scoring chance. He is considered average defensively as he will make a good poke check, however, he plays a little too high up. He is really good at making the close quarter passing plays, but he does need to improve his consistency of when he passes the puck. He has shifty hands which allows him deke through a player on the rush. One thing to be admired is that he is decently thirsty to win puck battles. That being said, he is no tank as he is about average size but what doesn’t help is that although he’s very hungry, it looks like he plays like someone who’s 5’9 which he will definitely need to get stronger in order to withstand the differential in size. If all pans out, Luca Romano no doubt about it could become an goal scoring winger who can play in the middle 6 due to his great engine he possesses.

Strengths:

• Versatile Shot Release: Romano’s near instant release from any spot, especially off the rush.
• In-game example: On the 1^st goal of the game, by beating his man to the puck with his great explosiveness, allowed him to come in with a lot of speed which backed the goaltender into his net which allowed him to his deceptive shot off the rush low blocker.
• Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet.
• In-game example: A play in the 3^rd he demonstrated his elite puck skills was when he dangled out 2 plays and then one final cut on the rush to the outside which allowed him to get off a very powerful backhand shot which ultimately was on goal.
• Compete Level and Offensive Awareness:
• In-game example: Throughout the whole game, he demonstrated his tenacity and his engine by always digging in as hard as he could in board battles in the offensive zone and being as responsible as he could be in his own end at playing his defenseman at a respective distance.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality/Lack of Size: Even though he engages very well physically, gets muscled off easily.
• In-game example: Even though he displays the heart of a lion by being ferocious in the corners and trying to use his explosiveness, most puck battles he’s in; he gets knocked off the puck due to his lack of core stability.
• Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition.
• In-game example: Overall does a good job sacrificing the body, but with Romano, he doesn’t play as reserved as he should be and sometimes can get caught out of position, he needs to become more consistent at playing his side of the ice.

Skater Category Summarization: 

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 7
• Playmaking Ability: 5 
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 3 
• Defensive Play: 5

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#71 F, Jack Nesbitt

Team: OHL West (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

Height/Weight 6’4”, 183Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB: January 12^th, 2007

Overview:

Jack Nesbitt is a promising power forward who excels in all three zones, showcasing the tools to be an effective second-line centerman. Standing at 6’4”, Nesbitt combines his size with a versatile skill set. His skating shows good acceleration and sturdy edges, making him difficult to knock off the puck. However, his lateral movement needs improvement, particularly during breakouts, as quickness in tight spaces can sometimes pose a challenge. Offensively, Nesbitt displays excellent awareness, consistently reading plays and positioning himself effectively. His smooth hands enhance his ability to execute dekes, but he would benefit from slowing the game down at times to improve precision and puck control. Nesbitt’s passing is a standout feature, with feather-light touches and crisp backhand saucers that consistently find their target. His shooting, while showing promise, requires better timing and a focus on getting pucks on net from further out to maximize scoring opportunities. Physically, Nesbitt effectively uses his size to gain leverage in puck battles and create space in front of the net, though he could increase his physicality by throwing more intentional hits. Defensively, he is sound in his positioning and excels at intercepting passes, but greater involvement in blocking shots and engaging in defensive plays would round out his game. With his size, skill, and versatility, Nesbitt has the potential to develop into a reliable second-line center and key contributor at both ends of the ice. By refining his lateral movement, shooting, and physicality, he could become an indispensable part of any NHL team’s lineup playing on the 2nd line.

Strengths:

• Awareness in all 3 zones: Being a dependable player who lure’s his opponents in which creates support for his teammates by generating more open ice.  
  • In-game example: On the 2^nd goal for the West, Nesbitt not only won a key offensive zone faceoff, he really understood the assignment by going to the front of the net and really making it difficult for the goaltender to see the puck, which ultimately went in.
  • In-game example: Right after the 2^nd goal 30 seconds later, the Soo Greyhounds line and Nesbitt came into the offensive zone, Nesbitt lured a defensive player in with his puck handling to then perform a swift backhand pass to a wide-open Travis Hayes which he was very close to getting a 3^rd goal for the West.
• The understanding and usage of his size on the opposition:
  • In-game example: On the 3^rd goal for OHL West, on the powerplay, Nesbitt really used his 6’4 frame to his advantage to not only gain separation from Aitcheson but really plant himself in-front of the net for Misa to really thread it to him on the tape for an easy tap in goal.

Weaknesses:

• Lateral Movement/Agility: Doesn’t generate enough quickness in his turns and crossovers.
  • In-game example: No concrete example but throughout the game, when there are moments where players would use that moment to finish their checks, he’s not someone striking to really finish his checks off in those moments as he even avoids rubbing someone as much as he could.
• Consistency in his decision making with the puck:
  • In-game example: When in his own end, he occasionally rushes plays with the puck which his defenders in this game had somewhat of a difficulty time receiving the puck.

Skater Category Summarization: 

• Skating: 4
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 6
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 7
• Defensive Play: 5

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#13 D, Quinn Beauchesne
Team: OHL West (Guelph Storm, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6’0″, 183 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: March 1, 2007

Overview:
Beauchesne is a confident two-way defenseman with strong puck-handling under pressure. He showcases poise in challenging situations in his own zone with the puck and has a solid passing game, though decision-making consistency in all three zones needs a lot of refining. He’s not overly physical but is willing to sacrifice his body for the team which shows his leadership and a key trait for him to be an impactful player at the NHL level. Where he needs to truly improve is his lackluster defensive awareness as he doesn’t pay attention very easily whether it is chasing an opposing forward when he shouldn’t be. By improving on his focus regarding his defensive awareness by letting the game come to him and shot precision would enhance his NHL potential. Beauchesne is projected as a reliable likely 3^rd pairing (sheltered role) defenseman who can be a key part on a penalty killing unit, likely a mid 3^rd to early 4^th round pick.

Strengths:

• Poise Under Pressure: Very calm and precise in high-stress situations with the puck.
  • In-game example: In the early part of the 3rd period, calmly handled pressure with the puck in his own zone, allowing him to execute a controlled breakout set up which was key.
• Passing Skills: Flat and hard passes, adding pace to the game.
  • In-game example: Good breakout passes consistently throughout the game which led to effective offensive transitioning for his wingers to become more active when entering the o-zone.

Weaknesses:

• Decision-Making Consistency: Tendency to dump pucks prematurely or overcomplicate plays.
  • In-game example: Not one concrete example but sometimes, where he positions himself defensively on the ice, it seems confusing, because there are occasions where he plays too high up, but the majority of the time, he plays quite low which leaves his forwards a little more open around the net with ease this game.
• Defensive Awareness: Not focused defensively as he could get caught defensively whether it is not knowing where the puck is. Note: Minor improvements are showing.
  • In-game example: Consistently throughout this game, although displayed great physicality, he wasn’t the most understanding when it came to knowing what his assignment is, that is by being positionally sound.

Skater Category Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 4
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 5

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#2 D, Henry Brzustewicz
Team: OHL West (London Knights, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 194 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: February 9, 2007

Overview:
Henry Brzustewicz is arguable one of the most well-rounded defensemen in the OHL regarding the 2025 NHL draft. Known for his strong skating, stick positioning, and defensive awareness, every time he is on the ice, the game happens at a high pace, yet Henry is very good at handling that pressure making his defensive play seem very smooth and transitional which is quite a trait for a young defenseman developing to the NHL. His standout skills include excellent puck control, actively defensive stickwork defending the rush, and displaying excellent defending on the rush, especially developing a strong knowledge of gap control. While his smooth backward skating and stride offer power, he needs to improve acceleration as although he may be cutting off a lot of angles, the pace of play is a key factor in which he needs to develop. His passing, especially on breakouts, is truly a key asset to offensive game due to how great the transition of play it becomes; however, his shooting accuracy needs quite a bit of work in order for decently offensive chances to come his way due to the fact he shoots high. He is physically pretty solid by being a player who can rub out the opposition smoothly, Henry plays responsibly but could improve his physicality in some areas, like boxing out opponents in-front of the net and throwing the boom at a consistent pace. For that to happen, he does need to get stronger around his lower core which will allow him to be more imposing physically in any given situation.

Strengths:

• Defensive Play: Extremely strong in positioning, stickwork, and defending the rush, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations.
  • Example: Neutralized opponents with smooth, gradual positioning while defending the rushes generated by the East in most of his shifts that he was on during the game (A lot of the rushes coming in the 3^rd).
• Passing: A strong passer, particularly on breakouts, with the ability to make accurate and quick passes under pressure.
  • Example: No concrete example as throughout this game because Brzustewicz was very consistent in this game at performing breakout passes as it either generate easier entry for his wingers to carry in the puck, or perhaps his wingers then deflecting the puck in for a dump and chase.
• Skating: Smooth backward skating and solid stride extensions, giving him the ability to transition effectively on the ice.
  • Example: Used a lot of his transitional lateral movement to stay square in position on the opposing rushes created by team OHL East.

Weaknesses:

• Shooting: Needs to improve accuracy and intelligence on his shots, particularly from long-range.
  • Example: His shots tend to go way too high, missing the net, which can be improved by shooting lower for deflections which was seen during the times he was trying to create havoc in-front of the net which then avoids waisted chances.
  • Example of Improvement: Just passed the 1^st minute of play in the offensive zone, when the puck was in no man’s land, Brzustewicz decided to really walk in with a mechanically hard slapshot which he displayed great control on it as he tried looking for a rebound.
• Skating: Explosiveness and pace need to be ramped up by a decent mark.
  • Example: Although does a good job at being square with the shooter and being agile at cutting off angles, but every time when he himself carries the puck, he doesn’t display this sense of urgency in his skating as his quickness in his footwork isn’t lightning quick.
• Physicality: Could be more consistent in using his body to box out opponents and prevent screens.
  • Example: Needs to be a little more aggressive when positioning in front of the net and boxing out the opposition to prevent crucial screens for his goaltender.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 3
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 5
• Defensive Play: 7

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#12 F, Ethan Czata

Team: OHL East (Niagara Icedogs, OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 172

Shoots: Left

DOB May 29^th,2007

Overview:

Ethan Czata is a dependable two-way forward for the Niagara IceDogs, showcasing exceptional awareness and stickwork that make him a valuable defensive asset for his club. At 6 feet and 172 lbs, Czata has improved his physicality and stability, though he still needs to further develop his strength. Despite not being a naturally imposing player, he demonstrates a willingness to throw clean, effective checks, including an impressive open-ice hit in the second period that highlighted his growing physical maturity. Czata’s agility is a key strength, as his quickness and flexibility on his edges allow him to disrupt plays and create opportunities. However, his lighter frame can sometimes be a disadvantage in physical battles. Offensively, Czata displays solid positional awareness and quick hands, but he occasionally overcomplicates plays by trying to do too much with the puck. His passing is reliable for flat setups, though his saucer passes could use refinement, and he excels in give-and-go rushes. His shot, while accurate, lacks power, and Czata would benefit from becoming more active offensively to increase his scoring contributions. On the defensive aspect, Czata’s understanding of the 200-foot game is his most defining trait. He consistently supports his defensemen, playing low in his own zone to aid in breakouts. His active stick and excellent faceoff skills make him particularly effective in defensive and penalty-killing situations. Projected as a 3^rd round pick, Czata has the potential to develop into a dependable middle- or bottom-six two-way forward in the NHL, capable of excelling on the penalty kill and contributing as a depth point producer.

Strengths:

• Skating: Explosive and agile, able to shift momentum with quick bursts.
  • In-game example: Consistently push his legs to the maximum with hard heavy strides throughout the game and in the 2^nd, he created an odd-man rush which gave the opposition quite the discomfort.
• Defensive/Positional Awareness:
  • In-game example: 7-minute mark of the 1^st, with Spence having a little difficulty handling the puck, Czata used his positional awareness to his advantage and be active about it by forechecking Spence on the blueline, which translated to an odd-man rush.
• Character:
  • In-game example: Consistently provided puck support around the boards and took responsibility in defensive situations on the penalty kill they had in the 2^nd which he is always willing to sacrifice the body to make a play for the club.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality: Needs to add muscle to handle physical play better.
  • In-game example: Late in the 2^nd, although displayed his strong grit to win a puck battle in the d-zone, he then gets outmuscled by a 6’4 Jack Nesbitt.
• Shot Accuracy: Occasionally misses target and needs improvement in shot power, requiring minor adjustments.
  • In-game example: Moments in the 2^nd where he was open in the slot to use his drag release, he keeps shooting way too high. The times that he does shoot on goal, his shot is easily readable for the goalie to make a save.
• Consistency in his decision making in the offensive zone and with the puck in general:
  • In-game example “Improvement”: 3-min and 30 second portion of the 1^st, Czata slowly walked into the offensive zone towards the front of the net which he created separation from him and the defense which gave Jake O’Brien to slide a crisp pass from downlow for a dangerous scoring chance.

Skater Category Summarization:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 8

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#34 F, Filip Ekberg
Team: OHL East (Ottawa 67’s, OHL)
Height/Weight: 5’10”, 165 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: April 14, 2007

Overview:
Ekberg is an offensive tactician with diverse skills who balances playmaking with defensive responsibility. His main defensive challenge is over-committing to plays, which could be refined by shifting him to the wing in the NHL. Ekberg demonstrates very high hockey IQ, effective and accurate stick-handling, and solid passing accuracy. His shot, while heavily accurate and does not waste much time by just ripping it in lease than milliseconds, he will definitely need a slight power increase. Physically, even though his smaller frame can be a disadvantage, especially in board battles, but his willingness to engage adds tremendous amounts grit to his game. His skating is agile, with strong offensive zone cycling abilities allows him to be a very easy player to play with while transitioning over from Sweden to North America which has larger ice. Projected as a potential mid-3^rd to early-4^th round pick, if he can really get stronger without any negative regarding his skating ability, Ekberg has the offensive tools to develop into a playmaking forward with power-play utility as an effective middle 6 forward.

Strengths:

• Offensive Tactics: Highly versatile in offensive zones; quick, smooth stick handling with excellent passing accuracy.
  • In-game examples: On the power play or even coming in on an odd-man rush, positioned on the left side of the umbrella, he displays his offensive vision by consistently getting pucks on net whether it is finding a simple pass for a cross-crease play, or it is simply just using his shifty/tomahawk like skating to walk in and use his nifty toe-drag release.
• Shooting: Accurate and quick wrist shot; intelligent shot selection to create rebounds and catch goalies off guard.
  • In-game example: 4.5-minute mark of the 1^st, Ekberg walked in and displayed great hip rotation mechanics into his toe-drag wrist shot which was labelled for the top left corner, a good save made at the end of the day.
  • His toe-drags on the powerplay allow him to easily walk in and put his shot short side which causes the goaltender to make some difficult saves.
• Skating Agility: Agile, able to pivot quickly to create space in the offensive zone.
  • In-game example: Behind the net retrieving the puck 12 minutes left in the 1st, his low but wide stance allowed him to turn sharply, giving him extra time to assess options with the puck and allowed him to also become proactive at throwing the puck and generate a dangerous scoring chance.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality: Shows grit in battles but struggles due to size disadvantage, gets beaten physically in board play similar to someone like Cole Caufield Needs to bulk up to handle physical play more effectively.
  • In-game example: Early in the 3^rd period, while trying to maintain possession of the puck, he gets rubbed off of it very easily which leads to a counter attack from OHL West.
• Defensive Awareness: Sometimes overcommits on defense, losing position.
  • In-game example: Late in the 3^rd, he gets too engaged in board battles when he should have supported from a better position or cover the point from a respective distance, which would have allowed him to control the play a little more effectively.
  • In-game example: When forced in the draw, he doesn’t perfect his timing very well which also shows that he doesn’t always dig in to win the draw.

Skater Category Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 7
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 6
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 4

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#96 F, Owen Griffin
Team: OHL East (Oshawa Generals, OHL)
Height/Weight: 5’10”, 160 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: April 14, 2007

Overview:
Owen Griffin is a dependable two-way player with diverse skills in-which balances his playmaking and his defensive responsibility in all three zones on a Oshawa team that is trying to make a key push. His main defensive challenge is over-committing to plays, which could be refined by shifting him to the wing in the NHL. Griffin demonstrates great hockey IQ, especially at being a sponge on breakouts, average puck handling traits, and solid passing accuracy, most notably, he’s very good at give and go plays. His shot, while heavily accurate and does not waste much time by just ripping it in lease than milliseconds, he will definitely need a slight power increase. Physically, even though his smaller frame can be a disadvantage, especially in board battles, but his willingness to engage adds tremendous amounts grit to his game. His skating is agile, with strong offensive zone cycling abilities allows him to be a very easy player to play with whether it is moving around a lot in the offensive zone providing himself some open ice, or down low in his own zone regrouping the play for a clean and effective breakout. Projected as a potential as a late round draft selection, if he can get much stronger and pose a defensive threat by getting himself in proper position to block a shot and counter the opposing team’s decisions, then he may be given an opportunity to play on the 4^th line.

Strengths:

• Awareness and support for his teammates: Highly versatile in all 3 zones which is seen from the breakouts performed.
  • In-game example: Just past the 8-minute mark of the period, Aiden Young put a lot of pressure on the attack which allowed Griffin to jump in. This then generated an odd man rush as Young and Griffin were giving and going, this then led to Griffin receiving the puck on his off wing, he then accurately saucers it on the tape to Lirim Amidovski and absolutely ripped it for the 2nd East goal.
  • In-game example: 2-minute mark of the 2^nd period, Owen took the puck up through the neutral zone, drove the play up and dropped it to Amidovski and split through the defense, received the pass and performed a snapshot low blocker for a 3-3 game.  
• Skating Agility: Agile, able to pivot quickly to create space in the offensive zone.
  • In-game example: Behind the net retrieving the puck 12 minutes left in the 1st, his low but wide stance allowed him to turn sharply, giving him extra time to assess options with the puck and allowed him to also become proactive at throwing the puck and generate a dangerous scoring chance.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality: Shows grit in battles but struggles due to size disadvantage, gets beaten physically in board play.
  • In-game example: Late in the 2^nd period, where there was a scrum in the boards for a puck battle, Griffin gets outmuscled by a taller defenseman which ultimately, was a lost puck battle.
• Defensive Awareness: Sometimes overcommits on defense, losing position.
  • In-game example: Late in the 3^rd, he gets too engaged in board battles when he should have supported from a better position or cover the point from a respective distance, which would have allowed him to control the play a little more effectively.

Skater Category Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 5

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#91, F, Tyler Hopkins

Team: OHL East (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 180Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB 01.23.2007

Overview:

Tyler Hopkins is a great playmaking winger renowned for his strong vision and patient offensive awareness. With his “spider senses,” Hopkins demonstrates a unique ability to anticipate plays, delivering pinpoint accurate passes with the use of just his peripheral vision. His skating is a significant asset, characterized by long, powerful strides, though his lateral movement off the rush could be improved to enhance his momentum. Hopkins’ shot is quick and accurate, but his lack of poise at times leads to rushed and less effective attempts, reflecting areas where experience and composure could elevate his game. While not the most physical, Hopkins can hold his own and would benefit from adding strength to increase his physicality and effectiveness in puck battles. His puck-handling skills are outstanding; he maintains control as if the puck is glued to his stick until he decides to pass or shoot, showcasing his mastery as a skilled and creative winger. Defensively, Hopkins has a lot of room for growth. Although he uses his reach effectively, he often plays too high in the defensive zone, chasing defensemen and losing the ability to support his centerman. His lack of consistent defensive engagement limits his impact without the puck. Despite these defensive shortcomings, Hopkins projects as a highly desirable 3^rd round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft due to the great offensive traits in-which he brings to the table, especially his vision.

Strengths:

• Skating: Agile, able to shift momentum with quick bursts.
  • In-game example: Consistently push his legs to the maximum with hard heavy strides throughout the game and in the 2^nd, he created an odd-man rush which gave the opposition quite the discomfort.
• Offensive Awareness:
  • In-game example: Approaching the 3-minute mark of the 1^st, while being the guy covering the blueline in the offensive zone allowed himself to be in position to intercept a fanned pass so that he can then softly lob the pass to Jelsma in open space to shoot.
• Character:
  • In-game example: Consistently provided puck support around the boards and took responsibility in defensive situations on the penalty kill they had in the 2^nd which he is always willing to sacrifice the body to make a play for the club.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality: Needs to add muscle to handle physical play better.
  • In-game example: Not a huge example in the game but small examples are his consistency in his board play as similar to Ekberg, even though he has a speed advantage, he gets muscled out very easily in the boards.
• Consistency in his decision making/Positional Awareness in Defensive End.
  • In-game Improvement: In the 9-min mark of the 2^nd, because Hopkins put in a decent amount of effort to backcheck the play, he actually was in position to not only perform an interception closely and maintain possession of the puck, but he was poised enough to smoothly pass it behind the net to his defenseman for a possibility of exit.
• Consistency in using his explosiveness to his advantage.
  • In-game example: Moments when there are puck battles to be won in any given situation, he doesn’t consistently use his explosiveness to his advantage which allows the opposition to muscle him out easier than normal.

Skater Category Ratings: 

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 6
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 4

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#44 C, Jake O’Brien
Team: OHL East (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 170 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: September 25, 2007

Overview:

Jake O’Brien is the definition of a cerebral playmaker with elite vision and on-ice awareness. As the first-line center for the Brantford Bulldogs, his ability to anticipate plays and deliver precise passes under pressure sets him apart from the group. O’Brien’s offense revolves around his high-end passing, though he needs to better balance his pass-to-shoot ratio (currently 8/2) to become less predictable (Which he’s been shooting the puck much more this season). His smooth stickhandling and his ability to protect the puck under pressure allows him to become a reliable play-driver and someone who can be relied upon for his teammates. His skating features strong speed and acceleration in transitions but lacks the agility and explosiveness to consistently threaten the o-zone when it comes with battles in-front of the net. Physically, O’Brien is effective but would benefit from added strength to improve his durability and impact in board battles. Defensively, he excels in a 200-foot game, demonstrating frequent support for his defensemen and forcing turnovers with an active stick, kind of like acting as a sponge for his teammates. His faceoff skills further bolster his value as a dependable two-way center. Projected as mid 1^st round selection, Jake O’Brien has the tools to develop into a key second-line center at the NHL level who can be key in any situation given, kind of a Swiss-army knife once he fully fills into his body.

Strengths:

• Vision and Playmaking: Exceptional awareness allows him to anticipate plays and deliver precise passes.
  • Example: 3 and a half minutes into the 1^st, by recouping the puck from the forecheck performed by Martone on Misa, O’Brien saw Ethan Czata which allowed Jake to distribute the puck quickly and accurately to him from down low, right to the slot.
  • Example: In the 4-minute mark of the 3^rd period, O’Brien crisply distributed the puck to an active defenseman so he could absolutely wire it pass the tendy for a 4-4 game.
• Puck Protection and Patience: Uses his size and poise to make smart offensive plays.
  • Example: In the 7.5-minute mark of the 1^st, O’Brien did a great job not only protecting the puck and weaving his way up the neutral zone, he dumped it in at the right to continue the forecheck, which resulted him to then be a sponge and protect the puck to then redistribute it to the point.
• Defensive Support: Effective in a 200-foot game, providing solid backchecking and defensive-zone coverage.
  • Example: No concrete example because he displayed great consistency in his positional awareness as a centerman, whether it is being a sponge for a teammate in a puck battle, or being square with the opposition and using his stick play effectively.

Weaknesses:

• Skating Agility: Needs to improve edgework and explosiveness to be more effective in tight spaces.
  • Example: Struggled consistently throughout the game to generate separation in offensive-zone with the puck as he isn’t the most explosive on his edges, especially while performing pump fakes and isn’t the most agile in tight because he lacks that pure pop in his footwork.

• Physicality: Lacks strength and full intention to consistently win board battles and impose himself physically. Note: This will improve with time as his body matures by developing more muscle.
  • Example: Was outmuscled along the boards in the third period, losing puck possession. Displays lack of consistency in being intentional physically as instead of just bouncing off the opposition, he should use his size to his advantage and power through on occasion. 
• Shot Utilization: Relies too heavily on playmaking ability, which makes his offense utilization more predictable. Note*: Throughout the season, he has shown more intention of shooting the puck balancing his shot/pass ratio, which for shooting more, more goals are coming.
  • Example: Passed up several shot opportunities during great offensive situation as he favored setting up teammates which shows that he can become too passive on situations where he just needs to let his shots fly.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 7
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 6

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#94 F, Porter Martone

Team: OHL East (Brampton Steelheads, OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 208Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB October 26^th, 2006

Overview:

Porter Martone is the definition of an offensive dynamo for the Steelheads—a player who’s hard to stop and a true leader on the ice. When Martone has the puck, it stays on his stick until he’s ready to let it fly or make a pinpoint pass. He’s an agile, dynamic winger with a full arsenal of moves, playing with poise and a nearly unmatched awareness, like he’s got eyes in the back of his head. His passing is elite, with each one flat and crisp, and up the ice, he maneuvers with the puck as if he’s surfing through defenders. He’s not the fastest skater, but his stride mechanics and agility shine through, allowing him to fend off opponents with strong edgework—impressive for someone at 6’3. What knocks off some points regarding to Martone’s skating is that although he’s agile, he’s not explosive as he doesn’t have the same quickness in his footwork compared to others. While known as a playmaker with great anticipation, his powerful wrist shot makes him a serious dual threat. Defensively, he’s solid too, strong at intercepting passes and protecting the puck, making it tough for opponents to regain control. By improving his consistency however at throwing the body, with the skill set that he has with the size that he brings, Martone is absolutely destined to become top-three NHL draft pick in the making and a future superstar playmaking/power forward.

Strengths:

• Offensive Tactics: Highly versatile in offensive zones; quick, smooth stick handling with excellent passing accuracy.
  • In-game example: In the 8-minute mark of the 2^nd, Martone retrieved the puck and saw Carson Cameron entering the offensive zone; by doing so, he crisply feathered it to Cameron perfectly on the tape for Carson to obtain a chance to walk in and shoot.
• Shooting: Accurate and quick wrist shot; intelligent shot selection to create rebounds and catch goalies off guard.
  • In-game example: In the early parts of the 3^rd period, he let a rocket go after walking in with a heavy shot leaning on just the one leg and display great hand rotation, although it was saved.
  • In-game example: Although all alone in OT, Martone displayed great accuracy and not telegraphing his snapshot by going five hole in and winning the game for OHL East .
• Skating Agility: Agile, able to pivot quickly to create space in the offensive zone.
  • In-game example: On the powerplay in the 3^rd period, he made an in-tight adjustment with his footwork which allowed him to position himself and try to go top ched.

Weaknesses:

• Physicality: Shows grit in battles and improvement in physicality due to his great leadership but sometimes does not fully use his size to his advantage as his body is still maturing.
  • In-game example “Improvement”: In 3 and a half min stage of the 1^st, Martone did an excellent job at using his size to his advantage by outmuscling Michael Misa to get the puck free for O’Brien.
• Skating Explosiveness: Quick feet and acceleration involving his strides.
  • In-game example: Consistently in puck battles is where it was seen as when there is no speed generated in advance, he loses his quick footwork to his advantage and becomes vulnerable to being pinned.
• Defensive Awareness: Sometimes overcommits on defense, losing position.
  • In-game example: His latest shifts in the 1^st period, he got a little too engaged in board battles and played really up on the defense when he should have played a little higher by covering the point from a respective distance, which would have allowed him to control the play a little more effectively.

Note*: Has developed muscle from 196Ibs to 208Ibs.

Skater Category Summarization:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 8
• Scoring Ability: 7
• Playmaking Ability: 6
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 5
• Defensive Play: 5

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#77 D, Kashawn Aitcheson

Team: OHL East (Barrie Colts, OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 200

Shoots: Left

DOB September 21th, 2006

Overview:

Kashawn Aitcheson is easily one of Barrie’s most promising defensemen, thanks to his intense tenacity and aggression. On the ice, he’s a true physical force like non-other in the OHL—like a lion ready to strike to say the very least. A very tough, and reliable two-way defenseman, Aitcheson brings an underrated offensive game along with his trademark grit. When he lines up a hit, he’s like a freight train, often taking down opponents with powerful reverse hits. His strength shines when boxing out players in front of the net, delivering punishing blows to those who try to stir up trouble in-front of his goaltender, and he does it in a manner that does not cross the lines of the rulebook. While he’s not known for being a proficient puck handler at high speeds, he controls the puck well, keeping it steady and protected. His passing can be a quite a hit-or-miss situation, but he has a heavy wrist shot from the point that’s effective at getting through traffic for rebounds. Though his straight-line speed is good, his edgework and quick starts in reverse need some refining, especially which will help him defend the rush better. Overall, Aitcheson has the makings of a solid shutdown defenseman who can unleash his shot from the second pairing or serve as a great complimentary 1^st pairing player for someone who is an absolute star—projected to be a middle first-round pick.

Strengths:

• Defensive Play: Very active stick against the rush and does not fall for fakes very easily.
  • In-game example: In the 16-minute mark of the 2^nd period, Team USA had a 2-on-1 chance involving McKinney in the play with Aitchesion defending the rush in the offensive zone. He successfully managed to use his stick efficiently and caused McKinney to miss high in the slot.

• Physicality: Aggressive and effective at hitting, consistently finishing checks.
  • In-game example: In the 7-min mark of the 1^st, 10 seconds later after having a decent scoring chance, Misa had his head low and lost the puck, Aitcheson absolutely hammered him in open ice from shoulder to shoulder.

• Shooting: Very heavy wrist shot from far out that creates rebounds and far wrist shots that are hitting the net.
  • In-game example: 6-minute mark of the 1^st, Dietsch gave Aitcheson a crisp pass which not only Aitcheson put his full weight into his one-timer cleanly, he also hit the net low which is key for a young defenseman when it comes to generating traffic in-front.

Weaknesses:

• Lateral Mobility: Lateral movements and pivots are choppy, impacting his edgework.
  • In-game example: In the 3^rd period, there are moments where he is defending from far out around the net and with faster players around him, he has difficulty of using his pivots to adjust back, and he displays a little bit of discomfort turning towards his forehand side in a reverse position so he could make himself open for an easier pass.
  • In-game example: On occasion he sometimes would have difficulty skating reverse as well regarding to defending 2-on-1 rushes that were seen throughout the 2^nd and 3^rd period.

• Passing Consistency:
  • In-game example: 11-minute mark of the 2^nd, Aitcheson received a pass from Griffin, then there was a lot of traffic across and he tried to be too perfect with his soft saucer pass which was quite readable.
  • In-game improvement: 7-minute mark of the 2^nd, with the puck settled, Aitcheson performed a short but crisp breakout pass so the play could transition immediately out of the defensive end, up the neutral zone.

Skater Category Summarization:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 4
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 7
• Defensive Play: 7

By Blain Potvin

The IIHF U17 World Hockey Challenge just wrapped up last week in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It was a scouting hotspot as one of the first big events for NHL staffs charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent. 

There were some bright spots for the upcoming 2025 NHL draft that stood out and some future draft eligibles that grabbed the spotlight. 

Canada White (Gold) 

Canada White has won the all-home-team matchup to close out the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, beating Canada Red 3-1. It’s the second time in a row Canada White won the title for the third time in tournament history. The club had some issues in the round-robin, winning one and losing one in overtime to the eventual bronze medal winners, Sweden. This loss came after allowing a late goal against, letting Sweden get the game into overtime. Canada White got its revenge in the semifinals as they beat Sweden to earn a berth in the gold medal game.  

Canada was able to assemble two strong lineups. Both were hard-working, highly driven and competitive. Both teams had strong goaltending, and a mobile, yet physical defence. The only real difference between these teams was how one team was able to take advantage of some opportunities in a winner-take-all event. The first half of the game was quite quiet, with neither team generating many high-danger opportunities. The goaltending at both ends was the story early, with neither keeper seemed to lose focus. That all changed in the second period, when Canada Red seemed to lose a step to an aggressive Canada White who, in a short two-minute span, then took a 2-0 lead, and never looked back.  

Notable Players:  

Adam Valentini, C (2026):     

Valentini finished with the tournament lead with nine points (4 goals, 5 assists). He was dominant for Canada as of day one. He is a highly creative player, and it was on full display. Primarily as a puck distributor, Valentini does boast a hard and accurate shot, however, he uses it more as a tool that forces defenders to respect his shooting option. This provides him with a split-second extra to identify a passing lane to make an accurate pass if that option is available. What is most impressive is that he can make these plays while going at top speed. His ability to shield the puck, allows him to retain possession even when pressured, pairing that with his vision and high IQ, allows him to slow the game to the pace he dictates. He also uses his skating as a weapon as he uses edgework to speed up or slow the pace, generating a slightly larger gap from his checkers allowing him to that extra moment to make a play. Valentini showed that he is capable of being a top center at this tournament among his age peers and is worth keeping an eye on going into his draft year.    

Jean-Cristoph Lemieux, C/RW (2026):     

Lemieux had to battle his way onto a Canada roster and was added as a 13th forward. Because of this, not much was expected from the Windsor Spitfires’ 2024 second-round pick. But his impact far outweighed the expectations. He finished third on the team in scoring with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in five games. All of his offence stemmed from some intelligently crafted plays. His shot had good velocity and accuracy. His passing was quick and accurate. He had a soft touch in pass receptions. The difference for him was his compete level, which caught opponents off guard early on in games, and allowed some added space for him as games wore on. Anytime he was on the ice, he consistently attacked the puck with aplomb, making life difficult for his opponents, and easier for his teammates, which helped him jump up the lineup quickly, and put himself on the map for future international camps for Canada.   

Mathis Preston, C (2026):    

The 5’11’’ Preston ended the tournament with the scoring lead with six goals (7 points). He became more confident as the tournament wore on. He did battle consistency earlier in the tournament, but he showed up when the games counted most. He is lightning-fast in straight lines, using that speed in transition to force defenders to pivot early, giving him more time and space to make a play. He isn’t the biggest or heaviest player on the ice, but his wide base and high compete level make him hard to knock off balance or beat in a one-on-one battle. Preston is a creative offensive player, consistently skating with his head up, scanning the ice and showing no stress when under pressure. While this does allow him to identify open teammates and his passing is accurate at speed and through a crowd, he uses his ability to read developing plays to find open space and shoot from anywhere he sees a lane. With an outstanding shot selection, he can rip a seemingly effortless, and highly accurate one-timer or a catch-and-release wrister.    

Keaton Verhoeff, RD (2026):  

The 6’4’’, 212 lbs KeatonVerhoeff was brought in to add a physical aspect to the blueline, and solid defensive play. He was excellent defensively, and highly reliable, as he was used in every critical situation. He blocked shots fearlessly, understood his defensive assignments, boxed out the crease with a disciplined physicality, and communicated effectively with teammates on the ice, marshalling the defence and guiding them to make high-percentage plays quickly. His speed, mobility, effective pivots and his large wingspan made him difficult to beat, especially in 1-on-1 situations.  

His puck distribution skills became relied upon as the tournament wore on. His solid defensive positioning along with his ample shoulder checks allowed him to have a vision of the entire ice surface, and make for quick breakouts. His passing is quick and accurate as well. He does have a very heavy shot that could be a weapon from the point, but he does need to use it more often. He already has NHL size, and a very mature defensive game, a focus on improving his offensive skills could make him a high draft pick in 2026. 

Canada Red (Silver) 

Canada Red came up short in the all-home-team matchup to close out the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, losing to Canada White 3-1. Red has never won gold at this event, this was their third silver medal, their second in three years.  

The gold medal game marked the first time that Canada Red lost a game and the first time anyone was able to keep them to less than three goals in a game. Canada was able to assemble two strong lineups. Both were hard-working, highly driven and competitive. Both teams had strong goaltending, and a mobile, yet physical defence. The only real difference between these teams was how one team was able to take advantage of some opportunities in a winner-take-all event. The first half of the game was quite quiet, with neither team consistently generating high-danger opportunities. The goaltending at both ends was impressive early on, and despite any goals scored, neither goaltender lost focus or let in any weak goals. What changed was that Canada White took advantage of an ability to get pucks deep, and keep them there on the cycle, demonstrating an upward shift in intensity that it took Canada Red a couple of minutes to adjust to. Yet in that short two-minute span, White took a 2-0 lead and never looked back.  

Notable Players:  

Landon Dupont, RD (2027):     

He is just the second player in WHL history to be granted exceptional status to play Major Junior hockey as a 15-year-old, joining Connor Bedard. He will be a player to watch in this tournament. His ability to not only play at the pace dictated but to dictate the pace of play will be crucial to Canada Red’s success and was on display on Day one. There are many strengths to his game, such as skating, he is an elite skater with superb edgework, agility, mobility and speed. But one area that makes him seem like a future star is his Hockey IQ. His awareness and anticipation are second to none. There is no panic in his game because he has already read, and deciphered all the possible outcomes. His creativity on offence was on full display as well as his role as a power-play quarterback. Teams will need to be disciplined or he will help Canada punish them. Despite his age and slightly smaller stature, no one should overlook his defensive abilities. He’s a more than capable defender with excellent gap control, a very high compete level and an underrated physical edge.     

Cameron Chartrand, RD (2026):     

With a roster constructed of nearly all CHL-based players, Chartrand, who is a Saint John Sea Dogs first-round pick in 2024, is the only one not in major junior hockey. Having the Saint John GM and Head coach in charge of Canada Red doesn’t hurt his chances of getting significant ice time as he did against Finland. He didn’t disappoint his coach either. There will be more fanfare for other defenders at this tournament, but after all the medals are handed out, the Boston College commit will be front and center on every scout’s must-watch list.  His smooth skating is what stood out immediately. He has excellent speed, but it is his edgework that sets him apart as he uses it to retain that speed while going in any direction. His defensive gap control is impeccable, coupled with his speed and mobility, make him a difficult defender to beat one-on-one. His ability to scan and read the play allows for an accurate first pass, he can also choose to adeptly carry the puck up ice in transition. His offensive skills are another strength, while his shot is good, it is his playmaking skill that stands out as he can spot and hit an open man through traffic, and place an accurate pass while in motion, regularly providing high-danger chances to score.     

Lucas Ambrosio, LD (2026):     

Canada Red’s blueline is geared toward shifty, puck-moving defencemen and it lacks a defender with some size and strength, Lucas Ambrosio will provide that. He is a big, strong, shut-down defenseman for the Erie Otters of the OHL. His 6’4’’, 190 pounds frame makes him a dominant physical player at this level. He is a robust skater with good mobility who has a wide wingspan that he uses to his advantage to angle players away from dangerous areas. He is very physical in front of his own net and along the boards, punishing anyone who will go to his side of the rink. He actively places himself in shooting and passing lanes, cutting off offensive plays. He isn’t going to rush the puck end-to-end, but he can be responsible in his own zone, which is still a skill set every team needs someone to fill on its roster to be successful.    

Joe Iginla (RW):     

Yes, Joe is one of those Iginla’s, he is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jerome Iginla and the brother of the Utah HC’s first-ever draft pick Tij (6^th overall). He has a lot of his father’s attributes, he is a rugged scoring winger, but he takes fewer penalties than his father. He is a gifted shooter, with a fully stocked toolbox of shot selections. His one-timer is hard and accurate, and his snapshot on the rush is a weapon, but it is his quick release while posted up tight in the slot that will make goaltenders frustrated. His defensive play will help keep him at the top of the lineup but it is his work ethic and elite compete level that set him apart. All of this made him a leader on the ice for Canada Red. 

Sweden (Bronze) 

The U17 World Hockey Challenge event has traditionally been the best place to see all the world’s future talent compete head-to-head and get a baseline idea of the next couple of NHL drafts’ potential and depth.  

Sweden has been churning out top prospects and this cohort (2008, 2009) is no exception. In Sweden, the focus is more on skill and less on physicality, not that the Swedish team was unable to play physical hockey. The larger ice rinks in Europe allow for the time and space to be creative, with emphasis on passing and strategic plays along with a focus on skill and puck control. This leads to producing players with exceptional skating skills and hockey sense.  

 After losing to Canada White in the semifinals, in a game that showcased a Swedish team with no quit, scoring a goal with one second remaining to make the final 6-4, they went into the bronze medal game versus the USA with a chip on their shoulders. They were on their heels, with the Americans in control of the pace of play for the first 40 minutes of play. Yet, they exchanged scoring chances and goals with the US squad. In the third, however, Sweden began to push the Americans back, and took control of the pace, taking a one-goal lead late into the period. With less than four minutes remaining, team USA seemed to find new life, attacking Sweden relentlessly. With under two minutes left, and the goaltender pulled, Casey Mutryn was able to tie the game for the USA, taking it into overtime. Despite the late push by the Americans, Sweden made short work of them in overtime, as Elton Hermansson played the hero scoring the bronze medal-winning goal 16 seconds into the extra frame.  

Notable Prospects:  

Marcus Nordmark, RW (2026):      

Nordmark was one of the biggest standouts for Sweden, he finished the tournament with two points per game pace with 5 goals, and 8 points in 4 games. It was his controlled puck movement on the power play that allowed Sweden to be one of the most dangerous offensive teams. The 6’0’’ winger is a shoot-first type of player, while his puck distribution abilities are on par with most of his peers, his strongest asset is his shot, and ability to get to the high danger areas of the ice to employ that weapon. He boasts a powerful and accurate snapshot, but he relies heavily, almost exclusively on his slap shot. He is strong on his skates and has an explosive first few strides. He maintains a wide base, making him hard to push off of the puck and allowing for more control, and he uses hip movements to maintain glide speed while keeping his head up looking for a shooting lane or to make a short pass, especially in a give-and-go scenario. His wide base is just one aspect of his puck protection abilities, he uses body position and reach to protect the puck. He is also highly capable of corralling passes, even in stride. When a pass is off the target he can adjust his feet and stick placement to receive the errant pass on his backhand or off his skates then quickly reset to take a shot in one fluid motion.     

Axel Elofsson, RD (2026)    

Elofsson fits the mould of a prototypical Swedish puck-moving defenseman. He is a defenseman blessed with excellent hockey sense and confidence. He never looks pressured when he has the puck, he looks like he is in his natural habitat. His shot isn’t overpowering, but he does get it on net through traffic regularly. His ability to lead the transition and his playmaking is what he excels in. He can make a no-look pass through tight seams, and use his skillful skating techniques, such as tight turns and pivots, to generate the openings he needs to get the puck to a teammate in motion with an accurate pass. He can take over a game in the offensive zone. The knock on Elofsson is his defensive game and size. He gets caught up ice at times and works hard to get back to his position as quickly as possible. He does well in one-on-ones as he uses his feet and stick positioning to maintain a good gap and angle forwards to the outside where he isn’t usually beat with speed. But his size is an issue as he does get knocked off pucks by larger opponents and he has difficulty defending the net front as well, two areas of his game that will need improvement.   

Elton Hermansson, RW (2026):  

The 6’1’’ 176lbs Elton Hermansson is one of the top scorers in Sweden in his age group. His skating lacks an explosive pop in the first few steps, but his top speed is excellent once he gets going. He is strong on his skates, making it difficult on defenders to knock him off the puck, he also has good edgework, and he can make direction changes, or stop-ups quickly to create space for himself.  He is an exceptional puck handler, as he makes plays at top speed, is a threat in any one-on-one and can deftly corral any pass that comes within reach. He is creative with the puck as well, using deceptive body language and no-look passes to place an accurate pass through tight seems. But it is his shot that is his biggest weapon. He has a heavy and accurate shot. His shot toolkit is well stocked with catch and release, one-timers and a deceptively quick release on his snap and wrist shots. His hockey IQ is on display with an entrenched ability to separate from his checker, and then reappear in an open space in a high-danger area ready to accept a pass. Defensively he can position himself well and does backcheck, but there is room to develop this aspect of his overall game.  

Viggo Bjorck, C (2026)  

Viggo Bjorck is a prototypical playmaking center. The 5’9’’ 165 lbs forward is clearly a pass-first player, as evidenced by his team lead of five assists (and no goals) at the tournament in as many games. He is a competitive and intelligent playmaking pivot and has the skill set to be projected as a strong middle-six contributor at the NHL level. He will need to add size and start to shoot more often to keep defenders from seeing him as a one-dimensional offensive player.   

He’s a cerebral player that can make reads at a high pace, and also predict a defender’s reaction so as to take advantage of any weakness in their game. He can make passes at a high pace of play and showcases some slick puck-handling skills. He’s a strong skater with good technique, and with some added strength can become even more dangerous. He can also be a power play quarterback as he directs traffic from the half-wall and makes efficient use of his time and space to generate scoring chances regularly. 

USA (4th) 

Team USA entered the tournament with six first-place finishes, nine second-place finishes, and three third place finishes, and has placed in the top three in seven of the last 10 appearances at the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge. Now that the tournament has come to an end it is no surprise that the top hockey powers continued their elite play with Canada White (gold), Canada Red (silver) and Sweden (bronze) medaling, and Team USA finishing fourth. But there were standouts on every roster. Finland was heavily reliant on defence and goaltending; Czechia had a small core of forwards they could lean on. But the top four had an embarrassment of riches at every position.   

The USNTDP has become well known for developing high-quality hockey prospects while also being highly competitive, especially internationally, and this roster is no exception. Team USA used a more wide-open system than one would expect. This led to them giving up more goals than they scored over the five games played over the week-long tournament. The team was constructed to generate a quick strike offence, but that came at the expense of a suffocating defensive scheme that we have seen from previous US National teams internationally. Yet, as one of the youngest teams on average, it isn’t surprising to see that their defensive game is still more raw than their opponents.   

After losing a one-sided game in the semi-finals to Canada Red, they went into the bronze medal game versus Sweden with a chip on their shoulders. They had control of the pace of play for the first 40 minutes of play, but exchanged scoring chances and goals with the Swedes. In the third, however, Sweden began to push the Americans back, and took control of the pace, taking a one-goal lead late into the period. With less than four minutes remaining, team USA seemed to find new life, attacking Sweden relentlessly. With under two minutes left, and the goaltender pulled, Casey Mutryn was able to tie the game, taking it into overtime. Unfortunately, as is usually the case, a missed opportunity at one end, leads to a goal at the other, and in this case, it was Sweden that was the beneficiary as they scored the bronze medal-winning goal 16 seconds into the extra frame.  

Notable Prospects:  

Casey Mutryn, RW (2026)   

Casey Mutryn has excellent size at 6’1’’ and 172 lbs which he uses to his advantage. His skating has power and explosiveness in straight lines, but he also has excellent footwork and is strong on his skates. He has high-end awareness, using frequent shoulder checks, he sees open ice well, allowing him to read developing plays, and make decisions at high speeds. He is versatile, as he can play up and down the lineup, he is athletic, so he can play at a high pace consistently, and he has a high level of competitiveness, willing to battle for every inch of the ice. Sometimes, that compete does cause him to take penalties. He does use this to get into the high-danger areas where he can exploit any seams.   

The 16-year-old right-shot winger is an effortless puck carrier. His awareness on the ice gives him a great vision, spotting linemates through traffic where he can dish an accurate pass to them in motion. His ability to penetrate the high-danger areas allows him to use different shooting techniques. His shot is a strength, as he can shoot without his feet being set, adding deceptiveness with his quick release. But he can also be a threat from the outside as he has a potent and accurate shot that he can release on the rush.    

Victor Plante, LW (2026):     

Plante is a versatile offensive player, he led Team USA in points at this tournament with 2 goals and nine points in five games. He has a tool kit of accurate and heavy shots to choose from that he tailors to the situation, but he prefers a snapshot, especially in the slot, where he seems most comfortable. His playmaking skills are solid as well, he is highly capable of timing his passes to get through traffic accurately, and he can place saucer passes flat and in the path of teammates in motion. He is difficult to play against as he is consistently in motion and competing, especially along the boards and the front of the net where he seemed to enjoy the physical play. Defensively he can be relied on to backcheck and his speed allows him to get into an advantageous defensive position quickly. He is undersized at 5’6’’ and 125 lbs and will need to take inspiration on how to adjust defensively from undersized American defensemen such as Lane Hutson and Quinn Hughes.  

Lucas Zajic, RW (2026):  

Lucas Zajic is a 5’11’’ and 163lbs skilled forward. He will need time to gain size and strength, and with his current decision to commit to the University of Wisconsin in 2027, he will have time to get both. He shines when playing with his peers thanks to his smooth skating skills. He has an ability to separate himself from defenders in his first few strides. He is agile, uses crossovers to gain speed and his edgework is strong as he is highly effective in using stop-ups to open space on zone entries. He is highly skilled with the puck, his hands are lightning quick, handling pucks nearly effortlessly at his top speed, and in tight spaces. He needs more strength to add velocity to his highly accurate shot, but he can fire it while in stride, he can shoot even when his feet aren’t set, and his release is fast, which helps to offset the lack of velocity. His hockey IQ demonstrates an awareness of his surroundings, and an ability to read emerging plays and decipher the best path to generating a scoring opportunity for himself or a teammate. He works hard and is competitive. He has all the skills to be projected as a potential top-six forward.  

Luke Schairer, RD (2026?):  

At 6’3’’ and 187 lbs, Luke Schairer already has NHL size. He is big, and mobile, he has the wing span and speed to cover a lot of territory quickly, using quick pivots, and solid backward skating to maintain and close gaps in attacking players. He is a two-way defenseman whose heads-up play allows him to read the play and select lanes to launch the transition attack. He demonstrates a strong work ethic and high compete in his own zone, which helps him in one-on-one battles, especially down low. He is rarely if ever caught watching a play, he is consistently keeping in motion and actively covering teammates when the defensive system looks to be breaking down. While he isn’t overly physical, he never shies away from finishing a hit, especially to defend or gain puck control. He has enough creativity with the puck to run a secondary unit power play.  He can be a playmaker, making long, accurate passes in transition, or, finding teammates around the net with a quick and accurate pass for a tip, or a one-timer. He has to avoid the temptation to try to do too much with the puck. As his game matures, he has the potential to be a minute-munching top-four defenseman. 

Finland (5th) 

Finland, as a nation, produces players well known for their two-way ability, physical play, work ethic and compete level. All of it is similar to any North American development program. However, they add some hybridization due to being Sweden’s neighbours, they need to add a focus on individual skills they can exploit on the larger ice surfaces.  

Finland, as expected, was one of the top defensive teams at the tournament, finishing by allowing the second least number of goals (12). However, they finished with the least number of goals scored (7). They lacked the scoring punch of the other nations but did all they could to make up for that problem through sheer will and hard work.  

After a winless round-robin, and a loss in the quarterfinals, they faced off against Czechia in the fifth-place game. It was a 1-0 win for Finland, but it wasn’t a slow, boring game, on the contrary, it had some great plays and great saves. This matchup was a goaltending duel Finland was able to come out on top thanks to a goal by Vilho Vanhatalo early in the second period. While this was the only win in the tournament for Finland, they were highly competitive and do have some good quality prospects worth watching.  

Notable Players:  

Pyry Lammi, G (2026):

Lammi is a smaller statured goaltender at 5-foot-10. He had several moments in the game where he was overcompensating for that smaller stature by moving more than necessary. Technically, he is a sound goaltender but be it the size issues or adrenaline, he was pushing laterally harder and further than necessary. Despite this, his athletic approach allowed him to recover quickly from any gaps he left the Canadians. When Finland was playing flat, giving up far too much zone time to Canada, Lammi made several excellent saves, keeping his team in reach, and was inspired to step up in support. Despite the inspirational play, Finland’s skaters weren’t much of a match to Canada Red’s, and without Lammi’s stellar play, the score could easily have been as high as 7-1.     

Vilho Vanhatalo, LW (2026):  

Vilho Vanhatalo is a big-bodied winger with speed. He isn’t draft-eligible until 2026 and could be one of the top Finnish talents for that draft class. The 6’3’’ 176lbs forward is a highly intelligent Finn who can play the role of scorer or playmaker but prefers to shoot first. He has a killer instinct as soon as he enters the offensive zone, like a shark, he circles the zone waiting for his opportunity to strike. He is capable of playing either wing effectively. Has a very high hockey IQ with incredible awareness and anticipation. His shot can be lethal in the slot as he gets it off in a flash and can score from the perimeter as his shot has accuracy and velocity. Like most Finnish-trained players, he is a capable two-way player with a great work ethic and a high compete level. He can be relied upon defensively but is best used in a top-six role and on the power play.  

Juho Piiparinen, RD (2026)   

At 6’1’’ and 196lbs the 16-year-old Juho Piiparien has a large frame to build upon. He is a smooth skater, who does need to add explosiveness to his first few steps, but has strong footwork and edgework that allows the two-way defender the mobility to cover a large area quickly. Offensively he has a heavy and accurate point shot but it is his play in transition that has a large impact. He is good at picking his spots when it comes to joining the play, and his big shot can be a weapon on the power play. With some speed, pushing the pace in transition, he identifies high-percentage plays to break out of his own zone and retain puck possession, or to release pressure quickly. He has shown flashes of game management ability where he can dictate the pace, showing some offensive upside that, if unlocked, could make him an impact player. Defensively, he is risk-averse so he does also rely on a hard dump if his forwards are tightly covered on the breakout. He can also play a physical style, but he uses his size more to fill lanes, angling forwards to the outside using athletic transitions, smart stick placement and excellent gap management. 

Czechia (6th) 

The U17 World Hockey Challenge event has traditionally been the best place to see all the worlds future talent compete head-to-head and get a baseline idea of the next couple of NHL drafts’ potential and depth.  

As one of the smaller hockey nations in the top tier, the Czechian squad was behind the eight-ball from the start of the tournament. That isn’t to say they don’t have their own rich hockey history as a nation, they simply don’t boast the depth of skill seen from Canada, Sweden or the USA. Despite lacking the scoring punch of most of the other nations, they did display some dynamic play from the wings.   

They faced off against Finland in the fifth-place game. It was a 1-0 win for Finland, but it wasn’t a slow, boring game, on the contrary, it had some great plays and great saves. This matchup was a goaltending duel that placed Czechia was on the wrong side of the ledger. While they didn’t win any of their five games, they were highly competitive and do have some good-quality prospects worth watching.  

Notable players:  

Vojtech Svancar RW (2026):    

Even for this age group, Svancar is an undersized forward, however, he has the drive and grit to not play with fear. He adjusts his approach to one-on-one battles due to his size, but is consistently on the defensive side of the puck, even when going in hard on the forecheck. At times, he is in the middle of the action, forechecking effectively, other times, he seems to disappear at times when he is on the ice as if he is floating, but that is by design, he is assessing the play and deciding his next step. The forward likes to play on his off-wing and use that position to help tee up his one-timer, but it is his catch-and-release snapshot that is his main weapon. While he does shoot from anywhere, his favourite location is from the high slot. He isn’t afraid of paying the physical price to go to the dirty areas, but he finds ways to disappear in the crowds,and then reappear for a quick strike.    

Simon Katolicky, LW (2026):     

On the other end of the size spectrum is Katolicky. The 6’4’’, 187lbs winger looks to be a man among boys. He is a strong skater for a player his size and still adjusting to his own growth. He plays more of a straight-line north-south style but combines commanding first-step acceleration with fluid crossovers that allow him to build speed quickly through the neutral zone that he uses to beat defenders one-on-one. He has been Czechia’s best forward in this tournament, standing out for his consistent play as much as for his size. He uses his frame and reach to pressure opponents into turnovers, but also to protect the puck where he can then combine his speed with quick hands, creating open space for himself by attacking the high danger areas to release an effective and accurate shot.   

David Huk, C (2027):     

Huk was a bright spot for an outmatched Czechian team. He factored into 50% of all Czechia’s goals at this tournament scoring two goals and two assists in four games. His effort and skill allowed him to generate a few other scoring opportunities. At 15 he is already 6’1’’ and 187 lbs, and he uses that size and reach to his advantage. Playing in the U18 league in Sweden, he produces 2 points per game, so Czechia expected him to be the offensive catalyst for this club, and on Day one, he was.    

Even though he is one of the youngest players in the tournament, Huk was Czechia’s top line and was consistently one of their best skaters. While he boasts a powerful shot, good playmaking vising and a strong hockey sense that allows him to impact play over the full 200 feet of the rink, it is his tireless work ethic and relentless compete that will help him to lead his team in this tournament.    

By DraftPro Staff

The IIHF World U18 Hockey Championships just wrapped up last week in Espoo and Vantaa Finland, and was a scouting hotspot as a last big event for NHL staffs who are charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent.

There were some bright spots for the upcoming 2024 NHL draft that stood out and some future draft eligibles that really grabbed the spotlight. In this ten-part series we will look at each team entry and provide some review of prospects, how they performed and how their performance might have affected their draft stock. We will start with the last place team, Kazakhstan, and work our way through to the gold medal winning Canadian squad.

The Swiss team came in with arguably the most talent we have seen at this event from them ever with more than a few projected draft picks dotting their roster. And they did not disappoint as they finished in seventh place out of a ten-team field.

Here are some player reports from our Seth Ditchfield on the Swiss U18 players that stood out.

23 D, LEON MUGGLI, (EV Zug, NL) 6’0, 176, L, DOB: 7.9.2006
It cannot be overstated just how critical Leon Muggli was for this roster, serving as a catalyst who was likely to be one of the most active players in the entire tournament. Muggli started off the tournament strong, but unfortunately, he had to leave game 3 with an injury and did not return. Despite being somewhat of a hidden gem due to the smaller market he plays in, he secured a solid and permanent role on Zug’s Swiss NL team. Muggli isn’t a towering presence; instead, he opts to use his core strength wisely, playing low to the ice to maximize his strength, and defending intelligently with his active and robust stick, as well as positional awareness. He is a safe, yet productive player, not the most flashy or dynamic, but possessing an incredible ability to move the puck to high-danger areas. Muggli demonstrated his excellent skating in this tournament, able to stop and start on a dime, and catch defenders off-guard with plenty of rush opportunities, fully showcasing his transition strength. He exits the zone with crisp, solid passes, and is always engaged and tactically sound away from the puck. He’s been one of the most mature and intelligent defenders in this draft, and the same continued to be true for Team Switzerland.

26 D, DANIIL USTINKOV, (GCK Lions, SL) 6’1, 201, L, DOB: 8.26.2006
Daniil Ustinkov is a case of talent versus execution. He had a prime opportunity to step up after Leon Muggli’s injury, yet he failed to take advantage. Ustinkov is a strong skater with fluid edges and great stickhandling under pressure. However, he often tries to do too much, especially in the neutral zone or when exiting the zone, leading to turnovers. His slow backchecking has often resulted in creating odd-man rushes against his team. Despite these issues, Ustinkov showcased incredible composure under pressure, consistently making solid first passes and proving his worth as a notable transition defender. His lack of explosiveness and faulty decision-making was apparent, as he struggled to control the tempo and was easily outmaneuvered by opponents who would simply dump the puck or pass it around him, despite his near unbeatability in one-on-one situations. Offensively, the tournament didn’t go well either, finishing with just one assist, he was unable to consistently generate offensive opportunities due to his decision-making flaws. Ustinkov’s potential remains high, but his performance likely lowered his draft stock. Moving forward, his challenge will be to improve his decision-making and play with significantly more intensity and competitiveness than he showed in this tournament.

4 D, GIAN MEIER, (GCK Lions, U20-Elit) 6’2, 168, R, DOB: 7.10.2006
What a story Gian Meier was in this tournament, he found a gap in the Swiss defense and leveraged it to significantly boost his draft stock. A defensive defenseman with only 3 goals in 60 games, Meier showed off some offense by scoring 2 goals and racking up 4 points in just 5 games, leading the Swiss roster. His defensive talent shone even in tough matches against Canada, where he was a bulwark, effectively using his strength to box out forwards, enhance his gap control, and aggressively play the corners. As Meier continues to bulk up, his presence in these areas will only grow stronger. Offensively, he showcased his abilities by smoothly transitioning the puck, supporting rushes with robust 4-way skating, and confidently taking shots from the point. His rapid decision-making and evolving offensive vision marked a significant development in his game, contributing heavily not just defensively but offensively, playing crucial minutes in all situations and logging over 20 minutes per game.

19 RW, KIMI KOERBLER, (Ottawa 67’s, OHL) 5’11, 168, L, DOB: 9.25.2006
A spark in a quiet Swiss team, Kimi Koerbler (2 goals, 5 games) wasn’t a scoring machine, but his thrilling bursts made him a standout. With elite skating speed, Koerbler kept up with the fastest, winning puck battles and showcasing a heavy shot. His hands stayed sure under pressure, fueling his aggressive style. However, inconsistency plagued him. Passes lacked zip and variety, and his game became predictable at times. Koerbler can dominate stretches, but then disappear. For early draft consideration in 2025, consistency is key.

1 G, CHRISTIAN KIRSCH, (Zug, U20-Elit) 6’3, 176, L, DOB: 6.18.2006
With no shortage of activity from Day 1, Christian Kirsch was a beacon of reliability in net, showcasing his blend of tactical intelligence. Kirsch is adept at covering the lower half of the net, as he’s very prominent in a split, and fluid from post to post. He’s a big presence during breakaway action, covering large portions of the net and forcing a deke. However, Kirsch also struggled with vision and technical talent. He let in some clean floater shots from the point due to screens, and the puck would slip through him when he was cleanly in position and ready. Despite the negatives, Kirsch has a solid frame and intelligence to build off of, making him one of the higher-upside goaltenders in the class.

7 LD, BASILE SANSONNENS, (Fribourg-Gottéron, U20-Elit) 6’3, 198, L, DOB: 8.19.2006
Basile Sansonnens is hardly an offensive dynamo, yet he stands out as a promising shutdown defenseman with solid 4-way skating, notably effective in backward crossovers and edgework. Despite his physical approach, particularly effective along the boards, he struggles against fast wingers and needs to boost his backward speed and physical assertiveness. During penalty kills, while he identifies passing lanes well, his blocking execution is lacking. Sansonnens must also refine his physical presence; his body checks often lack impact, necessitating further bulking up. Despite these areas for improvement, his potential as a reliable defenseman is evident, making him a valuable later-round pick.

18 LW, ROBIN NICO ANTENEN, (Zug, U20-Elit) 6’2, 190, L, DOB: 5.21.2006
Robin Antenen improved as the tournament went along, showing a strong work ethic away from the puck and a large presence on the ice. Known for his aggressive approach to puck battles, Antenen does a great job pressuring opponents on both forechecks and backchecks. While he lacks top speed, he’s persistent and competitive. He needs to improve his overall 4-way speed, particularly his first step, as it’s quite slow. Despite being quite strong, he doesn’t fully leverage that strength yet. I can see the potential for a strong bottom 6 player, with a strong shot, making him someone teams may target with a late-round pick.

6 C, JAMIRO REBER, (HV71, J20 Nationell) 5’10, 176, L, DOB: 9.4.2006
Jamiro Reber showed off a quick first step and held onto the puck well at top speed. He displayed impressive rush-shooting skills, creating numerous scoring chances every chance he got. His offensive style, though predictable, involved shooting at every opportunity from any angle, as well as handling the puck well in motion. He’s a strong transition player who became increasingly better at distributing the puck as the tournament progressed, though his playmaking ability still needs further development. At times, Reber struggled against tight defensive pressure, notably from Canada. As one of the youngest players in the draft, he has potential. To realize this potential, he needs to improve his agility, decision-making, and overall offensive variety to break through tougher systems.

3 LD, LUDVIG JOHNSON, (Zug, U20-Elit) 5’10, 174, L, DOB: 7.27.2006
Ludvig Johnson jumped into game action after the Leon Muggli injury, and he continued to show the intrigue he did in league games. He’s not the biggest, strongest, or most aware in his defensive end, but he was the most flashy in the offensive zone. He moves the puck extremely well in all 3 zones, he’s a great 4-way skater and pinches at all times. He got a secondary assist in his first shift against the Swedes and continued to impress with his puck skills in motion, as well as offensive zone possession. Johnson has a lot to work on: strength, defensive awareness, stick strength and awareness, rush defense, and more. However, I believe he’s an intriguing option to pick in the late rounds due to the potential he shows.

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