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Game Report – January 22nd, 2026

Saginaw Spirit 4 vs Peterborough Petes 1

Venue: Peterborough Memorial Center

#4 D, Levi Harper
Team: Saginaw Spirit, OHL
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 174 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: October 3rd, 2008

Overview:

Levi Harper is a dynamic, puck-moving defenseman who thrives with the puck and plays a confident, possession-focused game. Despite a smaller frame, he’s very much an offensively involved blueliner, excelling in transition with soft hands, deceptive fakes, and quick reads that create scoring chances. His smooth skating and excellent lateral mobility, especially showcasing 10-to-2 crossovers, allowing him to walk the blue line and sustain pressure. Offensively, he brings a dual threat, threading passes through seams or firing accurate point shots. Defensively, his limitations show: he struggles in board battles, can be pushed off pucks, and his short reach hinders disruption. While his positioning is solid, he needs to not only keep his feet moving when defending the rush. Also, he must become more assertive in physical engagements and shot blocking.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top-Four Offensive Defenseman

Floor: AHL Top 2 Defenseman
Special Teams: PP1 Quarterback
Production Outlook: 45-55 Points
Pick Range: 25th~40th Overall

Player Comp: Cole Hutson

Strengths:

• Offensive Activation and Anticipation with the Puck: Displays great confidence with the puck, understands how to assess his risks in his actions with the puck.
• Reverse Skating/Crossovers: Smooth transitioning from one move to the next, helps him stay square in positioning when defending the rush.
• Puck Skills: Although not the fastest, he does showcases smooth hands to knife his way around the opposition in tight spaces.

Weaknesses:

• Size and Reach: Gets muscled off the puck very easily, needs to build core strength to also improve balance.
• Increase in Defensive Activation: Although pretty square in positioning and not always chasing, he needs to block shots more and getting involved more physically in the corners/board battles.
• Lateral Quickness: Although confident at tomahawking onto his forehand side, he does need to develop quickness when tomahawking onto his backhand side.

In-Game Observations:

• At 4:25 of the 1st, at the o-zone blue line, his pass got intercepted, hustled very hard on the backcheck and stopped breakaway chance from happening. Needs to be mindful when performing d-to-d point passes.
• At 4:23 of the 2nd, showed explosiveness and being able to cut off a lane while defending the rush which led to Saginaw regaining possession of the puck.
• At 9:12 of the 2nd, Harper displayed his offensive instincts and used his quick strides to explode himself into a 2-on-1 with Zhilkin, then was able to thread a pass over to Zhilkin.
• At 16:10 of the 2nd, after Barabanov was able to win faceoff to him, Harper quickly and crisply distributed the puck to his defensive partner who scored Saginaw’s 3rd goal of the game. Harper earned a primary assist on the play.
• At 2:45 of the 3rd, Harper wasn’t square enough to his side when it came to defending the rush, he got flat footed and had to take a tripping penalty.

Skater Category Ratings:

• Skating: 6.5
• Puck Skill: 6.5
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 6.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 4

#71 F, Dimian Zhilkin
Team: Saginaw Spirit, OHL
Height/Weight: 5’10”, 185 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: October 21st, 2008

Overview:

Dimian Zhilkin is a dynamic playmaking forward who brings a high level of creativity and offensive awareness. His ability to spin out of tight situations with quick, fluid movement makes him a unique offensive presence. His shot is adequate, featuring a reliable toe-drag release, though greater hip rotation would add power. Zhilkin’s offense is driven by his playmaking, as he consistently keeps defenders off balance by reading teammates faster than the opposition. His elite puck skills and soft hands allow him to execute at high speed. To become more unpredictable, he would benefit from balancing his shot and pass selection. Defensively, improvement is needed; while he has an accurate poke check and generally sound positioning, he must increase his backchecking effort, improve faceoff timing, and engage more physically, especially by getting involved in puck battles along the boards.

Player Projection:

Ceiling: 1st Line Forward

Floor: Top-6 Scoring Forward

Special Teams: PP1

Production Outlook: 25~ Goals, 75~ Points

Pick Range: 5th-10th Overall, 2027 Draft

Player Comp: Matt Duchene

Strengths:

• Puck Skills: Very dynamic hands, smooth as silk and highly coordinated.

Agility and Edgework: Exceptional mobility helps him evade defenders and create space.

• Offensive Awareness: Has a strong feel for his teammates and does a good job acting as a sponge in the offensive zone.

Weaknesses:

• Shooting Power: Although displays an accurate toe-drag release, needs to emphasize more hip rotation to create more power from his shot.
• Physical Engagement: Although showcases strong balance, needs to get involved physically by using his motor to outwork opposition in corner.
• Defensive Stability: Although shows adequate positional awareness and accurate poke, needs to be more willing to sacrifice the body. Needs to better time his faceoffs.

In-game Observations: 

• At 1:15 of the 1st, although he lost faceoff, he still played square in position, was able to pick up loose puck and then create a PK rush with Klepov.
• At 11:15 of the 1st, in the offensive zone, displayed strong anticipation and fluid edgework to buy himself a lot of time and utilize his teammates to his advantage. Faked shot high in the slot allowing him to then change the angle, just the goaltender made a better save.
• At 3:05 of the 2nd, had very much the opportunity to rip a shot on the 2-on-1, instead however was trying to be too fine with his playmaking when the lane was closed.
• At 9:12 of the 2nd, displayed great engagement on the rush by driving hard to the slot, was given a pass from Harper and tried to shoot it five-hole, just the goalie made a good save.
• At 16:00 of the 2nd, along the halfwall, he did a great job anticipating, but quickly exploding into the inside, got down low in the slot, quickly snapped it, the goalie made a big save.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 7
• Puck Skill: 7.5
• Scoring Ability: 5.5
• Playmaking Ability: 7
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 4.5
• Defensive Play: 3.5

#14 F, Egor Barabanov
Team: Saginaw Spirit, OHL
Height/Weight: 6”, 180 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: May 16th, 2006

Overview:

Egor Barabanov is a smooth playmaking forward who’s linemates benefit from. At 6 feet and 180 pounds, his solid frame and agility make him highly effective in puck protection, board battles, and transitions with still some room to grow. Offensively, his strength truly lies in his playmaking as he can thread pucks through crowds along with his patience when controlling the puck. When discussing his shot, it lacks weight due to him not emphasizing enough hip rotation. As a result, he relies a bit too much on his playmaking which acts as a double edge sword as he occasionally tries to force passes through closed lanes. Defensively, he showcases adequate positioning as he is good at picking off passes, but he needs work on the draw along with being more urgent in his own end. This ties in the fact his grit and commitment on the backcheck need work. When discussing about his skating, he could generate more extended strides to create higher top speed, but his agility and balance are quite up to par as it allows him to smoothly transition from one move to the next.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top-9 Scoring Forward

Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward

Special Teams: PP2 Flank, Distributor
Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 45~ Points (Two-Way Playmaker, Secondary Scorer)
Pick Range: 65th-90th Overall

Player Comp: Marcus Johansson

Strengths:

• Agility: Swift footwork/cross overs, allows him to shield the puck off well
• Playmaking Ability: Displays great vision, poised to utilize his teammates to his advantage.
• Puck Skills: Fluid with his stick movement when controlling the puck, anticipative.

Weaknesses:

• Shot Power: He lacks heaviness in his shot, limiting his scoring potential, making it easier for the goaltender to read. (Needs to build upper core strength).
• Risk Management: Occasionally tries to do too much with the puck, leading to turnovers.
• Physical Engagement: Although has a good enough frame to throw the body around, doesn’t seem to showcase the mentality of wanting to throw it around.

In-game Observations:

• At 0:40 of the 1st, on the PK, played sound in position, was able to intercept puck in neutral zone and waste PP time.
• From 9:50-10:10 of the 1st, on PP, displayed although consistent when passing the puck itself, the situational awareness of when he was passing was inconsistent. Got intercepted and had taken a hooking penalty.
• At 14:40 of the 1st, on PK, although being responsible not chasing the play defensively, needs to be a bit more aggressive and sacrificial at covering closer to the point.
• From 9:20-9:45 of the 2nd, displayed crisp and smooth puck distribution as he was utilizing his teammates to create both himself and his linemates lanes for getting pucks on goal. Moments later on the PP, continued distributing pucks crisply and was rewarded with an assist on 2nd goal.
• At 14:00 of the 2nd, on the PP in his own zone, lacked a lot of urgency to hunt for the puck, Peterborough then had a dangerous chance down low.
• At 16:10 of the 2nd, did a good job staying hard and muscling a faceoff win to Harper, led to secondary assist on Saginaw’s 3rd goal.
• At 19:40 of the 2nd, on PK, was able to use shifty cuts to deke his way by the opposition, then was able to utilize Klepov who came in with momentum to get a shot on goal.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 6.5
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 7
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 4.5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 4

#10 F, Adam Levac
Team: Peterborough Petes, OHL
Height/Weight: 6”, 172 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: June 27th, 2008

Overview:

Adam Levac is a high energy forward who is willing to do whatever it takes to cause havoc. His best offensive trait is arguably his shot as it is mechanically heavy and accurate as he puts all of his weight into his hips. When discussing about his playmaking, it is very much nothing out of the ordinary due to his limited puck skills. What is key for him however is that he does do well on give and go set ups to generate speed on the rush. When discussing about his skating mechanics, he has a powerful stride and is considerably quick when it comes to his footwork. What will need to be worked on is that he does need to develop flexibility in order to explode quicker laterally. He’s an energy ball which is key when putting on pressure in the opposition. Defensively, he will need to play slightly more sound in positioning. Physically, he finishes his checks, well and fights for the puck hard. What he will need to build is getting stronger in his upper core to not only be more durable, but also be more punishing.

Player Projection:

Ceiling: Bottom-6 Energy forward

Floor: AHL Middle-6 Forward

Special Teams: PK2

Production Outlook: 10~ Goals, 20~ Points

Pick Range: 160th-190th Overall

Player Comp: Sam Lafferty

Strengths:

• Shot Mechanics: Displays thorough shot mechanics, gains a lot of power and displays great control with aim.
• Skating Strides: Demonstrates powerful and explosive strides, fully extends his legs quickly.
• Work Ethic: Although not the strongest guy, showcases tremendous heart to fight for the puck in the corners and fights for positioning at the front of the net.

Weaknesses:

• Puck Skills: Isn’t consistent with his puck coordination, especially when deking
• Lateral Movement: Although quick and powerful strides, isn’t the most flexible which he can’t seem to explode laterally as quick as he should.
• Vision: Although good at creating speed on the rush with give and go plays, isn’t consistent enough at threading the puck through crowds.

In-game Observations: 

• At 0:50 of the 1st, after receiving puck from Novotny, Levac displayed patience holding at the blue line, though needs to be a bit more mindful of the risks when passing to top of the point.
• At 9:07 of the 1st, Levac displayed his ability to engage yet be patient in the offensive zone. Was able to create himself some space high in the slot, showcased follow through shot mechanics. Could emphasize quicker hip rotation.
• At 19:10 of the 2nd, was highly active down low, creating havoc. One small scenario that could have been better is that he could have been more opportunistic when shooting.
• At 3:04 of the 3rd, drove hard to the net on the PP, which allowed him to score on a rebound.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5.5
• Puck Skill: 4
• Scoring Ability: 6
• Playmaking Ability: 4
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 5.5
• Defensive Play: 4

December 31st, 2025

Gatineau Olympiques 4 vs Sherbrooke Phoenix 0

Centre Slush Puppie

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#91 F, Thomas Rousseau

Team: Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL
Height/Weight: 5’10”, 175 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: February 12th, 2008

Overview:

Thomas Rousseau might be one of the most underrated forwards in the QMJHL, often overlooked due to his smaller frame. Despite that, he’s a highly intelligent and crafty playmaker who consistently finds creative solutions under pressure, often making difficult plays look effortless. His vision and timing allow him to set up teammates in tight areas or turn broken plays into scoring chances. While his defensive reliability and overall explosiveness still need refinement, Rousseau has all the foundational tools to develop into a versatile and dynamic offensive threat. What’s particularly intriguing about his game is his shot. Although not overpowering, he demonstrates excellent mechanics and a quick release that catches goaltenders off guard. He’s adept at changing shooting angles and using defenders as screens, making him deceptively dangerous around the net.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top 9 Scoring Forward

Floor: AHL Top 6 Forward
Special Teams: PP2
Production Outlook: 40–50 Points
Pick Range: 80th-160th Overall

Player Comp: Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Strengths:

• Puck Handling: His smooth hands allow him to work well in tight spaces.
• Playmaking Ability: Strong give-and-go plays create dynamic offensive rushes.
• Offensive Awareness: Plays off of his teammates very well.

Weaknesses:

• Shot Power: He lacks heaviness in his shot, limiting his scoring potential, making it easier for the goaltender to read. (Needs to build upper core strength).
• Overcomplicated Plays: Occasionally tries to do too much with the puck, leading to turnovers.
• Defensive Positioning: He often plays too high in the defensive zone as a centerman.

In-game Observations:

• At 11:13 of the 1st, because of sound positioning, he was able to recover the puck and use his motor to drive his own rush, was able to get snapshot off.
• At 17:30 of the 1st, on the PP, wasn’t showcasing urgency to drive the puck up the rush and was caught with a turnover. Was almost scored on.
• At 4:50 of the 2nd, displayed his ability to cleanly win faceoffs, then displayed his motor and quick footwork to drive the puck on the rush while 4-on-4, got a snapshot on goal.
• At 14:25 of the 2nd, showcased improvements at quickly snapping the puck with quicker hip rotation, he hit the post. Moments after, he displayed his ability to retransition from d-zone play back to o-zone play and driving his own rush while utilizing his teammates. His skating to do so: short and choppy strides which didn’t provide him top speed.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 6.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 3.5
• Defensive Play: 6

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#12 G, Justin Brisebois

Team: Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL
Height/Weight: 6’3”, 185 lbs
Catches: Left
DOB: June 12th, 2007

Overview:

He moves well with developing play and remains poised amid chaos, though he needs to be a lot more urgent when covering loose pucks and rebounds. His compete level can be very much improve as mentioned that he needs to develop the mindset of gathering the puck ASAP, though he does a great job not giving up on cross crease plays which forces him to stretch far to stop the puck. He has a ready high glove, though needs to be much quicker when tracking pucks higher. He seals the posts well, though when covering knee level, can have difficulty which is why he gives the rebound that he does. He’s considerably light and agile when moving laterally, though he needs to be quick at going up and down along with being more proactive down low. He uses his pads well to direct pucks into the corners and seal the ice. While his vision can be inconsistent, he has shown ability to read cross crease plays.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Fringe NHL Goalie/3rd string

Floor: AHL Backup
Special Teams: PP2
Production Outlook: .905%~
Pick Range: Undrafted

Player Comp: Justin Peters

Strengths:

• Glove Low: Tracks the puck low very well, can catch pucks in a proactive manner.
• Lateral Movement/Play Reading: Does a good job pushing side to side powerfully and controlled, reads cross ice passing very well.
• Ice Sealing: He seals ice level very well as there are very few moments, he gets caught low around the pad height area.

Weaknesses:

• Rebound Control: He lacks urgency and calmness when handling loose pucks, isn’t the most mindful of the opposition getting into his crease. Needs to assert dominance and strength.
• Glove High: Although has a ready glove, he needs to be mindful of keeping it lower for the more difficult shots, especially from out far.
• Getting Quick Vertically: Although quick when pushing side to side but isn’t explosive enough when going down on his knees, to then getting back up on his skates.

In-game Observations:

• On Gatineau’s first goal, he was beaten high glove. In order for that to not happen, Justin should have challenged the shooter a bit more instead of playing low in his crease.
• On Gatineau’s 2nd goal, although was square in position on 2-on-1 and stopped the shot, he did not seal the puck for a faceoff. That is the most important aspect for a goaltender is slow the game down and let your team have control. He gave up a rebound that squeaked by him.
• On Gatineau’s 3rd goal, Justin again gave up a key rebound and, in this case, wasn’t the most square with the puck carrier.
• At 16:40 of the 2nd, showcased his ability to track puck with cross crease pass, made a difficult blocker save while moving across.
• Throughout the game, he was good at closing off the angles along the corner, though needed to really seal the lower portions of the net.

Goaltender Category Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Net Coverage: 5
• Quickness: 4
• Rebound Control: 3.5
• Play Reading/Anticipation: 6
• Technique: 5
• Poise: 4.5
• Puck Handling: 4

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#19 F, Ilya Kolmakov

Team: Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 165 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: September 30th, 2008

Overview:

Ilya Kolmakov is a dynamic forward excels greatly on the offensive end of the ice. Offensively, he shows strong positional awareness and playmaking ability, thriving in give-and-go situations and can thread pucks through crowds with ease. This comes to him utilizing his teammates well. However, he can overcomplicate plays with excessive patience and lack of urgency. His shot, while accurate, lacks power, limiting his scoring impact due to him not emphasizing hip rotation. Defensively, he showcases he is considered average as he will play sound on the rush and is good at intercepting passes, he isn’t the most willing when it comes to sacrificing the body. When discussing about his skating, he could generate quicker feet in the long run, but his agility and balance are quite up to par as it allows him to smoothly transition from one move to the next. This also comes to him having to develop a stronger motor. When discussing his physical stature, he definitely needs work as isn’t strong on his feet due to lack of strength in lower core. This results in getting muscled around very easily

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top 6 Forward

Floor: Bottom 6 Forward

Special Teams: PP (Left Flank, Distributor)

Production Outlook: 20~ Goals, 50~ Points (Playmaker, Secondary Scorer)
Pick Range: 2027 NHL Draft

Player Comp: Jonathan Drouin

Strengths:

• Offensive Awareness: Understands how to utilize his teammates well in the offensive zone.
• Playmaking Ability: Strong give-and-go plays create dynamic offensive rushes.
• Puck Skills: Fluid with his stick movement when controlling the puck, anticipative.

Weaknesses:

• Shot Power: He lacks heaviness in his shot, limiting his scoring potential, making it easier for the goaltender to read. (Needs to build upper core strength).
• Strength: Due to lack of lower core strength, he lacks balance greatly which then translates to him getting muscled off the puck easily by the opposition.
• Willingness in Defensive End: Although plays sound on the rush, and square in position, isn’t sacrificial enough for the NHL level. Needs to be a bit more willing to get engaged physically.

In-game Observations:

• At the last-minute mark of the 1st, on the PP, wasn’t urgent enough to move the puck but also needs to be mindful of the risks of where he’s passing. He made a saucer pass to the middle of nowhere.
• At 11:00 of the 2nd, showcased poise when handling puck in own end and creates his own rush through the neutral zone. When dumping it, could have been more engaging on forecheck.
• At 6:34 of the 3rd, showcased his ability to thread the puck through the opposition for his teammate to redirect the puck quickly on goal.
• Throughout this game, was very much contained physically, lacked a lot of urgency when on the rush along with him being in his own end, wasn’t sound positionally to create himself as an option.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 6.5
• Scoring Ability: 4.5
• Playmaking Ability: 6.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 3

#5 D, Michel Myloserdnyy
Team: Lafleur (Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL)
Height/Weight: 6’6″, 214 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 15th, 2008

Overview:

Michel Myloserdnyy is a physically imposing defensive defenseman who relies on his size, reach, and intensity to shut down opponents. Steady in his own zone, he plays with a consistent edge, excelling in physical battles and clearing the crease effectively. His shot is used rarely as he does keep it low to create traffic, but offense isn’t his main focus as he does not shoot the puck often. Michel’s main weakness lies in his puck handling, particularly under pressure or when carrying the puck up ice. His passing can be effective, especially short-range, but his long breakout passes remain inconsistent. Skating-wise, he has a strong forward stride but lacks explosiveness in his reverse and lateral movement, which can expose him against quicker opponents. Defensively, he uses his reach and stickwork well to disrupt plays and maintain strong positioning, though his physical style sometimes leads to unnecessary penalties he’ll need to manage better.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top 6 Shutdown Defenseman 

Floor: Top 2 AHL Defenseman

Special Teams: PK1/2

Production Outlook: 10-15~ Points

Pick Range: 150th-190th overall

Strengths:

• Physicality: Strong and imposing defender who thrives in physical battles, uses his body to drive opponents into the boards.
• Defensive Play: Strong positional awareness, great at using his reach and stick to break up plays and prevent offensive pressure.
• Skating Strides: Strong stride generates speed for him to win races.

Weaknesses:

• Puck Handling: Struggles when carrying the puck up the ice with confidence.
• Passing: Inconsistent with long breakout passes.
• Skating Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

In-game observations: 

• At 5:05 of the 1st, showcased excellent use of his reach to close the gap on the rush and regain possession of the puck. It led to him breaking the puck out and obtaining an assist on first goal of the game.
• In the moments before the 2nd goal, Michel was utilizing his frame to his advantage by throwing his body a lot and cleanly check the opposition.
• At 9:20 of the 2nd period, Michel does a great job reading the clear, catches the puck just outside the blueline, creates a re-entry into the o-zone. Does showcase very choppy puck handling when entering the zone.
• At 8:40 of the 3rd, yet again imposing his will physically, punishing his opposition on PK.
• Sequence: In 13th minute of the 3rd, showcased increase in confidence at getting pucks on goal from far. Then when defending the rush, was too bent over and couldn’t fully get the most out of his strides.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 4
• Puck Skill: 3
• Scoring Ability: 3
• Playmaking Ability: 4.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 7
• Defensive Play: 6

#21 D, Jan Golicic
Team: Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL
Height/Weight: 6’5″, 201 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: June 30th, 2006

Overview:

Jan Golicic is a poised puck moving/defensive defenseman who relies on his size, reach, and patience to shut down opponents. Steady in his own zone, he plays with a sound mind, letting the game come to him and forcing the opposition to make the mistake. His shot is used intelligently. When discussing his mechanics though, although follow through’s low, he lacks emphasis on hip rotation which is why his shots are not powerful. Jan’s main weakness lies in his puck handling as he does maintain good control, but his stick movement is considered choppy. His passing is his best offensive trait as he keeps every pass very flat on the ice which eases transition greatly, especially from breakouts. Skating-wise, he has a strong forward stride but lacks explosiveness in his reverse and lateral movement, which can expose him against quicker opponents. Defensively, he uses his reach and stickwork well to disrupt plays and maintain strong positioning. What he will need to work on is becoming imposing physically. That first starts by putting a lot more weight on so he can build that confidence up. Then it’s the matter of knowing how to throw it.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top 6 Puck Moving/Shutdown Defenseman 

Floor: Top 2 AHL Defenseman

Special Teams: PK2

Production Outlook: 10-15~ Points

Pick Range: 118th overall

Player Comp:

Strengths:

• Defensive Play: Strong positional awareness, great at using his reach and stick to break up plays and prevent offensive pressure.
• Skating Strides: Strong stride generates speed for him to win races.
• Puck Distribution: Displays great consistency at moving the puck crisply. Keeps his passes very flat which aids transition greatly.

Weaknesses:

• Puck Handling: Struggles when carrying the puck up the ice with confidence.
• Shot Power: Displays great intelligence of walking into shoot and following through low, though lacks a lot of emphasis on hip rotation to get that power off.
• Skating Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

In-game observations: 

• At 9:50 of the 1st, he was developing confidence at handling the puck and walking into the slot to shoot. He needs to put more emphasis on hip rotation when shooting. Throughout that shift, by gaining more puck touches, developed more confidence in the o-zone.
• At 12:20 of the 2nd, Jan on the PP again does a good job taking the space and walking in to shoot. Although not powerful, he kept it low which created a rebound for his teammate, was credited with an assist.
• Throughout the 2nd period, displayed crisp puck distribution to his linemates, aided transition of play greatly.
• At 19:20 of the 2nd, showcased his ability to keep his puck distribution flat. Although his teammate didn’t hammer home one timer, Jan placed his pass in his teammate’s wheelhouse.
• Throughout the game, wasn’t really imposing physically in the corner, lacked a lot of explosiveness to win races and relied on reach to do so.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 4.5
• Puck Skill: 3.5
• Scoring Ability: 3
• Playmaking Ability: 5.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 5
• Defensive Play: 6.5

#14 F, Olivers Murnieks

Team: Latvia (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL)

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 195Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB July 31st, 2008

Overview:

Olivers Murnieks is a well-rounded two-way centerman who brings consistency, smart positioning, and underrated playmaking to every shift. He plays a steady, reliable game, demonstrates support breakouts, winning battles, and linking plays without relying on flash. His stickhandling and footwork are efficient, and he rarely makes poor decisions. Offensively, his shot lacks power but is accurate and creates rebound chances, while his best asset is threading passes through traffic under pressure. Defensively, he’s composed and responsible, excelling in positioning, shot blocking, and penalty killing. His strong compete level keeps him engaged in all zones, using his edges well through transitions. To reach the next level, he’ll need improved shooting mechanics, puck poise, stride efficiency, being more physicaly assertive, but also, he will need to up his pace of play.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top 6 Centerman with PP and PK Versatility

Floor: Top 9 Forward with defensive upside
Special Teams: PP (Left Flank/Distributor)/PK
Production Outlook: 50–60~ Points
Pick Range: 30th-45th Overall

Player Comp: Alex Wenberg

Strengths:

• Versatility: Acts as a great sponge for his teammates.
• Defensive Awareness: Consistently positions himself well and disrupts plays with interceptions and shot blocks.
• Poise and Decision Making with the Puck: Composes a very calm and collective mind who makes smart decisions with the puck (Mistake Free).

Weaknesses:

• Shot Power: Needs to improve his mechanics to develop more power, specifically in his hip rotation as his windup.
• Strength and Assertiveness: Although has NHL worthy size, he isn’t fully assertive at throwing the body. He also needs to scrap himself a spot at the net front by being more durable at getting into the dirty areas.
• Lack of Explosiveness/Pace: Plays a little too calm and lacks urgency in certain plays.

In-game Observations:

• At the last-minute mark of the 1st, because of sound positioning, Murnieks was able to be stable and active in the o-zone, being a sponge to maintain o-zone pressure.
• At 6:30 of the 2nd, yet again relying on playing sound in position and outworking the opposition, Murnieks made himself a wide open man in the slot and showcased quick snapshot mechanics, just the goalie made a good save.
• Throughout the game, showcased great timing in the faceoff circle, won a good portion of faceoffs.
• A few occasions in this game, he could have been a bit more engaged at winning races, demonstrating he isn’t consistent with his motor.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5.5
• Puck Skill: 6
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 6.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 4.5
• Defensive Play: 6.5

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#24 F, Daniels Serkins

Team: Latvia (SC Bern, SM-Elite Swiss U20)

Height/Weight: 5’9”, 165Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB July 24th, 2007

Overview:

Daniels Serkins is a high-motor, two-way center known for his defensive reliability, strong positioning, and relentless compete level. Though undersized, he compensates with explosive edgework and smart support play in all zones, frequently aiding breakouts and engaging in puck battles through timing and anticipation rather than physical strength. Offensively, he plays a simple game—his shot lacks power, but he generates chances through smart positioning, rebound creation, and crisp, accurate passing. However, he struggles with puck control under pressure and can rush decisions, particularly when space tightens. On the power play, he’s learning to exploit soft coverage areas but must focus on consistently putting pucks on net rather than aiming for perfection. Defensively, he truly excels on the penalty kill with strong gap control, fearless shot blocking, and disciplined reads. His compete level stands out every shift, consistently backchecking hard and sacrificing his body when needed. What really helps out his defensive play mentioned earlier is his explosive edges. Although he does not get the most power from his stride, his quick footwork allows him to explode quickly in order to win puck battles.

Player Projection

Ceiling: NHL 3C / Penalty Kill Specialist

Floor: AHL Top 6 Forward
Special Teams: PK
Production Outlook: 15–25 Point Energy Forward
Pick Range: 170th–230th Overall

Player Comp: Blake Lizotte

Strengths:

• Versatility: Acts as a great sponge for his teammates.
• Defensive Awareness: Consistently positions himself well and disrupts plays with interceptions and shot blocks.
• Compete Level: Willingness to do anything for the team (Blocking shots, getting involved hard in puck battles)

Weaknesses:

• Shooting Consistency: Needs to improve his mechanics to develop more power, most importantly, his mentality of getting shots on goal and not overly perfecting it yet.
• Puck Skills: Needs to develop poise and confidence with the puck at a steady pace, not trying to force a play and letting the game come to him.
• Size/Strength: Although showcases tremendous hustle at winning puck battles, he gets muscled off pucks easily due to smaller frame.

In-game Observations:

• At 0:50 of the 2nd period, when Serkins had the puck, he was spinning around a bit too much to the point where he jammed himself and turned the puck over. Lack of explosiveness.
• At 8:50 of the 2nd, Serkins first made himself an option on the rush, showcasing heavy one-timer, then showcases ability to backcheck hard and win back puck possession in the neutral zone.
• Showed consistency throughout this game at winning faceoffs in safe directions.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 5
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 4
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 7

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#18 F, Roberts Naudins
Team: Latvia (Shattuck St. Mary’s, USHS)
Height/Weight: 6’6″, 194 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: November 18th, 2008

Overview:
Roberts Naudins is a rangy, two-way forward who pairs a 6’6” frame with surprising agility and playmaking instincts. A standout for Latvia, Naudins uses his reach and vision to support offensive zone possessions and create space for teammates. He’s most effective when carrying the puck through the neutral zone, drawing defenders toward him, and opening passing lanes. Though not flashy, his ability to read the ice and make subtle plays elevates those around him. Defensively, he shows strong awareness and positional responsibility, consistently using his length to clog lanes and disrupt opposing rushes. Despite his size, Naudins isn’t yet fully engaged physically, oftenly avoiding contact and needs to improve his board play and puck protection. His stride lacks full extension, limiting his top-end speed, and his shot release is too slow to beat quality goaltenders consistently. Additionally, decision-making under pressure can falter as he overhandles the puck instead of simplifying plays.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top 6 Centerman with PP and PK Versatility

Floor: Middle 6 Checking Forward with some offensive upside
Special Teams: PP Net Front Presence/PK 2
Production Outlook: 50–60 Point Power-forward
Pick Range: Top 20 Pick, 2027  Draft

Player Comp: Aliaksei Protas

Strengths:

• Offensive Awareness and Support: Being a dependable player who lure’s his opponents in which creates support for his teammates by generating more open ice.
• Lateral Movement for someone who is 6’6”: Gains a positional advantage due to his smoothness from one movement to the next.
• Defensive Reliability and Positional Awareness: Positionally sound in his own end and leverages play with the use of his long reach.

Weaknesses:

• Stride Mechanics: Doesn’t generate the most speed due to shorter leg extensions.
• Quickness in his shooting mechanics: Needs to be quicker in his hip rotation to get the most out of his shot.
• Consistency in his decision making with the puck: Sometimes faulters under pressure and not leveraging his size enough for him to feel comfortable with the puck.

In-game Observations:

• Throughout the 2nd period, showcased ability to keep his feet moving very quickly, creating himself space in the o-zone, away from opposition.
• At 16:30 of the 2nd, showcased crisp puck distribution and utilized teammates well, was credited with a secondary assist on Latvia’s 4th goal.
• At 6:30 of the 3rd, Naudins temporarily lost the puck, backchecked and hustled hard, won the puck back and kept o-zone pressure alive.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 5.5
• Scoring Ability: 4
• Playmaking Ability: 5.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 6
• Defensive Play: 6

#19 F, Bruno Osmanis

Team: Latvia (IF Björklöven, HockeyAllsvenskan)

Height/Weight 5’11”, 172Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB: December 16th, 2006

Overview:

On the ice, he moves like a race car, combining swift agility with dynamic puck skills. A dynamic winger, Osmanis rarely misses finding open teammates, whether its from down low behind the net, or on the PP flank. His shot showcases great accuracy due to him following through on his shots, but he will need to not only build more lower core strength but also put a bit more emphasis in hip rotation to get more power off. He shows excellent offensive awareness, often in the right place to break up plays or create scoring chances. Defensively, he’s slightly, average capable of a solid poke check but tends to play too low, leaving a lot of space at the point. Where his game really excels is in his playmaking as he showcases tremendous vision and understands how to utilize his teammates. This is due to the smooth hands and good that he brings. Where his game drops is he doesn’t seem to be willing to bring some grit and plays the game on the outside instead of building confidence by driving to the net and getting into the dirty areas. This is where he needs to get stronger physically and be willing to throw the body.

Player Projection:

Ceiling: Top-9 Scoring Forward

Floor: AHL Top 6

Special Teams: PP2

Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 35-40~ Points

Pick Range: 170th~ Overall

Strengths:

• Lateral Movement: Osmanis is great at utilizing his tomahawking ability to cut around the opposition.
• Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet, great at stride deking through the opposition. 
• Vision/Offensive Awareness: Showcases great ability to utilize his teammates, can thread pucks through crowds. Though, he is over reliant on this strength.

Weaknesses:

• Lack of Size/Physicality: He really needs to build on muscle, gets not only muscled off pucks very easily, but also plays too passive physically.
• Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition from the point.

In-game Observations: 

• Throughout the whole game, although plays well in his position, he plays too passive on the outside, not getting active enough physically.
• At 16:50 of the 1st, Osmanis jumped on a loose puck, created his own rush and cut through the opposition, this led to him getting an assist off of Latvia’s first goal.
• At 6:05 of the 2nd, although known for playmaking, he did a good job developing a shooting mentality of getting pucks off quickly, just the goaltender made a better save.
• At 9:52 of the 3rd, Osmanis took advantage of the faceoff dot immediately on the PP, displayed quick hip rotation and full follow through on shot, scored top shelf.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6.5
• Puck Skills: 6.5
• Scoring Ability: 6
• Playmaking Ability: 6.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 3

December 30th, 2025
Latvia 6 VS Denmark 3
Venue: 3M Arena at Marriucci

#23 D, Alberts Smits

Team: Latvia (Jukurit, Liiga)

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 205 Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB: December 2nd, 2007

Overview:

Smits thrives as a heavy shooting quarterback on the powerplay with seeing eye vision. He plays with composure and patience under pressure, rarely forcing plays and often outthinking his opponents. Offensively, he creates chances with smart activations and lateral movement at the point, especially when pinching in the offensive zone. His shot no doubt about it is considered to be his best offensive trait, showcasing effortless power and understands how to keep it low, due to his crisp follow through mechanics. Defensively, Smits excels in structured systems, using his reach effectively to break up odd-man rushes and control gaps. However, in one-on-one matchups, particularly against speedier forwards, he can get exposed due to limited acceleration and occasional overcommitment. His 6’3” frame is an asset, but he still relies too much on reach rather than consistent physical engagement. Improving his lower-body strength and explosiveness could significantly elevate his transition game and defensive impact.  When discussing his passing, although has the vision, does not make it the most crisp, not making it easy to transition up the rush or to receive it on the powerplay.

Player Projection:

Ceiling: Top-3, Goal Scoring Defenseman

Floor: Top-5 Offensive Defenseman

Special Teams: Power Play Quarterback

Production Outlook: 55–65 Points

Pick Range: 10th~Overall

Player Comp: Jakob Chychrun

Strengths:

• Lateral Skating Mechanics: Allows him to transition with/without the puck very smoothly.
• Poise in O-zone: Great offensive awareness and calm decision-making and understands how to utilize his shot.
• Goal Scoring Ability: Effortless power and great accuracy due to great confidence when shooting along with understanding how to follow through his shot low.

Weaknesses:

• Passing/Puck Skills: Although has the vision to know where his surroundings are, his passes are not crisp, not aiding the transition of play. Also tends to be a bit sloppy when deking, should have the puck closer to him.
• Skating Acceleration: While good mechanics, does not generate a lot of power/explosiveness in his strides due to lack of lower-body strength.
• Physicality: Although good size, he does not use it enough to his advantage by throwing impactful hits (In this game, displayed great improvement by getting involved physically).

In-game Observations: 

• At 13:10 of the 1st period, Smits was showcasing his deking wasn’t the most coordinated and he turned the puck over in his own zone.
• Throughout the whole game, showcased great confidence at getting pucks low and on goal, displayed quick yet powerful hip rotation mechanics. On the powerplay he drew a penalty at 2:30 of the 2nd, showcased confidence of walking in and quickly snapping it home.
• At 2:30 of the 2nd, showcased great lateral footwork and agility to shield puck on the rush, he drew a tripping penalty on the opposition.
• At 14:59 of the 2nd, he again showcases confidence when shooting, but most importantly, utilizing all of his linemates on the PP, displayed heavy wrist shot which was deflected in.
• Throughout the game, although showcases ability to control gaps with reach, in his own end, he tends to chase after the opposition, leaving open space in his zone.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6.5
• Puck Skills: 5
• Scoring Ability: 7.5
• Playmaking Ability: 5.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 5
• Defensive Play: 6