DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

Tag: Game Report

  • Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 3 vs Kitchener Rangers 2 – October 9th, 2026

    Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 3 vs Kitchener Rangers 2 – October 9th, 2026

    The Rangers started this one off with a goal very late into the 1st period; Tanner Lam made a quick pass to Luca Romano for a short one-timer to make it 1-0 going into the 2nd. The game was end-to-end action, but neither team could capitalize on any opportunities, and it would remain 1-0 going into the 3rd. Kitchener opened the 3rd perfectly as top 2027 NHL prospect Luca Santala fired a shot from the circle; it deflected more than once but found its way past Vermirovsky for a 2-0 lead. Brady Smith would bring the hounds within one with a beautiful one-handed tuck five-hole, and with 2 minutes remaining, Rangers goaltender Jason Schaubel would make his first mistake all game: a bad puck bounce off the boards, and he ended up dropping his stick before swatting it away, where Ryan Kaczynski would tap it in the empty net. Jakub Winklehofer would win it for the Greyhounds a minute into overtime.

    The Standouts

    Luca Santala – Luca had a slower start to the game, but looked great in the 2nd and 3rd. An ability of his that really stood out to me was his puck protection; he was very strong on his skates and used his body to distance the puck from defenders while keeping his head up, looking to make plays. He showed very good vision and made many slick passes, especially on the power play; he thinks ahead of the play and is able to put himself in scoring opportunities before they develop.

    Trevor Daley Jr – Daley was on the best line for the hounds again; he, along with his line, were punishing on the forecheck, not only hitting but his relentless work ethic and pace; he is extremely effective along the boards as well, often won’t just crash and bang in the battles but will sneak in, lift a stick and take it with perfect timing.

    Jason Schaubel – Schaubel was incredible, stopping 33/36 with one of them being an unlucky bounce off the boards; the Greyhounds had plenty of high-danger chances, and he kept the Rangers in it all night. He has extremely fast lateral movement, is very quick down low, and showed great positioning throughout the game, especially while on the penalty kill.

  • Game Report – Kingston Frontenacs 4 vs Brampton Steelheads 2 – October 9th, 2026

    Game Report – Kingston Frontenacs 4 vs Brampton Steelheads 2 – October 9th, 2026

    Entering Friday night’s matchup, the Brampton Steelheads were still searching for their first win of the season, having dropped their opening seven games and remaining the OHL’s only winless team. Standing in their way were the Kingston Frontenacs, who arrived in Brampton with a 4-4 record. With home-ice advantage and Kingston playing the second half of a back-to-back, this presented a great opportunity for Brampton to end its slump.

    Adam Goljer made an immediate impression with his strength on the puck, particularly when carrying it in stride. Brampton’s defenders struggled to separate him from the puck, allowing him to dictate play in the offensive zone.

    Kingston controlled much of the play through the opening 10 minutes, generating the majority of scoring opportunities. Despite the pressure, Brampton remained disciplined defensively, keeping Kingston to the perimeter and limiting high-danger chances.

    Despite Kingston’s early pressure, Brampton struck first when 2027 NHL Draft-eligible forward Keaton Ardagh flew through the neutral zone, finding a gap between three Kingston defenders to create a breakaway. Ardagh made no mistake, finishing glove side to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead.

    Brampton’s lead nearly evaporated moments later when Adam Goljer found Aleks Kulemin with a dangerous cross-crease pass. Kulemin had positioned himself for a potential tap-in but was unable to corral the puck.

    Kingston wasted little time finding the equalizer. On the following shift, André Mondoux sent a wrist shot from the point through traffic that found the back of the net. It was a shot Brampton goaltender Oskari Ahmajärvi likely should have stopped, tying the game at 1-1.

    While Matthew Henderson didn’t have a particularly flashy first period, his steady defensive play provided Goljer with the freedom to take risks offensively. Goljer frequently joined the attack, often finding himself below the faceoff dots in the offensive zone, trusting Henderson to provide defensive coverage.

    Kingston picked up right where it left off, applying immediate pressure to start the second period. Nolan Snyder delivered a perfectly placed pass from the slot onto Aleks Kulemin’s tape, creating a golden opportunity to take the lead, but Kulemin was unable to convert. Although he had yet to find the back of the net, Kulemin was consistently finding ways to get open in dangerous areas. For the second time in the game, he slipped behind Brampton’s defenders to put himself in prime scoring position.

    Kulemin’s persistence paid off on the very next shift when Matthew Henderson sent a shot toward the net from the point. Kulemin got his stick on the puck, redirecting it past Ahmajärvi to give Kingston its first lead of the night, 2-1.

    While Kingston continued to generate offense, Brampton defenseman Peter Green stood out for his ability to stretch the ice with long, tape-to-tape passes. Whenever the puck found its way onto his stick, Green demonstrated an ability to facilitate clean zone exits and quickly transition play up ice.

    Continuing an impressive night for both Kingston players, Kulemin led a two-on-one rush, finding Goljer with a pass that the defenseman converted to extend the Frontenacs’ lead to 3-1.

    Brampton cut the deficit to one thanks to an impressive individual effort from Nathan Amidovski. Battling multiple Kingston defenders in the high slot, Amidovski managed to maintain possession before firing a shot glove-side to make it a 3-2 game. Throughout the night, Amidovski had been Brampton’s best offensive facilitator, creating opportunities with a number of creative and dangerous passes. His goal was a well-deserved reward for his efforts.

    In the dying seconds of the second period, Ardagh once again showcased his high-end speed, squeezing between a Kingston defender and the boards to create open ice ahead of him. He followed up with a pass to a teammate in a scoring position, but the teammate was unable to convert.

    Kingston came out strong to start the third period, with Landon Wright generating two scoring opportunities in quick succession. After his first attempt was blocked, Wright made the most of his second chance, beating Ahmajärvi high to restore Kingston’s two-goal advantage at 4-2.

    Wright’s goal appeared to spark a response from Brampton, as the Steelheads spent the next several shifts hemming Kingston in its own zone and applying sustained offensive pressure.

    With approximately 10 minutes remaining, a frightening moment unfolded when Brampton’s Stepan Kuryachenkov delivered a hit from behind on Matthew Henderson, leaving the Kingston defenseman down on the ice for an extended period. Kuryachenkov was assessed a five-minute major, leaving the Steelheads facing a lengthy penalty kill while trailing by two goals. Fortunately, Henderson was able to return to the game.

    Despite being shorthanded, Brampton nearly found a way back into the game when Kingston’s Landon Wright tripped in the offensive zone, creating a two-on-one rush in the opposite direction. The Steelheads were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, leaving the score at 4-2.

    Brampton successfully killed off the entire five-minute major, keeping its hopes of a late comeback alive. With two minutes remaining, the Steelheads pulled Ahmajärvi for an extra attacker in a final attempt to erase the deficit. Despite sustaining offensive pressure with the empty net, Brampton was unable to find the back of the net, falling 4-2 to Kingston and suffering its eighth consecutive loss to open the season.

  • Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 5 vs North Bay Battalion 4 – September 26th, 2026

    Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 5 vs North Bay Battalion 4 –
    September 26th, 2026

    Plenty of action in this game, North Bay started this one off with a goal midway through the 1st, with Ryan Kaczynski tying the game minutes later. Max Crete slapped a loose puck in to retake the lead for North Bay, the Greyhounds answered with two goals of their own, Cam Anderson’s first Career OHL goal, and Quinn McKenzie with a one timer from Laus to take the lead. The Battalion would tie it at 3, but the Soo would once again score back-to-back to make it a 5-3 game, with Brady Smith’s shorthanded goal being the dagger.

    Ryan Kaczynski – He has continued his incredible start to this season with yet another standout performance, scoring his 6th goal in 4 games, which currently leads the entire OHL. Aside from his scoring ability, his speed and agility have been extremely noticeable throughout the first four games, he has been able to blow wide on defenders, evade pressure in tight, and has not just found open lanes but created them.

    Noah Laus – Laus continues his hot streak, proving his electric start was no fluke. He, along with his line-mates, was dominant and very successful in all areas tonight. He has developed an outstanding shot this season, his ability to fire it from anywhere and pick his spots has been eye-opening. Tonight’s goal was from just above the slot, where he used a defender as a partial screen, and ripped It low glove. He was also relentless on the forecheck and caused a ton of problems for the Battalion. Laus, along with Kaczynski, are two names that could be flying up the Draft rankings very soon.

    Cam Warren – more of a quiet but effective night for Warren, did his job all game, was a dog on a bone on the forecheck and forced a few misplays, as well as being the instigator for a few scrums, his game picked up immensely in the 3rd, and all of his tools were on display. He is relentless on the puck, extremely twitchy and combines his skating and hands very well to throw off defenders; I saw multiple examples of that on the power play tonight.

    Alexander Karmanov – As expected, Karmanov had a very unique game, although I do think his skating is slowly improving. It is still a glaring weak part of his game, and it caused him some problems tonight.

    Lukas Moore – thought I should give Moore some praise in this one. I have noticed him in every game, but he really stood out to me tonight. He is a very intelligent hockey player. I am yet to see him out of position throughout the first 4 games, he doesn’t force anything, doesn’t overthink the game, just makes the play that’s needed. Moore disrupted multiple plays, closed gaps very quickly, and read plays before they even developed.

  • Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 3 vs Sarnia Sting 4 – September 19th, 2026

    The Greyhounds hosted the Sting for the second game of their 4-game homestand. As Sarnia opened up their season, 7 of their players played in their first OHL games.

    The Greyhounds started off the scoring again in this one. Ryan Kaczynski would get his 2nd and 3rd goals of the season just a minute apart, midway through the first. Sarnia would answer back with one from Simon  Katolicky to register his first OHL goal. The Hounds capitalized on another Sting penalty. Scoring their second power-play goal with Kaczynski getting his 3rd goal to complete the hat trick.  Following the Hounds’ goal to make it 3-1, the game would be turned on its head. The  Greyhounds would get themselves in penalty trouble, and the Sting would take full advantage.  Though after 6 straight Soo penalties and 3 Sarnia power-play goals, the boos and chants would rain down against the officials. In the final few minutes, the Greyhounds were pushing, but their comeback efforts would fail. Inscribing a 4-3 Sarnia Sting win. 

    Ryan Kaczynski – The Hat Trick is obviously the talking point about Kaczynski’s game, but what really impressed me was the variety of all 3. His first was a deflection off the goalie’s stick, then a breakaway after capitalizing on a mistake and tapping it in where he was in the perfect spot for a Trevor Daley Pass. He already has an NHL frame, and if he can continue developing, he will be in consideration for the top few rounds of this year’s NHL Draft. 

    Jaden Licastro – It was not easy getting a read on many Soo players with all the penalties, but another player that did stand out specifically in the first part of the game was Hounds first-rounder Jaden Licastro. He is able to evade pressure with ease and use his skating to get him out of tough situations. His powerful and quick strides were very evident. Having such a good stride at his young age is special. 

    Adrian Sgro – The most recent 2026 OHL fourth overall pick made his debut vs the Hounds Saturday. Like many rookies, Sgro struggled in the first period of this one. He caused a couple of turnovers and was still getting used to the speed, however, when he got through his first couple shifts, the game seemed to slow way down. He was able to make the simple low-risk plays with little issue; he didn’t force any Hail Mary plays. He is a very high IQ player; he just needs more time to showcase his skating, which is another one of his strengths.

  • Game Report – Soo Greyhounds 5 vs Saginaw Spirit 4 – September 18th, 2026

    The Soo Greyhounds and Saginaw Spirit opened their seasons on Friday. The Hounds took an early 3-1 lead in the 1st. All 3 Soo goals were scored by 2025 OHL 7th Overall Pick Noah Laus. The second went scoreless, but the Spirit mounted a comeback and tied it at 3. Not long after the Hounds would respond with their 4th.

    With under 2 minutes left in regulation, Saginaw tied it again on Captain Dima Zhilkin’s 2nd of the game. That would force play beyond 60. Following an early Spirit slashing call, the Greyhounds’ new addition and son of former Soo Captain Trevor Daley Jr would rifle a shot short-side over Sokolov’s blocker for the overtime winner.

    Throughout the game, several players caught our eye.

    Trevor Daley Jr – Daley got better each period; he struggled early with the speed of the game, including the quick decisions and play, but Junior adapted fast and improved every shift. Later in the night, he started to really showcase his abilities, showing speed, hands in tight spaces, to cap off his night with the overtime winner as his first career OHL goal.

    Noah Laus – The second-year Hound was in the right spot at all times, always putting himself in a scoring position. He is a very cerebral and high hockey IQ player. That was not just evident with his natural Hat Trick in the first, but what he did to make them happen. Laus will be an underrated name to watch for this year’s draft.

    Dima Zhilkin – The Spirit Captain was quiet for a majority of the first half, however, after the slow start, he was able to showcase his elite skating ability and edgework, using his speed in all ends of the ice, disrupting multiple plays in his own end, which led to breakouts. Along with his two goals, it made for a solid night for the 2027 draftee.

    Levi Harper – Harper had an absolute roller coaster of a game, made multiple defensive errors, struggled to complete passes, and mishandled the puck, but was able to find ways to contribute offensively, a patient short pass to Wassilyn for the first goal, a quick pass to Zhilkin for a goal on the power play, and a long stretch pass to a wide-open Wassilyn, which created another Zhilkin goal to tie the game in the 3rd. Even with a 3-point night, this was not a game to remember on his part. If he can limit some of those lapses, the offense is there no doubt.

    Gordei Khotkov – Definitely a player to keep an eye on for the 2028 draft. Khotkov showed a ton of skill, even with his large 6’6 frame, scored a very nice goal and showed he can utilize his size well for his shot. If he improves his skating ability and agility, he may be a very sneaky prospect to watch over the years.

    Quinn McKenzie – McKenzie was a notable player that really stood out. The New Jersey Devils prospect, showing his speed and pace, are on a different level than most, if not everyone on the ice, and has outstanding puck control, especially at his 5’9, 175lb frame. He will be a leader for the Greyhounds and one of the main offensive contributors.

  • Game Report – Moncton Wildcats 6 vs Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2 – April 27th, 2026

    April 27th, 2026

    Round 3, Game 3

    Moncton Wildcats 6 VS Blainville Boisbriand Armada 2

    Venue: Centre Excellence Sports Rousseau

    #21 D, Jan Golicic
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, 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 4 Puck Moving/Shutdown Defenseman 

    Floor: 7th Defenseman

    Special Teams: PK2

    Production Outlook: 5~ Goals, 25-30~ Points

    Pick Range: 118th overall

    Player Comp: Jamie Oleksiak (With Noah Dobson hands)

    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.
    • Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

    In-game observations: 

    • Throughout the 1st period, displayed poise in making simple yet effective decisions, becoming conservative for his teammates, aiding breaking the puck out.
    • At 4:00 of the 2nd, Jan displayed good patience when defending the 2-on-1, slid down and swatted at the puck to break up a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 7:35 of the 2nd, needs to be mindful of his actions with his stick and needs to keep his feet moving, drew a hooking penalty on the play.
    • At 4:15 of the 3rd, on PK, displayed patience when defending the rush, letting the opposition create the mistake and place the puck in a safer environment.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 4.5
    • Puck Skills: 5
    • Scoring Ability: 3.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 5.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 6
    • Defensive Play: 6.5

    #15 D, Spencer Gill
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’4″, 214 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: August 17th, 2006

    Overview:

    Spencer Gill is a poised, puck-moving defenseman who relies on his size, reach, and patience to shut down opponents. He plays a steady, composed game in his own zone, allowing plays to develop and forcing mistakes rather than overcommitting. His shot continues to improve and shows good hip rotation, though keeping his follow-through low will help generate more dangerous chances and consistency as he gains confidence through repetition. With the puck, he isn’t overly flashy, but his poise allows him to make calm, efficient decisions under pressure, helping him transition play quickly. His passing stands out as his best offensive asset as his passes are consistently flat and accurate, making breakouts smooth and reliable. Skating-wise, his lateral mobility is strong for his size, aiding his positioning and gap control, though improved leg extension would help increase his top-end speed. Defensively, he uses his reach and stickwork effectively to disrupt plays, and while he can lean on his reach at times, he has the frame and ability to be physical and punishing when engaged.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 4 Puck Moving/Shutdown Defenseman 

    Floor: Bottom Pair Defenseman

    Special Teams: PK, PP2

    Production Outlook: 8~ Goals, 35-40~ Points

    Pick Range: 59th Overall

    Player Comp: Low end Aaron Ekblad

    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.
    • Lateral Movement: Needs to improve reverse skating and lateral movement to handle faster, smaller players effectively.

    In-game observations: 

    • At 4:35 of the 1st, Gill made a soft, yet flat breakout saucer pass directly on Carbonneau’s tape.
    • At 14:35 of the 1st, after making slightly too hard of a pass, he had to reverse back quickly to defend, read the play very well, intercepted a long breakout pass to prevent a breakaway.
    • At 1:20 of the 2nd, displayed tremendous poise and confidence making simple yet effective decisions on PP. Developing confidence shooting the puck through traffic, earned an assist on Lavigne’s goal.
    • At 14:00 of the 2nd, developed tremendous confidence with the puck in the o-zone, walked by the opposition and got a shot on goal.
    • At 6:45 of the 3rd, displaying confidence with the puck at the point, quickly yet crisply threads the puck over to Nobert for a dangerous chance.

    Skater Ratings:

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

    #8 F, Justin Carbonneau
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’1”, 201 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: November 25, 2006

    Overview:

    Carbonneau’s game is best described as explosive and powerful as he’s constantly in motion maneuvering his way by or through the opposition with ease. His hands are as quick his foot speed, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates, especially on the rush. A little bit about his skating, although he doesn’t fully extend his strides, he generates tremendous acceleration due to the explosive footwork, getting himself at top speed very quickly. His best trait by far however is no doubt about it is his shot as it is NHL ready. It packs tremendous punch due to how much emphasis he places on leveraging the strength of his hips. This is keeping in mind that his follow through is controlled for how much power he brings. For his size, he is very physically involved as his hits are very impactful when he throws them. Where his game needs work is in his own end as he isn’t sound defensively by any means which he needs to be a lot more conscious of. This also goes for his effort level in his own end. One aspect that could be noted too is that he could utilize his teammates more.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: 1st Line Forward 

    Floor: Top 9 Scoring Forward

    Special Teams: PP1, Left Flank

    Production Outlook: 40~ Goals, 70-80 Points

    Pick Range: 19th overall

    Player Comp: Ilya Kolvalchuk

    Strengths:

    • Shot Release: Very powerful shot, with a near-instant release, strong emphasis on hip rotation.
    • Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet, weaving his way by the opposition easily.
    • Offensive Zone Compete Level/Awareness: Displays relentless effort in the o-zone, understands how he needs to position himself to retrieve the puck via a pass or broken play.

    Weaknesses:

    • Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition.
    • Lateral Skating: Although he has a quick stride, his transitions and crossovers occasionally lack smoothness.
    • Teammate Utilization: Although displays strong playmaking traits, he relies a bit too much on himself to make the big play.

    In-Game Observations

    • At 9:00 of the 1st, Carbonneau while 4-on-4 tried doing a bit too much with the puck, ultimately stripped by Bleyl, needs to utilize his teammates better.
    • At 19:45 of the 1st, although an energy ball on the ice, he does need to be conservative when it comes to his decision making at the blueline, gave the puck away to Desnoyers.
    • During the first PP of the 2nd period, first Carbonneau displayed strong hustle to get back hard on the backcheck. Moments later in the o-zone, displayed strong consistency in puck distribution, earned an assist on Blainville 2nd goal.
    • At 10:02 of the 2nd period, displayed his tremendous ability to snap pucks off in a hurry, catching the goaltender a bit off-guard, created a big rebound.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 6.5
    • Puck Skill: 7.5
    • Scoring Ability: 8
    • Playmaking Ability: 6.5
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
    • Character: 6
    • Physicality: 6.5
    • Defensive Play: 4.5

    #9 F, Bill Zonnon
    Team: Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 190 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: October 3, 2006

    Overview:

    Bill Zonnon brings power and patience as a playmaker. His ability to read plays, along with his strong net-front presence, makes him a very intriguing and trustworthy player who can be used in any situation. He protects the puck well and is a constant menace around the net due to his high activity level. His elite vision stands out, as he can thread passes through multiple defenders, supported by his crisp, hard, and flat passing mechanics. When it comes to puck handling, he isn’t the quickest, but he remains very controlled. His shot shows solid mechanics on the follow-through, though he needs to be more confident in taking advantage of open lanes without hesitation. Defensively, he is reliable, plays with good positioning, and is willing to block shots. His main area for improvement is skating, where he needs better stride extension for higher top speed and improved lateral explosiveness.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 6 Playmaking Forward (2nd Line)

    Floor: Bottom 6 Scoring Forward

    Special Teams: PP2, Net Front

    Production Outlook: 20~ Goals, 50~ Points

    Pick Range: 22nd Overall

    Player Comp: Adam Henrique/Nick Bonino

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking and Vision: His awareness in the offensive zone sets him apart from the opposition by deep understanding of his teammate’s positioning.
    • Size and Physicality: At 6’2”, he’s already a physical presence, which makes him tough to handle around the net and good body positioning.
    • Patience with the Puck: Zonnon is calm under pressure and takes his time to find the best passing or shooting opportunity.

    Weaknesses:

    • Shooting Confidence: Although demonstrates his ability to really follow through on his shots with power, needs to use it more, allowing for him to be more unpredictable.
    • Skating Stride and Lateral Explosiveness: Even though he possesses a tall stance, allowing him to visualize the play, he needs to develop quicker but also more fully extended strides.
    • Strength/Balance: Although has good height and leverages it well fending off the opposition, needs to develop lower core muscle, providing stronger stability when receiving checks.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 0:40 of the 1st period, Zonnon won a timely faceoff in the offensive zone, drove hard to the net, deflected the puck in for a huge first goal.
    • At 3:55 of the 2nd, displayed strong consistency at shielding the puck, then threaded the puck to Desjardins so he can then pass it to Lemieux for a dangerous chance.
    • Throughout the game, displayed tremendous consistency at winning board battles and being consistent in winning faceoffs. With that said, when it comes to his strides, doesn’t dig into the ice deep enough which makes him look slower.

    Skater Ratings:

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

    #39 F, Maël Lavigne

    Team: Blainville Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6’4”, 196 lbs
    Shoots: Left
    DOB: February 11th, 2005

    Overview:

    His ability to read plays and his strong net-front presence make him a very intriguing and trustworthy prospect who can play in many situations when asked. This is due to not his strength at protecting the puck and being a menace around the net but also utilizing a strong motor for someone at his size as it allows him to be impactful as well on the defensive side of the puck. When discussing about his puck skills, although he demonstrates good awareness when timing his puck handling, he isn’t very smoothest when controlling it. Even though his passes may not always be the crispest, he understands the mindset of where his teammates are going to be and utilizes them well. On the defensive end, he does showcase great commitment on the backcheck, though what will be key for him is to develop consistency of playing sound in position. His stride although quick for a bigger player, can emphasize more leg extension to create himself higher top speed. His shot, displays great bottom hand activation, though can follow through quicker. Can also build more muscle to be more impactful physically.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top-9 Scoring Forward  

    Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward
    Special Teams: PP2 (Net-Front)
    Production Outlook: 15~ Goals, 35-40~ Points
    Pick Range: Undrafted

    Player Comp: Mason Marchment

    Strengths:

    • Physicality: When in use, really understanding how to throw his weight around and use his size to his advantage.
    • Offensive Awareness: Strong understanding of zone coverage, allowing him to navigate through the neutral zone with ease.
    • Versatility/Effort Level: Dynamic in any situation given, very consistent, high effort level both on the forecheck and on the backcheck.

    Weaknesses:

    • Skating Stride: For a bigger player, although displays quickness in his strides, needs to emphasize more leg extensions.
    • Inconsistent Puck Handling: Although possesses strong anticipation when to deke, isn’t consistent at smoothly weaving the puck quickly.
    • Strength: Although displays great physical engagement, can build more lower core muscle in order to generate stronger balance and generate stronger shot power.

    In-game Observations:

    • At 12:31 of the 1st, Lavigne active in the o-zone behind the net, was able to distribute the puck to Nobert for a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 1:20 of the 2nd, displayed strong hustle on PP, drove and placed himself at the front of the net, scored by deflecting the puck in for Blainville’s 2nd goal.
    • At 3:30 of the 2nd, displayed tremendous will to sacrifice the body and stay committed defensively in position. Led to then him engaging on the o-zone rush for a key scoring chance.
    • At 3:15 of the 3rd period, Lavigne provided consistent pressure on the PK, forcing errors at the blueline.
    • Throughout the game, displayed strong consistency at winning the draw, was also very consistent with effort level on both the forecheck and the backcheck.

    Skater Ratings:

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

    #72 D, Xavier Villeneuve

    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 5’11”, 157 lbs

    Shoots: Left

    DOB: September 29, 2007

    Overview:

    Xavier is an electrifying offensive-minded defenseman with great agility and dazzling puck-handling abilities up the rush. Known for his tremendous confidence in carrying the puck and reading the offensive zone, Villeneuve brings a unique flair to the back end for the Armada as even though he is quite the risk taker, he is excellent at understanding when to take risks for the team’s own good. When looking at offensive defensemen, Villeneuve does an excellent job at utilizing his shot as much as he can to cause havoc, or even score. However, his small size limits his effectiveness in physical battles in the corners as, and he’ll need to add a lot of strength to succeed at the NHL level. Even though the league has many smaller players now, the league is now as physical as ever and he will need to get ready to endure long 82 game seasons. With that said though, he does possess tremendous heart in trying to win out puck battles as he has developed the mindset of becoming more physical with his frame.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: First Pair Offensive Defenseman 

    Floor: Top 4/5 Offensive Defenseman, PP QB.

    Special Teams: PP1 Quarterback

    Production Outlook: 5-10 Goals, 55–65 Points

    Pick Range: 15th-30th Overall

    Player Comp: Lane Hutson

    Strengths:

    • Skating and Edgework: Villeneuve’s agility is elite, with quick pivots and tight turns.
    • Puck Skills and Passing: Soft hands make his passing smooth and effective, supporting his offensive style. 
    • Offensive Awareness: Villeneuve has the confidence and vision to be quite the quarterback from the blue line in any scenario (Not even on the powerplay).

    Weaknesses:

    • Physicality and Balance: Building strength is an absolute must for him to him to be more durable.
    • Defensive positioning and decision making with the puck in his own end. 
    • Discipline: Needs to be mindful of how he possesses himself, especially how he handles external factors.

    In-game observations: 

    • At 2:18 of the 1st, although displayed confidence in puck distribution, when he got puck back, he stickhandled way too much at the blueline. Got burned, needs to be mindful of decisions.
    • At 11:15 of the 1st, using his explosive footwork, performed a fast give and go play with Carbonneau, creating a lane into the o-zone with ease.
    • On Moncton’s 3rd goal, Villeneuve was not urgent enough at winning a puck battle at the front of the net, resulted in Cornforth scoring.
    • On Moncton’s 4th goal, Villeneuve was lackadaisical when defending the rush, allowed Mutryn to get a stick on the puck to deflect the puck in.
    • Throughout the game, hasn’t utilized his strength enough in his own end, wasn’t urgent enough in his own end at winning puck battles.

    Skater Ratings:

    • Skating: 7
    • Puck Skill: 7.5
    • Scoring Ability: 4.5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5.5
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 4

    #42 F, Vincent Desjardins
    Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 5’11”, 172 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: September 8, 2006

    Overview:

    His passing ability and offensive awareness are top-notch, allowing him to create high-quality scoring chances under pressure. Desjardins’ skill in threading passes through tight spaces makes him a critical asset on the powerplay as he’s an excellent choice of a player who could get in the dirty areas, specifically in-front of the net like he does on the Armada powerplay. He will though have to deeply improve his physical play as a centerman as he gets outmuscled on many instances, however, he is one of the very best on his club at being responsible by covering his teammates when needed. He wins many faceoffs, performs the little plays as well, especially board coverage which he blocks pucks from escaping. His best trait however to encompass all of his skills, is his ability to utilize his teammates, which allows him to be a Swiss army knife in any given scenario.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Middle-6 Playmaking Forward 

    Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward

    Special Teams: PP2, PK

    Production Outlook: 10~ Goals, 35-40 Points

    Pick Range: Undrafted

    Player Comp: Alex Kerfoot

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking: His ability to thread the needle is very precise, distributing pucks flat and hard.
    • Offensive Awareness: Desjardins reads the play well and often lures defenders in, utilizes his teammates very well.
    • Defensive Support: Desjardins demonstrates himself being sound positionally in zone coverage along with clean faceoff work.

    Weakness:

    • Shot Power: Although displays quickness in wrist rotation getting shots off quick, needs to put a bit more emphasis on rotating his hips for power.
    • Physicality/Strength: Due to lack of strength, he can’t fully follow through on his checks with impact.
    • Stride Power: Lacks emphasis on leg extensions which limits him generating top end speed.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 2:15 of the 2nd period, after Carbonneau picked up the loose puck, Desjardins displayed tremendous engagement on the rush, walked into the o-zone, threaded a pass across to his defenseman in the slot for a dangerous scoring chance.
    • At 4:55 of the 2nd, Desjardins playing sound in position, opened up a passing lane to Lemieux for a key scoring chance in the slot.
    • At 16:53 of the 2nd, threaded the needle over to Carbonneau for a dangerous chance.
    • At 9:15 of the 3rd, displayed his ability to stay sound in position to block a heavy shot, preventing chances in the slot.
    • Throughout the game, although sound in position, lacked urgency to engage physically and win puck battles.

    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

    #16 D, Tommy Bleyl
    Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
    Height/Weight: 6”, 165 lbs
    Shoots: Right
    DOB: December 1st, 2007

    Overview:

    He is a dynamic, and very fluid puck-moving defenseman who thrives with the puck and plays a confident, possession-focused game. Despite a smaller frame, he’s often Moncton’s most offensively involved blueliner, excelling in transition, and creates tremendous amounts of rushes with the use soft hands, deceptive head movement, and quick reads that create scoring chances. His skating is arguably his best trait as from step to step it is very fluid and displays excellent lateral mobility, especially showcasing 10-to-2 crossovers, allowing him to walk the blue line and sustain pressure. One small aspect that can be touched on is that he can display slightly quicker steps for higher explosion. Offensively, because of his high level of creativity, 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, meaning he has to build a stronger core overall. While his positioning is solid, he must become more assertive in physical engagements and shot blocking.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: Top 2 Offensive Defenseman

    Floor: Top 4 Offensive Defenseman
    Special Teams:     PP1 Quarterback
    Production Outlook:     10 Goals, 65~ Points
    Pick Range: 35th-50th Overall

    Player Comp: Erik Karlsson/Shayne Gostisbehere

    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/Lateral Movement: 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.
    • Explosiveness: Although smooth and dynamic skating, allowing him to carve his way, can develop quicker steps in order to create himself more space.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 9:00, although Bleyl needs to be a bit more mindful of positioning when he’s chasing someone, he hustled hard on Carbonneau, won possession of the puck back.
    • From 17:20-17:30 of the 1st, Bleyl using his smooth yet shifty footwork, carved his way through the neutral zone into the o-zone with ease on the PP.
    • At 6:10 of the 2nd, displayed his smooth lateral movement to create space at the blueline to create shooting lanes.
    • At 7:45 of the 2nd, hustled hard to win puck back on the PP.
    • At 11:45 of the 2nd, on the PP from his own end, decides to display his shifty skating again, exploding through the opposition into the o-zone, creating sustained pressure.
    • With confidence at the blue line, Bleyl threaded the needle over to Tournas which led to Desnoyers scoring on a one-timer for Moncton’s 5th goal.

    Skater Category Ratings:

    • Skating: 7.5
    • Puck Skill: 6.5
    • Scoring Ability: 5
    • Playmaking Ability: 7
    • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
    • Character: 5
    • Physicality: 3.5
    • Defensive Play: 4.5

    #18 F, Caleb Desnoyers

    Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 180Ibs

    Shoots: Left

    DOB April 11th, 2007

    Overview:

    Caleb Desnoyers is a dynamic two-way/playmaking centerman with a complete game that blends offensive creativity, physicality, and defensive awareness. His exceptional playmaking and vision on the ice when it comes to understanding the positioning of his teammates is one of, if not his strongest attribute. He demonstrates solid puck skills and persistence, maintaining control under pressure due to him understanding how to use his frame very well. While his shot is powerful but less consistent than his passing, Desnoyers forces goaltenders to stay sharp with his strong pass-to-shot ratio. Defensively, he excels in positioning, faceoffs, and as mentioned, using his size effectively. However, his edgework needs improvement, as slow pivots and transitioning in tight spaces provides him some difficulty when it comes to generating explosiveness.

    Player Projection

    Ceiling: 1st Line Defensive Center

    Floor: Top 6 Forward

    Special Teams: PK1 / PP

    Production Outlook: 60–70 Points

    Pick Range: 4th Overall

    Player Comp: Jonathan Toews

    Strengths:

    • Playmaking and Offensive Awareness: Exceptional vision and anticipation make him a key offensive facilitator.
    • Defensive Awareness: Consistently positions himself well and disrupts plays with interceptions and shot blocks.
    • Puck Protection and Physicality: Uses his size effectively to shield the puck and deliver impactful checks.

    Weaknesses:

    • Edgework and Agility: Struggles with quick turns and maintaining momentum, providing himself no assistance in creating himself more space in shorter time periods.
    • Shooting Consistency: While powerful, his shot can miss the net at times and lacks the precision of his passing.
    • Slow Pace of Play: While powerful, his shot can miss the net at times and lacks the precision of his passing.

    In-Game Observations:

    • At 19:45 of the 1st, playing sound in position, was easily able to take advantage of Carbonneau, intercepting the puck, created a 3-on-2, dropped the puck to Voronin for a dangerous scoring chance late.
    • At 1:20 of the 2nd period, while Desnoyers understood his role of being the center, he was playing a bit too low, giving all of the space to Gill for him to walk in and shoot.
    • At 10:20 of the 2nd, displayed subtle yet quick vision by setting up a tic-tac-toe play which almost ended up being a goal on the PP.
    • At 12:05 of the 2nd, in the offensive zone, was patiently persistent on the loose puck, became active when it was loose, crisply feeding it to a wide-open Gabe Smith for Moncton’s 2nd goal.
    • At 1:30 of the 3rd, displayed sound positioning on the PP, scored on a quick one-timer.

    Skater Category Summarization:

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

    #86 F, Niko Tournas

    Team: Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

    Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200Ibs

    Shoots: Right

    DOB February 17th, 2006

    Overview:

    Defined by his poised awareness, he drives play with pressure on the opposition due to his quickness in his footwork and the way he reads the play. What needs work in his skating however is that his mechanical stride is lacking as he lacks putting major emphasis on his leg extensions as he doesn’t appear as fast as he should on the ice. His hands need slight work as he displays the quickness to perform dekes, though he needs to develop stronger control. Offensively, his shot is his best trait as he really puts emphasis in using his lower body but most importantly, does not take much time as he can shoot it very quick not even controlling the puck. Defensively, he’s reliable enough where he will make the proper read and create counter attacks, though he isn’t the most willing to sacrifice the body which is something for him that is key. That is to utilize his frame for the NHL level. He does display great hustle on a few occasions which allows him to draw penalties.

    Player Projection:

    Ceiling: Middle 6 Scoring Winger

    Floor: AHL 1st Line Forward

  • Game Report – Everett Silvertips 3 vs Kelowna Rockets 4 OT – April 15th, 2026

    Game Report – April 15th, 2026

    Everett Silvertips 3 vs Kelowna Rockets 4 OT

    Venue: Prospera Place

    Brek Liske. #42 Everett Silvertips. January 9, 2008. Right shot defenseman. 6.02 / 187

    Description: Above-average sized, two-way defenseman with a reliable, steady presence.

    Strengths: Skates well with solid edge work, allowing him to maintain positioning and close gaps effectively. Moves the puck efficiently, highlighted by crisp, accurate first passes out of the zone. Owns a good shot with a quick release, making him a secondary threat from the point. Defensively, he’s intelligent and composed—uses body positioning and an active stick to disrupt plays and limit opponents’ time and space. Competes hard along the boards and shows consistency on the penalty kill. Offensively, he leans more toward playmaking than finishing, contributing through puck distribution rather than goal scoring.

    Opportunity: Needs to add strength to better win physical battles and more consistently separate opponents from the puck. Could play with greater urgency in transition to help move the puck up ice faster. At times, forces risky passes in high-danger areas, particularly in front of his own net.

    Projection: 4th Round, 115th overall — projects as a reliable middle-pair (top 4) defenseman.