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Monday, May 02, 2005
Pre-Draft Showcase Notebook
- Players To Watch, Forwards EHK Sports Enterprises News Exclusive |
CHICAGO, IL - EHK Sports Enterprises is proud to announce that as a group, this year’s crop of forwards had dominant 1-2 punches up front on more teams than ever before in the event. A players willingness to compete, and the fact that coaches had the opportunity to see player’s play against older competition were outstanding evaluation factors. After getting feedback from the numerous teams in attendance, we have compiled a list of forwards who were mentioned several times among the scouts in attendance. These are in no particular order and congratulations to all the participants. We hope this experience opens new avenues for each of you.
Forwards
Jeff Chatten (1987, Chicago Force Jr. B) – Put up some good numbers over the weekend. Played with an explosive crew who were eager to crash the net and were rewarded.
Rob Sorrenti (1990, NJ Devils AAA) – As one of the youngest players, Sorrenti did not shy away from any physical confrontations and was involved every time he stepped on to the ice. Good size and touch.
Andy Noyes (1986, Southern Ice Lightning AAA) - One of the few Lightning bright spots up front this season, Noyes offensive experience under Coach Turcotte came to the forefront this weekend. Noyes initiated numerous chances with some great passes and gutsy corner work.
Shane Mytnik (1986, Grand Rapids Owls Jr. B) – Among those familiar with him, he is considered to be the most over-looked player in the bunch. Played very will in both ends of the rink and was around the puck often.
Jesse Meyer (1986, Thornhill Thunderbirds Jr. A) – One of the most dominating performers at the event. Great skater, balance and shot. Knock had been his willingness to engage physically but was not a issue here.
Scott Mathis (1988, Team Illinois AAA) – Had a great weekend of hockey. Good along the wall and showed flashes of quickness in short spaces. Strong on the puck and made simple decisions with it.
Sean-Michael Tisdale (1987, Chicago Mission AAA) – Smaller and stocky, Tisdal competed well and skated off the puck effectively. Had a nice on-timer to break a goalie’s shut-out with time running out in their last contest.
Kris Threlkeld (1987, Columbus Blue Jackets AAA) – An emotional competitor, Threlkeld was fierce all over the ice and is an irritating opponent because of his relentless puck pursuit.
Vince Stratte (1988, Team Illinois AAA) – Strong on his skates, and very aware of his defensive responsibilities. Stratte was good at everything, but not great.
Parker Harrison (1987, Colorado Rampage AAA) – Had a breakthrough weekend where he was able to find the net often and support his linemates.
Ryan King (1988, Philadelphia Jr. Flyers AAA) – Impressed many with his strong play up and down the ice. Moved the puck well.
Jon Sutton (1988, Grand Rapids Owls Jr. B) – Played well with those surrounding him. Played with a jump in his stride which helped mesh well with his speedy cohorts.
Derek Thocker (1987, Soo Indians AAA) – Shifty forward with good quickness. Plays well in close quarters.
Justin Maciuk (1987, Chicago Young Americans AAA) – Had an outstanding weekend. While not flashy, positioned himself effectively to contribute numerous big goals, showed a lot of courage in goalmouth battles as well.
John Bullis (1987, Dallas Stars AAA) – Intriguing combination of size, skill, and finesse. Is agile and can play in any type of game. Just needs to find another gear in combination with his size.
Colby Roman (1986, Syracuse Stars Jr. A) – A fierce competitor who was difficult to play against. Tough kid whose play intimidated many opponents.
Sean Farley (1986, Chicago Young Americans) – Second half of the CYA duo who accounted for a bunch of nice goals. Not afraid to take some risks and it paid off for him.
Corbin Freeman (1987, Dallas Stars AAA) – Great player who could add depth to any organization. Not high-end, but effective and resilient.
Asher Hirshberg (1987, Motor City Chiefs Jr. B) – Used his big frame effectively over the course of his four games. Drove the net well and was strong on the puck.
James Becker (1986, LA Selects AAA) – A true pleasure to watch for any keen scout. His play away from the puck is impeccable and has high-end potential to make a splash at the Junior A level.
Derek Graham (1988, Northwood Prep) – One of the most entertaining players on the weekend. Physical, skilled, and quick – Graham’s performance in each zone caught the eye of numerous scouts.
Tyler Lindley (1988, Nothwood Prep) – Second half of this Prep School combo, his play mirrored that of his teammate Graham. Great passer who was able to find Graham open often.
Shane Barclay (1986, San Jose Sharks AAA) – Provided some excellent end to end energy. Finished his checks well and made good decisions with the puck.
Blake Page (1986, Colorado Rampage AAA) – High end skill. This kid can flat out score. Deceiving speed and protects the puck well. With continued work on the defensive side of the puck, Page will be a key man at Juniors next season.
Gerry Raymond (1988, Pittsburgh Hornets AAA) – Worked extremely well with Page and delivered some great plays over the weekend. Time is on his side.
Kurt Akers (1989, Chicago Young Americans) – Potential to be extremely-sought after player. Made few mistakes with the puck, moving it into the proper areas and never finding himself out of position.
Justin Sexton (1985, Boston Harbor Wolves Jr. A) – Older players are expected to stand out in an event like this, and Sexton did not disappoint. Well conditioned with a solid North-South game, Sexton tallied fast and furious over the four games.
Chris Chambers (1986, Cincinnati Cobras Jr. B) – One of the events top scorers, Chambers found his touch and never looked back. Good with the puck, Chambers was tough to knock off a puck.
Mike Pao (1988, Washington Little Caps Jr. B) – Speedy player who certainly opened some eyes with some dashes of speed. With continued seasoning, should be able to make the jump to Junior A.
Mike Sholler (1986, Darien Huskies AA) – Was noticeable each time he stepped on the ice because of his relentless skating habits. Played with reckless abandon and pressured defenders very well causing numerous turnovers.
Sean Callister (1987, Shattuck St. Mary’s AAA) – Led his team in scoring. Good release and found himself in the right place often – used the quiet zones effectively.
Mario Mjelleli (1986, Shattuck St. Mary’s AAA) – Solid player who skates well. Good passer, not as effective in traffic but extremely dangerous if given open ice.
Aaron LaFave (1987, Shattuck St. Mary’s AAA) – Plain and simple – has the scorer’s touch. Everything he threw at the net went in. Great hand/eye coordination as well. Played through traffic.
Russell Anderson (1987, River City Jaguars Jr. B) – Great frame for the game – inconsistent over the weekend. However scouts saw flashes of something that they could work with. With some continued work on his quickness, he could be a late-bloomer.
Kevin Cziepel (1988, Northfield Mt. Hermon Prep) – A bit on the small side, but young. Made some nice rushes through the neutral zone and set up his teammates for a couple of nice goals.
Zach Wiseman (1986, Northfield Mt. Hermon Prep) – A bright light offensively for his team. Did some nice work over the weekend. A bit on the light side, but competed well regardless.
Danny Clausen ( 1987, San Diego Gulls AAA) – A convert to the forward position, Clausen is a crash and bang type of player at this position. Some of the scouts in attendance felt that he was more effective at defense because of his nasty streak.
Grant Highley (1988, Columbus Blue Jackets Jr. B) – Keeps getting better and as he gets older and fills out, could be a dominant force up front. Great size and a soft touch, his shooting is deceptive. Not a graceful skater but gets there.
Jared McIntosh (1988, San Jose Sharks AAA) – Smart player, quick to adjust to changes in the player. Not a high end skill guy, but strong puck skills none the less.
John Shruga (1986, Detroit Trackers AAA) – Had a strong finish to his season here. Got points on the board through hard work along the walls and the willingness to go the extra mile.
Eric McKenna (1986, Lawrenceville School Prep) – McKenna performed as a strong all around player with a desire to mix things up with his opponents. Surprised many scouts with his hard edged play.
Clayton Gallup (1987, West Michigan AAA) – Scored a lot of big goals and may have slipped under the radar. Skills could compliment a number of roles at the next level.
Anthony Ventura (1986, Chicago Young Americans AAA) – Caught the eye of several scouts in attendance. Thick frame made him tough to knock off the puck, but no blazing speed.
Jason Knutson (1986, Capital Centre Pride AAA) – Imposing size with good north/south speed, however east/west agility could still be better. Good shooter with solid offensive instincts.
Chris Smith (1987, Detroit Little Caesar’s AAA) – Talented athlete who sometimes tend to do too much himself. Competitive with a junior-hockey mentality to boot. Likes to back up his talk with a flair for the dramatic.
Josh Faulkner (1987, West Michigan Warriors AAA) – Johnny on the spot. Put himself in great positions to use his strong shot and flourished along the “crash and bang” style of play.
Todd Rudasill (1988, Columbus Blue Jackets Jr. B) – Had a number of pretty goals. Quick release paid off for him as he surprised many a goalie with some great shots. Intriguing prospect that many scouts took notice of.
Matt Cavallaro (1989, Detroit Trackers AAA) – Big project with the potential for big dividends. His extreme size and young age can account for a bit of his awkwardness at times, but in the right environment may thrive with time.
Mike Seidel (1988, Chicago Chill AAA) – Shifty player who was around the puck every time he set foot on the ice. Played a smart game with a lot of jump in his step. Was a favorite of many of the scouts in attendance.
Bill Hemann (1987, Cleveland Barons AAA) – Performed admirably over the four games. Good size and balance – has a good change of pace with the puck and very effective down low.
Clark MacLean (1987, Columbus Blue Jackets AAA) – Plays the game with the savvy of an experienced player. Agile and slippery one on one – finds the open ice and has a good shot. Generated plenty of interest.
Adam Freeman (1988, Shaw High School) – A player who shouldn’t be overlooked. Great size and skater who plays the game very well. Surrounded by better players and opposition, he could flourish.
Chris Cooper (1987, Chicago Young Americans AAA) – Led his team in scoring. Lean bodied skater who performed well in tight quarters.
Johnny Meo (1988, Team Illinois AAA) – His lack of size did nothing to stop his resilience. Played hard whistle to whistle and was noted duely for doing so.
Jack Powers (1987, Team Illinois AAA) – Plays a great stop and go type of game. Not a “perpetual motion” type of player. He’s willing to do the difficult tasks in an effort to be successful.
Sean Phelan (1987, Connecticut Whalers Jr. B) – Good size and step. Got better with each game and became more involved with each shift.
Ian Slater (1988, Madison Capitols AAA) – Exceptional speed and grit. Was a dominant presence on the ice the entire weekend. Should be hot property but time is on his side. Great frame and eager to make the jump.
Josh Duplantis (1987, Southern Ice Lightning AAA) – For some scouts, it was important that Duplantis assert himself as he did here. While not an overpowering performance – it was an empowering one – proving he has the abilities to do more.
Damien Cross (1989, Nepean Raiders AAA) – Deceivingly skilled. Distributed the puck effectively and imaginatively. Great puck skills and a shifty skater. As the camp progressed, had a bigger impact on each contest.
Jared Reifschneider (1987, Wisconsin AAA) – Size is important only when you can use it, and Reifschneider did just that. Good mix of size, skill, and skating.
Eric Meyer (1986, University School of Milwaukee) – Good combination of size and skill who had a great weekend and put up some solid numbers in leading his team in scoring as an ’86 forward should have done.
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