AJHL: National Defense

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson looks at Washington Junior Nationals' defensemen Jonathan Carmony and Kyle Brumfield (two USHL prospects), as well as teammate Craig Kitto and Kevin Cole from the Binghamton Junior Senators.

Jonathan Carmony (2009), LD, Washington Junior Nationals

A 10th round (196th overall) pick by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2007 OHL draft, Carmony has an impressive stature for a 16-year-old .. he uses this size to be physical at times but lacks balance and strength .. he is susceptible to going down frequently and has a tendency to be outworked by smaller players .. despite his large frame and wide wingspan, Carmony can be taken advantage of in 1-on-1 situations, due to his mediocre skating abilities .. building muscle (both upper and lower body) would strengthen his physical play and give him better balance as a skater .. the potential is there but Carmony's commitment in the weight room will likely determine whether he can elevate his game to the next level.

Kyle Brumfield (2009), D, Washington Junior Nationals

Physical defenseman who loves to layout opposing players and defend the front of the net .. has good size to go with his game but can be caught flatfooted at times, which hinders his mobility .. possesses the wheels to join the rush, as long as he keeps his feet moving .. biggest weakness is his tendency to make bad plays .. made a huge blunder that cost his team a goal in a recent game against the Binghamton Junior Senators .. also made several bad (dangerous) passes in the defensive zone, which – not surprisingly – limited his playing time during the game .. needs to clean up defensive miscues, improve his footwork and show better anticipation

Craig Kitto (2008), RW, Washington Junior Nationals

A member of last summer's U.S. U-18 Select Team that participated in the 2007 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament .. Kitto is the first Junior Nationals player to represent his country on the ice .. a solid two-way player with gifted-offensive abilities and hockey smarts .. knows the proper time to shoot/pass and does not force the situation .. smooth puckhandling skills, which allow him to create time and space and go 1-on-1 with defenders .. quality passer and a natural playmaker .. swift and flexible skater who loves the transition game and shows elusiveness .. consistently wins draws, works hard along the boards and can be physical when necessary .. regular contributor on both the PP and PK .. proper positioning and skating ability allow him to shutdown passing lanes during kills .. most obvious weakness is size but his valuable overall play and ability to come through in the clutch help offset this deficiency .. Kitto is the type of player who can (and will) do whatever is needed to win.

Kevin Cole (2009), RW, Binghamton Junior Senators

Cole has made a verbal commitment to Division I and nationally ranked Cornell University for 2009 .. unbelievable puckhandler in tight spaces, particularly in the corners .. shows relentlessness going after pucks along the boards .. has a knack for maintaining/regaining possession of the puck and keeping the play alive in the attacking zone .. this ability allows him to be effective on the PP, as he is able to win battles down low and in the corners and then distribute the puck to the point .. quick faceoff guy who can be slick by instantly gaining possession of the puck and then going 1-on-1 with defenders .. though he is a solid skater with good lateral movement, Cole lacks breakaway speed, which hinders his ability to take advantage of defenders in 1-on-1 situations .. he also needs to improve his defensive capabilities .. if successful, he could be a regular contributor to the PK, as his nifty puckhandling skills along the boards would likely prove to be a valuable asset .. overall, a gritty player who is willing to take punishment in an effort to aggressively pursue the puck and setup teammates.