JR-HS [Apr-06]: Life of Brian

Life of Brian (posted 4.22.06)

by Ron Jones

Justin Krueger (FA), D, Penticton

Committed to Cornell University for next season .. is a good skater, although nothing particularly stands out .. kind of hesitated going back for a puck in the corner knowing he'd take a hit .. displays good work habits along the boards .. can get caught not marking his man .. did a nice job angling the puck carrier to the outside .. chooses to make the uninspired, although safe play with the puck to get it out of his zone .. plays on the powerplay and penalty-kill .. at this point is not NHL material. BCHL totals (55gp, 7-15-22)

Brian Lebler (2006), LW, Penticton

Committed to Michigan .. must play with more urgency to his game .. his skating is a work in progress .. lacks acceleration and too often seems a step behind in foot races for loose pucks .. has the ability to be very effective when taking the body with some oomph, yet rarely takes advantage of his size or strength .. very passive on the backcheck and when marking his man .. blessed with a big frame, but doesn't use it enough .. is a project for a team willing to take a flyer on whether he'll improve his skating as well as gain some fire. BCHL totals (54gp, 23-12-35)

Notes: Promising blueliner T.J. Miller was put out of the playoffs with a knee injury, however surgery is reportedly not required and he should be fully recovered in two to three months .. Miller is still likely to be the top pick out of the BCHL for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft Eligible for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, goaltender Jordan White backed up Corey Milan this season in the Vees' net. All signs point to him being the main man in Penticton's net next season.

Sioux City Gagner (posted 4.14.06)

by Sharon Stead

Phil DeSimone (2006), F, Sioux City

Solid, all-around forward .. boasts a strong work ethic, not afraid to fight for the puck in the corners .. can see the ice well to create plays and offense .. delivers accurate passes skates with speed and control .. will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall of '07.

Sam Gagner (2007), F, Sioux City

Highly talented offensive player with strong defensive capabilities .. fast, agile skater, can turn and change direction on a dime .. can skate the puck from end to end with energy to spare, and creates offense out of nothing .. equally adept at delivering a hard shot or a soft pass .. not afraid to go into the corners ..a solid defender in his own end - stays on his man every step of the way .. dogged defender in his end and a dangerous sniper in the offensive zone .. committed to the University of Wisconsin for '07.

Dustin Gazley (2007), F, Sioux City

Filled with speed and energy .. fast enough to outrace defenders to negate icings .. not intimidated by any player and won't be easily pushed around .. tough to separate from the puck .. effective in his own end, ties up opposing players without taking penalties .. dangerous on the offensive .. possesses nice moves in order to buy space and get his shots away .. not afraid to initiate contact as he will deliver good stiff checks .. will attend Michigan State for '07.

Frank Grzeszczak (2007), D, Sioux City

Young blueliner has a strong offensive upside that should only continue to develop .. demonstrates good positioning in his own end .. needs to develop his physical game more and not wait for the rush to come to him .. good one on one coverage .. uncommitted.

Blake Martin (2006), F, Sioux City

Strong performer on the powerplay - able to skate the puck in and get his shots on target .. his hard work on the ice often pays dividends for the team .. versatile forward sees time in all situations .. effective at both ends of the ice .. willing to sacrifice his body to block shots .. does not let his smaller size dictate his effectiveness against larger players .. '86-born forward .. committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for '07-8.

Chad Morin (2006), D, Sioux City

Excellent positioning, very aware of where players are in his zone .. guards the goalie and the crease .. boasts a hard, accurate shot .. good outlet passer .. will join the rush on occasion, but is primarily focused on protecting his end and supporting the offense from behind .. surprisingly fast and agile forward skater .. stands up on the blueline and doesn't give up space easily .. could play a more physical game .. works well from the point on the powerplay .. will attend Harvard University in the fall.

Andrew Rowe (2006), F, Sioux City

Boasts decent size at 6-foot-1 but needs to bulk up lean 170-pound frame .. very active in both ends, can be an effective checker .. possesses a quick stride and displays good conditioning .. seems to end up where the puck is going .. good vision of the ice .. more effective when he plays a physical game .. capable of dishing out hard hits .. needs to play physical more consistently .. committed to Michigan State.

Seabrook Part Two (posted 4.12.06)

by Ron Jones

Peter Merth (2006), D, Burnaby

Boasts very nice size .. communicates well with his defensive partner .. usually played the left side and is a right shot .. skates reasonably well point A to point B .. takes a hit to move the puck .. lacks much jump to his first few steps and isn't very mobile .. needs to protect the puck better in his own zone .. wears an A .. plays on the penalty-killing. (60gp, 5-17-22)

Keith Seabrook (2006), D, Burnaby

Committed to Denver for the 2007 season .. not blessed with his big brother's size, however he does have a solid frame .. gets a decent oomph behind his wrist shot .. arguably the best player on either team in the playoff series between Burnaby and Victoria .. has good feet .. takes the body well .. did a nice job getting back in the play and taking away a breakaway without a penalty .. likes to pinch on the powerplay .. delivers crisp, tape-to-tape passes .. a mainstay on the first unit of the powerplay .. displays poise with the puck in traffic .. has very good vision and generally uses his teammates effectively on the rush .. closes the gaps well on the penalty-kill .. does an exceptional job holding the puck in at the point .. played in all situations. (57gp, 10-24-34)

Kyle Turris (2007), C, Burnaby

Committed to Wisconsin for 2007 .. splendid mobility and can cut back on a dime .. has a relatively heavy wrist shot .. played the point on the second power play .. not surprisingly given his slender frame isn't dominant physically, but takes the body well .. big things are expected offensively from his next season .. displays courage going to the net and has a wicked shot that can beat any goalie in close .. is already displaying his offensive imagination at such a tender age .. has such outstanding poise with the puck and usually moves the puck at just the right time .. has exceptional .. played on both special teams .. a player that is definitely one to watch for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. (57gp, 36-36-72)

Mark Santorelli (2006), F, Burnaby

Must be more careful about skating with his head down .. gets a good jump from his first few strides .. splendid wheels and can stickhandle at top speed .. comes back to support the defense, although isn't very effective in his own zone .. strength, aggression and a willingness to compete in traffic are lacking and he will have trouble at the next level until those areas are improved. (59gp, 17-38-55)

Geoff Irwin (FA), RW, Burnaby

Committed to Minnesota State .. blessed with a nice release .. wears an A .. his shot accuracy is fine, although the heaviness doesn't send shivers up a goaltenders spine .. gets physically involved and doesn't hesitate to play in traffic .. gets in quickly on the forecheck .. has pretty good hands in close .. takes the pass efficiently .. boasts the speed and mobility to close the passing lanes .. a solid backchecker willing to work to create turnovers .. uses his teammates well on the powerplay and is a regular on the penalty-kill. (57gp, 37-51-88)

Tyler McNeely (2006), C, Burnaby

looks undersized, although plays a surprisingly competitive style of game .. boasts a quick releas and can pick the corners .. finds the holes and if given time can capitalize .. sometimes gets overly fancy with the puck .. is dangerous in the offensive zone, especially when he keeps his feet moving .. plays on the powerplay. (60gp, 30-50-80)

Eau Claire's LaPoint Draws NHL Notice (posted 4.5.06)

by Max Giese

Derrick LaPoint of Eau Claire North High School committed to North Dakota last month. We have notes on the standout defenseman from the Wisconsin state championships, attended by several NHL and NCAA scouts.

Among the other participants, Cole Holmes, the state's leading scorer, also has a legit shot of being selected in the 2006 NHL Draft while several others look to be potential Division 1 material.

Wisconsin High School Hockey has always been the ugly second cousin of Minnesota, but some talented players are beginning to come from Wisconsin such as Jack Skille and Phil Kessel. More players are staying home to play for their high school teams and the product on the ice has seen a boost in skill.

Derrick LaPoint (2006), D, Eau Clair North, (SR)

Named Wisconsin High School Player of the Year after posting an impressive 11 goals and 33 assists for 44 points .. recruited by several Division I schools before deciding on North Dakota .. played a colossal amount of minutes for his school and Team Wisconsin all season and only took two shifts off in the first period before playing the rest of the game .. his goaltender was on the ice for only 51 seconds more than him, as he played 51 minutes and nine seconds in a 52-minute game .. a tall, lanky defender with an enormous wingspan and room to grow, but must add bulk before taking the next step .. arguably the strongest hockey sense of anyone at this level in Wisconsin .. never gets tired because he is always in the right place .. covers a lot of ice with a long stride that has adequate power .. first step will need to be improved as well as his agility as it can be a bit awkward .. highly skilled with soft hands - has surprisingly shifty 1-on-1 moves and can make moves in high traffic under heavy pressure .. nearly went end-to-end by skating around four players before being tripped and drawing a penalty .. has a good shot from the point - very accurate and keeps it about a foot off the ice .. very fast release on his slapshot and always gets it through .. exceptional puck movement, superb vision of the ice .. makes a great first pass every time, especially good on the outlets despite forcing long-ice passes through traffic at times .. good at staying with his man one-on-one off the rush, shuts down everybody at this level by keeping great gaps and using his long wingspan .. despite tall body, doesn't have enough of a physical edge yet .. rarely shows a mean streak .. not soft, but needs to develop more physicalily .. can lose positioning when the opposition is cycling and at times gets caught watching .. didn't go hard every shift and at times used his strong hockey sense and long stride to keep up .. attribute this to his ice time though, as he was asked to skate the entire game .. with a good path of development ahead of him, some NHL team will surely take a shot on him.

Cole Holmes (2006), D, University School of Milwaukee, (SR)

Lead the state in points with 38 goals and 84 points in the regular season and added a few more at the state tournament including a two-goal, three-assist performance in the championship game .. digests the game very fast, his quick instinctive play really stands out and is far above his peers .. an impressive skater with deceptive bursts of speed and an elusive change of pace .. first-rate acceleration - very shifty without losing speed, though lacks an elite top-end gear .. excellent one-on-one moves, quick hands and shifty moves .. very slippery in-tight and strong on the puck .. has the flair for electrifying moves .. his best asset is a pro-caliber release which is lightning-quick .. accurate arsenal of shots including a laser wrist shot .. but it's the way he releases it that surprises goaltenders .. has a finisher's touch in-close, can eat a goalie alive at this level with quick dekes and the ability to roof the puck in tight .. scored the prettiest goal of the tournament when he intercepted a pass, then used his acceleration to get alone with the goalie, faked a wrist shot before pulling it backhand and roofing it top shelf .. patient and poised when handling the puck, oozes confidence .. runs the power play from the half-wall and displays extraordinary vision, finds lanes and men streaking into the open better then any forward at this level .. shows an impressive playmaking side with strong vision and the ability to execute a nice pass, though he likes to shoot first and can overhandle the puck at times .. doesn't play well away from the puck yet - all offense and isn't involved defensively except in the breakout .. doesn't backcheck hard and isn't interested in finishing checks .. on the smallish side at 5-10, 175 pounds .. getting mild interest from NHL scouts and a lot from NCAA teams.

Brandon Busse (2006), D, SPASH, (SR)

A brawny defenseman who will now finish his season with the Indiana Ice of the USHL .. tall and thick through the trunk at 6-2 and 190 pounds .. possesses a huge shot from the point that is a bit wild at times .. could speed up the release, but the power it packs is something .. mobile in all directions, strong agility and has a good first step and nice top-end speed .. willing to join the rush, has a good sense of when to pinch in offensively .. average puck movement, when he has time he can make a nice pass and is good from the point, but tends to panic under pressure when breaking it out and can make an errant pass up the middle .. occasionally physical but can be undisciplined and take obstruction infractions .. could stand to improve defensive positioning as he can be beat one-on-one .. shows a good edge in front of his own net .. average hands that are good for a defender his size .. very athletic player with high upside but needs to process the game faster in his own end as his hockey sense is questionable at this stage.

Scott Pavelski (2007), F, SPASH, (JR)

Younger brother of Sharks' prospect and Wisconsin Badger Joe Pavelski .. was excellent in a 4-0 win with a hat trick and an assist .. Stevens Point's second-leading scorer .. very smart hockey player in all areas of the game .. possesses ability to have an effective shift without the puck on his stick once .. plays a good two-way game and is a strong penalty-killer .. savvy at getting in lanes and blocking shots .. puts a lot of effort into backchecking and picks the correct guy and stays with him .. willing to sacrifice his body offensively and defensively .. stand out work ethic on the ice .. can disappear then suddenly get the puck on his stick right in front of the net a la Brett Hull .. soft hands with some good moves, especially in traffic .. best asset is his shot, which is deadly accurate .. can pick corners in tight and has a pro-style release .. solid playmaker but is more of a finisher .. his skating and size are the main concerns though .. only 5-9 and 160 pounds and, while being hard to knock off his feet and sturdy, shows a slow and powerless first stride .. won't beat anybody outside .. still lots to like in the package however - hockey sense, willingness in traffic, superb shot, strong both ways - which has garnered attention and should see him move on to play Juniors next fall.

Travis Erstad (2007), F, SPASH, (JR)

Huge upside but is an enigma .. a tall, lanky forward at 6-4 and 185 pounds with a quick smooth stride and dangle in his game .. a fine skater especially for his size - very agile, his footspeed is quick, and he can get to the outside on defenders .. once he adds strength to his lower body, he could have very good speed .. with a long wingspan and very soft hands, can really dangle .. good hand-eye coordination, stick handles in tight areas, but is at his best when he can use his long reach to stickhandle around defenders .. boasts an awesome shot, it's almost a given he'll shoot and score when alone in close .. pro-style release, the puck explodes off his stick and he's very adept at picking corners high .. plays the point at times on the power play and shows average playmaking abilities, but likes to handle the puck .. scored a goal by running a give-and-go in his own zone before taking it end-to-end and just froze the goaltender before shooting it high .. huge ceiling with exceptional amount of skill .. rather enigmatic, takes several shifts off before waking up, finished one check all game despite his size .. doesn't backcheck and shows little to no effort with the defensive game .. can overhandle the puck and once sound body positioning is put on him he tends to give up easily .. doesn't like to be hit .. led arguably the most skilled attack in Wisconsin High School hockey this season in points with 67 points, and led the state in goals with 39 .. good upside but could cause a coach headaches and will need to improve at the little things and add muscle. It's up to him.

Petrecki & The Lancers (posted 4.2.06)

by Sharon Stead

Omaha Lancers

Scouting and player notes on the prospect-heavy Omaha Lancers of the USHL

Brett Bruneteau (2007), F, Omaha

A constant threat whether on offense or defense .. possesses a great deal of raw talent Powers through defenders and can drive to the net .. not afraid to take on bigger players .. versatile player is effective at both ends of the ice .. excels in all situations - special teams or at even-strength .. can be a huge pest on the forecheck as he is very adept at stripping the puck from opposing players .. displays the solid beginnings of a strong physical presence ..works hard and wins battles along the boards .. boasts lots of speed and effort on the ice .. plays with intensity every shift.

Robby Dee (Edm), F, Omaha

Works hard along the boards, not afraid to take punishment in front of the net, and can make scoring chances happen .. works the point on the power play but is also used down low .. creative passer .. good defensive moves .. not afraid to get into the corners and along the boards to dig the puck out, very effective one-on-one .. plays with intensity and is difficult to contain on every shift .. always around the puck as he anticipates the play effortlessly in the offensive zone .. plays a very aggressive game .. will attend the University of Maine in the fall.

Nick Fanto (2006), F, Omaha

Displays good vision on the ice .. skilled at setting up his teammates and passes right on the tape .. nice physical presence on the ice as well .. good, accurate shots on net .. nice wrist shot, strong on the puck .. could work on his face-off technique .. solid coverage one-on-one in his own end, uses his size and strength well .. committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha next fall.

Chris Hepp (2006), D Omaha

Very effective on the PK .. takes wearing the 'C' seriously and sets the example on the ice for his team by working hard every shift .. capable of joining the rush or stay at home, depending on the way the play is developing .. shows good decision making on the ice .. ties up rushing forwards without taking a penalty .. will attend Air Force in the fall.

Tony Lucia (SJ), F, Omaha

Solid all-around player - can score, pass, skate, defend, and hit .. not flashy, just solid and strong .. gets the job done .. can skate fast enough to almost negate the icing .. doesn't rush passes or shots, patient with the puck .. great hands for a soft pass or a hard shot .. sends the puck right to the tape when he passes .. strong on the forecheck, good coverage on the PK .. willing to sacrifice his body to help defensively .. committed to the University of Minnesota.

Christopher Meyers (2006), F, Omaha

Able to maneuver through defenders, protects the puck well with his body .. works hard along the boards, can win the battles in spite of his smaller size .. good irritant to opposing players .. plays a good physical game and makes smart decisions about his hits and tying up opposing players .. solid defensive play as well .. works hard, takes on any player regardless of their size (like Eric Gyrba of the Green Bay Gamblers for example) .. possesses good speed and agility .. seems to be everywhere the puck is .. tireless worker who shows excellent creativity with the puck .. smaller forward who plays bigger than his size, though can be overpowered.

Nick Petrecki (2007), D, Omaha

Meet brick wall - opponents try to hit him only to bounce off and down to the ice .. stands up on the blueline and holds his own extremely well .. very agile on his skates, especially for a player of his stature .. possesses good speed and acceleration .. nice, hard shot, although he needs to make them connect with the back of the net .. will not hesitate to join the rush and can be a very imposing player coming down the ice .. shows good judgement offensively to keep the team from being caught shorthanded .. keeps his feet moving, doesn't stand idle .. anticipates and reads the game well - keeps his eyes on the play and where it might lead .. can skate the puck down, turn, and pull the trigger quickly, catching opponents off-guard .. committed to Boston College for the fall of `07.

Ryan Raven (2006), F, Omaha

Creative and resourceful playmaker, as well as athletic .. nice work cycling the puck on the PP .. willing to take abuse in front of the crease .. passes the puck to himself through a defender to get a scoring chance .. could use his size more, makes good hits when he chooses to .. shoots with precision .. plays with energy and intensity .. builds up good speed coming down the ice .. skates with a balanced stride.

Nick Schaus (2006), D, Omaha

'86-born defender has blossomed in fourth USHL campaign .. effective as an offensive defenseman, but also guards his end of the ice well .. displays solid hockey sense about when to join the rush and when to hang back .. can make nice moves with the puck on his stick .. good defensive positioning and is strong 1-on-1 in his zone .. aware of where everyone is in his end .. excels on the powerplay - boasts a hard shot from the point and is adept at keeping the puck in the offensive zone .. has the good speed to get back in his zone to cover .. committed to UMass-Lowell in the fall.

Patrick Schafer (2006), F, Omaha

Fast with the puck moving down ice .. possesses a quick first step and accelerates impressively from there .. not afraid to play a physical game and is resilient when taking a hit .. works hard every shift, however should be producing more points than he does .. signed on to attend Ohio State University in the fall of `07.

Matt Schepke (2006), F, Omaha

'85-born forward has turned an awful lot of heads with his breakout season .. developed into a complete package .. can skate end to end with speed and agility, having enough left to drive all the way to the net .. plays an excellent physical game - hits hard, finishes his checks, and can really punish the opposition .. shows great patience around the net and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time .. crafty playmaker with good vision for developing plays .. excels at faceoffs - uses body well to protect puck .. versatile player who can be used in all situations - can be a real irritant on the PK .. overall makes sound decisions .. very effective on the forecheck and works hard in his own end .. at the shorter end of the spectrum height-wise, but is solidly built at 195 pounds .. could be the type of player who excels in the NNHL .. will attend Michigan State in the fall.

Michael Spillane (2006), G, Omaha

Shows a lot of confidence and control in the crease .. calm, not easily rattled by traffic or rushing players ..comes out on a breakaway, reads plays very well, not easily fooled .. good with the glove .. very adept at pokechecks .. comes out aggressively out of the crease to challenge .. great instincts defending against the top forwards and fast reflexes to respond to whatever shooters come up with whether it be a deke, pass or shot .. committed to the University of Vermont for `06-7.

Matt Thurber (2008), F, Omaha

A versatile player who can be used in all situations - PP, PK etc .. very hard working, plays every minute of every shift .. dishes out good hits and checks .. plays an aggressive style, but usually not to the point of taking bad penalties.

Corey Toy (2006), D, Omaha

Aggressive checker when joining the rush .. solid at both ends of the ice .. willing to drop the gloves, but does not take excessive penalties .. makes good outlet passes to start the rush .. makes the most of his reach to pokecheck the puck away from opposing players .. nice defensive moves and effort in general.

Ryan Turek (2006), D/F, Omaha

Good acceleration, he has a big stride and uses it .. good positioning and coverage on the PK .. strong on his skates, can power through or around other players to move the puck up ice .. tough to knock off the puck when he has it .. playing a much stronger offensive game this season .. committed to Michigan State.