U-17 Hockey Challenge: Team Pacific

Team Pacific has played well in this tournament, including a string of four-consecutive silver medals from 2001-05. Last year, seven NHL first round selections were team Pacific alumni, including Kyle Turris. This group of players fared well but ran out of gas toward the end, losing 9-6 in the bronze medal game to finish in fourth.

Forwards

With a solid nucleus of players consisting of several first round WHL selections, team Pacific managed to score over four goals a game. Led by Memorial Cup winner Evander Kane and Ryan Howse, the team had firepower. Surprisingly, they had difficulty scoring on the PP. They scored eight goals but four of them were in one game against the Slovaks. Not making adjustments and getting shots on goal inevitably led to their downfall on special teams.

Grade: B+

Defense

The backend was well equipped with a good balance of scoring and defensive acumen. A strong combination of size and skill employed the backend and the pairings complemented each other's game. For the most part, they did a good job containing forwards and were not hesitant to join the rush. It was not uncommon for a defenseman to push forward and try to create as the fourth man in. This tactic worked well for them and as the tournament went on, the backend became more confident logging the puck up ice.

Grade: B+

Goaltending

The tandem of Nathan Liewen and James Priestner never quite found its groove. The top two goalies taken in the 2006 Bantam WHL draft, Liewen (1st round), Priestner (2nd round) flip-flopped starts, as the coaching staff desperately wanted to ride the hot hand. Liewen played his best game against the Americans in a tough 3-2 loss. He saved 32 in a losing effort and gave his team every chance to win the game.

Grade: B-

Team Pacific was blessed with many high quality players that will rival for spots on future International teams. The defense showed mobility and skill and the forwards also had a penchant for putting the puck in the net.

Grade: B

Scouting Notes

Nathan Lieuwen (2009), G, Westside Warriors BCHL

First goalie taken in the 2006 WHL draft (16th overall) played in all the important round robin games but did not get the start in the bronze medal game .. a massive goalie whose technique is not overly polished but he covers a lot of the net .. athletic goalie however, he has limited mobility and relies heavily on his big frame to bail him out .. his footwork struggles and he can be beaten on shots once you get his feet moving .. he uses an active stick and will try to pokecheck forwards off the puck around his goal crease .. due to his long reach, he is usually successful in this attempt .. likes to catch everything and uses his glove to make many routine saves .. due to his size, he is quick to drop down to the butterfly, as he prefers to make saves on his knees .. his stance is wide open and often exposes parts of the net however, he can close it up quick .. honing his skills in the BCHL and should be ready for a prime-time role with the Kootenay Ice next season.

Dylan Olsen (2009), D, Camrose, WHL Rights - Medicine Hat

Big, rugged defenseman saw his confidence and overall performance improve with each game .. he was able to establish good offensive opportunities due to his smart defensive reads .. he has the feet and overall mobility to steer guys to the outside and can physically punish a player off the puck .. due to the turnovers he created, he could jump the rush with the puck .. his first pass is better than his puck rushing abilities .. his mobility helps man the point on the PP, as he moves well side-to-side to make a play with the puck .. he has a short stride and crosses over well .. he does a good job of looking away from the opposition when he wants to make a play .. at times, he was too careless with the puck .. he made feather passes that were easily intercepted or just did not look when he was turning outside his zone .. these errors must be minimized and were the direct result of his team being up a few goals .. needs to show mental toughness .. fourth round selection of the 2007 Bantam draft is starting to pay dividends, as he has a good combination of both offensive and defensive skills but his game might be better suited on the defensive side of the puck.

Tyson Barrie (2009), D, Kelowna

Having a tremendous year in Kelowna as a rookie where he leads the team in defensive scoring on a roster that includes potential first round NHL selections Schenn and Myers .. not big in stature but impossible to knock off his skates due to his core strength and balance .. he is thick for a player his size and readily absorbs a hit to defend, as he does not back down .. he is intelligent in his reads and goes up the ice well keeping the gap between the forward small and maintaining good position should he need to revert to defense .. he moves the puck gingerly on the line but his shot will not over power goalies .. he acts as a fourth forward at times, jumping into the fold however, he reserves judgment on this and does not do it often .. he is capable of making soft touch passes on both his fore/backhand side, which make him difficult to defend when he rushes up ice .. his size is a concern especially when defending down low .. he often gets pushed around and does not do the greatest job in using his stick to help him .. he can get confused down low and needs to make adjustments quicker .. fatigue and the time change certainly got the best of him, as he was a non-factor in the semifinal game .. he has good hockey genes as his dad, Len, played in the NHL albeit very briefly.

Stefan Elliott (2009), D, Saskatoon

Slipped to 12th in the 2007 Bantam draft after some speculation he would explore the school route .. plays a dependable defensive game but he needs to improve on his foot speed .. he throws his weight around and will always take a hit to advance the puck .. he plays with a physical edge that often gives him some additional time and space .. not overly creative with the puck .. too often, he skates with his head down and has tunnel vision so his passes are not always his best options .. he seems to only have one option when logging the puck up ice and when it has been exhausted, he becomes confused and puts himself into bad situations .. he shows some athleticism in his ability to spin off guys and make nice backhanded passes however, he does not exhibit this type of game on a regular basis and it is uncertain which player shows up at times .. slows down with the puck on his blade and takes too long to make a decision .. started to mature and come into his game more toward the end of the tournament .. he may have been guilty of trying to do too much early on and once he kept his game simple, he was much more effective.

Matt Mackenzie (2010), D, Calgary

Playing defense on the Hitmen is not an easy task especially when you are a rookie and four of your teammates have been drafted in the NHL, including first round selections Alzner and Plante .. more of a defensive defenseman, he has the size to slow down players but his mobility is crippled by his lack of coordination at this stage in his development .. he is not a fluid skater but his long stride eats up ice .. he is sufficient in his defensive positioning and is a fixture on the PK .. he complements a more offensive-minded defender .. he conserves his energy well and does not make dashing plays up ice .. moving the puck up faster is something he will need to learn, as he can get pick-pocketed by faster forecheckers .. he is very effective at times, as he shows flashes of offensive brilliance by sneaking off the line and pinching effectively to garner a scoring chance .. his shot is average and he will need to work on it .. plays a role and gives a team depth and size at the defensive position.

Evander Kane (2009), RW, Vancouver

Led the team in scoring, as he is pure offence .. the PP was designed completely around him .. was one of the most naturally skilled players in the tournament but did not always play like it .. was prone to bad shifts and poor defensive habits .. sizzling wristshot in all areas of the ice especially coming down the wing .. has great acceleration, as he boasts a fourth and a fifth gear, which helps him separate himself from the pack to get his shot off .. wristshot was the best in the tournament .. when he is moving his feet and playing a hard-nosed game, he is most effective .. the problem is he can lose focus often and needs to show a committed effort every shift .. is more of a natural finisher, although his playmaking skills are quite impressive when he wants to pass .. too often, he holds onto the puck too long and as a result, he gets hit .. can skate with his head down when crossing the line and although he was hit, he did not learn from his mistake .. due to his outstanding first step, he often gets to pucks first .. if he is able to retrieve a puck within five feet of the goal, it is lights out, as he can roof a puck in an instant in close .. he cheats defensively and probably has never had to worry about playing the other side of the puck because it is always in his possession .. at times, his anger can get the best of him and if opponents target him early they may be able to take him off his game, as was the case against Team West in the semi's where he was invisible .. he has to monitor his shifts, as he tends to stay on to long .. one of the best offensive packages for the 2009 NHL draft but needs to mature and play a better all-around game.

Chase Schaber (2009), C, Calgary

Provided timely and effective scoring, as he tied the team lead in points with Kane with 5-4-3-7 totals .. a character player who competes and is highly coachable .. does what is asked of him and wears his hard hat every time he steps onto the ice, as he comes prepared to work .. he plays an honest game, as he will lay the body but he is not dirty .. his shot is very quick and catches many goalies by surprise .. he is a slightly above average skater .. he is smart as to whom he decides to battle with .. in a game against Slovakia, he purposely slid off his wing to expose the poor feet of a Slovakian defender and scored as a result .. he produces good speed down the wing and has good enough hand skills to make things happen .. with his pugilistic approach down low, he was often relied upon to do the dirty work .. he makes quick decisions especially in close ..

his smarts and uncompromising determination is what separates him from an average player to one that can play on the top line .. has struggled thus far in the WHL, as he has yet to score a point in 25 games albeit on a very deep, older Calgary team.

Landon Ferraro (2009), LW, Red Deer

Plays a game eerily similar to his father Ray - an established 18-year-NHL veteran .. a spark-plug-of-a player, his hits ignite his teammates and inspire them to play better .. always competing and buzzes around the offensive zone intimidating defenseman into coughing up the puck .. he can get over zealous in his aggressive approach and takes some senseless penalties to establish the tempo of the game .. he has a decent shot but he needs to get in close to score, as it does not carry the velocity of a natural goal scorer .. his work ethic and win-at-all-cost attitude was the main reason he was selected team captain of this team .. he goes into corners and even though he does not win the battle that will never deter him from attacking it again .. his balance on his skates and overall strength need to be addressed, as he fell down too much .. he hustles to get back into plays and it is not uncommon for him to skate the entire sheet of ice twice in a shift .. appeared to be nursing an injury in the final game, as he did not play his regular energetic self .. he needs to play at a high energy and do things at full speed for him to be effective.

Justin Maylan (2009), C, Moose Jaw

Recorded points in five-of-six games to post 5-3-4-7 totals .. a slender, yet feisty player who constantly pumps his feet in the offensive zone .. he has a smooth stride and executes his skating by moving often and finding holes .. skates faster with the puck .. does not always make his teammates better, as he can be selfish and take poor shots .. he is very methodical on how he approaches the game .. he will not engage in a battle if he knows he will lose .. his relatively underdeveloped frame does not allow him to win many corner battles .. he does however protect the puck and can make shifty moves in tight spaces .. he got better as the tournament went on.

Ryan Howse (2009), LW, Chilliwack

The third overall selection in the 2006 WHL draft has struggled to put the points up in Major Junior but was an offensive weapon in this tournament .. ever so dangerous on the PP, as he is a natural finisher and always manages to get the puck on the net .. he has good speed within his first few strides .. he is a bit of a skier in that he takes a few strides and then does not move his feet .. he is an exceptional talent but sometimes needs to be coaxed into playing hard .. his hand/eye coordination is an absolute plus in his game, as he constantly tips and deflects shots in close .. he can also bat down pucks in the neutral zone, as opponents were caught by surprise how he managed to get his stick on everything .. he has soft hands and can make healthy plays on both his fore/backhand side, this includes passing and shooting .. he plays a 'lurk in the weeds' type of game, as he is an opportunistic scorer .. both his goals in the tournament came via the PP .. when he has confidence in his game, he can be a complete tyrant on the ice, however, too often, he does not play to his level and is content to hang back .. he needs to understand that he can take over a game and needs to apply himself 100 percent each shift.