U17 WHC: Maxwell Gets Smart

Team Pacific lost out to Team West 3 - 1 in the Final of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Lethbridge. We have notes on Ben Maxwell, Tyler Swystun and a number of their teammates from the tournament.

Daniel Spence (2006), G

A combination of bad luck and mistakes combined to totally zap his confidence by the end of the WHC .. blessed with excellent agility, even with what looks like oversized pillows tied to his legs .. was caught napping when a forward was able to come from behind the net and lift a shot top corner behind the startled and out of position goaltender .. had some problem handling the puck behind the net .. looked real sharp after letting in two goals on the first two shots he faced .. was taken to school on a breakaway .. looked extremely poor coming across and was subsequently pulled after Team Pacific fell behind 7-3, however, the team was able to make a fantastic comeback and tie the game so that Spence off the hook for a loss .. played late in another game in which the team was well ahead .. U-17 totals (2-0-0-0-0).

Eric Frere (2006), D

Worked well with his defensive partner, Mike McDonald, as he made sure to get open to give him an open man to pass to .. took his man effectively one-on-one until he got behind the net and then he inexplicably allowed the opposition player to get the puck and go unopposed for a wraparound goal .. above average acceleration, mobility and overall speed .. played on the powerplay .. moved the puck quickly to clear the zone .. threw a pass up the boards without looking and had it turned over .. his shoot in led to a goal, although he didn't figure in to the scoring .. U-17 totals (6-0-0-0-2).

Matthew Cline (2006), C

Explosive Red Deer product centered a line of Travis Novak and JP Szaszkiewicz .. can handle the puck at top speed .. drew a questionable penalty by driving towards the goal .. needs to bulk up as he looks a tad lean .. skated down the wing and drilled a low shot in on the far corner .. put nothing on a cross-ice pass and had it intercepted .. got to the net and dished a beautiful pass that was banged home .. won the faceoff while killing a PIM and kept the puck in the opposition's zone with good forechecking .. U-17 totals (6-1-3-4-0).

Tyler Swystun (2006), F

Not getting the press he deserves coming out of the AJHL, but he was a real revelation in Lethbridge .. played on an amazing line with Ben Maxwell and Mitch Fadden that oozed chemistry .. effortless wrist shot .. terrific hand-eye coordination .. comes back and picks up his man .. had a bit of a brain cramp in his own zone as it took him a bit of time to react to a loose puck .. received the pass at full speed .. willing to take punishment in front of the net .. slick skater, with excellent overall speed and mobility .. has terrific offensive awareness .. was rewarded for going to the net with a tap in goal on the powerplay .. displays superb puck pursuit .. fearlessly dropped down and blocked a shot .. stood a player up with a solid bodycheck .. took a wonderful feed in front of the net and made a nice move on the goalie and then popped it home with the backhand .. closes the gap on the forecheck .. was once again "Johnny on the spot" as he roofed a shot on a yawning cage .. amazing effort going to the net with a defender all over him and still managing to deflect the puck in .. U-17 totals (6-6-3-9-4).

Jordan Baker (2006), LW

Pint-sized winger with blazing speed .. keeps his feet moving as he went to the net .. played on a line with the Everett Silvertips' duo of Brady Calla and Zach Hamill .. played on the powerplay .. robbed on the door step .. cuts down time and space on the forecheck .. very mobile, which helps him finish his checks .. displays a tendency to back off a play if it is likely he'll take a hit .. battled hard to beat a checker and worker has way through can stickhandle in tight spaces .. went for the big hit and got bounced off the player .. kept his feet moving and drew a penalty .. slick deflection that nearly slipped in behind the netminder .. communicates well with his linemates .. U-17 totals (6-1-1-2-8).

Ben Maxwell (2006), C

Centered one of the top lines at the World Hockey Challenge in Lethbridge featuring Tyler Swystun and Mitch Fadden .. sliced through the defense like a hot knife through butter .. has excellent vision and hockey smarts .. backs off defenders with his sensational speed and stickhandling .. dishes out tape-to-tape passes .. split the defenders and nearly finished off a great play, but just lost control of the puck .. displayed amazing vision finding the open man in front of the net .. looked extremely poised while playing the point on the powerplay .. moves the puck efficiently .. drilled a point shot past the goalie .. selected player of the game in a win over Team Quebec .. U-17 totals (6-2-7-9-4).

Jesse Dudas (2006), D

Powerful slap shot .. played the one-on-one well .. jumped up to take a van at the puckcarrier and just got a small piece of him .. pretty solid positionally in his own zone .. has a reasonable amount of sandpaper in his game .. gave a good effort on trying to handle a huge forward in the crease .. generally good under pressure, although had the odd miscue .. chosen the player of the game blowing out Team Ontario in the semi-final .. U-17 totals (6-0-7-7-6).