USA Midget Hockey: Xtremely Good

The Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1 squad has been one of the top teams in the country this season at the Tier II level. Not only has Ashburn been consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally, but the team has also posted several quality wins over Tier I/AAA clubs. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson provides notes on several Xtreme players, including an update on national standout Max Lorenzen.

Andrew Baker (2010), G, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

A traditional butterfly goalie with sound lateral movement and rapid reflexes .. gets back to his feet quickly after going down .. does a quality job of following the puck and staying square to the shooter .. not afraid to come out of his crease to cut down angles, particularly on point shots .. possesses an effective leg kick, which he uses to push shots off to the side .. however, he has a tendency to give up dangerous rebounds, which puts him in bad situations and sometimes results in goals .. also needs to be more cautious playing the puck, as he will stray significantly from the crease and even turn his back while behind the net, thus making him vulnerable to attacking (forechecking) players.

Max Lorenzen (2010), C, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

An alternate Captain for the team, Lorenzen is best known for his feet, as he can skate circles around people and out hustle just about anyone to the puck .. works hard in the corners and can initiate solid hits along the boards .. refuses to be intimidated despite his small frame (5-6, 145) .. possesses quality instincts and sees the ice extremely well .. this is evident by his ability to read plays, as well as his talent at putting the puck in opportune places for teammates to score .. away from the play, he likes to stake claim in front of the net, where he can take advantage of his effective wristshot .. dances with the puck at times but needs to be more consistent overall .. already has the skating skills so if he can get a little stronger on the puck, he will really be a force.

Bryce McGuire (2009), LD, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

Sturdy defenseman who tends to underutilize his size .. though he can push opponents off the puck, he does not look to initiate contact on a consistent basis .. instead, he prefers to play the puck, which he is very effective at doing given his sizeable reach and stickchecking abilities .. also utilizes the boards well .. reliable and composed player with hockey smarts, which is why he is team Captain .. can contribute in the offensive end too, as he displays the ability to skate the puck up ice .. possesses a heavy slapper and an accurate wristshot.

Ben Salzer (2009), F, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

An alternate Captain and a solid two-way player .. can take punishment but also dish it out .. shows good composure and does not take retaliatory penalties .. he plays a controlled brand of physical hockey .. uses his weight to push opponents off the puck, as opposed to jeopardizing his positioning in an attempt to deliver the big hit .. PK specialist who excels at closing gaps, pressuring the puckhandler and blocking shots .. can also be called on to win draws .. sound skater who is not particularly strong on the puck but can be trusted to make the right pass or play .. more of a defensive forward than a true scorer/playmaker .. possesses a natural hockey sense and is reliable in all three zones .. overall, a well-rounded player who will do all of the little things for the team.

Peter Wydler (2010), RW, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

Extremely small for his age group but his style of play is not indicative of this .. not necessarily a physical player but the type who will skate into congested areas (with guys twice his size) and battle for the puck .. speedy and mobile winger who can draw penalties with his elusiveness and puckmoving capabilities .. dangerous in the offensive end, as his sharp vision and ability to find the seams (both passing and receiving) can lead to quality scoring chances .. however, one of his downfalls – in addition to size – is his over commitment to offense .. for example, instead of looking to backcheck, he will hang out in the neutral zone awaiting a potential outlet pass.