USHL Fall Classic: Des Moines Buccaneers

As we continue our 12-part series on the USHL Fall Classic, McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey, reviews several players from the Des Moines Buccaneers looking to make an impact this season including Ottawa Senators prospect Ben Blood.

Ben Blood (Ott), D, Des Moines

Big defenseman who has a powerful skating stride and strong backward skating mechanics, as he takes few strides to cover a lot of ground .. maintains a wide base to allow for balance and mobility .. stays in a low power stance to explode into hips or change directions quickly, and does not require many crossovers to accelerate backwards and be caught moving the wrong direction .. has advanced hockey sense and never loses his composure with the puck, even when hounded by multiple checkers .. has a hard pointshot that he keeps low, as well as a wristshot with a quick release .. makes accurate outlet passes and can make hard, crisp passes through traffic from the point .. able to lay out some big hits but does not go out of position looking for them .. should be one of the best defensemen in the USHL in 2007-08 .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-1-1, 8 PIM's, 5 shots).

Taylor Matson (Van), C, Des Moines

Quick player with very good top speed, acceleration, and agility .. carries the puck well without excess stickhandling, making him almost as fast with the puck as without .. likes to skate with the puck down the left wing and beat the defenseman wide .. an accurate passer who uses his speed and skating to buy time for teammates and make plays accordingly .. could afford to take more shots .. skates equally hard when backchecking and playing in the defensive zone .. has the two-way hockey sense to not run around, as some players with his speed do .. (Fall Classic stats: 2-0-0-0, 4 PIM's, 1 shot).

Trent Vogelhuber (CBJ), C/RW, Des Moines

Power forward .. has a strong skating stride with good balance and is difficult to knock off the puck .. able to split the defense with a combination of power and speed .. powerful crossovers allow him to pick up considerable speed .. effective along the boards in maintaining control of the puck or gaining control of the puck .. plays a disciplined, physical game and does not take unnecessary penalties .. committed to Miami-Ohio .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-1-1, 4 PIM's, 4 shots).

Andrew Panzarella (2008), D, Des Moines

Physical defenseman who plays an aggressive game .. a strong body checker, especially close to and along the boards .. an experienced fighter who is likely to speed bag a less-experienced combatant .. owns a hard and accurate pointshot .. operates the point well by making hard, accurate passes .. has a tendency to do a small half-circle when trying to keep the puck in the offensive zone instead of using direct lateral movement .. needs to add additional power and speed to his backward skating, as he had difficulty with faster forwards beating him wide .. relies too much on crossovers when skating backward against rushing opponents .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-0-0, 11 PIM's, 2 shots).

Austin Handley (2008), D, Des Moines

Not particularly impressive at the Fall Classic .. average speed skating forward and looks slow backward and laterally .. turns can look very awkward at times .. puckmoving was erratic at best .. had a couple notable homerun passes, but also frequently mishandled the puck or had passes intercepted, creating turnovers .. plays an aggressive game along the boards and can deliver a strong bodycheck .. committed to Michigan State .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-0-0, 1 shot).

Nate Dewhurst (2008), C, Des Moines

Small forward who is willing to venture into traffic when carrying the puck .. speedy, quick, and agile skater .. plays a two-way game, as he will forecheck hard, backcheck hard, and can play with scrappiness and lay out some hits .. will need a significant increase in offensive production to gain consideration on draft day .. committed to Denver .. (Fall Classic stats: 2-0-1-1, 1 shot).

Brad Walch (2009), D, Des Moines

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he already has good size as a 16-year-old .. powerful skater with good speed and lateral mobility .. backward skating technique is sound .. able to stand opponents up at the blueline or angle them into the boards and does so with force .. outlet passes are occasionally off the mark, but this appeared to be because he was still adjusting to the USHL after playing midget minor last season .. good shot from the point but will also take a well-placed wristshot .. passes the puck well from the point .. flips puck into the corner well if he has no options in the neutral zone or at the point .. able to make tight turns to spin away from opponents in the defensive zone or at the point and maintain puck control .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-1-1-2, 2 PIM's, 3 shots).

Ryan Walters (2009), LW, Des Moines

Demonstrated advanced hockey sense, especially for a player who turned 16 two months ago .. intelligent in how he positions himself between opponents and the puck and cycles the puck well down low .. routinely fills in holes defensively and covers for pinching defensemen or when two defensemen go into the same corner in the defensive zone .. has good speed and all-around skating skills .. able to make tight turns to evade checkers .. already has good size at 6-foot-0, 185 pounds .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-0-0-, 1 shot).

Matt White (2010), C, Des Moines

Youngest player to skate in the Fall Classic, and one of two 15-year-olds .. big forward (6-2, 190) with good speed, quickness, and a powerful stride (especially for his age) .. passing was off the mark at times, as he appeared to be adjusting to the pace of the USHL .. puts in a good effort defensively, but sometimes does a circle stop that leaves him facing the wrong direction .. can stickhandle fairly well, but has a tendency to over stickhandle in the corners .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 2-0-1-1, 1 shot).

Alexander Denezhkin (2010), LW, Des Moines

Second youngest player to skate in the Fall Classic .. Russian forward with a powerful skating stride and good speed .. stays calm with the puck in traffic and has the stickhandling to emerge with the puck and make good plays .. not a one-dimensional forward, as he forechecks, backchecks, and can play a physical game, although he is not a hard hitter .. at this point, he knows almost no English .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-0-0, 8 PIM's, 5 shots).