USHL Fall Classic: Sioux Falls Stampede

As we continue our 12-part series on the USHL Fall Classic, McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey, reviews four players from the Sioux Falls Stampede looking to make an impact this season including Columbus Blue Jackets third round pick Jake Hansen, Scott Kishel, Eric Hartzell and Patrick Divjak.

Jake Hansen (CBJ), LW, Sioux Falls

A forward whom most USHL defenders have trouble keeping up with .. has very good speed, which he likes to utilize to beat defenders wide or split them down the middle .. battles hard along the board for the puck and often comes away with it and drives the net or makes a quick pass .. good at making passes on the rush .. uses his speed on the forecheck, finishes his checks, and pays attention to his backchecking .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-2-2, 2 pim, 8 shots).

Scott Kishel (Mtl), D, Sioux Falls

Seemed completely outmatched at the Fall Classic .. was well into the neutral zone when the play was still in the offensive zone, creating a huge gap and a lot of time for opponents to build speed on him .. attempted to angle opponents into the boards for some hits or even an open-ice hip check, but tended to miss them or be beaten wide .. lacked the speed and power to keep up with most of the USHL forwards when skating backward and even had trouble winning races for the puck when skating forward .. mishandled the puck or fanned on passes or attempts to flip the puck out of the zone more than once .. did have a good one-timer from the point .. has committed to Minnesota-Duluth .. (Fall Classic stats: 3- 0-0-0, 4 shots).

Eric Hartzell (2008), G, Sioux Falls

At his best when he's playing his angles and allowing the puck to hit him in the chest .. controls rebounds off his chest very well .. often follows the puck into his chest to make a combined glove/blocker save, as one would catch a baseball by covering it with the throwing hand and eliminating rebounds .. has a quick glove and has no problem doing a splits-glove save .. an athletic goalie that starts to dive and flop at times, at which point he is in trouble .. majority of the goals he let in were high .. has not committed to a college .. (Fall Classic stats: 2 gp, .923 Svp)

Patrick Divjak (2008), LW, Sioux Falls

Small Austrian forward who plays an all-around game .. very speedy, shifty, and agile, and is able to burn opposing defensemen .. has a hard shot and soft hands .. good passer with good hockey sense who can make some plays .. also has good defensive awareness .. forechecks, backchecks hard, and can hound and shadow an opponent .. plays with some scrappiness, finishes his checks, and can lay out a nice hit .. split time in 2006-07 between Wiener EV's J20 team and Nationalliga team, as Andeas Nodl did in 2003-04 .. (Fall Classic stats: 3-0-2-2, , 3 shots).