USHL Report: Muskegon Lumberjacks

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey, was able to catch the Muskegon Lumberjacks in action both in the pre-season at the USHL Fall Classic and recently in the regular season and enters notes on Jaycob Megna and Alexx Privitera, as well as the 2012-eligible contingent of Mark Yanis, Jordan Masters, Matt DeBlouw, and Mike Moran.

Jaycob Megna (2011), D, Muskegon

Big defenseman at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, but isn't particularly physical .. a fairly smooth skater with decent speed .. makes smooth turns and can get out on his edges fairly well .. plays a simple, steady, responsible game offensively .. makes smooth, crisp passes and puts them on target .. works well with his d-partner transitioning the puck and at the point .. has a crisp wristshot and a decent slapshot .. has decent speed backward and lets his gaps close .. defensive angles are off at times, giving opponents lanes toward the net unknowingly .. fairly smooth accelerating backward and has some power, but could take fewer steps .. has a long reach to stick check pucks away .. in all pre-season and regular season viewings, no notes on body checks .. sees some time on the penalty kill .. hope to see some physicality out of Megna in future viewings .. played midget major for Team Illinois in 2009-10 .. committed to Nebraska-Omaha.

Alexx Privitera (2011), D, Muskegon

The leading scorer amongst USHL defenseman after the first few weeks of the season .. has good cruising speed with the puck and can execute some nice speed bursts .. quite agile and is very confident on his edges .. mobile at the blueline and can utilize spins both at the point and down low to evade checkers .. skating ability gives him good confidence at the point, where he utilizes swivels and fakes .. makes crisp, accurate passes on the breakout and from the point .. has quick hands and likes to try and make slick moves, but too often lets his gap close too much and has the puck sticked away .. a major threat on the powerplay with his powerful one-timer .. Muskegon's first powerplay unit likes to set Privitera up for one-timers from the top of the faceoff circle .. has a hard, crisp slapper that he keeps low .. also possesses a crisp wristshot and backhand .. has good speed backward and lets his gap close .. utilizes his short gap to block shots by dropping to a knee .. isn't big at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but can lay out some hits with some force .. not an aggressive player, but will quickly stand up for his teammates and is willing to drop the gloves .. played for the UNSTP's Under-17 in 2009-10, but decided to leave to play for a USHL team .. committed to Boston University.

Mark Yanis (2012), D, Muskegon

Already has excellent size at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds .. smooth skater, particularly for his size .. has good power and stride extension, producing good speed .. displays some quickness .. good all-compass mobility .. seemed a little slow in regular season viewing than pre-season viewings, though .. possesses a hard, crisp wristshot and a decent slapper .. generally maintains a fairly wide base backward and gets down fairly low, but there are times when he relies too much on crossovers .. conscientious in letting his gaps close .. plays with some aggressiveness and will lay a stick to an opponent .. able to thrust into his hits and level opponents .. willing to drop the gloves and can inflict damage by throwing early and often .. playing more of a physical defensive defenseman role to start his rookie season in the USHL .. selected to skate at the USNTDP Evaluation Camp last March, but was not selected to play at The Program .. played midget minor for Belle Tire in 2009-10 .. no college commitment of yet.

Jordan Masters (2012), RW, Muskegon

Earned his spot on Muskegon from a tryout and it shows in his effort.. has good speed with the puck .. is also fairly quick and can use it to emerge off the half boards .. willing to drive into traffic and battle toward the net .. uses his speed on the forecheck and is often F1 .. plays with some spunk and finishes his checks .. makes open-ice hits now and again .. also a threat to play the body from the side on the backcheck .. has a decent wristshot .. good set of hands and can t-drag it around opponents off the boards and out of the corners .. has some filling out to do at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, but he has a good compete level .. selected to the U.S. Under-17 Select Team and played at the Five Nations Tournament in August and tied for the team lead in goals scored (4) and tied for third in team scoring (5 points) .. played midget minor for Little Caesars in 2009-10 .. no college commitment of yet.

Matt DeBlouw (2012), C, Muskegon

Looked good in the pre-season, but was knocked out early in the regular season after suffering a lacerated spleen against the U.S. Under-18 team Oct. 9 .. has good cruising speed with the puck and some power in his strides .. displays decent acceleration .. able to execute nice t-drags, but is guilty of stickhandling with his head down at times .. plays with some physicality and will engage physically going for the puck .. has some filling out to do at 6-foot-0, 165 pounds, but has a frame to work with .. preliminary expectations are for DeBlouw to return to competition in January .. played midget major for Little Caesars in 2009-10 .. committed to Michigan State.

Mike Moran (2012), LW, Muskegon

Huge at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, but is still raw .. a bit lumbering in his skating and is a fairly upright skater .. despite skating limitations, he plays a physical game .. able to bowl over opponents and can lay out some hard hits along the boards .. finishes his checks when able on the forecheck or off the faceoff .. willing to drop the gloves and is racking up the penalty minutes early in the season .. primarily played midget minor in 2009-10 with Victory Honda, but also played some with their midget major team .. if he were born one day earlier, Moran would be eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft .. no college commitment of yet.