WHL: Dubnyk Stands Tall

Kamloops is arguably one of the most skilled teams in the WHL, but one thing that no one will argue is that they usually put on a good show. These are notes from a recent game featuring prospects Jonas Johansson and Devan Dubnyk.

Devan Dubnyk (2004), G

Started in goal for Kamloops .. robbed a player on the doorstep .. made a tricky save off a deflected puck .. excellent kick save .. seeing-eye point shot eluded him .. got beat short side up over his shoulder from the face off circle on PK .. deflected a pass to break up a prime scoring chance .. made a great save from the slot .. steered a shot off his blocker in to the corner .. leaves few holes in close even when coming across the crease .. almost lost the handle on a bullet shot, but it dribbled wide .. catlike reflexes as he can make instant adjustments on most shots .. uses his size to his advantage .. competes on every shot .. third goal he let in he had no chance as it was another 5 on 3 disadvantage.

Roman Tesliuk (2004), D

Partnered up with Max Gordichuk .. on PP .. on PK .. cleared the man in front of the net by knocking him down .. got stripped of the puck in the defensive end, creating a glorious scoring chance .. missed the pass on a wide open play late in the game .. started in OT .. timed a hit perfectly on a forward with his head down through center ice to break up a play.

Max Gordichuk (2004), D

Skated up with the puck .. has a very poor first step and his overall speed is below average .. strong on his skates .. stapled a guy to the wall .. on PP .. mobility is underrated, as he doesn’t get beat to the outside very often .. ties up the forward .. on PK .. doesn’t make it enjoyable for the opposition to park themselves in the crease .. usually makes a good outlet pass.

Jonas Johansson (Wsh), RW

Rumoured attitude problems with some of the vets on the Blazers have surfaced .. drove to the net, but the puck never got there .. excellent first step .. turned over the puck twice in his zone, but made up for it by scoring a goal on the same shift on an odd man advantage .. looked more dangerous in the second period .. has the type of shot that can score from anywhere .. got double-shifted a few times on PP .. drilled a shot past the outstretched goalie .. played a lot in OT .. named the game's first star.

Moises Gutierrez (2004), RW

Used his size to bully his way through to the player with the puck .. backs up his defense .. knocked a puck carrier on his butt, by overtaking him from behind .. a physical force when he gets his feet moving .. works hard in high traffic areas .. uses his body to gain position .. took a hit to dish off a pass to a wide open Reid Jorgensen for a scoring opportunity.

Reid Jorgensen (2004), C

On 5 on 3 ph .. works hard in high traffic areas .. got in the clear and received a pass for a scoring chance .. displays explosive acceleration.

Cam Cunning (Cgy), LW

Went in hard on a shoot in .. on pp .. finishes his checks .. closes the gaps on the forecheck using exceptional speed and mobility.

Kris Hogg (2004), LW

Forechecked hard .. got knocked off his feet pretty easy, but it did create a power play .. drove hard to the net from the corner and created a scoring chance .. really moving his feet tonight .. picked a player’s pocket while killing a penalty for a break away on which he scored .. closed the gap on the puck carrier and nearly forced a turnover.

Erik Christensen (Pit), C

Wears an A .. cleanly won a face off back to the point for a shot .. displays excellent vision .. got an assist on Jonas Johansson’s goal .. on PP .. made a beautiful back handed pass to the Johansson for the latter’s second goal of the game .. deadly shot when he gets all of it.

Paul Brown (Nsh), RW

Uses his body to lay a pounding on the defensemen .. on PP .. moved the puck to the open man .. on PK .. completely undressed a defenseman with an inside-outside move to get wide open late in the second period, but wasn't able to capitalize.

Scratches of note:

Right wing Nathan Grochmal (2004), and Forward/Defenseman Ray Macias (2005)