9/16/2003 football Edit

WHL: Festerling shows potential

Ron Jones

McKeen's Hockey Prospects Publisher

These notes are from an exhibition game between Vancouver and Tri-City (September 10th).

Ian McDonald (Tri-City Americans), F:

On both the powerplay and penalty kill .. Smooth skater .. Good vision - scored a goal, but was more the result of poor goaltending than anything .. Not very physical ... Looks to pass instead of shoot

Marc Connors (Tri-City Americans), F:

On the pk .. Quick and agile skater .. Not very big and therefore has trouble using his body to muscle guys off the puck .. Works hard in the corners and doesn't give up on a play in either end.

Brett Festerling (Tri-City Americans), D:

On both special team units .. Deceptive skater and mobility .. must learn to make quicker decisions as he tends to wait to long to make a play and thus turns over the puck .. Uses angles and his size to cut

forwards off from going to the net .. Did score a nice goal where he skated in from his side and held on to the puck and because no one took him he was able to go around the net and skate out too about 10 feet away from the goal and roof it on the back hand .. Does like to jump up in the rush .. Has the strength to take the puck to the net, although isn't a terrific stickhandler.

Logan Stephenson (Tri-City Americans), D:

Good size, still has room on his frame to add some muscle .. Got a PIM for slashing .. Big long powerful stride .. Surprising top end speed .. On pk .. Has an average shot the few times he used it .. Pretty decent

acceleration .. Dished out a nice solid bodycheck.

Jordan McLaughlin (Vancouver Giants), G:

Has trouble handling the puck and therefore is a liability out of his net .. Prone to lapses in judgment and is not above making a routine save look hazardous .. Very poor at coming across on a pass .. His stock has to be dropping, even though the Giants are maintaining he is still their #1.

Mitch Bartley (Vancouver Giants), F:

Works hard in both ends of the ice .. Average hands .. Doesn't give up on a play and scored a goal right on the door step on a real nice deflection.