WHL: Medicine Hat Matt

Thanks to the injuries suffered by Kevin Nastiuk this past season, backup Matt Keetley likely saw a lot more action in net than either Medicine Hat or even he would have expected. He had an impressive 1.66GAA and an equally healthy 0.933 Sv% in 32 games this season. We have scouting notes of the Tigers excellent backup as well as four of his teammates that are eligible for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Gordon Baldwin (2005), D

Large, rangy defender partnered with David Schlemko on a competent third pairing for Medicine Hat .. long stride, although looks a bit mushy at times .. has some difficulties handling the puck cleanly if pressured .. is capable of using his exceptional size to knock an opponent off the puck .. at his best when he keeps his game simple and allows others to do the fancy stuff .. lacks offensive instinct .. worries more about just clearing the zone than helping to create a rush with a breakout pass .. sometimes has trouble getting back in to the play defensively to take the man if he has pinched up for a hit .. not a terrible given his youth and size, but the footwork definitely needs some work as his mobility and acceleration can look a bit stilted at times .. can throw'em if required .. still has room on his 6'5 frame to add some muscle .. may eventually grow in to being an intimidating presence in the dirty areas .. doesn't play on the special teams.

David Schlemko (2005), D

Drafted six spots ahead of his defensive partner Gordon Baldwin in the fourth round of the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft .. has nice mobility and acceleration, yet isn't as fluid of a skater as Kris Russell .. wasn't able to coral a pass behind the net that was a bit off target .. takes a hit to make a play .. not a devastating hitter, but is competent taking the man out and playing the body .. defensively aware in his own end .. won't shy away from pinching up in to the play to support the puck in the offensive zone, although is generally careful about picking his spots .. moved in to the slot for a pass that never came .. moves the puck well and on the tape .. has some zip to his slap shot as he proved from the point on the powerplay .. doesn't play the PK .. needs to get the puck away quicker as he can be forced in to low percentage passes and turnovers if pressured with a straight on forecheck.

Kris Russell (2005), D

Partnered with Cam Barker on the Tigers' top pairing .. simply put is a beautiful skater that looks effortless when skating in any direction .. makes crisp, tape-to-tape passes .. made a poor decision, as he is prone to do at times, defending a one-on-one and allowed the puck carrier to get around him for a scoring chance in tight .. must improve his decision making with and without the puck as he can be a bit too impulsive and this can get him in trouble .. can be caught reaching for the puck and not playing the body when he should .. supports the puck carrier .. stronger on his skates than generally given credit for, although wouldn't be hurt by adding some strength in the off season .. has terrific anticipation around the opposition's goal .. put a quick shot low that almost slipped through .. one of Medicine Hat's mainstays on the powerplay as he exceptionally dangerous with time and space.

Darren Helm (2005), C

Centered the line of Kevin Undershute and Devyn Tremblay .. looks a bit fragile on his skates, although he is fairly mobile .. needs to add some muscle as he tends to be less effective in traffic .. will go in to the dirty areas, but is too easily tied up at this point in his physical development .. will come back and support the defense .. displayed some explosiveness going around a defender along the outside and then cutting in on net for a quality scoring chance .. was destroyed with a heavy hit as he waited for a pass along the boards .. has some upside if he is willing to put in the effort in the off season to build up his strength.

Matt Keetley (2005), G

Blessed with nice size .. closed the hole quickly on a point blank shot near the crease .. moves smoothly from side-to-side while maintaining proper position .. was able to make another nice save in close when his defenseman allowed a puckcarrier to get past .. made a splendid recovery after stopping a point shot through traffic to then get over and stop the rebound .. looked a tad shaky with his glove on a blast from the high slot .. easily cleared the puck out of the zone and down the ice on a penalty kill .. wasn't able to squeeze the pads quickly enough and was beaten five-hole on a breakaway.