WHL: Nate Thompson Gets Physical

These notes are from a regular season game featuring the Seattle Thunderbirds on September 19th.

Aaron Bader Seattle (WHL), LW:

Finishes his checks .. quick skater and always keeps his feet moving .. played on the pk and pp .. likes to use his body .. tireless worker.

Ryan Gibbons Seattle (WHL), RW:

Intimidating forward .. played on both special team units, although more of a second unit guy on the pp .. finished his check .. pretty tough customer and got in a pretty one sided scrap where he got some early shots in .. took an elbowing penalty and generally appeared ready and willing to go.

Matthew Hansen Seattle (WHL), D:

Steading influence on the back end .. supports his defensive partner .. played on the pk and pp .. above average skater, but not overly quick .. saw a ton of quality ice time .. really focuses on picking up his man.

Nick Harsulla Seattle (WHL), RW:

on pk .. displayed good work ethic .. real quick skater and defensively responsible .. dependable checker.

David Svagrovsky Seattle (WHL), RW:

Big Czech forward wears an A .. has a lazer like slap shot which he gets to use a lot as he mans one of the points on the powerplay .. forechecks hard especially behind the net .. lumbering skater, but gets there .. patient with the puck and is willing to distribute it to his linemates.

Nate Thompson Seattle (WHL), C:

Tremendously strong on his skates .. displayed surprising top end speed was a fixture on the pk and pp .. uses his size and strength to full advantage when forechecking and really can make life miserable for an opposing defenseman .. dominates physically .. wore an A .. rarely got outmuscled and was nearly impossible to knock off the puck .. had a turnover or two, but generally very responsible in both ends of the ice .. delivered a nice pass through a defenseman to setup a scoring chance .. hard accurate wrist shot .

Kyle Bruce Vancouver (WHL), RW:

Recently acquired in a trade with Prince Albert for Mark Ardelin, Bruce drew a lot of cheers with his fireball style of throwing devastating hits .. skated hard on every shift .. kind of a poor man’s Jordin Tootoo .. keeps his feet moving .. forced multiple turnovers including one on a 5 on 3 penalty kill that gave him a breakaway which he scored on and put him in the Vancouver Giants record books as the first player to score a shorthanded goal two man down .. fearless, blocked shots anytime he could .. named the game's third star.

Tyler Metcalfe Seattle (WHL), LW:

Wears an A .. quick player .. on the pk .. had two assists and filled in admirably when Dustin Johner didn’t return .. named the game’s second star.