WHL Report: Calgary Hitmen

The Calgary Hitmen are in the midst of a rare rough patch that's highlighted the difficult adjustment to major junior for several of the team's top young talents born in 1993 and 1994. McKeen's correspondent Matt Bugg files report on several Hitmen, including Peter Kosterman, Trevor Cheek, Jaynen Rissling and Rob Trzonkowski.

Trevor Cheek (2011), C/W, Calgary Hitmen

6-foot-2 rookie started the year slow, but has picked up his production in November .. rotating throughout the lineup, including stints with veterans like Trevor Fiddler and Kris Foucault and time on the first powerplay unit as a pointman, Cheek has shown flashes of being an excellent complementary player .. thrives in the trenches, where he is willing to absorb a great deal of punishment to maintain possession .. quick, fluid puckhandler who has earned respect from defensemen in the league for both his soft hands and hard, whip-like shot, as evidenced by the time and room he gets when penetrating the zone with speed .. especially lethal around and behind the net, as his size and skill allow him to generate a solid scoring chance out of a routine dump-in .. has that pro player look to him in terms of his compact, efficient skating style and propensity to stalk the neutral zone for turnovers .. however, Cheek lacks the elite hockey sense to quickly dissect where the puck is headed next, and isn't an explosive skater despite his good technical proficiency .. a Portland-area native who was cut from the Winterhawks before landing in Calgary, Cheek's game reminds one of a poor man's Ryan Johansen.

Peter Kosterman (2011), D, Calgary Hitmen

Standing at 6-foot-4 and possessing a long, powerful skating stride in addition to quick, nimble feet, Kosterman has the raw physical tools to be a unique talent .. however, his status as a borderline draft pick stems from the fact that he struggles with several facets of his position .. at just 182 pounds, Kosterman is easily eluded during battles along the wall, forcing him to resort to hooks, trips and holds .. measuring in at 170 pounds prior to being selected in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, it's extremely concerning that he has added just 12 pounds in two off-seasons .. often over-skates the play, blowing right by the man he is supposed to cover .. overall, has issues with defensive positioning and recovery, problems that stem from the fact he spends too much time chasing the puck rather than trying to contain his man .. puck skills are raw but certainly present .. can make accurate long-range feeds and can surprise with impressive little moves such as kicking the puck to his stick during skirmishes .. slapshot is low and on-target, but doesn't pack a significant punch .. overall, a frustrating player who has not developed a great deal either physically or skill-wise since entering the league.

Jaynen Rissling (2012), D, Calgary Hitmen

A former sixth-round Bantam Draft selection, Rissling is already in his sophomore year with the Hitmen, despite not being NHL Draft eligible until next season .. although inconsistent from shift to shift, he has shown that rare ability to slow the game down with his size, mobility and puck poise .. coolly eludes one-on-one pressure with his soft hands and long reach, and has shown fine touch for making hard, accurate outlet passes .. above-average skater who can pivot and transition effortlessly for his size .. uses his strong skating ability to doggedly shadow forecheckers, angling them into the boards or onto the ice with no-nonsense checks .. with experience, will iron out his lone defensive flaw - a tendency to over-commit to the puckcarrier .. owns a pro-calibre slapshot; needs little wind-up to get it away, and aims for the pads and boards in order to generate rebounds for his forwards .. although not one of three Hitmen named to Team Pacific for the World U17s due to age, Rissling would have been a worthy addition had he not been a late 1993.

Rob Trzonkowski (2012), RW, Calgary Hitmen

On stats alone the 6-foot-2, 195 pound winger doesn't look like a special player .. however, there may be no skater that is more responsible with the puck on the Hitmen roster than Trzonkowski .. possesses an incredibly high battle level and an uncanny ability to retain or win control whether he's on his feet or on his stomach .. constantly gets the play moving in the right direction thanks to his tremendous hockey sense and deceptive puck skills .. sound technical skater and boasts a smooth, powerful stride that generates good speed, but lacks elite explosiveness .. Trzonkowski doesn't have a scorer's pedigree but is a safe, dependable player that could show more as he grows into his body.