WHL Report: Regina Pats

McKeen's correspondent Matt Bugg has notes on 2011 draft-eligible-defensemen Myles Bell and Tyler Borstmayer of the Regina Pats. Forward Chandler Stephenson, draft-eligible in 2012 is also featured.

Myles Bell (2011), D, Regina Pats

Built like a safe (6-0, 202), and easily absorbs checks from even the biggest opponent .. an effortless backwards skater who can generate tremendous speed with tight crossovers .. although an elusive skater, stride is too short and does not allow him to take full advantage of his speed .. could be one of the fastest skaters in the WHL if this was corrected .. when given the green light to skate the puck, he generates the most offensive opportunities of any Pat .. defenders have difficulties with his ability to cut laterally while retaining possession, and he is a creative, often unpredictable player .. inconsistent with his accuracy and timing on outlet passes, and thus sticks to short-range feeds .. tremendous hand-eye coordination .. can either knock passes down to spark a rush the other way, or simply deflect them out of the zone and out of danger .. defensively, Bell is a work of progress .. at times, his strong hockey sense is evident, and he can make a well-timed poke check or interception .. however, instead of standing up to and angling opposing players out of danger, he backs off and pushes them inside where they can do the most damage .. tends to over-commit on simple feints, and will always play the pass in an odd-man situation - a habit other players have learned to read.

Tyler Borstmayer (2011), D, Regina Pats

On recall following an assignment to the SJHL to start the year, there is not only a night-and-day difference between now and the beginning of the season, but Borstmayer looks nothing like the 16-year-old rookie who played 39 games in 2009-10 with the Pats .. cool, confident defender who takes full advantage of his smooth skating ability and long reach .. not as physical yet, as one would like a 6-foot-4, 192-pound player to be, but showing increased emotion in the form of skirmishes after the whistle or away from the play .. possesses excellent defensive instincts and simply gets the puck out of danger .. previously weak on the puck and prone to tossing it around the boards, but is showing off an impressive playmaking arsenal .. passes are fast, crisp and rarely off-target, even when headed for players who are in mid-stride .. renewed confidence is also on full display in the offensive zone .. has started to trade off his reputation as a player with a hard, low slapper in order to freeze goaltenders and defensemen with fake shots, and has the vision necessary to spot and feed open teammates .. not a serious NHL prospect prior to his demotion, if Bortsmayer can continue his strong play, he has a good chance at being selected in June.

Chandler Stephenson (2012), C/LW, Regina Pats

Former fifth overall Bantam draft pick is the crown jewel of the team's young core .. defensively advanced player who is always among the first back to his zone .. never afraid to jump in and make big-time defensive plays, and stops more scoring chances than many of his team's actual defenders .. a faceoff wizard, and understands the finer points of scrambling the draw and creating time for his wingers to jump in and help .. not an explosive skater off the hop, but a balanced one who can shift gears effortlessly .. good top-end speed and excels at handling the puck in full flight .. a creative player who uses his head and body to fool opponents .. owns a hard, quick snapshot and is constantly crowding the front of the other team's net in order to jump on rebounds .. when away from the puck in the offensive zone, he will dog the carrier relentlessly with stick checks and body checks .. a strong player despite his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame .. although he is a rookie and is being handled with kid gloves when it comes to icetime, he is rapidly earning more and more responsibility .. while other WHL clubs might fret about hoisting such high expectations on such a physically underdeveloped player, coaching staff and management will not hesitate to use him on the top line when it is due, as they did in the case of former Pat Jordan Eberle and current No. 1 center Jordan Weal.