WHL: The Other Jackson

Scott Jackson is one of the reasons the Seattle Thunderbirds are currently in a tie for first place in the US Division of the WHL. We have notes from a recent game featuring Jackson as well as a few of his teammates and even a bonus player.

Scott Jackson (2005), D, Seattle

Skilled defender is making a case to being drafted on the first day .. makes the smart short pass .. excellent long strides .. partnered with Matthew Hansen .. played on both special teams .. delivered a number of crisp, tape-to-tape passes to move the puck out the T-birds’ end .. tremendous first step acceleration and mobility allows him to regularly beat the initial forechecker .. communicates with his partner like a veteran .. booming slap shot along the ice forced a rebound which turned in to a scoring chance .. had a fight with one of the tougher players and won a close decision .. outstanding puck handler and rarely makes an impulsive decision.

Matthew Hansen (van), D, Seattle

Big-bodied defender partnered with Scott Jackson .. played on the penalty-kill and powerplay .. was stripped of the puck in his own zone trying to carry it out on a PP .. received an ill-timed crosschecking PIM sending his team down two men .. not as smooth as Jackson, but still reasonably dependable in his own zone .. rubbed the puck carrier out solidly along the wall on a one-on-one .. communicates with his teammates and reads the play well.

Aaron Gagnon (phx), C, Seattle

Played on a line with Tyler Metcalfe and fellow Coyote selection Ryan Gibbons .. wears the A .. on the PP and PK .. excellent overall quickness makes him dangerous in open ice .. came back hard on the forecheck .. strong on the face-offs and does a good job tying up the opposition center .. dished out a beautiful leading pass to put Gibbons in to the clear on the goalie.

Ryan Gibbons (phx), RW, Seattle

Swift skating winger played on a line with Aaron Gagnon and Tyler Metcalfe .. uses his brilliant speed and mobility to split defenseman and stretch defenders .. scored a highlight reel goal dekeing out the goaltender as he came across the net .. played on the powerplay.

Andrej Meszaros (ott), D, Vancouver

Skilled blueliner partnered with recently acquired Andy Shenn .. came out of the penalty box and led a rush and made a few nice moves to fake out the defenseman and then let loose a wicked writer on goal .. quick transition from grabbing a rebound in his own zone to rushing it all the way up to the offensive end .. excellent crisp pass up to the open forward .. left his man and got caught looking at the shooter and really was in no-man’s land when the goal went in .. took a little too long to get a point shot away and it was easily blocked .. pinched up at center ice going for a hit and allowed the T-Birds to go on a two-on-one in which they scored to take a three goal lead.