WHL: Tri-City Answers the Belle

Shawn Belle is currently away representing Canada at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championships in Finland, but we have notes on a recent game he played with the Tri-City Americans.

Tyler Weiman, G, (Col)

Started in goal .. barks out clear instructions to his defense .. came across the crease while remaining square to the shooter and leaving no holes for the shooter .. doesn’t hesitate to jump on the puck for a faceoff .. comes out far to cut down the angle .. first goal against was on a great close in chance .. looked brutal on a shot from outside the faceoff circle which beat him high on the short side .. got beat top corner on a breakaway .. stacked the pads to rob a wide open forward.

Nikita Korovkin, D, (Phi)

on PP .. makes a decent first pass .. was completely undressed on a world class deke by gilbert Brule who went in on tho score .. made a nice rush up the ice .. not opposed to the odd slash behind the play .. pinches in when the opportunity arises ..

Clayton Stoner, D, (2004)

Overager still eligible for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in Carolina .. went for a hit and completely missed .. very active on penalty kill .. had a major brain cramp and gave the puck away right in the slot for a scoring chance.

Marcus Jonasen, LW, (NYR)

Scratched due to injury

Matt Schneider, C, (2004)

On power play .. lanky forward looks like a basketball player on skates and needs to add some meat to his extremely tall frame .. on PK .. looks a bit awkward and lacks first step quickness .. takes full advantage of his long wing span to ward off checkers trying to strip the puck .. displays surprisingly decent stickhandling skills .. cuts down passing lanes with his long reach .. Whether it is a lack of technique or strength he doesn’t get much on most of his shots.

Ian McDonald, C, (2004)

Uses his speed and mobility to pressure the puck carrier .. anticipates the play well and has good hockey sense .. displays good vision and is creative offensively .. on both special teams .. gives and takes the pass equally well.

Ryan Costanzo, C, (2004)

Explosive speed and elite mobility allow him to get in on the forecheck and cause turnovers and broken plays .. on PK .. excellent at nullifying time and space for opposition players .. finishes his checks .. can rag the puck out of his zone to kill time on the penalty kill.

Brett Festerling, D, (2004)

Participates on the penalty kill as well as the power play .. finishes his checks .. took a high sticking penalty .. ties up his man in front of the net .. has a nice first step and above average overall quickness.

Logan Stephenson, D, (2004)

Although a defenseman, played on the Wing for the opening shift and won a scrap with a much smaller player .. on the PK .. took an interference PIM for setting a pick off of a faceoff .. made a tremendous open ice hit leveling the forward going through the neutral zone .. uses his size effectively and is an intimidating presence in his own zone .. skating isn’t a problem, but lacks elite acceleration that most of the top prospects possess .. really layed the lumber on a player skating towards the net .. took an inopportune kneeing penalty late in a tie game.

Shawn Belle, D (StL)

Selected to play for Canada at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championships currently being played .. regular on both the PK and PP .. looks solid on his skates, but didn't show the zip in his skating during the first period that he’s known for .. passes crisply and right on the tape .. overall speed is above average, but his transition from offense to defense is mediocre at best .. amazing physical specimen that makes it hard on the other team defensively as he is so strong that players have a hard time containing him one on one .. questionable work ethic .. finally got moving later in the second period and displayed the elite acceleration and top end speed that helped him become a high draft pick .. plays a ton and in all situations .. has the talent to make people miss.