Dec 26, 2012. Whitby Wildcats vs. Guelph Jr. Storm. (Marlies Holiday Classic) 2-2 T
WHT#61 F Hayden McCool. Was the best player on the ice in this game. Showcased an effective skating stride allowing him to lead the rush as well as back check hard when necessary. Used size well in the offensive zone winning puck battles and gaining positioning in front of the net and in the defensive and neutral zone initiating physical contact to knock opposing players off the puck. Smart player, who reads the ice well and knows where to position himself to be effective, tipped home a shot from the point for one of the Wildcat goals. Saw time in all situations for the Wildcats and demonstrated strong penalty kill skills when called upon.
WHT#66 F William Scott. Showcased good vision and offensive skills for the majority of the game. Displayed nice hands in tight on some nifty dangles and dekes. Consistency is the biggest issue, seemed on occasion to take a shift or two off each period. Has a potential 3rd gear speed wise that can be used to beat defenders on rushes to the outside, although does not always showcase it. Defensively aware center, consistently helping out the defense down low and moving pucks out of the defensive zone to begin the offensive attack. Solid in the face-off circle as well, winning or drawing majority of the time.
WHT#97 D Justin Lemcke. Big bodied defender, used size well to engage oncoming attackers and knock pucks free. Utilizes an active stick, keeping rushers to the outside and intercepting the occasional pass. Generally makes a strong first pass out of the defensive zone, although did wrap the puck around the boards before looking once or twice when pressured. Showed good vision on the power play, picking when to shoot and when to make a pass down low. Skating is the biggest area of improvement; stride is a bit choppy and could use some improvement on edges and maximizing movements.
GUE#24 F Tommy Hoogaars. Was the offensive catalyst for the Storm. Scoring both goals on one shift. The first was a beautiful top corner shot from high in the slot that the goalie had no chance on. The second was coming off a rush down the wing, dangled one defender before going shelf again. Generated other quality scoring chances but could not finish any of the others. Heavy shot that was showcased on both goals, as well as good offensive awareness and positioning allowing him time in the slot to finish on the first goal.
GUE#71 F Cole Poliziani. A raw prospect at this point, but has some intriguing potential for improvement. Made smart outlet passes from the half wall in the defensive zone, allowing for a quick offensive counter attack. Saw a good amount of time on the Storm power play and was effective in generating scoring chances and getting pucks on net. Engages physically and helps set the tone for a hard hitting game, as well as getting under opponents skin after whistles. Average skater although there is room for improvement in this area, maximizing steps and working on taking better angles. Set up the first storm goal with a beautiful pass to the wide open man high in the slot.
GUE#78 D Trevor Bush. Played a pretty solid game. Engaged attackers physically and won majority of battles along the boards and in the corners. Made solid reads on the majority of outlet passes and is a solid puck moving defenseman. Saw time in all situations for the Storm and was effective at blocking shots on the penalty kill and moving opponents from the crease area allowing the goaltender to have unobstructed views.