Who will be looked upon in the dying minutes of a tie game? Who will be counted upon to provide leadership on the long road to gold? Who will make the key pass? Score the big goal? Make the huge save?
International Scouting Services has selected three players from each of the six teams competing in Yarmouth that it believes are players to watch at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge.
Who made the list?
CANADA EAST
JAKE EVANS
elite vision … supreme play-making ability … excellent skater … superb hockey sense … uses his teammates well … can make things happen
COREY KALK
dynamic offensive talent … terrific hands … quick and agile … plays with passion … good leader … likes to score goals … gets shot off quickly
MICHAEL PRAPAVESSIS
tremendous vision … excellent passer … makes the smart and simple play … excellent hockey sense … very strong skater … good shot
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CANADA WEST
ALEX GILLIES
pure goal scorer … finds open space … plays with grit … quick player … great change of direction … soft hands … can handle the puck in traffic
RHETT GARDNER
uses size to win battles … drives the net with power and purpose … responsible … consistent … high energy … terrific on the PK … hard worker
PAUL STOYKEWYCH
physically strong … enjoys contact … confident puck handler … passes well … good skater … likes to join the rush … strong positional play
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CZECH REPUBLIC
PAVEL JENYS
good size and strength … good stride … agile with the puck … uses body and reach to protect the puck … doesn’t panic … can create space
FILIP PYROCHTA
smooth skater … good puck-handling skills … very patient … good mobility and quickness … very dangerous in transition … excellent anticipation
VITEK VANACEK
calm goaltender … doesn’t get intimidated … strong down low … quick legs … athletic … quick reactions to tips … absorbs rebounds well
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RUSSIA
EDUARD NASYBULLIN
very composed … good offensive instincts … plays in all situations … effective puck distributor … reads the play well … makes crisp passes
KIRILL PILIPENKO
smart player … complete game … tremendous hockey sense … soft hands … good puck control … good team player … infectious work ethic
EVGENY SVECHNIKOV
tremendous skills … fun to watch … plays at a high tempo … dangerous on the PP … pure goal scorer … can make plays at top speed
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SWITZERLAND
ZACCHEO DOTTI
hard working … big body … uses long reach to his advantage … plays intense and physical … wins most battles … valuable penalty killer
LUCA HISCHIER
strong on the puck … smooth puck-handling skills … sees the ice well … good passer … strong in the face-off circle … play-making centre
MARC MARCHON
good play-maker … more of a passer than a finisher … low centre of gravity … quick skater … competitive battler … good net drive
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UNITED STATES
CONNOR HURLEY
good mix of size and skill … soft hands … long reach … exceptional lateral mobility … competes in all three zones … plays in all situations
JOSH JACOBS
good poise … makes a good first pass … likes to jump into the play offensively … athletic … good skater … decent size … good offensive instincts
NICK SCHMALTZ
offensive-minded … high talent level … pure skill … dymanic scoring threat … explosive skater … quick hands … changes speed well