ISS Hockey
Who will be looked upon in the dying minutes of a tie game? Who will be counted upon to provide leadership on the road to a gold medal? 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 eight teams competing in Saint John and Quispamsis that it believes are players to watch at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Who made the list?
CANADA BLACK
QUINTON BYFIELD dynamic offensive talent … great combination of size, strength and skill … offence-first mentality … very creative with the puck … playmaker who wants the puck … soft hands and quick stick
JAMIE DRYSDALE footwork and skating are high-end … very good puck skills … can control a game from the point … can skate the puck out of trouble … calm under pressure … does everything with a purpose
JOSH LAWRENCE creative playmaking centre … tremendous change of direction … plays with determination and passion … puck follows him around the ice … always a threat to score … quick, accurate wrist shot
CANADA RED
KAIDEN GUHLE tremendous offensive instincts … elite skater with game-changing speed … uses quickness to gain advantages offensively and defensively … carries the puck with confidence
EVAN VIERLING high-impact offensive forward … ability to dominate games … excellent quickness and agility … hard to handle in open ice … corrals bad passes with ease … makes smart decisions quickly
WILLIAM VILLENEUVE puck-moving defenceman … makes a good first pass … not afraid to join the rush … makes a crisp outlet pass … quick feet for his size … knows how to get in position to shut down the rush
CANADA WHITE
CONNOR MCCLENNON dangerous offensive forward … ability to create as goal-scorer and playmaker … extraordinary puck skills … exceptional on the PP … rarely misses a scoring chance … no panic with the puck
JAKE NEIGHBOURS hard to play against … uses size to create space … strong along the wall … likes to drive to the net … gets hard, accurate shot off quickly … strong vision in the offensive zone … smart player
COLE PERFETTI two-way forward … can create on the rush or cycle … makes everyone around him better … elusive speed … quick to jump into holes for loose pucks … always in the right spot at the right time
CZECH REPUBLIC
ONDREJ BALAZ puck-moving defenceman … poised with the puck … excellent mobility … knows when to jump into the rush … doesn’t force the play … plays a smart game … good gap control … good on the PP
MAREK BLAHA mobile two-way defenceman … tremendous skater … sees the ice well … creates opportunities for teammates … smart and passionate … uses speed to force turnovers … high panic point
JAN CIKHART power forward … high compete level … likes to play physical … willing to play in the corners … goes up and down wing with a purpose … uses reach to protect the puck … hard shot
FINLAND
RONI HIRVONEN very good offensive instincts … good skater with quickness and speed … excellent vision … high hockey IQ … dangerous on the PP … plays with energy … noticeable every shift
RUBEN RAFKIN two-way mobile defenceman … good offensive instincts … likes to activate off the blue-line and join the rush ... makes difficult passes look easy … defensively responsible … uses his stick well
AATU RÄTY slick offensive playmaker … can take control with a single shift … soft hands … excellent puck skills … can stick-handle through tight spaces … sees the ice well … reaches top speed quickly
RUSSIA
YAROSLAV ASKAROV good balance in stand-up and butterfly … solid rebound control … quick legs … economizes his movements … very good concentration … extremely mobile … tremendous reflexes
MARAT KHUSNUTDINOV first steps are way above average … has separation speed … makes plays at full speed … always has his head up … dangerous with the puck … quick release … finds open ice and quiet spots
VASILI PONOMARYOV a threat whenever he has the puck … goal-scorer with lightning-quick release … good skater with quickness and speed … competes hard in all three zones … quality stick skills
SWEDEN
ALEXANDER HOLTZ great combination of size and skill … is a threat as a goal-scorer and playmaker … uses linemates well to create opportunities … very good one-timer … dangerous with time and space
LUCAS RAYMOND fast, smart and skilled … ability to be a difference maker in every game … one of the most electric players in his age group … very slick puck skills … dangerous in a 1-on-1 situation
JESPER WALLSTEDT takes up a lot of the net … communicates well with his defencemen … plays with confidence … technique is fundamentally sound … tracks the puck well through traffic … covers the angles
UNITED STATES
TYLER KLEVEN two-way defenceman … huge frame and physical presence … smooth stride with good mobility ... handles the puck with confidence … good hockey IQ … good decisions in all three zones
TY SMILIANIC play-making centre … explosive first steps … beats you with speed or quick cuts … likes to challenge the opposition 1-on-1 ... wins the majority of races to pucks … crafty with the puck
LUKE TUCH highly-skilled power forward … has tools to be an impact player … offensively creative … great instincts for the net … plays with an edge … great net-front presence … works hard down low