AJHL Season Review: Part 1
TSR Features | 1 Apr 2011BROOKS BANDITS
#6 Kirsten Odendaal 01/09/93
Odendaal, a Saskatoon Blades (WHL) prospect, looks to be a solid defenceman for the Brooks Bandits. The 1st year blueliner has nice recovery speed and above average top speed for a defenceman. He has the ability to pinch in and keep the play alive but should get stronger on the puck and feet. That should improve over the next year as he matures and grows.
CALGARY CANUCKS
#3 Sam House 06/25/93
Sam House is among the multiple young blueliners on the Calgary Canucks. His willingness to being so hesitant skating with the puck and decision making in the neutral zone. House has above average speed for a defenseman and tries to make the safe play more often than not. Other things about his game that I like is his ability to play the man 1 v 1 and he has a solid low shot from the blueline. Over the course of the next year, he should work on getting stronger as he is easily taken down and he needs to be a bit more attent in his own end.
#5 Taylor Graham 02/19/93
Taylor Graham is a very gifted offensive defenseman. He is a very good skater and is shifty enough with the puck to elude players through the neutral zone. His patience with the puck is also something that benefits himself and defense partner. However, his defensive game must improve substantially. He tends to get lost in his own end and gets out muscled defending his own net.
#10 Evan Jarock 10/17/92
Jarock, a 2nd year Calgary Canuck centreman is starting to become a solid all around player. He has good speed and agility and makes plays because he continually has his feet moving. He finishes his checks and his speed allows him to recover. He also has good body control to shield off opposing players from the puck. He could improve his compete level in the faceoff circle.
#23 Aidan Crowther 09/02/03
As a Regina Pats draft pick, Crowther understands the game well. His hockey sense and instincts are well above average. He knows where to be throughout the ice, but his foot speed is one thing that may bring his overall game down. He does make up for his lack of speed with his ability to use his body to make plays, both offensively (shielding puck or work down low) and defensively (taking man off puck).
CAMROSE KODIAKS
#4 Sam Jardine 08/12/93
TSR will be running a special article on Camrose defenseman Sam Jardine.
#7 Jon Lashyn 12/07/92
There is a lot to like about Jon Lashyn’s game. He has a lot of raw talents and gets every chance to improve with the big minutes that he gets with the Camrose Kodiaks. Lashyn’s compete level is always the same, whether its laying down to block passes on a 2 on 1, or stepping in to keep the puck alive with good control on the powerplay. I would like to see him improve his defensive zone coverage; as he gets running around in his own end and tends to lose positioning on it. He is also an average skater, but makes up for it with the intensity.
#20 Luc Vandale 05/08/93
You wouldn’t know it by the way he plays, but at 5’8 and 157 pounds, Luc Vandale is one of the most rugged players on the ice. He is a guy that you don’t want to play against because he isn’t afraid to go to the net and mix things up.
His speed also adds an element to his game that is one of the assets to his game. It seems like his motor never stops and when he has the puck, he is very shifty. Vandale also is a solid passer and works well dishing the puck on the powerplay. His shooting could improve as well as his shot selection.
#21 Mackenzie Royer 09/20/92
Mackenzie Royer is a very skilled forward that was back and forth with a year and a half with the Calgary Hitmen. He is able to accept tougher passes from skate to stick, which he makes look easier than it actually is and is a good stick handler (puck on a string). He would be a dangerous player if his compete level was a bit higher as it seems like he floats a bit much instead of stopping and starting. His positioning and transition game always seems to be a step ahead (good way) and he helps at both ends of the ice. His physical game is lacking, as he shys away from giving and getting hits.
CANMORE EAGLES
#4 John Stevens 06/09/93
John Stevens is a solid stay at home defenseman for the Canmore Eagles. His decision making is inconsistent during the game. He anticipates well, but needs to work on his transition game from the neutral zone to his own end. He also gambled on a pinch with his defensive partner already in the zone. He makes smart plays to enter the defensive zone, by taking what the defense gives him. He has a good active stick on defense and takes a hit to make plays.
#6 Dalton Olsen 06/07/93
Dalton Olsen is a player that you like to watch play. He has all the intangibles that you want to see in a defenseman, but they just need to be refined. He is a physical defenseman with above average skating. He is very aggressive and that costs him sometimes, most evident trying to pinch in the blueline and keep the play alive. He needs to give more cushion in the neutral zone instead of trying to hit or matching speed.
#8 Trey Phillips 04/02/93
Phillips was among the 5 guys that I picked out to watch at the mid point of the season and for good reason. The converted forward showed that he was a big piece of the Eagles blueline. He quarterbacked the first powerplay unit and had good vision from the point setting guys up. He used his speed to his advantage especially moving the puck up the ice, but still tends to hold on the puck and make plays instead of taking the easy way.
#16 Carson Brown 07/05/93
Brown was a solid role player for Canmore this season. He was an energy guy that came in and made big hits and finished each check. He took good angles attacking the opposing defensemen for usually a big hit. He was responsible defensively, but needed to compete more at both ends of the ice.
#21 Connor Hoekstra 01/21/93
I was impressed by Hoekstra’s play when I was able to see him. His overall game isn’t flashy, but he gets the job done. He is a smart and effective penalty killer, able to catch defensemen dropping down and constantly forcing the play. He also positions himself well throughout the ice and that helps for catching potential odd man rushes. Hoekstra is also very solid on his feet and controls the puck well. The only part of his game that I would like to see improve is his overall speed, but other than that, his game is pretty sound and should develop offensively in the future.
#22 Ciaron Driscoll 11/05/92
Driscoll is a smooth skater north and south through the ice. He does a nice job defensively standing up players and taking the body out of the play. He does need to be more cautious changing and making sure the puck is deep, as it led to a breakaway.
#27 Steven Phee 12/03/92
Phee is among the many young players on the Eagles. His compete level is good all good, especially during the penalty kill and on the forecheck. The work that he does down low is impressive, as he was able to work the puck to his teammates after being pinned up against the board. Offensively, he has good vision as well as a hard shot.
Tags: Aidan Crowther, Carson Brown, Ciaron Driscoll, Connor Hoekstra, Dalton Olsen, Evan Jarock, John Stevens, Jon Lashyn, Kirsten Odendaal, Luc Vandale, Mackenzie Royer, Sam House, Sam Jardine, Steven Phee, Taylor Graham, Trey Phillips
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