Otto Hanson (Calgary Royals)
A very intelligent and mature
two-way player with great potential, Hanson is a great zone entry option who
can calm the play down and really create time and space for his teammates.
Hanson reads the physics of the game very well and hunts pucks effectively off
bounces and turnovers. The headsy forward doesn't always find the scoresheet
but that is likely to change in the future and he is an obvious catalyst for
this Royals squad. The future is bright here!
Tyler Parr (RHA)
A hard shooting forward who continuously
finds good space away from the puck, Parr has a quick release, can carry the
puck well and proved to be a very strong goal scoring option for his team all
tournament long. Parr played hero for RHA in their final game against the
Calgary Royals netting the game winning goal (in addition to an earlier goal
and 2 assists)
Casey Black (Calgary Flames)
Black was highly noticeable
in all of the Flames games during the tournament. The extremely mobile defender
was all over the ice, stripping pucks, throwing solid lateral hip checks and
jumping up into the rush to create scoring option support for the Flames. His
get in the way type defense is fearless and he was consistently one of the
hardest players to play against in the entire event.
Noah Heinrich (OHA Edmonton)
Heinrich isn't always the
most noticeable player on the ice but if you watch you realize he is most
likely the smartest player on the ice, consistently. He is a smooth skating,
highly mobile defender with outstanding positional awareness and pristine
decision making. It seems with Heinrich that if there is a smart to be played,
he somehow finds an even smart play.
Lukas Dragicevic (Delta Green)
His energy and joy of
competition is contagious. Watching Dragicevic celebrate his teams goals will
bring a smile to your face, and with his skill set, it doesn't take long to get
the opportunity to see it. Dragicevic has excellent transitional instinct and
can really control the pace of play on his shifts.
Tanner Molendyk (Yale)
Molendyk did nothing but win fans
all tournament long. He is just about everything you could ask for or want in a
defender and leader. The Yale captain can dominate in all three zones and on
either side of the puck. His strength and physicality often catches opponents
off guard. He showed some great courage and guts in the tournament final and
while he was eventually unable to continue playing due to an injury, his
presence was still evident as his team rallied to capture the title.
Logan Wormald/Zach Benson (Yale)
Wormald and Benson had
themselves a game in the final. Neither player needs much room to make a play
and they proved their value pacing Yale with 2 goals apiece with Benson adding
2 assists to capture the tournament scoring title as well. Together with Emmitt
Finnie, the trio proved to be the most dangerous combinations in the tournament.
Tristen Doyle (NAX)
Often overlooked on a roster filled
with talent, Doyle is the perfect stabilizing defensive presence that allows
his high octane offensive-minded teammates to do their thing. A great skater
with strong two-way instinct and overall vision, Doyle is consistently
impactful on both sides of the puck and could be viewed as NAX's most important
player due to his ability to mitigate the explosive offensive risk taking on
the roster that likes to jump up ice.
Harper Lolacher (Notre Dame)
Lolacher is the type of
player most coaches love to have on their team and hate to see out on the ice
against them. A committed physical and energetic presence, he can really up the
pressure and speed of the game at times and force opponents into making a lot
of mistakes. He plays a hard-nosed punishing style and has some offensive skill
to capitalize on the opportunities his work ethic and physicality can create.
Harrison Lodewyk (Red Deer)
A quick and energetic player,
Lodewyk wins races all over the ice and shows great strength on his edges making
him a real threat to drive in from his impressive outside rushes. When Lodewyk
hits the ice, the game gets faster because of it and most players struggle to
keep up with his speed. With the puck he is not only dangerous in terms of the
space he can create with his speed but he also possesses a deceptively quick
and heavy release on the puck that often catches goaltenders by surprise.
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