wjac players to watch

Keeping an eye on the future

Players to watch at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge

December 13, 2015
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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 a national title? Who will make the key pass? Score the big goal? Make the huge save?

NHL Central Scouting has selected three players from each of the six teams competing in Cobourg and Whitby, Ont., that it believes are players to watch at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge.

Who made the list?

CANADA EAST

MATT CAIRNS
size and strength defenceman … very good mobility … makes a good first pass … makes responsible decisions under pressure … very good one-on-one … strong and accurate point shot

OWEN GRANT
quickness and smarts compensate for lack of size … strong and efficient skater … carries the puck with confidence … good read/react game … effective with and without the puck

BRETT MURRAY
good combination of size, speed and skill … sees the ice very well … tremendous hockey sense … very good hands and puck control in traffic … likes to play a physical game

CANADA WEST

DANTE FABBRO
dynamic defenceman … poised with and without the puck … does not chase the game … good puck skills … excellent tape-to-tape passer … tremendous mobility … hard shot

TYSON JOST
very smart two-way player … high-end skill set … excellent offensive hockey sense … can make plays at top speed … quick transition game … can play in all situations … a leader

BRINSON PASICHNUK
offensive defenceman … can lead or jump into the rush … firm and accurate point shot … can take charge of the play … quick feet and deceptive speed … hard to knock off the puck

CZECH REPUBLIC

LUKAS DOUDERA
very smart defenceman … sees the ice well to advance the puck … very good on the power play … quick and mobile in transition … defensive responsible, but offensively active

ONDREJ NAJMAN
hard worker … good size and speed … smart and effective on the fore-check … makes plays on the fly … has poise to let scoring chances develop … hard to knock off the puck

KRISTIAN REICHEL
smart two-way centre … strong in the face-off circle … both a scorer and a play-maker … good instincts to get open … always moving … can contribute in all situations … finishes checks

RUSSIA

MIKHAIL MALTSEV
two-way power forward … athletic frame … strong on his skates … plays in tough areas … very good one-on-one game … responsible at both ends … consistent from shift to shift

GERMAN RUBTSOV
excellent hockey sense … very high hockey IQ … has vision to make difficult plays … speed that makes a difference … very good passer and playmaker … recognizes opportunity

KIRILL SLEPETS
very good speed and balance … quick read/react game … skilled in traffic … knows how to create offensive chances … good hands … quick release … tough to knock off the puck

SWITZERLAND

MARCO MIRANDA
good size and strength … hard to check at top speed … utilizes size and reach to get to the net … moves well in traffic for a big player … effective in one-on-one battles … good upside

LIVIO STADLER
dynamic skater … plays a heads-up game … moves the puck well … can make plays under pressure … quick and agile in transition … passes with authority … competes on every play

DOMINIK VOLEJNICEK
big-time shot … good offensive hockey sense … very good hands … always finds a scoring position … quick to capitalize on opportunities … understands defensive responsibility … leader

UNITED STATES

JOHN MARINO
NHL skater … has speed, quickness and agility … likes to lead the rush … makes an effective stretch pass … very active stick … creates defensive pressure … capable of open-ice hits

ANDREW PEEKE
big, physical defenceman … moves well in all directions … shows poise with the puck … solid, stay-at-home style … good coverage and containment game … makes a good first pass

MAX ZIMMER
quick with and without the puck … good drive to the net … gets shot off quickly … knows how to finish … can handle the puck in traffic … protects the puck well … good work ethic

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

emadziya@hockeycanada.ca 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

ssharkey@hockeycanada.ca

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

jknight@hockeycanada.ca

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