Future Watch: 2021 Draft Eligibles (Part Three)

This week we planned on adding a couple of goalies to the list but have decided to do a feature for just goaltenders in a future edition. This week we take a look at a few more CSSHL Bantam Prep players before moving on to a duo of impact forwards from West Vancouver's Bantam Varsity squad and out east for a look at an under the radar prospect. Many of our groups' current reports are from CSSHL due to accessibility to video. If you have any video of your team or program's games that you would like to link to us, email us at scouting@dubnetwork.ca and help expand our reach in this long offseason!

Dryden Kuramoto, Forward, Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep

"Kuramoto has excellent skating ability, quick acceleration and is fluid at high speeds. He has a strong hockey IQ. His speed creates another layer of separation, outracing the opposition to loose pucks. He will play in the paint when necessary and isn’t afraid to mix it up in the dirty areas. He is able to get scoring opportunities while warding off defenders in close. He would benefit from being stronger on his feet to fight through more physical traffic effectively. Better puck control when deking through traffic would complement his excellent skating ability. He is deceptively fast and can catch the defence off guard with his quick acceleration. He skates hard for a full 60 mins. He possesses excellent forecheck skills, making good use of his speed. He tends to react to the game around him and could initiate more scoring opportunities consistently. Comparable to Kailer Yamamoto, in both size and aggressiveness. Excellent ability to change directions. His two-step acceleration is top-notch. He demonstrates a high level of maturity, avoiding unnecessary penalties and plays with integrity. His passing is crisp, and tape to tape consistently. Finds open areas of ice with ease, and this translates into scoring opportunities." - Paul Flores

Linden Burrett, Defenceman, Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep

"A native of Surrey, B.C. Linden Burrett is a puck-moving offensive defenseman. What stands out most about Burrett is his poise with the puck. Burrett has the ability to deal with opponent forechecks effectively and retain possession of the puck. With his clever use of body feints and great edgework, Burrett easily shakes off the pressure and in turn opens up acres of space for him to initiate the rush for his team. Burrett has a great first pass to get his team going in the right direction to start an attack in the offensive zone where he excels with his fantastic offensive instincts. Linden loves to jump into the rush whenever the opportunity arises where he will drive to the net and look for rebound scoring opportunities and can also create chances off the rush for teammates. Burrett holds the offensive blue line well and keeps the puck in to prolong zone time for his team by pouncing on smart pinch opportunities. In retreat, he is a great backwards skater, able to stay in front of the puck carrier which allows him to maintain a proper position to deal with opponent rushes. Burrett is incredibly versatile, able to play both sides of the ice and plays in all situations. In order to take his game to the next level, his forward skating will need some improvement as sometimes he cannot get back in time when his team’s rush is broken up. Also, as Burrett gets stronger, he will need to develop more physicality to deal with bigger players as he mostly relies on positioning and stickwork in his own zone." - Adam Goodwin

Ryder Ritchie, Forward, Pursuit of Excellence Bantam Prep

"Ritchie fits the bill as your prototypical small forward in today’s game, he’s an intelligent, high-skilled player with a motor that never turns off. Ritchie has good top speed with very-good acceleration and is able to use his hips and feet to evade defenders. He combines his shifty skating with deceptively good hands, making him a hard player to contain. As he grows into his body he should become a very effective player with the puck. His playmaking ability is strong as he makes solid forehand and backhand pass to set up teammates for prime opportunities. One of Ritchie's drawbacks is a lack of strength, which will surely develop with time. He is intelligent with his shot selection and to find open space, but doesn't currently have the power to finish outside the slot. His defensive zone relies a lot on his knowledge of the game and instincts, as he finds ways to block lanes and interrupt chances. His reliability in his own zone will only get better as he continues to develop and become even more relied upon by his coaches. As Ritchie goes into his second year his coach will rely on him a lot in all situations helping him develop in all aspects of the game. As his strength and shot take leaps next year look for a player who can be very dangerous in all situations." - Kaden Moore

Carson Wetsch, Forward, West Vancouver Warriors Bantam Varsity

"Carson Wetsch crafted an impressive stat resume as a first-year in the Bantam Varsity league. Carson led his team with 77 points and 67 penalty minutes in 29 games, showing not only a hot scoring touch but his physical presence as well. At 5'8", Carson stood out as a long, rangy forward in his league and used his size advantage to intimidate opponents at times. Carson is a very strong finisher who doesn't give up on the puck or the play - keeping his eyes moving and thinking ahead to reposition himself offensively and defensively. He reads and anticipates the play intelligently and can explode, either way, pushing the puck up the ice or making the long stretch pass to his teammates on the tape. A dogged defender using his stick to disrupt opponents passes and shots is a tenacious trait in an offensive winger like Carson.  He is strong on his skates and difficult to knock off the puck with his balance.  Even though Carson will certainly work on and improve his play away from the puck in his draft season, his continual motion and cycling mentality are what set him apart from other physical players. With another season putting in the effort, he should continue to excel among his peers and command a high first-round selection in 2021." - Phil Dietz

Diego Buttazzoni, Forward, West Vancouver Warriors Bantam Varsity

"Having watched several West Vancouver Warriors Bantam Varsity Games and their plethora of talented skaters, it's difficult to miss Diego. Diego Buttazzoni is a hard-driving, slick skating, two-way power forward who loves to mix it up in the trenches. In an effort to control the puck so as to move the play up ice in the offensive zone quickly to make chaos in front of the net. Diego is built like a stout fireplug on quick blades. Hard to knock off the puck or even off the check, Diego's low center-of-gravity, skating style and extreme balance make it difficult to remove him out of any play, offensively or defensively. His knack for making a blind pass to his teammates is sometimes a surprise to them on the rush or in tight when he's chasing the puck into the corners, but that smart, heady play many times pays huge dividends as his teammates have warmed up to his deceptive strategy that stuns on-rushing checkers who can't respond as quickly as he can escape trouble. The way Diego protects the puck and finds the open man with cross the seam passes is already an elite skill amongst his mostly bigger peers. His stick looks short but plays long in how Deigo plays defence with a quick-poke accuracy and lightning-fast reflexes. One of the most impressive skills Diego possesses is his motoring ability with quick feet skating north, south, east, or west with ease and elegance. When he stops - he's back up to speed in a stride or two and he outraces most of his opponents - especially when avoiding jams, double teams, and checks. I see Diego as a rock-solid, versatile forward who will make the difficult play look easy and keep his team in the game on every shift. With a possible growth spurt in the next year, I believe Diego will improve immensely and emerge as a high-end, early-round pick in the 2021 WHL Draft." - Phil Dietz

Ashton Tait, Forward, U15 Prince Albert Pirates

"Tait will enter this season with the U15 Prince Albert Pirates with high expectations after finishing last season 2nd on the team in scoring with 45 points in 31 games. Tait is an offensive catalyst with really strong puck skills. He has a potent wrist shot with a quick release. However, the strongest aspect of his game is his hockey sense.  In the offensive zone, he is quick to find seams and distributes the puck well. He’s not always the most noticeable player on the ice but more often than not his name is on the scoresheet multiple times. He isn’t a really physical player but has a good stick when defending. Currently, he projects to be selected around the third round in next year's WHL draft but if he grows he might find himself going higher." - Layne Lysitza

We will continue publishing Future Watch articles every Monday for the near future as our team prepares for their first season!


Future Watch: 2021 Draft Eligibles (Part Two)

Part two of our Future Watch series highlights five first-year bantam players that excelled against the older competition this past season and will look to be key leaders in the CSSHL's Bantam Prep league this upcoming season.

Jordan Gavin, Forward, Delta Green Bantam Prep

"Jordan Gavin is an effective player who has the capabilities of really excelling next season. A standout aspect of his game is his acceleration, he can really pull away from players with quick, explosive strides. Gavin's top speed is also difficult to keep up with as he plays a fast-paced game that the opposition has a difficult time keeping up with. He has good footwork that with some work into, it could really become a big selling point to his game. He has an accurate shot, however, the velocity of his shot can vary, this is something that could easily be developed over the off-season. In regards to moving with the puck, Jordan is able to keep up with his skating ability, he has good puck-work as well as puck protection allowing him to keep control even when he has a defender on him. Consistency in the delivery and reception of passes is something that could be improved in his game and will really highlight his mature vision and high hockey IQ. Gavin finds himself in the right position very frequently as he processes the game faster than most of his peers, allowing him an extra split second for decision making. When watching Jordan play his work ethic is evident, he races to loose pucks and rushes on the backcheck and on the forecheck. Jordan is willing to play physical and use his body to block shots, this is a very mature team-first attitude especially for his age. A very adaptable player who plays quality in whatever position that is asked of him, he has a well-developed powerplay that makes him stand out from his teammates. One of the best qualities of Gavin's game is his net-front presence. He gets in tight with the opposing defender pushing and battling to get his ideal positioning. This allows him to set up a good screen on the goaltender giving his team a better shot at goal. For a first-year bantam, Jordan Gavin really stands out on the ice. As he continues to develop and refine his puck skills he should be a top prospect at next year's draft."- Brayden Abbott

Gavin Garland, Forward, Delta Green Bantam Prep

"One of the top prospects heading into their Bantam Draft season, Gavin Garland is an explosive scoring center with the potential to become a relied upon two-way centerman. An explosive skater with great top speed, strong balance, and excellent mobility, Gavin punishes teams on the counter-attack and through the neutral zone. Capable of beating guys wide or driving hard through a crowded neutral zone, opponents need to be aware of him at all times. Gavin's puck skills are evident in his ability to both stickhandle through traffic and protect the puck while at speed. Added to the threat of his speed and attack on the rush is his solid ability to finish his chances. A quick and sometimes deceptive release allows Gavin to catch goaltenders off guard while mid-stride or stickhandle. When under pressure, even below his own red line, Gavin is able to maintain his composure and patience, making sure he makes the right play as opposed to a desperation play. While his compete is evident in all three zones as he is almost always the first forward helping his defencemen, he can tend to get puck focused in the defensive zone which causes him to over pursue the puck at times. Gavin will almost certainly develop his all-around game and be a top scorer next season as he transitions from EDGE Academy to the Delta Green Bantam Prep squad. Look for Gavin to become one of the best all-around centers in next year's Bantam Draft." - Zach Moffat

Reid Varkonyi, Forward, Northern Alberta Xtreme Bantam Prep

"Reid is a smooth-skating center who uses his strength and agility to get to higher-quality scoring positions rather than settling and putting the puck toward the crease.  His shot is a screamer and accuracy is what makes the difference as he puts the puck in difficult spots for the goalie to handle. What is also impressive is Reid's ability to stop on a dime and see what is in his peripherals and ahead of him in a split second.  In a late-season game against the Edge School Mountaineers, Reid was in his own zone with his back to the blue line when he intercepted a pass skating backward, immediately found his winger with a nice backhand pass sliding up ice behind him, turned and joined for a 2-on-1 rush as the trailer and then slapped in a deft return pass for the opening goal!  When it comes to his hockey IQ it's not necessarily off the charts, but as one of the younger players on the NAX team, Reid shows a lot of promise as he seems to read the ice well and is cognizant of his teammates' positioning.  Although his shooting skills are that of a scorer, Reid is a selfless playmaker who makes his linemates better. As Reid continues to grow he will be a much more forceful and physical presence on the ice, especially around the net where he loves to position himself to pounce on rebounds and loose pucks. In the face-off dot, his stick is quick and sure.  Heads up play is a skill that enables Reid to play in any situation as a multi-tool forward as he gets out of tight jams easily and quickly, using both his quick feet and stick along with a physical intelligence to avoid major contact.  With Reid's anticipated growth and the effort he puts forth consistently, he should improve tremendously through his draft season and quite possibly be a first-round selection." - Phil Dietz

Gavin Hodnett, Forward, RINK Nationals Bantam Prep

"Gavin Hodnett is a hard-working two-way forward. Hodnett is an effective skater, he has a nice stride that keeps him moving at a high speed. His first few steps show strong acceleration qualities that allow him to pull away from the defence when he's attacking and catch players when he's backchecking. Gavin also has good mobility, he showed aspects of great edgework and could stop and start effectively. His quality skating ability paired with his great work ethic allow him to play his role as a two-way forward at a high level. Hodnett delivers the puck well with his passing, he leads his man and doesn't give them a pass that is difficult to control. This leads in well to his playmaking ability. When on offence, Hodnett is imaginative and shows great vision for the game, this allows him to identify teammates in a better position to score. Gavin also shows the capability to read and react to the play, he has a great sense of what playing a good two-way game means, he gets himself in a position to transition into a counter-attack or a backcheck. He shows a well-developed mind when it comes to decision making, especially for his age, Gavin "cheats" into the offence at the right time and doesn't take bad risks. However, one thing Hodnett needs to work on is not getting caught out of position when he forechecks, he sometimes has a tendency to lose "formation", which can be a massive exploit when killing a penalty. Hodnett has good positioning on defence and always seems to keep his man in close, he doesn't get caught flat-footed and communicates his position well with his teammates. He can read the play well and can find opportunities to intercept a pass. A very positive aspect of Gavin's game is how he plays under pressure, he seems to not let it get to him and doesn't get him off his game. A big thing Gavin will need to address going into next season is his physical play, he tends to get caught "fishing" with his stick as opposed to taking the body, lots of times this is due to a lack of confidence which is shown in many first-year bantam players, especially those that are undersized. Finally, Hodnett showed quality leadership abilities and should be able to be a huge role player for his team next year as a veteran in the Bantam Prep division." - Brayden Abbott

Tomas Mrsic, Forward, Delta Green Hockey Academy

"For a temporarily undersized center, Tomas is a strong skater with high-end stickhandling and anticipation!  As one of the youngest players on his Delta Green Bantam Prep team, Tomas showed that he can battle with the best of the rest and hold his own in any situation. Not afraid to muck it up along the boards or in front of the net, Tomas uses his agility and shiftiness to navigate through heavy traffic and make the right play consistently, setting up teammates and keep the offensive play moving.  The way Tomas sees the passing lanes is pretty incredible for a player of his size and age while staying true to his positional territory. Tomas' ability to play all forward positions and appear comfortable on either side of the ice as he receives the puck equally well and distributes it quickly and accurately.  One of the skills that Tomas exhibits extremely well is moving in and around other players because of his size and speed while getting back into position for a smooth transition defensively or offensively.  Tomas does need to add some weight to be a more effective player against the bigger boys in the corners.  By pushing the puck up ice with his head on a swivel to anticipate where his teammates are or will be is another eye-popping skill of his. With another year's growth and experience, Tomas will likely be a much sought after early-round prize in the 2021 WHL Draft.  In this situation, the old cliche of 'Good things come in small packages' rings true!" - Phil Dietz

 

Next Monday, the team will highlight some more top prospects including some goaltenders!


Future Watch: 2021 Draft Eligibles (Part One)

While fans, staff, and players all eagerly await the return of their hockey seasons, we are taking a look at some of the 2006-born players to watch next season and whose names may very well be called in the top-50 come draft day.  Part one brings us five solid prospects who all had outstanding seasons in their own right, playing against the top competition from the 2020 WHL draft class.

Berkly Catton, Forward, Saskatoon Contacts Midget AAA 

"Catton is probably the most hyped prospect to come out of Saskatchewan since Jared Stoll and is sure to apply for exceptional status next season. Catton's skating ability and strong edges allowed him to battle much bigger competition this past season. Catton is a cerebral offensive player that is an exceptional playmaker who also possesses a quick release. He is a creative player who has quick hands. When hockey restarts he will be playing up a level with the Saskatoon Contacts. Catton played one game with the Contacts last year as a double underage and did not look out of place, even scoring a goal. There aren't any holes in Catton's game and the offence almost always goes through him.  Even with all his offensive tools, he is often the hardest working player on ice causing turnovers in all three zones. He is considered a strong leader by example from his teammates." - Layne Lysitza

Tristen Doyle, Defenceman, Northern Alberta Xtreme Bantam Prep

"Tristen is an average size defenceman for his age, but plays much bigger and more aggressively because of his mature hockey sense and compete.  He pushes the puck up ice quickly and accurately with a snappy stick, receives the puck well, and knows where to be on the ice at all times to be an effective team player. A responsible distributor of the puck, Tristen rarely turns the puck over. During a playoff game against RINK Hockey Academy, Tristen was an impressive standout defenceman on both sides of the puck.  His ability as a two-way defenceman was uncanny. A great skater both forwards and backwards, with a real jump in his first steps and acceleration to match any forward and excellent edgework.  One of his major skills with his feet/skates is his ability to receive a pass in his feet, stopping the puck and gaining control, as well as his knack for blocking shots in the defensive zone and transitioning the puck to the offensive zone. Tristen's soft hands allow him to calmly control the puck and facilitate offence from the backend or get the puck up ice and out of his own zone. His shot from the point is quick and accurate, making it difficult for goaltenders and forcing them to make a save through traffic or off of a redirect. Despite being smaller than most of the older kids in the Bantam Prep league, Tristen's low center-of-gravity and balance allowed him to protect the puck and win battles. A solid defenceman with a great compete level and intelligence, look for him to be a high pick come 2021." - Phil Dietz

Charlie Elick, Defenceman, EDGE School for Athletes Bantam Prep

"The son of former professional hockey player Mickey Elick, Charlie is one of the top prospects for the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft. A prototypical elite, right-shot defenseman, Elick spent his 14-year old season playing for the Calgary Flames Bantam AAA, one of the top teams in the AMBHL. There he excelled as the team’s number one d-man, registering 25 points in 33 games in the regular season and 8 points in 10 games in the playoffs. Elick is physically gifted sporting a 6 foot, 170-pound frame already with some more growth expected in the coming years. Elick excels in every area of the game as he plays in all situations including quarterbacking the powerplay. In addition to a heavy, accurate shot, Elick is a creative passer, faking shots to find open teammates and holds onto pucks a split second longer to create better chances for his unit. A gifted skater, Elick loves to lug the puck up the ice in all scenarios and is able to create separation from his opponents with a smooth, powerful stride that allows him to effortlessly transition from defence to offence in a flash. Elick is able to create and finish plays off the rush because of his exceptional hockey sense. Elick’s hockey IQ is best demonstrated by his incredible ability to calmly manage the puck even when under intense pressure from his opponents. He is able to elude forechecks with his slick skating and get the puck moving up ice with his exceptional passing ability. Simply put, whenever Elick gets the puck on his stick, he always seems to make the smart play but also takes chances when the opportunity presents itself. In addition to his elite offensive ability, Elick is as sound as they come defensively. When retreating, his positioning is outstanding and is able to step up to disrupt opponent rushes with ease. Elick’s gap control is great in one-on-one situations and he easily angles opponents to the boards to take the body and retrieve the puck for a smooth transition up ice. Elick is incredibly difficult to get past as he easily neutralizes the opponent’s attacks with both his body and stick work. Elick will move to the Edge School for Athletes for the upcoming season and will certainly be a first-round talent in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft. Elick is a must-watch and possesses all the tools to be an elite number one defenseman at the next level and beyond." - Adam Goodwin

Landon Cowper, Defenceman, Pursuit of Excellence Bantam Prep

"As a first-year player in the league, Landon was heavily relied upon for the young Pursuit of Excellence (POE) team. He played lots of minutes and quarterbacked the power play, at times killing penalties as well. He has a high offensive IQ to go along with a repertoire of offensive tools giving him every ability to generate offence from the backend.  Landon is a very good forward skating defenseman with excellent three-way mobility. He walks the line effectively using his hips to evade forecheckers and create time and space to make plays. His forward skating allows him to gain the offensive zone as well as angle guys to the outside of the defensive zone, his backwards skating has room for development for him to be a complete 4-way skating defender, though. His shot is hard and accurate when he gets chances he capitalizes on them he needs to work on his shot from the point getting through traffic but when it does it creates problems for the goalies. Landon's passing is a very attractive part of his game he makes great cross-seam passes, as well as a crisp breakout passes that are hard, accurate and always seem to find their target, even through traffic. He plays a physical game too, not shying away from throwing hits and blocking shots. Landon's biggest spot for improvement is his defensive game, as he can be passive at times, lacking urgency. He doesn’t cause a lot of problems for his team as he possesses a good stick, blocks shots and is a physical player at times. At times he would benefit from a more consistent urgency and analysis of the play in his own end to avoid taking penalties when out of position. However, the young POE team had a stellar season given the number of 2006-born players on the squad and Landon was relied upon heavily. Next season Landon will be given every opportunity to play important minutes and should take huge strides in his development. When his defensive game catches up to his offensive game Landon will be an impactful presence in all areas of the ice." - Kaden Moore

Clarke Caswell, Forward, Pursuit of Excellence Bantam Prep

"Clarke Caswell is a high IQ two-way forward, as an '06 born player he still has a year to improve until his big day. Caswell shows an incredible edgework for his age, he can switch directions at high speeds without losing momentum. He has a very accurate shot, he hits the net and is consistent in forcing the goalie to make a save. He has a strong stickhandling ability which works well with his high-end skating, allowing him to maneuver well in tight situations. One of the strongest aspects of Clarke's game is his ability to shield the puck and utilize his well-developed vision and hockey IQ to find the right pass or shot. His passing is solid and he can receive pucks well, allowing him to work give and go's at a fast tempo with his teammates. Caswell has a great work ethic and a scoring touch, he is smart around the net and finds open areas, he gets himself open enough to provide time and a clear shot on goal. He forechecks and backchecks well and works hard to win back possession at either end of the ice. The best part of Clarke Caswell's game seems to be his hockey sense. Caswell tends to always be in position and has an elite level of anticipation, he makes smart decisions even when under pressure. Clarke shows on-ice leadership by example, he is the first to tap up his goalie after a big save, he hustles in all areas of the ice, he gets low and blocks the shot and isn't scared of taking a hit to make a play. For Caswell to improve to his full potential he will need to develop the physical aspect of his game. He tends to be knocked off the puck too frequently, it is definitely something that will both come with growth and need to be worked on. Clarke doesn't shy away from a physical game but he also doesn't go out of his way to get into one. Lots of times he could choose to play the body but instead, he tries and force a turnover with his stick. All in all, Caswell is an extremely smart two-way forward, who should go pretty early in next year's draft." - Brayden Abbott

 

Stay tuned for part two, next Monday, where the team takes a look at five more 2021 prospects!