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shut0ut · 02-17-2019, 11:31 PM

First Article + SMJHL Media Week
Thanks to @"luketd" for giving me the idea behind this article

Earlier this evening Canadian talent Isaac Yamada announced his intentions to join the S46 SMJHL Draft Class and solidified what looks to be a strong core heading forward for Team Canada's international presence. Yamada is a defensively minded defense man from Halifax, Nova Scotia with an aggressive tendency towards using his massive frame to impact the play. This rough style of play from the defensive line is something that is favored in the hockey community and provides a valuable role to any team worth their weight in pennies. While the current meta of defense man calls for a player who can perform on both ends of the ice, Yamada prefers a style more accustomed to the ways of the past, where defense man stayed in their lane and influenced the play from the back end. While the exact details of his inoculation into the SMJHL are still unclear, Yamada enters the playing field at a unique disadvantage due to his late application. Just prior to his announcement the league completed the regular season play for their prospect showcase, leaving Yamada with very few opportunities to impress the management staff around the league.

This draft class is bursting at the seems with talented young players hailing from the Great White North, and while Yamada is one of many he already seems to be showing the signs of domination. While he was not able to compete in the tournament, many of the players in this class were opponents of his in Major Junior hockey prior to their announcement to follow the SHL career path. With so much talent declaring in such a short period of time, it's hard to be able to get a full look at every player and where they excel, but we can look at a few. As Canada prepares their prospects for the future of international hockey, we look ahead to which of these young athletes will be taking a place on that squad in just a year's time.

Dawson Kennedy
Dawson Kennedy is a one of a kind goal scoring player. While most players try to focus their games into multiple areas, Kennedy is hell bent on making sure that he can get the puck in the net. Speed and accuracy are the name of the game for this guy, and he doesn't shy away from a little competition. With the way he looks heading into this draft you can expect him to be one of the more important cast members on a team, helping backstop them to a championship through his soft hands and elite footwork. The one thing a team always needs is another goal scorer seeing as offense wins championships.

Jax Duggan
It's hard to find a truly great offensive defense man, but everyone once in a while a player like Jax Duggan and surfaces and you know you've found a diamond in the rough. Duggan is a perfect example of what you want out of an offensive minded player with perfect on ice passing vision and a massive slapshot, he has all the firepower to rack up a pretty points total. The biggest fear teams have in selecting offensive defense man is that more often than not these players tend to be a defensive liability, but the concern is erased when it comes to Duggan. His speed and defensive awareness are a guarantee to general managers that he can persist on both ends of the ice no matter what.

David Shorey
While many centers tend to go for pass heavy approach to offense, David Shorey strays away from the normal routine and has opted to follow a path more focus on goal scoring. Shorey is an elite sniping talent with the ability to manipulate the ice to open up for him and give him free passage into the opposing team's slot. His blistering wrist shot and quick feet open up doors that most players can't see past and present opportunities that only the greatest players can find. Shorey's puck handling skills are a story of their own as his soft hands can tear apart opposing defense man while he embarrasses them on his way towards the net.

Devin Lockhart
Devin Lockhart may just be one of the more interesting players in this draft. With the hybrid and stand up goal tending methods becoming increasingly prevalent in the hockey world of today, Lockhart breaks down some walls as he chooses to remain on his pads the majority of the game. Lockhart's ability to read the play is without a doubt one of the most impressive in the game, and seeking vision is nowhere near a problem for him from the ground with his small size acting as a strength rather than a weakness. Style control and agility are the biggest strengths in his game as he can easily move around the ice without losing his form.

Lex Peters
Lex Peters is another one of the finest players in this draft class. Hailing from Whistler, British Columbia, Peters isn't new to the game of hockey. His style of gameplay falls right into the stereotypical archetype for center man of today as he prefers to keep out of the way of the goal scorers and instead provide them with the play making ability that they need to beat the goaltender. Peters has game changing speed and lightning fast reflexes, but his biggest strength is his aptitude to exist on both ends of the ice. Centers are players you need to be able to depend upon to give you total two way support, and Peters is the perfect example of a player who does just that.

It's very clear to see that the Canadian roster has some amazingly talented young players on the cusp of breaking into their system. As the prospects tournament finishes up we're going to be able to get a better look at some of these players on the highest level during the playoff campaign prior to their selections in the SMJHL entry draft. Back here in Canada, things are looking up.

***luke*** · 02-17-2019, 11:33 PM

Great Article!

DeletedAtUserRequest · 02-18-2019, 12:07 AM

+1

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Nictox · 02-18-2019, 01:00 PM

+2

RIP Dangel #AD26

***HabsFanFromOntario*** · 02-18-2019, 02:17 PM

shutout back?

Jearim · 02-18-2019, 03:14 PM

Hmmm Canadian eh? Stay away IIHF nations!!!!

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