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spidey · 03-27-2023, 05:47 PM

This is it, all or nothing for the Kelowna Knights…well perhaps I am being a little dramatic, but seriously this is the season the Knights have to bet and go all in. When you look at the Knight’s roster, they will be a dramatically different team come next year. Now this happens to every SMJHL team every year, a few of your top talent move on to the SHL, but for the Knights it could be devastating. They are guaranteed to lose 5 of their top players due to aging out of the league: James Lutz, Ekaterina Valieva, Pete Aleman, Cal Kono, and Sea Jebus. Let’s take a look at each player and potential replacements:

James Lutz – Starting Left Winger:
James is a true two-way threat on the ice. He is one of the better offensive forwards, great at puck handling, passing, and picking his shots from inside the hashmarks. With good speed, strength and stamina James can be accountable all game to provide a spark. He is no slouch in the defensive zone, he reads opposing teams well can deliver well timed hits and knows how to move his stick around to knock a puck loose.

Replacement:
Mu Wisconsin
Coming up in the wings is Mu Wisconsin, a solid addition to the team. Mu is a James Lutz light at this time. Accountable in both ends of the ice, but more of an offensive forward. Where Mu truly excels even over James, Mu is able to get open and herself a little more time to pick a spot when shooting. She also takes shots from further out then James.

Ekaterina Valieva – Starting Right Wing
A defensive forward with and incredibly hard shot, Ekaterina has one of the biggest Cannons in the SMJHL. Please do not get me wrong Valieva is as good as any other forward in the opponent’s zone, good passing, good screening, great shooting range. But Defensively Valieva makes a living hell for opposing forwards. Accountable for a full 200-foot game.

Replacement:
Crystal McLeod
Crystal is developing nicely into a solid defensive forward, while she may not develop into the offensive threat that Ekaterina has become. Crystal is no slouch in the defensive department, she loves to hit, hurt and drive the play with her body. She sends the opposition home in an ambulance most nights. Top line, maybe not, but defensively 100%.

Pete Aleman – Top 2 defender
Pete isn’t a powerplay quarter back, he is not a two way threat, he is a classic defensive defender. His job is to keep the front of the net clear and he does an amazing job at this. He cuts off lanes well, has amazing stick work, and if an opponent is dumb enough to keep their head down Pete will take that head off with one of his signature bone crunching hits. The feather to Aleman’s cap would be he can move the puck out extremely well and has a beautiful tape to tape pass.

Replacement:
Dusty Wilson
I am not sure if Replacement is the right word, Dusty is the team’s number one defender and two way threat. He is just as good, maybe better (but I didn’t say that) in the defensive zone then Pete and he is better in the offensive zone, with a solid shot.

Cal Kono – Power Play Quarterback
This is the Knights power play quarterback. He has a great shot, moves the puck extremely well, has an extremely accurate pass that could be a saucer or across the ice. He rarely makes a mistake in the offensive zone. Defensively Cal is accountable in his own zone, but he is not nearly as adept as his defensive brothers. Better at stick work then hitting Cal is the player to rip the puck and move it up quickly.

Replacement:
Isak Sogard
This was a tough choice, most defenders on the roster are solid additions good two-way players. Sogard looks to be the one who is most suited to QB the power play with the hardest most accurate shot in the group. He is a little better defensively then Cal, with a much better hit.

Sea Jeabus – Number 1 Goalie
Jeabus is a solid all-around goalie with no weaknesses in his game, with Jeabus in net the Knights have a chance to win every game. He is arguably strongest in his mental fortitude for the game meaning if he has a bad game, he brushes it off, a weak goal gets by, he moves on to the next save. Nothing rocks Sea Jeabus and the Knights are lucky to have a goalie of his talent. Topping this all off Jeabus is not scared to go out and play the puck moving it up and making a sharp pass to get it out of zone.

Replacement:
Tibuk Soonika
While Jebus has put his focus in a very well rounded game, Tibuk is laser focused in certain aspects to his game. He is never out of position, great rebound control, screens do not bother him as much with amazing reaction speed, and his reflexes are off the chart. The biggest difference the Knights loose their 3rd defender when Tibuk is in net as he is not as adept at playing the puck.

While the sky might not be falling next season as these top players move onto the SHL, there will be some big shoes to fill in some very different aspects to the game.

*CptSquall* · 03-28-2023, 03:25 PM

Approved, +5 TPE to @spidey

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