Scouting Report: Andrade La Sombra, 18-year-old Left Wing

Height: 5’ 11”
Weight: 210 lbs

If there is proof that utility is one of the best tools in a successful hockey player, Andrade La Sombra is living proof. In the offensive zone, she can read the play well, and her quick agility and speed, not to mention strength to put herself in hard-to-defend areas means she can quickly make a critical pass or take the shot herself, something she can do from extreme range. She’s also a physical presence, able to place herself well in the offensive and defensive zone, and she can deliver a pinning check or a bone-crushing hit if the situation calls for either. Perhaps her best asset is her stamina, able to handle some of the hardest minutes with efficiency and utility that coaches can use for the power play or as an extra skater, something that can propel a career.

La Sombra’s skills have allowed her to play critical minutes for Team World in the S73 WJC tournament, and that utility has made her selection in the second round of the S74 SHL Draft look like a master stroke by Colorado’s management. The Raptor made a name for herself quickly, scoring 22 goals and 32 assists in a full season, with an impressive 155 hits, showing she was anything but shy on the ice surface.

La Sombra’s toolset lacks a few key ingredients, however. Chief among them being her ability to read the defensive play of her opponents, leaving her open to bad decisions and being caught out of position, despite her better judgment. She does not adequately deploy her stick in situations that would prove advantageous, and she fails to recognize the importance of blocking shots, leaving that duty to others, which is something less desirable for someone who is unafraid to use that large frame to punish others. Some of this will be improved with training and coaching, something Colorado will be intently invested in as they move forward.

Eddie Morozov signing off for now. Stay tuned for more info and more reports from my trips abroad scouting the next SHL stars!

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