Login

Noble · 06-08-2019, 05:29 PM

DRAFT ARTICLE BONUS

With the S48 SMJHL Entry Draft rapidly approaching, Veil Scouting Services has officially begun to release some of their preliminary reports on top prospects. The scouting service has only recently opened their doors to the Simulation Hockey League after previously having a heavy hand in the Simulation Lacrosse League, and will be a major part of the community moving forward as it looks to create in depth reports on each of the players currently leading their classes. Let's begin.

Noah Brusky - Defenseman - High School Recruit - @BrewskyBoy
TPE: 164

Noah Brusky is clear and cut one of the most intriguing defensive prospects in the draft class. Brusky played last season in the USA Elite High School performance system and represented his team well through the season, providing a vital and reliable source of defensive prowess at the blue line. Considered to be one of the best defensive players seen in recent history from the system, Brusky has a short falling in that many scouts don't consider him to be a very comparable player, lacking the experience against the top prospects when compared to those who played in the CHL or NCAA system (or comparably the European leagues). Despite this shortcoming, Brusky is an elite athlete who has shown that he has all the tools that could be needed to make it in the hockey world. With a great attitude towards the game and solid connections already built around the league, he is looking to be a player of extremely high quality.

Strengths
Defense: 80
Checking: 60
Passing: 60

It's very clear the direction that Brusky intends to head as he scored extremely high in the defensive category at his VSS on-ice testing. With very strong defensive awareness and ability to anticipate the play, he's the type of player who can be an immediate difference maker for any team. Along side his defensive capability, Brusky is a fan favorite for loving to play the physical game and making sure that anyone who intends to take him on feels the consequences of their actions in brilliant fashion. While most players who focus on the defensive aspect of the game tend to see a slight step down in offensive production, Brusky should remain consistent for his team as a break out star, utilizing key passing mechanics to help his team out of tough situations and get them started back up on the rush.

Sterling Slaughter - Left Wing - Michigan Wolverines - @ItsLTH
TPE: 161

Ann Arbor, Michigan, will have a new star athlete to talk about in just a few short weeks when Sterling Slaughter gets selected to the SMJHL to begin his major junior career. The NCAA junior player has made waves at the wing all season long as he has been generating hype with his incredible offensive aptitude. Slaughter has spent the season playing against some of the players the United States has to offer, and was a key piece in a young American team at the U-21 hockey championship this year in Calgary, Canada. His intelligence of the game will make a him a key contributor on offense this season, and he's a shoe in to be a top point scorer as he has posted 21 points in 9 games so far during the SMJHL prospects tournament. Slaughter is power hungry and ready to pop.

Strengths
Scoring: 75
Skating: 70
Passing: 67

Slaughter takes all the best components in becoming a stud point scorer and combines them to make what is an absolutely deadly, albeit undeveloped, repertoire of success. His intuition on the ice has materialized itself into what will go down as elite scoring ability, and Slaughter has shown no signs of slowing down. With a maturity unmatched by many player of his age, keeping his cool in hectic situations will push him to greater heights. A strong shot and excellent skating allow him to be a threat from anywhere on the ice, allowing him to instantly capitalize on any mistake a defender might make to generate quick break. Don't just expect him to be a one dimensional scorer though, because this guy can feed a pass with accuracy and power unrivaled.

Knox Booth - Goaltender - Victoria Grizzlies - @Tate
TPE: 172

The Victoria junior A system continues to create talented players year after year, and this trend continued when Victoria Grizzlies starting goaltender Knox Booth announced his intention to enter the S48 SMJHL Draft only a short while ago. Booth is a phenomenal athlete, and his stat line with the Grizzlies this season was a clear indicator of that as he helped propel the team to success during the regular season campaign. While many teams build themselves around their skaters, Booth can be a difference maker by himself and influence the direction of a game solely on his own performance. While this is certainly a positive, it can also mean that any inconsistency could be frustrating and detrimental towards his team.

Strengths
Rebound Control: 75
Style Control: 75
Reaction Time: 75

Booth is one of the highest scoring players from the VSS one ice testing, posting incredible numbers that earned him excellent scores. When a goaltender like this shows up, teams can be expected to salivate at the prospects of snapping up on him and adding him to their roster. As previously talked about, Booth can be a difference maker by himself on the ice with an incredible ability to read the play and understand where the shot is coming from and going before its even left the shooters stick, marking him as one of the strongest players in this draft. Consistency will be the most important variable to watch for him moving forward in his career.

Jukka Jokinen - Left Wing - HIFK - @jtp
TPE: 163

The Finnish Liiga is already known for developing extremely talented prospects, but the world isn't ready for the next young star to come out of the Helsinki based HIFK. Jokinen was a late joiner to the draft class and failed to meet the deadline for the Prospects tournament due to the off schedule length of the Liiga season, but has been one of the most sought after prospects regardless. This big bodied winger is reminiscent of the NHL's Jamie Benn during his prime with the Dallas Stars, and he'll look to fill a role of aggressor out on the ice all-season long while not shying away from moving the puck to the back of the net. Competing against some of Europe's best has made him into an absolute star in his own right, and he'll only continue to get better as he progresses.

Strengths
Skating: 65
Puck Handling: 63
Strength: 60

One of the biggest critiques of Jokinen's play is that he doesn't seem to have his own identity, failing to excel in any one aspect of the game more than others, but in consideration to this he has become an extremely well rounded two way player. While his physical game is certainly strong, he has clearly found himself disregarding the offensive side of the game in some regards, lacking the shooting ability of many of the top scorers in the league and failing to be an efficient playmaker. What he lacks for in defense he completely makes up for defensively, being one of the strongest players in the game when the puck is moved along the boards. Alongside this, Jokinen will be key in his team's break out system as he has speed, hands, and strength to push through, past, or around even the best of defenders.

Bo Kane - Center - Midget AAA - @NONAME
TPE: 183

If you haven't been keeping up with the SMJHL as of late, you might not have heard of the absolutely dominant player that is quickly preparing to join the league's ranks. Fresh out of Midget AAA hockey is center Bo Kane, a true Canadian superstar. This young star plays a style similar to that of Auston Matthews or William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, and similar to those two young superstars has had a massive amount of hype built around him all season long. Kane is a self dubbed sniper with an elite level of offensive efficiency, and is as dependable at the dot as he is in the offensive end. If a team is looking for a player to build their entire identity around moving into the future, Kane is unquestionably the best option.

Strengths
Endurance: 72
Shooting: 70
Puck Handling: 55

The VSS on-ice testing heralded Kane as one of the most talented shooters coming into this class, and they are certainly on par with their prediction. Kane has been an influential part of his team's offensive rush during the prospects showcase thus far, and will continue to have that role as he moves into the SMJHL. One of the most intriguing factors in Kane's play is that his success can carry on late into the game and through long and hard shifts with amazing endurance. In case he didn't already seem scary enough, he has wild soft hands to boot and will be able to get around any defender and open up space on the ice to find twine or pick a pass and add an assist. This guy is exciting, young, and has a great attitude towards the game which will make a surefire top selection in the upcoming draft.

If you're a S48 SMJHL draftee and are looking to have your VSS report posted prior to the draft, simply click the link posted HERE and follow the instructions to have your personal report posted for the whole world to see. Have a good draft weekend!

Tate · 06-08-2019, 06:15 PM

Amazing article! Thank you so much for the mention and scouting report, really loved reading about all the different players. It gives the draft a whole new meaning, thanks again!