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mikebobcat · 08-29-2024, 02:40 PM

As season 78 of the SMJHL surges past its halfway point, the Detroit Falcons have been able to find consistency up and down their lineup. From their strong top forwards down to their captain and league leading starting goaltender, there have been contributions from every single player that have helped position the team at the top of the J. Currently sitting at 5th in the league, the Falcons cite cup aspirations as a big reason for their continued success after a bumpy start to the year.

One of these successes comes as a bit of a surprise. The Falcons’ only draft pick of the new season saw center Jimbob Ghostkeeper added to the team after being selected in the 3rd round. He had a very quiet entrance to the league, and was scouted by a few teams prior to the draft. He was greeted very warmly by his new squad, and looked forward to showing what he had in the pre-season.

Ghostkeeper touts himself as a defensive minded utility forward. His primary focus is to provide responsible defensive play in every area of the ice. His offensive skills are not lacking, however. He has a good head on his shoulders and enough skill to find the back of the net from time to time. His strong defensive play is in part thanks to his high stamina, which allows him to forecheck aggressively and hound other teams on the backcheck. His tenacity allows him to be effective on faceoffs as well.

Through the 7 games of the pre-season, Ghostkeeper put up a reasonable 3 points. He struggled after the first three games offensively, not tacking on a single point. That said, he showed promise with his defensive play, earning high defensive ratings in games. In the pre-season he found himself centering the Falcons’ third line, while seeing limited PP and PK time.

Now more than midway through his rookie season, Ghostkeeper’s eyes are on the prize. In 44 contests he has managed a respectable 32 points. 13 of these have come as goals, while the remaining 19 are assists. He managed only 3 points in his first 10 games as the Falcons worked to find chemistry and consistency in the lineup. As he grew more comfortable in his slot centering the third line again, his consistency and play only improved. His first goal in the SMJHL came on his 11th game in a decisive 5-0 win against the Carolina Kraken.

In the following 33 games, Ghostkeeper was given extra time on both the PP and PK. His responsibility earned him high defensive ratings in many games, and his commitment to playing the game his way saw his offensive game take shape. Since putting up 4 points in the first 11 games of the season, Ghostkeeper has played at a near point-per-game pace adding 28 points in 33 games. The expectations he places on himself are to continue his strong play into the postseason while continuing to develop his increasing skill set to aid the Falcons on a deep playoff run.

chetib · 09-07-2024, 02:36 PM

Approved @mikebobcat @CptSquall

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