Hoyt Harper Player Card



Name: Hoyt Harper

Nickname: The Show Stopper

Nationality: Born in London, England. Currently resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190 lbs

Favorite NHL Team: New Jersey Devils

Favorite SHL Team: Whoever I play for

Pros: Harper is known as pure sniper around scouting circles. Harper is an efficient skater and decent passer. Harpers puckhandling will be and advantage at the SMJHL level but will require work to be effective at the SHL level.

Cons: Harper is not a physical in any sense of the work. Harpers checking is a major weakness in his game and could cause problems if not addressed before next years draft. Harper also requires work on his defensive game to become a more complete player.

Scouts Take: Hoyt Harper has all the measurable and talent to be great hockey player some day. Harpers ability to score goals alone is already on pace SHL players a year or two ahead of him. Harper has plenty of height to be successful at the next level but will need to put a little weight on his 190lb frame to compete with stronger defensemen. Even if Harper does put some weight on he does need to develop a mean streak. Harpers physical game is to passive at this point to be effective at the SHL level. Harper is often unwilling to fight for pucks deep in the offensive zone and relies to much on his pure speed and puck handling to beat opposing players. Harper also has a bit of a reputation as an off the ice distraction. Early last year Harper was held out of two games after he was found to have thrown a highschool party where alcohol was supplied for he and his underage classmates.

Recent Interview

Reporter: Hoyt How excited are you to joining the SMJHL and eventually the SHL?

Harper: Man, ill tell you its like a dream come true. I remember shooting tennis balls at my parents garage when I was ten years old with my Brandon Donini jersey on. You pretending that there was 1 minute left in the cup finals and I had a penalty shot to win it all. Its hard to believe that Im about to be one step closer to making it all happen.

Reporter: Hoyt a lot of teams might be looking deeper into the situation where you were benched for two games following a party where kids were drinking alcohol. What do you say to those teams?

Harper: Um, it was definitely a moment from my past that im not overly proud of. I made a mistake and it ended up hurting my career, my team and my friends. Those two games I was held out for were both losses for my team and I definitely felt like I let my teammates down. A lot of people want to take that mistake and turn it into off the ice issues that they think I have. I think im still a kid and did something a lot of highschool kids do. It ended up getting a lot more press because I am in the spot light a bit more then the average kid. In the end it was an experience that helper me grow up as an individual and that's what id want teams to know. If its alright with you though that's all id really like to say about that incident.

Reporter: Now Hoyt your from the UK. Any motivation to play for them at the international level someday?

Harper: Well my dad was from London and my mom was from Sweden, so I was born in London. We lived there for probably the first two years of my life and then we moved to Pennsylvania which is where I live now. You probably couldn't tell im from the UK though since ive lost any accent I may have had. I would love to represent England some day though in the international tournaments. Even though ive lived for most of my life in the United states my family and heritage is rooted in the UK. Im proud of that and would love the opportunity to represent my homeland someday.

Reporter: Hoyt, do you have any favorite SMJHL team you hope drafts you?

Harper: Not really, Ill be proud to play with whoever drafts me. I mean every teams has something to offer. Kelowna has been so dominant recently, who wouldn't want to be a part of that. Vancouver has just historically such a great team that it would be amazing to be apart of that alumni group. Montreal is the probably the greatest hockey town in North America so who wouldn't want to be around that fan base. I mean everyone one of them would be amazing. I just want to be drafted and start playing.

Reporter: Hoyt your ability to score is well documented. What do you say to people who think that your to "soft" to play at this level?

Harper: I think that ridiculous. I think im as physical as I have to be to get the job done. The word "soft" makes it sound like im afraid of something. It makes it sound like my game is about running away from opposing players which definitely isn't the case. I am working, however, on building more muscle and becoming a stronger overall player.

Reporter: Alright to wrap up the interview, Hoyt give the teams of SMJHL the best pitch as to why they should draft you.

Harper: I just love hockey. I love to watch it, I love to play it and have been looking forward to playing in the pros for as long as I can remember. I promose I can be an immediate boost for any offense and will bust my butt every night to help win games. I also think I have an underrated defensive game and will work all season to make myself the best all around player I can be. Just give me a stick and a chance to prove myself and you wont regret it.

Reporter: Hoyt thank you for your team. We wish you the best of luck in the upcoming draft.

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