Login

fgh · 06-19-2015, 07:43 PM

<div align="center"> [Image: w9kb1p0vizdxcp9rcmre.gif]

Austin Lemieux blocks a Montreal Impact rebound goal attempt during the preseason

Falcons

AUSTIN LEMIEUX SCOUTING REPORT Falcons

</div>

HockeyTown Scouting takes another dive at a Detroit Falcon player, but instead of analyzing the wing like in our first report, HockeyTown takes a visit to the net and looks between the pipes at recent draftee Austin Lemieux, goaltender for your Detroit Falcons. An early 4th round selection, Lemieux has been rivaling standing goaltender Lee Bowden for the starting position since he hit training camp. Here's the goalie's build:

<div align="center">TPE = 201
SK = Skating: 53
DU = Durability: 50
EN = Endurance: 62
SZ = Size: 67
AG = Agility: 71 1/2
RB = Rebound Control: 70
SC = Style Control: 76
HS = Hand Speed: 70
RT = Reaction Time: 75 1/2
PH = Puck Handling: 70
PS = Penalty Shot: 60</div>

A decent starting build, and Lemieux has some good things going for the future. He has consistently stuck to his butterfly style and has had great success in practice and the preseason. Style Control has made Lemieux's Reaction Time and Hand Speed really stand out, making Lemieux a great prospect. Butterfly goalies have a tough time with higher shots, and Lemieux has fantastic hands, which means he can cover all 4 corners and the 5 hole. Lemieux has potential, however. A raw goaltender always has potential to grow. Let's see what he could be like walking out of the SMJHL:

<div align="center">TPE = 350
SK = Skating: 55 (+4 TPE)
DU = Durability: 50
EN = Endurance: 70 (+8 TPE)
SZ = Size: 80 (+23 TPE)
AG = Agility: 75 (+7 TPE)
RB = Rebound Control: 80 (+20 TPE)
SC = Style Control: 80 (+8 TPE)
HS = Hand Speed: 85 (+45 TPE)
RT = Reaction Time: 85 (+34 TPE)
PH = Puck Handling: 70
PS = Penalty Shot: 60</div>

With room to grow in the hands department, the Butterfly goalie will become a balanced goal-stopping machine. His Butterfly will get better, with less moving higher in the net and to keep dropping down to cover the bottom of the net and stop most of the shots he'll face. His Endurance will get a bit better, but can get a lot better with time in the SHL and with more banked TPE. This build looks like a good base for Lemieux to grow into whatever any SHL team wants while providing a brick wall for his Falcons during his time in the SMJHL. Lemieux has some great opportunities ahead of him, and being a balanced goaltender has many advantages heading out of the minors. With a strong 350 TPE build, he can finally build on Skating and make his weakness not as noticeable.

<div align="center"> [Image: Howard1.gif]

Lemieux makes a fantastic play against Prince George in the Falcons' first win of the season</div>

Lemieux gets a great opportunity to play as a goaltender during the new 52 game SMJHL season. The first SMJHL season a goaltender gets the opportunity to play a same-length schedule as a SHL goalie and Lemieux breaks into the scene as a starter for a great organization. Training camp gave Lemieux a chance to get in touch with his defenders and the team has grown together to learn the game and pick up the SMJHL heat together. As with most young squads, goaltenders need help developing, and Lemieux has taken his fair amount of shots early, but has come back strong. While Bowden will get his chances in net before the playoffs, it seems clear that the rookie Lemieux has taken the starting role and can work on the ice at getting better.

<div align="center"> [Image: 845189437.gif]

Lemieux makes a save in the Falcons opening loss to the Knights</div>

HockeyTown Scouting looks at Lemieux as one of the top goalie prospects for the SHL, mainly due to his potential, maturity at keeping control of his body in net, and his ridiculous hand speed that can only get better. Even with a 1-1 record to start the SMJHL season, 50 more games are 50 more opportunities for Lemieux to prove his worth as the next big name between the pipes. Aittokallio, FourFour, Prikulis, there's a new guy in town: watch for Lemieux. There's a whole season's worth of development behind a solid defensive team in store for Lemieux his rookie season, and the goalie seems to be set up to become a talent in the minor circuit. Already, the Falcons have been tested with a 5 goal outing against the Kelowna Knights, but responded with a 2 goal win against the Firebirds. A 3.50 GAA early is hard, but it's not completely impossible to overcome, especially with a Falcons defense that's developing.

<div align="center">SHL Comparison: Lauris Prikulis, Jets

</div>

While Lemieux is not one of the Holy Trinity yet, he can become a dominant goaltender that a team can lean on in any instance like Prikulis. Lauris has carried Team Latvia to a gold medal in S23, helped Winnipeg to a Challenge Cup, and almost carried the Jets to another Cup recently. Lemieux can be that great Butterfly goaltender many teams will be looking for soon. With the Holy Trinity of Aittokallio, FourFour, and Prikulis getting older, Lemiuex looks to be a great fit for the future.

<div align="center">SHL Draft Projection: 13th - 16th Overall</div>

Goalies are never a hot commodity for being picked early unless extenuating circumstances exist (see: Earnest Ciarelli, Wolfpack

), so they typically never get drafted higher. Lemieux might not be in the 1st round, but he definitely will be the 1st goalie off the board in his respective draft. Teams will like having a strong member with a great locker room presence in the system to take over for older goaltenders, and the veterans can help make Lemieux a better player with solid advice. That said, Lemieux's best choices for a team would have to be the Jets

Winnipeg Jets Jets

, the