Scouting Report: Mia Lavoie, 18-year-old Right Wing

Height: 5’ 7”
Weight: 200 lbs

Mia is a lot of things, and squeamish is not one of them. For five feet and seven inches of height, there has to be another 6 feet of muscle that can command a hockey rink when she’s on the ice. Incredibly fast and just as strong, she can easily force her way to anywhere on the ice surface, able to get open in the offensive zone, she can use that strength to keep the puck to herself, and to find a good shot or an outlet pass that can stun a defense. Alongside that, her balance makes her near-impossible to move, and her quick jump off the line means that even with a late start, she can outpace a fast opponent with ease.

Team World noted this skill, and the Maine Timber noted as well, judging her worth the 2nd round selection, and I can see why. Her ability to command the zone made her a critical part of the offense alongside her brother, posting a solid rookie season with 37 points in a full 66-game season. With a strong start, she has found a place in the Timber’s foundations.

But beyond her physical gifts, Lavoie lacks depth to her skillset. Her offensive contributions have been limited to simply being adequate, and she simply lacks a defensive side to her game. She fails to create chances for turnovers with blocking shots or good stick play, and she doesn’t concern herself with learning the defensive gameplan, meaning she plays much like a duck on a frozen pond when presented with minutes in her own end. Most disappointing is her lack of use of her physical talent. She doesn’t hit effectively, and does not seem to care if she is a threat on the ice at all, only using it as a last resort. A wolf in sheep’s clothing that feels fine simply acting the part of the sheep. This will likely require correction in her game as she moves forward, and we’ll see the wolf appear in due time, I am sure.

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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