** LOOKING AT DEFENDERS FOR THE S76 SMJHL DRAFT **

As the pending SMJHL Draft for S76 gets ever closer, players are getting excited and wondering where their simulation hockey careers will begin. There are many strong players vying for the chance to be selected, and one of the strongest groups positionally is the defensemen in this Draft.

Looking into the future, Defense is a strong need in the SHL, as many teams are resorting to picking up Inactive Free Agents to fill their rosters. So the players in this group could have a great opportunity to become important players in the pro leagues. But as of now, they are still very raw but already their initial development is starting to show where their strengths and weaknesses are.

Let's have a look at the current crop of promising defenders to see what they can bring to the table for an SMJHL squad! Note they are ranked by current TPE as of today, which is bound to change even before Draft Day!

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LiMu Emu  @Inf1d3l

Birthplace: Czechia
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 190 lbs



Emu at first appearances is a smaller player for a defender but he does not let this be a disadvantage. Scouts report that he has a very well-balanced build, equally comfortable both offensively and defensively. His physical ratings are all very good, a smooth skater who can handle the puck and make crisp passes. He does have a chippy element to his game with a slightly elevated aggression so he is prone to taking unnecessary penalties, but overall he is more than competent at both ends of the ice. Also, Liberty Bibberty!

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AT-AT Wøllker  @Muerto

Birthplace: Iceland
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 235 lbs



In contrast to Emu, Wøllker is an imposing physical specimen with a huge net-front presence. He is very much a defensive defensemen with higher attributes in checking and defensive read, while being average in the offensive zone. He could use some work on his skating if he wants to be an effective two-way pro player, but in his own end he is responsible. He has a nasty edge with higher aggression and fighting attributes, so he won't make it easy for opposing players trying to get close to the net.

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Boofa Benson    @dasboot

Birthplace: Australia
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 275 lbs



This player is an absolute unit, he makes everyone else around him look like a tiny person! Highly unusual to see an Australian don the skates! Benson is a very one-dimensional player in that he is all about defense, having some of the highest overall ratings when it comes to that side of the game. He is a pretty good skater for a big man, but he has absolutely no ability in the offensive zone, so he probably won't put up big scoring numbers. But in his own end, he can use his size and defensive abilities to really shut things down and limit chances against.

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Jayeff Effo    @Eggcracker

Birthplace: Iceland
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 215 lbs



Iceland is well-represented in this Draft, Effo is one of 4 players from that nation. Effo is an enigma of a defenseman in that he really doesn't play defense at all. He is by far the lowest rated defensively-minded player in this article, but he makes up for it with an insane offensive game. He would be more like a 4th forward, he has very good skills with the puck on his stick and excels on the powerplay. But he seems lost in his own end and disinterested in trying to stop the other team.

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Crazy Tomato II  @Crazytomato

Birthplace: Germany
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 200 lbs



A well-rounded player, Tomato II has a build which is slightly more geared to defense but has not neglected his offensive abilities either. He is very good at taking the puck away either through hitting or stickchecking, and creating quick passes on the counter attack. He is not a great skater so he's not much of a puck rusher, but does have good instincts in the offensive zone, could probably quarterback the powerplay effectively. With an aggression rating of 10, he sometimes get carried away with his treatment of opposing players who try to skate past him, no doubt making them regret trying it!

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McLovin  @Soviet Sexpot

Birthplace: Ukraine
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 196 lbs



McLovin has above average offensive skills for a defender, with good vision and strong skills with the puck, whether passing, shooting, or puckhandling. He is a strong skater as well. In his own end he has average abilities but certainly has the potential to improve in those areas. But for now it is his ability to help his team score goals is what will draw scouts' eyes to his play.

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Roquefort Cotswald  @roquefort

Birthplace: France
Height: 5'0"
Weight: 150 lbs



While Cotswald is small for a defenseman, he's pretty big for a mouse. I heard he became a hockey player because he loves cheese and he heard about players always going 'top cheddar', but that might just be a rumor. Despite his diminutive size relative to other players, he is one of the better skaters out of this group, with above average speed, acceleration, and balance. His defensive skills are also very good, being able to check other players closely and steal the puck away. He can use his speed and quick stick to good advantage, with some attention paid to his offensive side he could be a very well-rounded player.

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Trevor Lopez    @tredpalo

Birthplace: Mexico
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 230 lbs



Kind of weird that the first North American player on this list is not Canadian or USA, but from Mexico! Born in Tijuana, Lopez seems like a natural fit for the new San Diego expansion team, practically a home town boy! Lopez stands out as a real mean and nasty tough as nails player, with high ratings in Strength and Aggression he seems to relish in the type of games that turn into goonfests. Very strong defensively as well, he is a physical force in his own end, reveling in the big hit and grinding players down along the boards. He's not a big threat in the offensive zone but is without a doubt one of the last people you want to see closing in on you when you're trying to make a play!

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Smitty Werbenjaegermanjensen    @ZodiacEXE

Birthplace: Marshall Islands
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 265 lbs



Another monster of a specimen, Smitty has a well-balanced approach to his game. Even though he is a big guy, the main strengths to his game are having excellent stick and puck work. He is more likely to strip the puck away than lay a big hit. He is a good skater and has strong abilities passing or handling the puck, so he can be good candidate to be a breakout specialist and move the puck into the opposing zone with smart counter-attack play. Another player also carrying a trend of higher aggression, it's great to have an edge to your game but will have to be careful not to take too many unwise penalties.

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David Vent    @ImShiny

Birthplace: Czechia
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 220 lbs



If you are looking to add some offense from the blueline to your team, look no further than Vent. One of the better skaters in this class, he also has exceptional abilities in the attacking zone. A hard, accurate shot combined with good vision, strong puckhandling skills, and the ability to get open means he will be a great piece to consider anchoring the powerplay for a young team. He's not fantastic defensively at the moment but he more than makes up for that by what he can add in terms of firepower.

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Argenti Gorilla    @GraylessRex

Birthplace: Uganda
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 300 lbs



Remember when the Cincinatti Silverbacks won the Universal Junior Championships? Well clearly they were inspirational
as Gorilla is, by all accounts, an actual hockey playing gorilla. I'm not sure how that's fair, exactly, but heck we already have a mouse and a fish so the Animal Kingdom is well represented here. As you can imagine, Gorilla is incredibly strong, quite aggressive, and would beat anyone's ass in a fight. But, beyond that, he's actually not a terrible hockey player! He can skate reasonable well, and plays strong defense. He doesn't seem inclined to spend too much time in the opposing end, but he will aggressively defend his own territory and frankly, probably scare the hell out of anyone venturing near him. After all, is the risk of getting your arms ripped off worth the reward of scoring a goal? I think I'd probably just dump it in and get off the ice!

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Thomas Harley    @Harley x55

Birthplace: USA
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 193 lbs



The first USA-born defenseman on the list, with Harley you get a rootin' tootin' Texas boy ready to make an impact on the ice. What stands out primarily in his game is his exceptional puck handling skills and offensive instincts. He leans more to being an OFD and will add some flair to teams looking to increase their goal production. He hasn't neglected his defensive game, but is more likely to steal the puck away than land a big hit. He adds some toughness with elevated aggression and fighting as well, so he will be able to hold his own if the game gets rough.

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Sawyer Keenin          @S35rulez

Birthplace: USA
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180 lbs



Despite being on the smaller side, Keenin is one tough customer. His offensive and defensive skills are average at best,
but where he really stands out is in his physical play. With higher strength, aggression, stamina, and fighting ability than others in this class, he won't back down from the rough stuff or even dropping the gloves for a tilt. With some encouraging coaching he could turn into a decent player, but the one thing you can't teach is being tough, and Keenin brings that to the table without a doubt. He could be a great addition to a team looking to add an enforcer to the lineup.

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Red Panda jr    @Lemorse7

Birthplace: Japan
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 210 lbs



Go team Animal! Another draftee with a background in the wilds, Panda is not only super cute, but has some great skills on the ice. Primarily he is one of the better passers amongst this group, meaning he can contribute effectively to team possession and attack. His other skills are all fairly balanced and he can be an effective two-way player, but is more likely to make the crisp tape-to-tape pass to set up his teammates than to score many goals himself.

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Jacppo Nummilavin    @SouthPaw

Birthplace: Finland
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 198 lbs



Although Nummilavin is not a draftable prospect for the J Draft, it's still worth keeping an eye on him as he will be joining the J at the same time as the rest listed here. Nummilavin stands out as one of the better players in terms of skating ability, but at the moment he is average defensively and below average offensively. He has the talent to make a mark on the ice, but for now the question is whether those athletic skills can translate to being a good player. Regardless, Maine will get a rough gem here, so we will see if management there can make something out of this guy!



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** FINAL THOUGHTS **

First off, no Canadian defensemen! A bit shocking to see that but good news for the International growth of the league.

Also, lots of animals here! Good to see diversity at work and getting representation from multiple species.

Lastly, I noticed a lot of players adding TPE to agression and fighting, could the league be returning to the glory days of gooning it up? Let's hope so!

As always, to everyone, good luck and have fun!