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S48 SMJHL Double Media Bonus. Ready for grading.

Blazers

One of the four teams of the S48 SMJHL Prospect Showcase, the Blazers have a well rounded core that looks to make some noise. Through the first handful of games the Blazers have 3 wins and 2 losses, 6 points. They sit only 2 points behind the Wranglers who also have 3 wins, but their losses came during overtime.  As far as team stats go, the Blazers have 2.20 Goals For per game, 2.80 Goals Against per game, which works out to a 78.57% Goals For / Against. The Blazers have found success on special teams with a Powerplay % of 33.33% and a Penalty Kill % of 76.92%. The Blazers have the best combined special team percentages (PP+PK) with 110.26%. Needless to say, the Blazers have some firepower with their forwards.

Forwards

Jean-Francois Mayer
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 4 - 3 - 7- -3 - 6 - 3 - 20.44

With 7 points, Jean-Francois Mayer leads the Blazers in scoring. His 4 goals is double the next closest. His three assists is tied for leading the Blazers, too. His shooting % is 28.57%, which is tied for first on the team. He’s logging good minutes at  20.44 minutes per game. Mayer has a well balanced game with even scoring and passing abilities. Through the first 5 games, Mayer has found himself on the 2nd and 3rd line, and it has proven successful.

Jan Zacha
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 2 - 2 - 4 - 1 - 8 - 2 - 21.54

Scouts are describing Jan Zacha as a playmaker highlighting his ability to pass the puck efficiently. Scouts also note that Zacha holds himself well on the puck, a difficult player to knock off thanks to his strength. He can hold himself well in the defensive zone, too. Zacha’s defensive capabilities will likely lead to him getting some time on the penalty kill during the SMJHL season. Zacha has a balanced statline with 2 goals and 2 assists so far. At +1 plus/minus, Zacha is one of the few Blazers in the positive. Zacha’s shooting percentage is also 28.57% which is tied for first. Zacha has demonstrated that he can play big minutes if needed with 21.54 minutes per game.

Wet Cucumber
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 1 - 3 - 4 - -5 - 2 - 3 - 20.70

What more can be said about a guy with that name? Wet Cucumber is a playmaker’s playmaker. Cucumber has some of the best playmaking abilities of this showcase. The way he threads passes right through opponents to set up teammates is something else. In this showcase, Cucumber has 3 assists, 4 points total, 2 hits and 3 shot blocks. Cucumber is making noise around the prospect pool. This center is playing on the 2nd and third line with the wingers Mayer and Sober. They have found chemistry. Additionally, Cucumber has been taking faceoffs for the top powerplay unit. Wet Cucumber is seizing the moment and showcasing why he is possibly the greatest playmaker in the S49 draft class.Still, the tied for team low -5 plus/minus is concerning for some scouts.  

Theodore Sober
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 1 - 3 - 4 - -4 - 6 - 1 - 19.51

Theodore is well rounded player that has some physicality in his game compared to most players. He has 6 hits in the showcase, so far. He’s put away a goal, has 3 assists, 4 points total and is a -4 plus/minus. Scouts love the balanced nature of Theodore, but feel that Sober is more of a work in progress, a sort of jack of all trades, master of none. Nonetheless, Sober’s balanced build has contributed to his 4 points in 5 games stat line.

Elijah Jones
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - -1 - 14 - 3 - 20.40

Elijah Jones is a winger that has high scoring ability, fast skating, and good puck handling skills. Jones is not really known for his physical nature, but during this showcase, he has ramped up his game and is throwing hits every time he can. With 14 hits, Jones leads the Blazers and is second in the entire tournament, only trailing 1st place Cody with 15 hits. Jones is known for his goal scoring capability, yet his shooting % through 5 games sits at 9.09%. Jones likely knows his ability to score is well known and is therefore demonstrating other areas of his game that can set him apart from other prospects.

Jake Primeau
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 0 - 0 - 0 - -3 - 4 - 2 - 21.08

Despite playing on the top line, Jake Primeau has not produced any during the first five games. Primeau is known to have a decent shot. The opportunities haven’t been there. Primeau’s skating is decent and with some more practice he has potential to breakout in this showcase. The showcase can be weird and it's definitely possible for Primeau to end up leading the team in points at the conclusion of the showcase.

Outside of the forwards, the Blazers boast a couple quality defenders. These players are likely to be highly sought after in the SMJHL draft. The Blazers through 5 games has a -3 goal differential, but it might not be fair to blame it on the defenders when considering the help they get in goaltender Pucky Stopz.

Defenders

Henrik Sapotchik
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 1 - 1 - 2 - -4 - 5 - 6 - 26.08

Henrik Sapotchik is known by scouts for his physical game. He has pretty good skating for his age group and can generate quality passes to set forwards up for nice goals. His 1 goal and 1 assist, is the best points total of the Blazer’s defense.

Noah Andros
GP - G - A - P - +/- - Hit - SB - AMG
5 - 0 - 0 - 0 - -5 - 5 - 9 - 26.31

Noah Andros is logging huge minutes. While pointless so far in the showcase, Noah Andros is displaying his ability to play quality defense. Give more time to train and practice, expect Noah Andros’ impact on the outcome of games to increase.

Onto the final position and perhaps the most important. The Blazers have one of the showcase’s weaker netminders and it shows in the stats. Despite this shortcoming, the Blazers have other areas that can hopefully make up for this hole.

Goaltender

Pucky Stopz
GP - W - L - OTL - PCT - GAA
5 - 3 - 2 - 0 - 0.844 - 2.74

The last line of defense for the Blazers is Pucky Stopz. Stopz has the worst Goals Allowed average at 2.74. Stopz’ save percentage of 0.844 isn’t the worst of the showcase, but it’s second to worst. Hopefully training and practice goes a long way and improves Pucky Stopz’ ability to stop pucks. Unfortunately, based on the early performances, the defense and rest of the team seems to have lost confidence in their goalie.

The Blazers have a shot at making some noise in this showcase. That said, the showcase is ultimately about putting the players on display and not so much about winning or losing. Therefore, a lot of players are going to go for greedy plays and try to pad their own stats. That’s okay because that’s what this showcase is all about. Hopefully the players here can develop some experience before heading into the SMJHL draft and their rookie seasons

Reed Kobo - Winger - #33
Player Page- Update Page
Elijah Jones - Winger - #33 Retired
Player Page - Update Page
Toivo Kosonen - Defenseman - #33 Retired
Player Page -  Update Page

Time to elect the Mayer

Sig Credit: Flappy (EVO) and Skolpaddor (RESO)

EMEKA VALENTINE-OKOLI/PLAYER

First SMJHL Goal: Colorado Raptors, Emeka Valentine-Okoli 1 (Mikelis Ozoliņš 4, Loki Odinsson 3) at 3:12, 2nd Period (GWG) / SMJHL S47 Game 47 Day 12: Colorado Raptors vs Detroit Falcons
First SHL Goal: Texas Renegades, Emeka Valentine-Okoli 1 (Josef Kubinec 5, Ricky Spanish 4) at 16:23, 2nd Period / SHL S51 Game 71 Day 16: Edmonton Blizzard vs Texas Renegades

Eternal , onwards we roll

And Let's Retire at the Pinnacle