Scouting Report: Chiefs Dominant On Way To Alliance Title
By Matt Pepper
The Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs are your 2019 – 2020 Alliance Champions for the Minor Midget age group and the defeated a very game and very successful Hamilton Huskies team to do so.
Brady Stonehouse was tremendous in the Playdowns, leading all scorers with 15 goals, 14 assists, for 29 points. He was just shy of averaging two points a game for this current run.
Elgin – Middlesex had been a well coached team all year. With all of the weapons they have up front, they play a tough forechecking game that outwills the opposition into turning the puck over. They do not allow many shots against and backcheck as ferociously as they forecheck.
With the series win, they move onto the OHL Cup with a lot of momentum. Hamilton will join them there, along the Waterloo Wolves. The fourth team going for Alliance will be the winner of the Windsor Jr. Spitfires vs Huron – Perth Lakers. Game#3 of their series goes Friday night. Winner moves on, the loser goes home.
Here are the players of the game for both games I attended, starting with Game#1.
Final Score: 2 – 0 Elgin – Middlesex
#17 Brady Stonehouse, F, Elgin – Middlesex Chiefs – Speed and work ethic are Stonehouse’s game. Controlled the play well all game in this one and isn’t afraid to go to the net. Plays much bigger than he is and is fearless when going to the net. Uses his speed to not only control the play offensively, but uses it to backcheck when his team is defending.
#41 Marcus Vandenberg, G, Elgin – Middlesex Chiefs – Was excellent when called upon in this game. Made the right saves at the right time and gave up very little in terms of rebounds. Good glove hand and solid post – to – post play. Good use of the poke check in this one.
#74 Zander Veccia, F, Elgin – Middlesex Chiefs – Gritty forward with skill and tremendous work ethic. Combination of size, skill, and an endless motor. Scored a goal off of a turnover and a partial breakaway. Hard to move his off the puck once in stride.
#1 Riley George, G, Hamilton Huskies – Agile goalie with size. Covers a lot of net and plays angles well. Great athlete who skates well when challenging shooters and laterally post-to-post. Lots of poise under pressure and saw the puck well through traffic. Kept this game close.
#9 Tyson Wassink, D, Hamilton Huskies – Two – way defender with size. Has good vision and can make an outlet pass to streaking forwards. Played man – to – man coverage well and was excellent with the active stick.
#67 Justin Dezoete, F, Hamilton Huskies – Dynamic offensive forward that is a threat everytime he is on the ice. Backs defenders off with his speed and can handle the puck well at high speeds. Excellent release on his shot. Good passer who can find teammates.
See below for Game 1 highlights:
Game #3 – 6 – 1 Elgin – Middlesex
#18 Hunter Haight, F, Elgin – Middlesex Chiefs – Elite skater with high end puck skills. Can spin off defenders checking him while controlling the puck. Scored a back breaker in this game with an excellent release that beat the goalie stick side.
#17 Brady Stonehouse, F, Elgin – Middlesex Chiefs – Scored a goal in this game, but was very impressive on the second Amaral goal, starting the play off a turnover and creating a goal from it. Always makes things happen on the ice with his excellent skating and puck control. Was very good on the boards in this game, causing the oppositions fits.
#37 Maddox Amaral, F, Elgin – Middlesex Chiefs – Two goal game for Amaral in this one. Has a bit of a deceptive game as he puts himself into seams, looking for shots. Good quick release off the pass. Good forecheck all game with an active stick. Responsible defensively all game as well. Smart player who can move the puck quickly when pressured.
#67 Justin Dezoete, F, Hamilton Huskies – Scored the only goal on the powerplay for his team in this one. Dynamic offensive player and very difficult to defend against. Love this players Hockey IQ as he can find players that may seem out of position. Can get back into the play quickly with his speed.
#84 Patrick Thomas, F, Hamilton Huskies – One of the fastest players in his age group, Thomas is tremendous to watch skate into the offensive zone. Great acceleration with this speed and can skate at high speeds with the puck. Had an assist on the Dezoete goal on the powerplay. Excellent on the cycle in this game.
#9 Tyson Wassink, D, Hamilton Huskies – Another good game for Wassink. Solid defensively in this game with an active stick. Showed good Hockey IQ in this game by rushing the puck and creating scoring opportunities. Good shot that he can get to the net through traffic.
See below for Game 3 highlights: