[Sandman]

Thoughts from the U-18 Tournament Part One(In no particular order):

D Leo Sahlin Wellenius: He was a workhorse, playing almost half the game in some instances, but he has looked much better in other tournaments in previous years. Most of the time he was playing his usual smooth two-way game, being a calming presence from the backend, but too often mistakes were creeping into his game, including bad decisions, and instances of poor puck management. Only 3 points in 7 games. I was a little disappointed.

D Alfons Freij: I loved his game, and I thought he was one of the top D in the tourney. Very fun to watch with his high-end skating and stickhandling, as well as his ability to generate dangerous scoring chances. He's a more dynamic rearguard than his partner, Leo Sahlin Wellenius. 6 points in 7 games for 3rd overall in D scoring.

D Aron Kiviharju: Another D-man that I expected a whole lot more of. He hasn't played since he was injured near the start of the season, and he was having trouble keeping up mentally with the speed of the game. Finland's Captain moved the puck well, and wasn't bad, but only 3 points in 5 games before the Finns were eliminated. Usually, he's the fastest player out there, with a superhuman brain, and a solid two-way approach.

D Veeti Vaisanen: He played all season against men in the Liiga, and was 3rd overall for U-18 aged players, so I expected more of him too. He played very well in the defensive zone, and was able to show off his skating stride with a surprising amount of physicality. Excellent puck-movement, but little impact offensively. He's a lot less exciting and dynamic than Kiviharju. Only 2 points in 5 games.

D Mitja Jokinen: He and partner Niklas Nykyri stepped up for team Finland, and I thought they were the best tandem on the team, with Jokinen looking like one of the best in the tournament. Jokinen is small, standing only 5'11", so he tends to struggle in physical battles, and is largely ineffective in front of his net, but plays an exciting offensive game and moves the puck well. 5 points in 5 games, which was 7th in D scoring.

D Niklas Nykyri: I was extremely impressed with him, even though he was a bit sloppy. Defense-first, but contributes well with an underrated offensive game, and the ability to ride shotgun with the more talented players, in this case, Mitja Jokinen. I think he might develop into a good two-way player in the future. 3 points in 5 games.

C Petr Sikora: I really like this kid, but he didn't put up the numbers I was hoping to see. He's unrelentingly mean and physical, but needs to calm down a bit as he was ejected from the game against Team Canada. He's better offensive performer than his 2 points in 5 games would indicate. Good 200-ft game, and plays the agitator role.

RW Adam Jecho: Some of the concerns I had about Jecho were quelled, namely his skating- which looked quite good, although he can still be beaten by some of the faster players on the ice. Jecho played in all situations, and put up 3 points in 5 games on a weak Czech squad. I get why many scouts have him in the second round.

C Max Curran: 3 points in 5 games for the Czechs, but I don't like him. For a player who is 6'3", he plays incredibly soft, although he showed some good defense.

D Cole Hutson: Best D in the tournament, with an incredible 13 points in 7 games. He came as advertised, tying Ryan Murphy for the most points all-time by a defenseman in one U-18 tournament. The record for most points in one tournament for a 16 year-old defenseman? Cole Hutson in 2023, with 12 points. He's everywhere all at once in the offensive zone, seemingly touching every square inch, every shift. Superb imagination and creativity.

RW Brodie Ziemer: The Captain of team USA was incredible, with 12 points in 7 games to tie Tij Iginla for 5th in the tournament. He gives 100% at all times, and does the dirty work along the walls, and in the corners. Plays a tight 200-ft game with physicality, but obviously has plenty of skill.

LW Teddy Stiga: He's not big, at 5'10",176lbs, but brings speed and energy, along with a high-octane offensive game. 11 points in 7 games, playing on a line with James Hagens. Good hockey sense, and smarts, with a nose for the net.

C Max Plante: He's not big either, at 5'10",170lbs, but is a high-end playmaker with the vision and IQ to match. He's one of the best playmakers in the 2024 Draft, and works hard in the defensive end.

LW Cole Eiserman: His 9 goals were tied for 2nd with teammate James Hagens, and just below the leader, Gavin McKenna- who had 10. Eiserman added an assist for 10 points in 7 games, and broke the all-time record for goals in the NTDP, with 127- beating out Cole Caufield. Eiserman has an elite shot, with the ability to find the soft spots in coverage. He displayed some physicality, and an attention to defense as well.