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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Hlinka Summary, Part 4:
-C/LW Cooper Williams, CAN (6'0",166lbs): The Calgary-born Williams was sparingly used, and only played 3 games (3gp/1g/0a/1pt,+1, 0 PIM), but scored the Bronze Medal-winning goal in a 3-0 win over the Finns- an easy tap-in off of a nice pass from Colin Fitzgerald. There isn't a whole lot to go on based on this tournament alone, but based on what I've seen and read of his performance last season with Saskatoon, I can say with confidence that he's going to be picked somewhere in the first-half of the first-round of the 2026 Draft- he's that good. First off, his 57 points in 68 WHL games is tied with Brayden Point for the 26th-best season by a U-17 player in that league in the last 30 years. He might've been Rookie-of-the-Year, if it weren't for Landon DuPont. As a 16 year-old, he was second in scoring for the Blades, who finished 10th in the standings, but 13th in goals-for. Williams needs to bulk up considerably, but he skates well, handles even better, and is blessed with high-end intelligence and hockey sense that belies his age, and his impact on the ice goes far beyond his offensive output; he would bring a tear to a glass eye with how jaw-droppingly good a two-way player he is. In the defensive zone, he's like another defenseman- he separates man from puck by either skating through hands, intercepting the pass, lifting the stick, poking away the puck, picking pockets, etc. Then he recovers the puck time and again, starts the breakout, rinse and repeat. Amazing stuff. He is always perfectly positioned, incredibly detailed, and always poised and calculated- he can be found taking away the middle from incursions while scanning for threats, supporting teammates along the wall, subbing in for his D down low, or taking their place battling with aggressors in front of the net. He's like another Point/Cirelli/Bergeron-type with how much of an impact he makes defensively.
Williams does more of the same in the other two zones with uncanny timing and anticipation- killing rushes coming back through the neutral zone that he then turns into possession for his team, and stuffing breakouts in the offensive zone before they get going to extend the attack. The ice is steeply tilted when Williams is out on the ice- he's tenacious, and active. He works hard, plays with pace, and exhibits plenty of smarts and deception in making plays; he may not be the most physical player out there, but he goes to the greasy areas, works the boards, gets inside, and goes to the net. He will use delays or cut-backs to wait for the troops to arrive, or to shift the opposing defense in order to open a passing seam. He has an above-average shot, with a snappy release, and good hands to beat goalies in-tight. Going forward, he will need to bulk up and get a lot stronger, keep getting faster, and perhaps improve his playmaking skill, but obviously- I like this kid a lot, and will keep an eye on him.
-RD Adam Goljer, SVK (6'3",194lbs): Rearguard Adam Goljer was one of the few real bright spots on Team Slovakia (besides 2008 draft-eligible Oliver Ozogany), and he already has people in the scouting world talking. He's a reliable 200-foot minute-muncher who can do a bit of everything, and can play in any situation, with a specialty in shut-down defense, and smart puck-movement. This was Goljer's second Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and he showed some offensive chops in both events, picking up 3 points in 4 games both times. First thing you notice when watching him is his skating ability; he has a long, fluid stride that provides him with more-than-ample power and speed, but also the agility to pivot on a dime in his transitions. He can easily mimic the footwork of oncoming attackers to apply tight gap-control against the rush, separates man from puck with a deft stick, and exemplifies sound positioning against the cycle. Goljer is calm and composed with the puck as he's blessed with above-average puckhandling skill, he makes smart breakouts, and is a true asset in transition by pass or by carry. He doesn't seem to activate into the play too often, or join the rush, but he is willing to do so if he sees an opportunity to create offense; he also has a booming shot from the point. The one real disappointment is that he doesn't use his sizeable frame nearly enough. Another positive point here is that he's still young for this draft class, with a June 7th birthdate.
-LW Vilho Vanhatalo, FIN (6'3",190): Vanhatalo had a goal and an assist in the first game (a 5-3 loss to Team Canada), on the top-line with Hemming and Suvanto, but the coach took him off that unit after that contest- possibly in an effort to spread out the offense. He finished the event in a tie for 5th on Team Finland with 5gp/2g/1a/3pts,even, 0 PIM, but was consistently one of Suomi's best players. A physical power-forward, he likes to dole out big hits, and is more of a shoot-first player- although his passing skill and playmaking vision were on full display in this event. He has a dangerous shot with a deadly release, and a goal-scorer's built-in ability to find open pockets of space in high-danger areas; he doesn't mind parking himself in front of the goalie, or crashing the crease to cash in, either. He displays a nice curl-and-drag wrister, and his goal against the Canadians was a cannon of a one-timer. Overall, he's quite smart and aware in the offensive zone, and he brings his solid IQ to his defensive duties as well, with admirable habits and work-ethic on the backcheck.
-LW Pierce Mbuyi, CAN (5'10",159lbs): Mbuyi got into 4 games (4gp/0g/1a/1pt,+1, 6 PIM), and was sparingly used, but he was noticeable on every shift, and certainly made his presence felt. He showed his sky-high motor, boundless energy, and tenacity every time he stepped on the ice, and stayed in his opponents' faces as a constant annoyance, a relentless disruptor, and a constant distraction with his physical game. Mbuyi is not big, but he's strong on his skates and hard to knock off the puck; he moves well too, but isn't really that explosive, or fast enough to separate. His speed is augmented by his high-end workrate, and further offset by his anticipation and efficient positioning; he possesses good agility to change pace and direction rapidly in order to make his way through traffic unscathed. Though he didn't get to show it off, Mbuyi is smart, skilled, and offensively aware, with good hands and a stunning release- as his 29 goals and 52 points in 63 OHL games for the 16th-placed Owen Sound Attack would attest. He was tasked with checking duties in this tourney, and he was able to showcase his tight defensive game, while hounding puck-carriers, frustrating attackers with his willingness to battle, and stifling plays with his smart positioning. There are some who project him as a possible late first-round draft choice in 2026.
-LHC Adam Andersson, SWE (6'4",205lbs): A big power-forward, Andersson is a presence along the boards, in front of the net, and down low. He works hard, battles for loose pucks, and possesses very good two-way awareness, and hockey sense- he seems to be very conscientious of his defensive responsibilities. Despite putting up 4 assists in 5 games, he doesn't look overly skilled or quick on his feet, and his stats back home in Sweden are rather pedestrian, so I will definitely wait and see how he looks with a full-time role in the J20 this season.
-C/LW Ludvig Andersson, SWE (6'0",187lbs): An industrious, hard-working two-way forward, Ludvig (no relation to Adam) brings energy and a physical presence to his team. He looks like more of a legit NHL-prospect than the bigger Adam, having decent skill and playmaking acumen, along with a swift skating stride. He managed to post 5gp/0g/4a/4pts,+2, 4 PIM in this tourney, while playing mostly a bottom-six defensive role.
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