July 31, 2018 - United States White U20 vs. Canada Red U20 (World Junior Summer Showcase Exhibition Game)

July 31, 2018 (KAMLOOPS, B.C., CANADA): United States White vs. Canada Red - World Junior Summer Showcase Exhibition Game

CAN #2 LD Noah Dobson (NYI, 12, 18) - Playing on his off-side, he easily looked like Canada Red's best defender tonight, as he was a force on both sides of the puck. A really great skater with a long and powerful full stride who can take off quickly and didn't hesitate to join the rush. Looked like a fourth forward on some shifts and picked his spots really nicely. Great puck protection ability along the wall and in the corners made him a useful addition to the cycle. Showed off a great shot from the point but can also lead the play with his passes too. Defensive game was nothing to sneeze at, as he was a menacing presence in the corners and won most of his one-on-one battles. Got caught reaching on Jack Hughes more than once. Other than that, he was physical and decently reliable in his own zone. Fairly dependable in a first pairing role and versatile enough to be used in all situations.

CAN #26 RW Raphael Lavoie (2019) - It was a really mixed bag for Lavoie, as he didn't necessary look out of place tonight, but wasn't outstanding either. He comes equipped with powerful legs, a decent first step and long strides, but fit amongst the second tier skaters at this level based on a comparative analysis. Average speed is mitigated by size. Looked surprisingly balanced and strong along the walls and difficult to knock off of the puck. More coordinated than you’d expect based on his lanky frame. Can make good plays when in full gear, as exhibited by a backhand pass on an odd-man rush that resulted in a secondary assist. There were a couple of fumbles tonight and at least one turnover, but overall, it was a good effort and he made a fair bit out of his limited ice-time.

USA #14 LW Cole Coskey (2019**) - Aside from the Hughes brothers, this is the most entertaining American player to watch by far, and it's mostly just because he looks like such a pain in the ass to play against. It was a feisty effort from him again tonight, as he was predictably trusted with additional ice time after a stellar debut in the Team White opener. Once again provided hustle and energy in a depth role and was rewarded with additional ice time on the penalty kill, where he played down the middle more than once. Looked more than proficient in his role as a penalty killer and was really strong at even strength tonight as well. Blocked shots, finished his checks, and created some offense--what more can you ask for? Proved to be more than a pest with some excellent sustained possessions and playmaking demonstrations in the offensive zone. Defensively reliable at all times tonight whilst also playing the game on a very thin edge. A really intriguing prospect who is becoming more and more deserving of a look for the World Juniors squad.  

USA #19 LC Jack Hughes (2019) - Somehow managed to outperform himself after blowing my socks off in the Team White opener and was simply dominant in this one. The Canadians looked dejected almost every time he stepped on the ice as he was able to dance around them with relative ease--despite being the youngest guy on the ice. His skating and puck handling are as good as you'll see from a prospect his age. I noticed a few new facets to his game that I might have missed in the first encounter, including some decent physicality behind the net and a more active stick in the neutral zone. Like his puck handling and his skating, his anticipation and hockey sense is elite level. Hemmed the opposition into their own zone multiple times and got the puck to his finishers. Had an underrated two-way performance in a game where he'll mostly be remembered for his terrific playmaking offense.

USA #24 RD Quinn Hughes (VAN, 7, 18) - A lock to make this team and potential captain material based on his last two performances alone. Lightning fast and silky smooth pivots combined with natural misdirectional abilities make him almost impossible to read when he has the puck on his stick. Difficult to knock off stride because of a combination of outstanding footwork, stick work, balance and unpredictability. Only downside to his game tonight was that he always rushed the puck--and just because you can doesn't mean you should. Defensive game is above-average, too, which is only a bonus when you consider how good his offensive game is. Quarterbacked the powerplay for the second night in a row and looked great once again. His snapshot could use a bit more power but his wrist shot is a laser. Scored the game winner on a great pass from his little brother.

Final Score:

United States White (7) vs. Canada Red (5)