DANKKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Making sense of what kinds of hockey players I prefer

Watching John Scott go nuclear during the first round of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs for Niverville has been especially satisfying for me and has caused me to reflect on what kinds of hockey players I consider “Cassidy,” style players.

All year I would compliment Scott to anyone who listened, noting he was the kind of player that could randomly spark a big playoff win with a two goal performance during a critical game.

A hat trick in game one of Niverville’s sweep over Winkler and a final minutes game-winner in game three showed I was right.

I just love players like Scott. I think back to guys like Landon Roberts with the Pistons during my first year covering the team or Bryce Warkentine, my all-time favourite Nighthawk. There’s no player archatype I love more than the middle six, bruising forward who can drag their team into the fight, even if no one else is willing to.

In terms of goaltenders, blend old-school and new school preferences. As a Jets fan who had to live through the extended Ondrej Pavelec era, I’ve developed a preference for quiet over highlight reel goaltenders, but I still want them to be a little crazy, more than willing to give a player parked in front of their crease some sneaky dirty stickwork.

There’s a reason Guy St Vincent is my all-time favourite senior hockey player. A goaltender who is playing right on the edge is amazing to watch, especially if they can use that to fuel their shot stopping. That’s what makes a player like Raiden LeGall so good. He combines what I call the “dark arts of goaltending” with modern sound positional and “soft” rebounds.

But for all my “old school” preferences up front and in net, I couldn’t be further away from that on defense. Give me a swashbuckling offensive defenseman who has a wicked breakout pass and can jump up into the rush over a big lug any day of the week.

I think watching Toby Enstrom with the Jets win board battles and break up rushes with his long stick and smart positioning made me realize just because you’re on the smaller side, doesn’t mean you can’t be effective in your own zone in the modern era. Returning to the MJHL, players like Niverville’s Carson Reed or Steinbach’s Jack Cook (who unfortunately had an injury-riddled season the year he joined the Pistons), caught my eye in a way solid defensemen just have not.

Even players like Denton Mateychuk, who brought a lot of physicality to the junior game despite standing at under six feet and playing an offensive style, have helped develop that preference.

Hockey develops a lot as a sport when you pay close attention to one team, and can develop personal preferences for player style. It’s a fun thing to examine as a fan.