Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '10-'11
It's not really the midpoint of the season, but I'm bored at work so I thought I'd grade each of our guys through 14 games, a telling sample size.
Connor Jones: A- Connor has been our most consistent player every night and his team leading 10 points is proof of that. It is also very telling that our leading scorer is 4 pts. under being a point a game player but that is another story. His hard, gritty play is rarely seen in a playmaker with as much skill as he has, he and Kellen should be fun to watch for years to come.
Kellen Jones: B+ Speaking of Kellen, he has almost been as consistent as Connor but where this drafted twin falls off is his inability to keep it up every game, the way Connor has. Regardless the twins have been our most impressive, non stop efforts each night and have lived up to expectations.
Mike Dalhuisen: B+ It is incredible that Dalsy has only tallied 1 goal and no assists this year. He is a reliable defenseman, an imposing presence and has really come into his own this year. He has fought injuries but his play has not come into question the way it had last year.
John Dunbar: B Dunbar has been a mainstay in the lineup all year and with a deep young team that is impressive on its own. It isn't reflected on the stat sheet (2 goals, 1 assist) but Dunbar has been in the mix in front of the net all year. He has no problem going into the rough areas and mixing it up despite his size. He seems like a more polished Heichman in terms of offense, but no one can question either of their heart.
Zach Davies: B You seem to not notice Zach Davies on the ice and when it comes to a defenseman, that is usually a good thing. He goes about his job with responsiblity and a maturity far beyond his sophomore experience. He is a defensive defensman and should not be expected to produce much offensively. For what he does, he's one of the best.
Mike Glaicar: B Glaics had that 'A' sewn onto his jersey and has really lived up to that leadership role. A guy who should be wearing a 'C' next year, Glaics has left his cement-footed performances in the past and has done a more than admirable job of securing our blue line. He is also not the constant worry point that he was the last couple of years. His hitting is still a work in progress but as evidence in the Harvard game, it's there.
Eric Hartzell: B Hard to give Hartz a grade lower than this. I just don't have a huge sample size. His only rough outing was Saturday at Umass but his goals against still stands at 1.98 and his save percentage sits at .933. Both incredible impressive stats IF he can keep it up. He gives off way more confidence and security than Clarkie and should see plenty of creasetime for the rest of the season.
Spencer Heichman: B- If I wrote this four games into the season Spence might have gotten an A+. His production has fallen off of late but his grit, heart and never ending physical exertion has always been there. He plays the game the way all small players should and excels because of this. The line of Yuri, Spence and Harvey has been excellent and reliable every night. At the very least they'll give you their all and that's all you can ask for.
Yuri Bouharevich: B- I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect more from Yuri but he has still reached the scoresheet with some consistency. He has also dazzled with his footspeed and offensive touch. Yuri has also shown the fearless ability to drop down and block a shot, a lost art in today's game. He is a throwback and an important piece this year and next year.
Clay Harvey: B- It'd be easy for me to say "see above 2" but Clay's performance has come as kind of a surprise. When I was making my line combinations at the beginning of the year I may have even scratched Harvey. He didn't impress me last year and I didn't expect much of him this year. His play has proved me wrong and I sure hope it continues. Never takes a shift off.
Zach Tolkinen: B- It's hard, again, because of sample size but Tolks seems to be the type of Dman that if he came in another season when we weren't so deep, he might have thrived. He is a victim right now of a deep D-core but has shown, especially on the PP, he has the ability to be very good. He has a blast of a slapper and rarely makes Freshman mistakes. With Hano leaving after this season, I expect Tolkinen to step in and fill his "void" on the PP, impressing us all.
Scott Zurevinski: C+ He leads the team in goals with 5 but 5 goals in 14 games is hardly the production a pro prospect should be showing, especially playing on a line at the beginning of the year with the likes of Kellen and Connor. He has shown at times hard, physical play but then disappeared and seemed to take shifts off from time to time. He may be catering to not getting hurt or playing it safe, but right now with his play the only thing getting hurt are his chances at signing at the next level. Scott is an incredble talent but in order for this team to work, he must work.
Zack Currie: C+ Currie's insertion as a forward has been pretty seamless. He has good speed which he showed off last season on a break away top shelf goal. I think that put the thought in Rand's mind that Zack playing forward may work. He works hard with the skills he has and is always valuable in case a defensemen goes down like Hansen did the other night. Currie is a valuable role guy and clearly a team player.
Brooks Robinson: C+ Like Tolkinen, Brooks has been a healthy scratch a lot this season so I don't know what to expect of him. From what I've seen he brings a chippy, checking line mentality to every shift and has the ability to get under other players skin, something the Bobcats are notorious for. I'm not sure he has much natural scoring ability but he may make up for it defensively and with tenacity.
Dan Clarke: C+ Clarkie seemed primed to have a breakout year and take hold of the number one goalie position. But he has faltered and collected an ugly 3.39 GA and an .868 Save Pct. Much of this can be attributed to the painful protection he's had from his team when he's in net. As Brian Sullivan alluded to Clarke's protection from his team has been lacking and this has doomed him and the team
Ben Arnt: C As much as I want to give Benny a D, he hasn't been terrible. Arnt will never impress anyone with his offensive ability but like a good defensive catcher in baseball a centerman will never be turned away on a hockey team. Playing him on the Jones line, like Rand did Saturday at Umass, is not the answer however.
Bobby Tyson: C Tyson like Currie has stepped up admirably and played well as a defenseman turned forward. His recent scratches do not make sense given the guys that Rand's replaced him with. Tyson plays hard and seems to be able to kill of penalities when need be.
Loren Barron: C- It baffles me that Barron and Hansen continue to be paired together and on the top PP line. Barron has god given athletic ability and some speed that get him out of trouble, but playing more ice time than the likes of Davies, Dalsy and Glaics is simply crazy. His four assists are nice but may be more of an indication that the Jones' and Zurvy can get anybody points on the PP.
Jeremy Langlois: C- The Jeremy Langlois who scored 8 and 12 last year is nowhere to be found. He was expected to come into this year and take the place of one of the lost talents that were in last year's senior class. 2 goals and 1 assist through 13 is not exactly doing that. His ability that we saw last year should surface soon. Until then a healthy scratch night might solidify the notion that he needs to step his game up.
Russell Goodman: C- Goody has great size and after coming off injury last year seemed to be a promising prospect. He has seemed slow, tired and bored on the ice this year. If it is an injury that is one thing, if it's effort, he should be sat.
D'Arcy Oakes: C- Oakes hasn't been terrible as a checking line forward and had a decent game when paired with the Joneses against Harvard but his constant mishandling of the puck has proved troublesome and his lack of productivity earns him this C-.
Zach Hansen: D Hano is lucky he is the lone senior and was charitably given the 'A' this season as his performance has been atrocious. I came under some fire this year when I called out his play. He has proven me to be correct. Multiple pucks hopping his stick, nailing a wrister into an opponents shin pads and breaking his stick on a shank of a shot are just some of the joys he's provided us with this year.
Reese Rolheiser, Cory Hibbeler, Kevin Bui, Sean Coughlin: N/A It's hard to grade any of these guys fairly given their amount of time on the ice. Rolheiser was decent last year but has seem to be hurt or fallen into Rand's dog house. Hibbeler looks good in a limited sample size and Rand should give him a little more PT.
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