An early blizzard hitting the Plains signaled to every one that hockey season was officially here. Now the best in the Midwest are a quarter through their 60-game season and we find a league that is enjoying a fair amount of parity in each division. Every roster has some talent that can get their team streaking and that should lead to some very interesting play-off runs later in the year. These five players are working hard to help their squads to do great things this winter.
John Moore (D) – Chicago Steel: The Steel have not started off their season as strong as they’d like, barely keeping their heads above the .500 line at 8-7 heading into the weekend. A bright spot in the lineup has come in second-year defenseman John Moore. Standing at 6’2” but only coming in at 180, Moore has found a way to make the best of his lanky frame to keep Chicago secure on the blue line. To the delight of the coaching staff, his game has progressed smartly, keeping Moore making plays, getting points (11 on the season), and staying out of the penalty box.
Jake Hauswirth (F) – Omaha Lancers: Another second-year player, Jake Hauswirth has turned up the scoring touch considerably compared to his first go-round with the Lancers. His improved ability to control a 6’5”, 210 lb build has allowed him to see more ice and less penalty box. That’s a concern for every other team in the league as Hauswirth has already potted himself 10 goals and 3 assists in 15 games, but still can get physical and win battles anywhere on the ice. Look for Hauswirth to be extra motivated to get the points while he still can, he’s committed to Michigan Tech University of the WCHA just this week.
Lee Moffie (D) – Waterloo: The Black Hawks find themselves right in the thick of the USHL East standings and certainly have the talent to get to the top. In order to get there, they’ll have to rely on first-year D-man Lee Moffie. Already selected as a USHL Defensive Player of the Week, Moffie has shown how good he can be at shutting down opposing lines. Far from one-dimensional, he also possesses a good eye for the ice and has earned 7 points in the 10 games he’s suited up for. Moffie’s young career gained a little more prominence after coming home with the gold from the World Junior A Hockey Challenge earlier this year. Waterloo hope to get a lot of production from the 6-foot-1, 205 pounder before he makes his way to Ann Arbor to play for the University of Michigan.
William Rapuzzi (F) – Green Bay Gamblers: Sometimes is amazing the lengths that scouts and kids will go to make it to the next level and Anchorage, Alaska native William Rapuzzi has put in some miles to start his first season with the Gamblers. He didn’t take too long to get acclimated as the somewhat undersized – at 5’11”, 185 lbs. – forward started the season with 5 goals and 5 assists in 12 games played. For now, the Gamblers staff has been happy to get him in as much offense as possible, playing him on the power play regularly. We’ll have to wait and see if his defensive game develops as the season moves along and he can up the -1 +/- rating he’ll be taking into the weekend.
Steve Thompson (G) – Sioux City Musketeers: Looking at Steve Thompson’s numbers to start the year might not make him a suitable pick for the player that’s going to carry a team. That would be at a glance, as the 6-3, 185 pound goaltender has shown he has all the tools needed to backstop a club that’s poised to streak to the top of the West standings. Consistency is all that Thompson needs, both in what he brings to the rink each night as well as the guys in front of him. His 4-5 record to start the ’08-’09 campaign isn’t exactly what the Musketeers coaches had in mind, but he’s also faced 284 shots while splitting time Adam Janacek. If the Sioux City defense tightens up a bit, it’s almost certain that Thompson will improve on his 3.39 GAA and .907 SV%, and maybe even erase the six-point gap behind the Lincoln Stars.
I think Steve Thompson is defiantly going to be a first round pick!
November 25th, 2008 at 8:51 am