How did the Philadelphia Wings perform in the 2022-2023 lacrosse season. What were the key matches and outcomes for the team. Which opponents proved to be the toughest challengers for the Wings.
Philadelphia Wings’ 2022-2023 Season Overview
The Philadelphia Wings, a professional box lacrosse team competing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), embarked on an eventful 2022-2023 season. The team faced various opponents, experiencing both triumphant victories and challenging defeats. This comprehensive analysis delves into the Wings’ performance, highlighting key matches, notable trends, and the overall impact of their season.
Season Start and Early Challenges
The Wings kicked off their season on December 2nd, 2022, with a tough loss against the Halifax Thunderbirds. The final score of 18-8 in favor of Halifax indicated a challenging start for Philadelphia. This opening game set the stage for what would be a season of ups and downs for the team.
Bounce Back and Key Victories
Despite the initial setback, the Wings demonstrated resilience in their subsequent matches. On December 17th, 2022, they secured a narrow victory against the Georgia Swarm with a score of 13-12. This win proved crucial in boosting team morale and setting a positive tone for the games to follow.
Another significant victory came on January 6th, 2023, when the Wings defeated the Las Vegas Desert Dogs 14-9. This game showcased the team’s offensive capabilities and their ability to dominate on their home turf.
Analyzing the Wings’ Home and Away Performance
Throughout the season, the Philadelphia Wings displayed varying levels of performance in home and away games. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for assessing the team’s overall strategy and adaptability.
Home Game Prowess
The Wings demonstrated strength in their home games, with notable victories including:
- A 13-12 win against the Georgia Swarm (December 17th, 2022)
- A decisive 14-9 victory over the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (January 6th, 2023)
- A 13-9 triumph against the Buffalo Bandits (January 27th, 2023)
These home wins highlighted the team’s ability to leverage home-court advantage and rally support from their local fan base.
Challenges on the Road
Away games presented more challenges for the Wings, with some notable losses including:
- A 12-10 defeat against the Panther City Lacrosse Club (January 14th, 2023)
- A significant 14-5 loss to the Toronto Rock (January 21st, 2023)
- A 13-5 defeat at the hands of the Albany FireWolves (February 4th, 2023)
These away game results suggest areas for improvement in the team’s road game strategy and adaptability to different playing environments.
Key Matchups and Rivalries
Throughout the season, certain matchups stood out as particularly significant for the Philadelphia Wings. These games either showcased intense rivalries or proved to be turning points in the team’s season.
Wings vs. Buffalo Bandits
The Wings faced the Buffalo Bandits twice during the season, resulting in a split series:
- January 27th, 2023: Philadelphia Wings 13 – Buffalo Bandits 9 (Home win for Wings)
- February 18th, 2023: Philadelphia Wings 12 – Buffalo Bandits 13 (Home loss for Wings)
These closely contested games highlighted the competitive nature of the Wings-Bandits rivalry and demonstrated the evenly matched skills of both teams.
Battles with the New York Riptide
The Wings’ encounters with the New York Riptide proved to be high-scoring affairs:
- March 4th, 2023: New York Riptide 12 – Philadelphia Wings 19 (Away win for Wings)
- March 11th, 2023: Philadelphia Wings 10 – New York Riptide 13 (Home loss for Wings)
The contrasting results in these games showcased the unpredictable nature of the sport and the importance of maintaining consistency across home and away matches.
Offensive and Defensive Performance Analysis
A closer look at the Wings’ scoring patterns and defensive strategies provides insight into the team’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Offensive Prowess
The Philadelphia Wings demonstrated significant offensive capabilities in several games:
- 19 goals scored against the New York Riptide (March 4th, 2023)
- 14 goals each against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (January 6th, 2023) and the Toronto Rock (January 21st, 2023)
- 13 goals in three separate games against Georgia Swarm, Buffalo Bandits, and Albany FireWolves
These high-scoring games highlight the team’s potential for explosive offense when firing on all cylinders.
Defensive Challenges
While the Wings showed offensive strength, some games revealed defensive vulnerabilities:
- 18 goals conceded to the Halifax Thunderbirds in the season opener
- 14 goals allowed against the Toronto Rock (January 21st, 2023)
- 13 goals conceded in three separate games against Buffalo Bandits, Albany FireWolves, and New York Riptide
These results suggest that bolstering defensive strategies could be a key focus for future improvement.
Impact of Home Crowd and Venue
The influence of the home crowd and familiar venue on the Philadelphia Wings’ performance is a crucial aspect of their season analysis.
Home Field Advantage
Playing at their home arena seemed to provide a significant boost to the Wings’ performance. Out of the analyzed games, the team won 4 out of 7 home matches, demonstrating the positive impact of familiar surroundings and supportive fans.
Key home victories included:
- The narrow 13-12 win against Georgia Swarm
- A commanding 14-9 victory over Las Vegas Desert Dogs
- A solid 13-9 win against Buffalo Bandits
These results underscore the importance of home field advantage in the sport of lacrosse, where crowd energy can significantly influence player performance and game outcomes.
Challenges of Away Games
Conversely, away games presented more significant challenges for the Philadelphia Wings. The team struggled in several road matches, including:
- A 12-10 loss to Panther City
- A substantial 14-5 defeat against Toronto Rock
- A 13-5 loss to Albany FireWolves
These results highlight the need for strategies to better adapt to away game environments and maintain consistent performance regardless of venue.
Player Performance and Team Dynamics
While individual player statistics are not provided in the given schedule, the team’s overall performance offers insights into player contributions and team dynamics.
Offensive Leaders
The Wings’ ability to score consistently, particularly in high-scoring games, suggests the presence of strong offensive leaders within the team. Games where the team scored 13 or more goals indicate that certain players likely emerged as key scorers and playmakers.
Defensive Standouts
In games where the Wings held their opponents to single-digit scores, such as the 14-9 win against Las Vegas and the 13-9 victory over Buffalo, defensive players likely made significant contributions. These performances point to potential defensive standouts within the team.
Team Cohesion
The Wings’ ability to bounce back from losses and secure crucial victories suggests a strong team dynamic and effective leadership, both on and off the field. The narrow victories, such as the 13-12 win against Georgia and the 11-10 win over Toronto, particularly highlight the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
Season Trends and Patterns
Analyzing the Philadelphia Wings’ 2022-2023 season reveals several noteworthy trends and patterns that shaped their overall performance.
Scoring Consistency
The Wings demonstrated a relatively consistent scoring output throughout the season. In the majority of their games, the team scored between 10 and 14 goals. This consistency in offensive output suggests a reliable scoring system and a balanced attack strategy.
Home vs. Away Disparity
A clear pattern emerged in the difference between the Wings’ home and away performances. The team generally performed better at home, securing more victories and scoring more goals. This home advantage was particularly evident in high-stakes games against tough opponents.
Competitive in Close Games
The Wings showed a knack for performing well in closely contested matches. Games decided by a margin of two goals or less often went in Philadelphia’s favor, indicating the team’s mental toughness and ability to execute in pressure situations.
Struggles Against Top Teams
While the Wings had success against some opponents, they faced challenges when playing against some of the league’s top-performing teams. Losses to teams like the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits highlight areas where the team may need to improve to compete consistently at the highest level.
Impact on League Standing and Playoff Prospects
The Philadelphia Wings’ performance throughout the 2022-2023 season had significant implications for their standing in the league and their prospects for playoff contention.
Mid-Season Position
Based on the given schedule and results, the Wings maintained a competitive position in the league standings through the mid-point of the season. Their ability to secure key victories against strong opponents kept them in the playoff conversation.
Critical Late-Season Games
The latter part of the season featured several crucial games that likely had a significant impact on the Wings’ playoff chances. Matches against divisional rivals and direct competitors for playoff spots took on added importance as the season progressed.
Playoff Push Factors
Several factors influenced the Wings’ push for a playoff spot:
- Performance in divisional games
- Success rate in close matches
- Ability to secure wins against top-tier teams
- Consistency in both home and away performances
The team’s success in these areas played a crucial role in determining their final league position and playoff eligibility.
Looking Ahead: Areas for Improvement and Future Prospects
As the Philadelphia Wings reflect on their 2022-2023 season, several areas for improvement and future focus emerge, which could enhance their competitiveness in upcoming seasons.
Enhancing Road Game Performance
One clear area for improvement is the team’s performance in away games. Developing strategies to better adapt to different playing environments and maintain consistency on the road could significantly boost the Wings’ overall record.
Defensive Reinforcement
While the Wings demonstrated strong offensive capabilities, their defensive performance showed room for improvement. Focusing on strengthening their defensive strategies and potentially acquiring or developing key defensive players could help in reducing goals conceded, particularly in high-scoring games.
Consistency Against Top Teams
The Wings showed they could compete with some of the league’s best teams, but improving their consistency against top-tier opponents will be crucial for future success. This may involve tactical adjustments, mental preparation, or strategic player acquisitions.
Building on Home Success
Leveraging their strong home game performance, the Wings could focus on making their home venue an even more formidable place for opponents. This could involve strategies to enhance crowd engagement and further capitalize on the home-field advantage.
Player Development and Recruitment
Continued focus on player development, particularly in nurturing young talent and strategic recruitment to address specific team needs, will be essential for the Wings’ long-term success. This approach could help in building a more well-rounded and competitive squad.
As the Philadelphia Wings look to the future, addressing these areas could position them for increased success and a stronger presence in the National Lacrosse League. The experiences and lessons from the 2022-2023 season provide a solid foundation for growth and improvement in the seasons to come.
Schedule – Philadelphia Wings Lacrosse
Friday, December 2nd 2022
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
8 –
18
Halifax
Thunderbirds
Saturday, December 17th 2022
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
13
–
12
Georgia
Swarm
Friday, January 6th 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
14
–
9
Las Vegas
Desert Dogs
Saturday, January 14th 2023
Panther City
Panther City
Final
12
–
10
Philadelphia
Wings
Saturday, January 21st 2023
Toronto
Rock
Final
14
–
5
Philadelphia
Wings
Friday, January 27th 2023
Buffalo
Bandits
Final
13
–
9
Philadelphia
Wings
Saturday, February 4th 2023
Albany
Firewolves
Final
5 –
13
Philadelphia
Wings
Saturday, February 18th 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
12 –
13
Buffalo
Bandits
Saturday, March 4th 2023
New York
Riptide
Final
12 –
19
Philadelphia
Wings
Monday, March 6th 2023
Toronto
Rock
Final
10 –
11
Philadelphia
Wings
Saturday, March 11th 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
10 –
13
New York
Riptide
Saturday, March 18th 2023
Georgia
Swarm
Final
13
–
12
Philadelphia
Wings
Sunday, March 19th 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
9
–
8
Rochester
Knighthawks
Saturday, March 25th 2023
Halifax
Thunderbirds
Final
14
–
10
Philadelphia
Wings
Sunday, April 2nd 2023
Rochester
Knighthawks
Final
13 –
14
Philadelphia
Wings
Saturday, April 15th 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
7 –
12
Toronto
Rock
Sunday, April 23rd 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
10
–
9
Albany
Firewolves
Saturday, April 29th 2023
Philadelphia
Wings
Final
14
–
11
Rochester
Knighthawks
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90,000 Top 10 Memorable Moments of 2021 90,001 90,002 The year 2021 is coming to an end and there is reason to look back and remember its brightest moments. NHL.com/ru presents the top ten unforgettable experiences of the outgoing calendar year.
1. Tampa Bay wins second Stanley Cup in a row
There have been 16 times in NHL history that a team that won the Stanley Cup in the same year then repeated the success – one or more times – immediately after. The more teams in the NHL became, the more difficult this trick turned out to be, and after the introduction of the salary cap in 2005, only Pittsburgh succeeded at all in 2016 and 2017. And Tampa, who took the Cup in 2020, also managed to make a kind of double, having issued a 1-0 victory on July 7, 2021 in the fifth match of the final against Montreal.
The protagonist of the match, and of the entire playoffs, was the Russian goalkeeper Andrey Vasilevsky, who managed to end every cup series with a shutout. Vasilevsky was awarded not only the main NHL trophy, but also the Conn Smythe Trophy, the most valuable player in the playoffs.
Video: Lightning win game #5 and Stanley Cup
2. Kucherov’s return
Nikita Kucherov missed the entire 2020-21 regular season with hip surgery and only returned to the ice in the first playoff game . But how come back! In the second period of the duel with Florida, he turned 1-2 into 3-2 with two power-play goals, then added an assist and provided the Lightning with the first of 16 victories on the way to the second consecutive Stanley Cup.
An unforgettable moment in 2021 was the press conference of Kucherov, already officially the top scorer in the playoffs (8+24=32), after winning the final. The sight of a Russian with a naked torso and a can of beer in his hand, answering journalists’ questions, immediately became a meme among fans and at the same time brought Kucherov a contract with a brewing company.
3. Ovechkin passes Gartner, Esposito, Dionne and Hull
Alexander Ovechkin continues to climb the ladder of the greatest goalscorers in NHL history, with each successive step becoming a separate significant event. In 2021, Ovi gave himself four reasons to be happy when he was ahead of Mike Gartner (February 5, 709Ovi’s career goal), Phil Esposito (March 16, 717th), Marcel Dionne (October 13, 732nd) and Brett Hull (November 12, 742nd). In the latter case, history was made by Yevgeny Kuznetsov, who gave Ovi an assist, and Columbus goaltender Jonas Korpisalo, who failed to parry his signature shot from the left faceoff circle.
Ovechkin left for the Christmas break with 752 goals in his career, and overcoming the next step in the person of Jaromir Jagr (766) is clearly not far off.
Video: Ovechkin beats Hull on Yandex.Sport/Wink
4. Milano’s Zegras assist goal
Perhaps only Andrey Svechnikov’s lacrosse goal has been more talked about in recent years than the December 7 masterpiece by Trevor Zegras and Anaheim’s Sonny Milano.
In the match against Buffalo, the first, being outside the gate, picked up the puck on the hook and gently threw it over the net. And the second, having settled down in front of the piglet, hammered it into the net since the summer.
The video of the “lacrosse pass” immediately flooded the social networks, and tens of thousands of young hockey players tried to repeat it on the same day. And some, by the way, have already succeeded even in an official match. In a Western Hockey League game a few days ago, Portland Winterhawks forward James Stefan scored with a kick from Detroit Red Wings prospect Cross Hanas, who had previously scored several lacrosse goals. And apparently, this is not the last copy that we will see.
5. Seattle’s first-ever game
Fans have been waiting for the Seattle Kraken’s debut since December 4, 2018, when the NHL announced that the city would receive a 32nd NHL team. The wait lasted almost three years – the rookie club played its first match in the NHL on October 12, 2021.
“Seattle” lost to another recent debutant – “Vegas” (3:4), but showed the will and character, turning 0:3, burned on the scoreboard in the middle of the match, 3:3 ten minutes before the end. Ryan Donato scored the first goal in Kraken history.
6. Sunset on Lake Tahoe
The theme of outdoor matches, returning both fans and hockey players themselves to a distant and beautiful childhood, will never be a thing of the past. The year 2021 gave us one of the brightest such performances in terms of visual picture. The sunset landscape on Lake Tahoe during the match between “Boston” and “Philadelphia” will forever remain in the memory of those who saw it. Even the result of the match, in which Boston was stronger than 7:3 thanks to a hat-trick by David Pastrnak, faded into the background in comparison with the breathtaking beauty of nature in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Video: COL-VGN: Martinez equalizes on rebound
7. Marlo’s record
One of the oldest NHL records fell on April 19th.
Forward “San Jose” Patrick Marlo after 59 years has surpassed the achievement of Gordie Howe in the number of career matches. “Party”, as in the case of “Seattle”, spoiled “Vegas”, who won 3:2, but who really thinks about the result on such a historic day?
Howe retired at 52, Marlo was only 41 at the time of the record. But in order to realize the greatness of the moment, here is one figure for you: by the epochal day, Marlo went out on the ice against 3009hockey players – this is 37% of the NHL players in its entire 104-year history.
8. Kaprizov’s debut
Few NHL players made such a splash with their appearance as the Russian striker of “Minnesota” Kirill Kaprizov. He decided to cross the ocean only at the age of 24, already being an Olympic champion and winner of the Gagarin Cup in the KHL, and literally from his first day in the NHL turned Minnesota into one of the league’s most “watchable” teams. On January 14, he immediately became the Wild’s Man of the Match against Los Angeles, scoring 3 (1+2) points, including the game-winning goal in overtime, and then did not stop.
At the end of the season, the Russian striker, who scored 51 (27 + 24) points in 55 matches, won the vote for the title of the best rookie of the year almost by one wicket, receiving 99 first places out of 100 possible.
9. McDavid scores 100 points in a shortened season
100 points. In the 21st century, the great Mario Lemieux showed the maximum performance per game in the 2000-01 season – 1.77 points per game. And even with this indicator in the 56-match championship, one could count on only 99 points.
However, Edmonton captain Connor McDavid did the impossible. By April 11, he had “only” 69 (23 + 46) points in 42 matches, but over the next 11 meetings he put another 31 (9 + 22) points into the piggy bank and reached the coveted mark. He became the ninth player in NHL history, and the first in 25 years, to take 53 games or less from the start of the championship.
Video: EDM-WAN: McDavid hit 100 points in a season
0006
If Zegras-Milano’s goal is likely to be the best in 2021-22, then in the 2020-21 championship the most striking masterpiece belongs to the pen of Islanders leader Matthew Barzal.
In the second period of the match with Buffalo on March 6, with a score of 0: 1, he overtook the overall Rasmus Ristolainen, putting him on the fifth point, jumped out to the gates of Carter Hatton, put the puck between his legs and sent it past the goalkeeper with a cunning movement.
Agree, it is precisely for such moments that we love the game called “hockey”.
Jack Hughes is a family success
However, the Blackhawks forward believes that Hughes cannot be compared to any NHL player because he is better.
“When a small hockey player comes into the league playing attacking hockey, they immediately start comparing him to me. That’s my impression,” said Kane (height – 178 cm, weight – 77 kg). – But I think he is He does a lot of things better than me. It’s true. He’s always on the move, always at speed. Even if the puck isn’t around and the game is going somewhere else, he still gets into the zone very quickly and joins the fight.”
An excellent feature for an 18-year-old athlete who has not yet played a minute in professional hockey.
But Hughes (178 cm, 77 kg) should not be considered an ordinary junior.
The US National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 center has what it takes to make it in the NHL: athletic family, character, a skating that Kane calls “unique,” understanding of the game. For all these qualities, Hughes stands out from the rest of the players entering the draft this year.
“There’s no other Jack Hughes,” says David Gregory of the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau (CSB). “You can see elements in other players. He’s very agile and fast. His skating is reminiscent of [Buffalo Sabers center] Jack Eichel. They’re both picks up speed and balances remarkably. He also handles pressure well, like (Edmonton Oilers center forward) Connor McDavid. He can use a small chance to slip between two opponents. Others will not go for it, and he will take risks, because sees this as an opportunity.”
Hughes was ranked No. 1 in the final CBA North American fielding rankings and may be selected as No..jpg)
1 by the New Jersey Devils on June 21 in Vancouver. He has every chance of becoming the first NTDP graduate to enter the NHL immediately after the draft.
At the end of this season, Hughes became the top scorer in the NTDP team, gaining 112 (34+ 78) points in 50 games. That is, on average, he scored 2.24 points per game. He holds the Program record for assists (154) and points (228). For two seasons in this team, the forward played 110 games, averaging 2.07 points per game.
“Hockey is in my blood. I enjoy scoring goals, playing martial arts, practicing,” Hughes said. He plays a huge role in my life.”
How did a boy born in Florida, far from the most hockey state in the US, become the most promising junior in American hockey since Auston Matthews, drafted #1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016? The best way to start answering this question is by talking about his family.
Prodigy
Jack was born on May 14, 2001. His father Jim at the time was an assistant coach for the Orlando team, who played in the International Hockey League.
But soon the family moved – Jim became an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins. Jack was only two months old. In 2003, when Jack was two, the family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, where Jim worked as an AHL assistant coach for two seasons and then coach for a year. There, Jack’s brother, Luke, was born. In 2006, the family again changed their place of residence. This time, the Hughes settled in Toronto, Canada, where Jim became an assistant coach of the AHL club.
It was in Toronto that five-year-old Jack became seriously involved in hockey. He raced the puck not only at the outdoor rink in Wedgwood Park, but also at home in the garage with his brother Quinn (a year and a half older than Jack).
“They were pushing so hard that the whole house was shaking,” recalls their mother Ellen. us a window. We covered it with a pillow. But I can’t count how many times we had to change the glass.”
Then Luke joined the home hockey battles, which, on the one hand, helped in the hockey plan, and on the other hand, worsened the condition of the garage.
Hockey is the main sport in the Hughes family, but Jim and Ellen wanted their children to try other games as well. Ellen played football, lacrosse, and hockey while at the University of New Hampshire, and Jim was a quarterback on the college hockey team.
Jack was good at basketball. He played center from the age of nine to 13, but hated training.
“I begged my mother not to take us there,” he says. “That’s the only problem.”
The attention that parents paid to other sports helped the children become versatile athletes.
“They ran a cross-country race with 150 kids from different schools and took the top three places,” says Jim. looking for options. Therefore, we believed that playing different sports contributes to the overall development. ”
As a result, American hockey may achieve a unique achievement: three brothers can be drafted by NHL clubs in the first rounds in different years.
Quinn was selected seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2018 and played his first NHL game on March 28 this year.
Luke will begin playing for the NTDP (U-17) team this fall as a guard and enter the draft in 2021. Jack hopes to be the eighth American to be drafted No. 1 in the NHL after Brian Laughton (forward, Minnesota North Stars, 1983), Mike Modano (forward, North Stars, 1988), Brian Berard (guard, Ottawa Senators, 1995), Rick DiPietro (goaltender, New York Islanders, 2000), Eric Johnson (guard, Louis Blues, 2006), Kane (forward, Blackhawks, 2007) and Matthews (forward, Maple Leafs, 2018).
Quinn, with three assists in five games for the Canucks, not only paved the way for Jack in the NHL. He was a stimulus for him in development.
“I was four years old, he was six. I chased him everywhere, I wanted to do what he did,” says Jack. gave in. He made me strive for more, taught me how to work, because he is very hardworking himself. I always looked up to Quinn. He never rolls straight. ”
The family did not live long in Boston, but the city played a prominent role in the brothers’ lives.
According to Ellen, Jack and Quinn’s parents put Jack and Quinn on skates there.
Yes, Jack was on the ice at the age of one and a half.
“We’ve always said that the stick should be held with two hands,” Ellen explains what parents paid attention to when they taught their sons to play hockey. “The body must move behind the stick, the shoulders must be rotated correctly.”
Jim wanted his kids to understand the importance of getting up to speed when cornering. He demanded that they come out of the turn at a higher speed than when they started the maneuver.
“Hockey is a sport in which you have to change direction all the time,” he says. “You don’t have to run a hundred meters in a straight line. A lot of people lose speed when they start maneuvering. To avoid this, you need to learn how to use the inside and outside of the blade.” .
Ellen and Jean gave the boys knee pads, elbow pads, and hockey shorts so that falls would not cause negative emotions in children, and they would not be afraid to repeat certain exercises over and over again.
“They went out on the ice with pads so they wouldn’t be afraid to play at full speed,” says Ellen.
Jack believes that this approach paid off.
“We weren’t working on the speed that is needed when a hockey player is going in a straight line. We were always working on the turns, that’s why we skate so well,” said Jack. these maneuvers to automatism”.
Adam Nicholas, owner of Stride Envy Hockey in Boston, has worked with Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Honeyfin, Ottawa Senators forward Colin White, Minnesota Wild forward Jordan Greenway and Matthew Baldy of the NTDP U-18s. He had never met Hughes in training, but he saw how this hockey player skates and was very impressed.
“He doesn’t drive in a straight line,” says Nicholas. “If he needs to turn left, he will never go straight ahead to turn left. He will move to the right so that he has more room to turn left. Due to this, he can pick up speed and get away from the opponent by performing this maneuver.
I don’t want to say that he owns skates like Connor McDavid, but they have a lot in common.”
During matches, not only Jack’s ability to skate, but his ability to choose a position is of particular importance. John Vanbiesbroek, USA Hockey Federation Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Operations and a former NHL goaltender, considers Jack one of the most courageous players in hockey. If you add to this understanding of the game and speed, it becomes clear why Jack has every chance of becoming the first number in the NHL draft.
“He runs in the middle zone, crosses the blue line at speed and makes decisions at speed … I don’t want to compare players, but he has a unique ability to beat opponents and see what few people see,” Vanbiesbroek says. “I’ve seen him with the puck he goes to two or three dimensional opponents, beats them and rolls out into the net. He is not afraid.
Former forward Jamie Langenbrunner played against Kane in the NHL and with him for Team USA.
In September, he coached the team at the USA Hockey Federation’s Best Young Players match. Jack Hughes played for the opposing team.
“Hughes, for all his skill, has a drive to win,” says Langenbrunner. “He’s always with the puck or wants to have it. It’s going to be interesting to watch him in the NHL for the next 20 years.”
Choice
Jack made the biggest decision of his hockey career so far in 2017.
In that year’s Ontario Hockey League draft, he would have definitely gone first overall to the Barry Colts. The league’s top picks over the years have been McDavid (2012, Erie), Steven Stamkos (2006, Sarnia), John Tavares (2005, Oshawa), and Eric Lindros (1989, S. Ste. Marie”). In the 2016-17 season, Jack played for Toronto in the Toronto Junior League and scored 159 (58 goals, 101 goals) in 80 games there. But the striker decided to follow the example of his older brother Quinn and went to the American Plymouth in Michigan to play for the NTDP team.
“We were close to drafting him,” said Barry’s general manager and chief scout Jason Ford. country. It is important for him. We did everything to get him, but it did not work out. We respected their decision and did not choose him as the first number. ”
Jack spent two seasons with NTDP. Teams from this program play in tournaments with the teams of the US Hockey League (players from 16 to 20 years old), as well as the first and third divisions of the student national championship. Hughes was coached by John Wroblewski, and under his guidance Jack grew as a person and as a player. The NTDP teams also take part in three international tournaments during each season.
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is another path to the NHL for young players. It is one of the top three youth leagues in Canada that make up the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). It is played by hockey players from 16 to 21 years old. Over the past six years, 89 OHL players have been drafted by the NHL in the first round.
Kane, who scored 172 (84 + 88) points in 121 games for the NTDP team (1.42 points per game) from 2004 to 2006, played one season in the OHL (London). It was the 2006-07 championship and Kane then chalked up 145 (62 assists and 83) points in 58 games. He played for the Blackhawks the following year.
“Talented guys with a skill level like Jack Hughes will make their way to the top anyway,” says CBA director Dan Marr. In this regard, they have a lot in common, although there are differences. It all depends on the hockey player. Someone has an innate talent, someone reveals himself later, some excel in children’s and school hockey. All this affects which path a young person chooses “Coaches, parents, agents are always ready to help him make the choice that suits him best. They know if he is able to take a step forward in development right now or it is better for him to move gradually. The hockey player will develop as nature intended. It does not depend on what level he plays.
Jack’s assisting and scoring records in his two seasons in the Program are significant achievements. On points, he overtook Clayton Keller (Arizona Coyotes, 189 points in NTDP), Phil Kessel (Pittsburgh Penguins, 180), Kane (172) and Matthews (167), and on assists – Keller (118), Matthews (88), Kane (88) and Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk (77).
In 11 games this season against college teams, Jack made 46 shots, scored 18 (4+14) points, and in 24 games against clubs in the US Hockey League earned 48 (12+36) points, making 123 shots.
Wroblewski immediately realized that Jack was a special hockey player.
“Quinn was playing for 18-year-olds. It was the middle of May. Jack had just turned 15,” says Wroblewski. He wasn’t as good as he was now, but he still outplayed defenders. able to impose pace, but could manipulate opponents like Patrick Kane.In two-on-one situations, it was clear that the defenders could get him if they rolled up to him correctly, but he kept them at a distance and then either threw himself over his shoulder Goalie or to the house, or pass between the defender’s skates to the far post.
It was very interesting to watch it. He succeeded, and he smiled. Jack Hughes really loves hockey.”
In April, Hughes and 20 of his NTDP teammates traveled to the Junior (U-18) World Championship in Sweden. There he became the top scorer (20 = 9 + 11) of the tournament, and the US team won the bronze medal. Hughes set a world junior championship record with 32 (14 assists, 18 points) in two tournaments (2018 and 2019) and surpassing Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin. In 2002 and 2003, Ovechkin earned 31 (23+8) points in 14 games as part of the Russian junior team.
Jack now plays for the US team at the Senior World Championships in Slovakia, becoming the youngest player ever to play for the US team at the world championships. He and his brother Quinn are on a team of predominantly NHL players captained by Kane.
“I was very happy when I found out that I had a chance to extend the season, that it was not over for me yet,” said Jack, who, after five games in the world championship, has one assist, 13 shots (average playing time is 14 :58) – I’m honored to play in such a team, and I will remember it for a long time.
Being in the same company every day with these hockey players, real professionals, learning from them, talking to them, will help me a lot to get into the NHL next season. I don’t see the tournament as preparation for the draft. It’s a chance for me to learn how to be a professional, to get to know how the system works.”
Move to the NHL
According to Wroblewski, before arguing about whether Jack is ready for the NHL, you need to look at what he has achieved in such a short time.
“I first met him two years ago. In that time, he has completely changed,” says Wroblewski. “Look how he creates chances, how he helps the team seize the initiative. Jack will be able to make a splash in the NHL next year. Maybe not in every game, but he is capable of it. He will continue to single-handedly threaten the net at the next level – in the NHL.”
Jim, now with the hockey department at CAA Sports agency, thinks Jack could make an NHL debut this year if conditions are right.
“I’ve worked with guys two meters tall and taller who can’t be seen on the ice. So I don’t think size will help you much if you don’t know how to use it. It’s not about them at all,” he says. “Look at the lineups.” teams in the NHL these days you’ll be amazed how many players are under 180 cm there are now speed, technique and courage in hockey the main question for me is will jack be one of those players teams are now built by size , skill and speed. Those of them who find a good combination of these parameters have a chance to succeed. ”
Hughes is the first NTDP hockey player since Johnson (Colorado, 2006 Draft) to take first place in the final North American CSB rankings. Johnson was the second of four Program alumni (DiPietro, Kane, Matthews) selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft. Jack wants to be fifth on this list and shows his skills by playing against opponents older than him.
“Everyone wants to get into the NHL as soon as possible. If I play in the NHL next year, my dream will come true,” he said.
