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tommytightpants · 08-25-2021, 03:22 PM

The first preseason games have come and gone, and Newfoundland got its first look at the new rookies it added to the roster through the draft. Here's how their performances shook out, according to this completely unbiased beat writer.

Game 1: Newfoundland @ Quebec, 4-3W

Newfoundland got out to a roaring start against the Citadels, coming back from being down 3-1 almost immediately after the beginning of the third period, to a goal by Tommy Tightpants with less than two minutes left on the ice to bring it home for the Berserkers.

Mikko Rashford:
Rashford got off to a fantastic start offensively, as was to be expected from a player boasting the stats and tools at his disposal during training camp and before the draft. He posted a stellar 68 OGR, with an assist and three shots on goal to go with 2 hits. Rashford's presence could be felt all over the offensive end, as he constantly looked to score. Unfortunately, his impact was not as prominent on the defensive end, where he posted a DGR of 50. The young defender will look to solidify his defensive game in the coming matches as the season ticks closer to beginning.

Overall grade: B

Tommy Tightpants:
Tightpants was a bit of an enigma on the ice. He made his presence felt when he was on the ice, with two hits and two shots, but his defensive lapses led to a goal that put the Citadels ahead. His skate speed is there, but he often finds himself crossed up, with the game not slowing down for him yet. However, he showed why he was taken in the first round with a borderline solo goal against Quebec that ended up winning them the game and preventing overtime. The kid is slowly putting together a star calibre skillset, and only time will tell what he can do with it.

Overall grade: A-

Jeff Larsson:
Make no mistake looking at the ratings for the game - Larsson's presence impacted the flow of the game no matter what ended up on the stat sheet. Instrumental in keeping the lines humming smoothly, Larsson had what appears to be an average game - nothing too much to stand out. But the way the kid passes the puck and his placement to find Torretta to set up Tightpant's game winning goal showed a level of understanding of the game not commonly found in rookies. Keep an eye on this one - he could be special.

Overall grade: B-

Jay O'Neil:
O'Neil's debut was certainly not what the rookie was looking for. It was somewhat obvious to those watching that he didn't feel 100% comfortable in the rotation yet. But, he prevented any major mistakes, and was a net positive on the team thanks to his stand up defending and inability to get beaten off the drop. Look for him to rebound in the next few games.

Overall grade: C-

Pope Coswi:
Pope's debut belied what the organization saw in him - and also what it needs to fix. An aggressive attacker that pulls no punches as the centerpoint of an attack, Coswi ended the game with a superb 65 OGR. He should only continue to grow in that area, and begin to convert some of the chances he gets at putting the puck in the back of the net. However, his defensive IQ is lacking, to say the least. An overall DGR of 43 doesn't begin to paint the picture of it. As the preseason goes on, however, Pope should begin to settle in to his role as the quarterback of his line, and the game will begin to slow down for him. This writer thinks that today's defensive performance was the exception, not the rule.

Overall grade: B-

Alexander Mackenzie:
Mackenzie has loudly been lauded as a steal when Newfoundland drafted him in the Fourth round - and he's looked every bit the part. As with Larsson, don't let the box score fool you - he was dominant on faceoffs, played perfectly acceptable defense, and moved the puck around with the poise of a veteran. We'll all be eagerly waiting on him to have his "breakout" moment over the next few games.

Overall grade: C+

In conclusion, Newfoundland has a very good crop of rookies looking to come through their system. Keep an eye on all of them throughout the year - I have a feeling this class is going to help the Berserkers chase back to back Four Star Cups this season, and keep them in contention for a long time.

*CptSquall* · 08-26-2021, 12:00 AM

Approved, +5 TPE for @tommytightpants

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