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Arianna · 01-04-2012, 05:49 PM

Belmont's NWJHL season was a reasonable success by any standards, but lets take a look at just what went well, and what didn't. We're going to look at what Belmont needs to improve on, and what she needs to keep doing to have a successful start to her SHL career.

Legend
Excellent
Good
Poor
Terrible

Regular Season: 40 Games Played

13 Goals
Belmont did not quite live up to her goal scoring potential during the regular season. Expectations would have predicted at least somewhere around the 20 goal mark for a shooter of Belmont's Caliber. We'll have to see if she can do better in scoring at the SHL level.

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While not among the league's best, Belmont has a great offensive awareness

22 Assists
While she didn't hit her goal scoring stride during the regular season, Rachel did accumulate a very nice number of assists, and was one of only two players on the Stingrays to break the 20 mark in this category. This could still be higher, especially considering she had opportunities to play alongside revered snipers such as Anton Wagner, but still 22 is respectable.

35 points
While neither goals or assists stood out, the combination of the two gave Belmont almost a point per game during the regular season. She was definitely one of the most consistent point-getters in the Stingrays lineup this season and was a big part of the offense.

-3 Rating
This is never something you want to see from a two way forward, a minus. Belmont did not play the greatest two way game and should definitely try and improve this especially going into the SHL where players she will compete against will only be stronger.

71 PIM (35 from fighting majors)
Belmont's discipline at times was nonexistent and that is something that she will need to prioritize moving into the SHL. Being a powerful offensive force, all of that goes to waste when she is sitting in the penalty box. Belmont did take the role of Captain very seriously and at times did drop the gloves to lead her team when they were down, trying to make something happen. But the bottom line is that this is far too many penalties to take for such a gifted offensive player.

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Fighting is a part of her game Rachel needs to get under control

48 Hits
A bit of a surprise from Rachel Belmont, who is not someone you would expect to be very physical. But she did acquire almost 50 hits in the regular season. She isn't going to back down from a battle and she will always finish her checks.

18 Shots Blocked
This will never be up to the same quantity of a full time defenseman, but 18 shots blocked for a forward is pretty nice. She will always be willing to come back and help defensively, and while she isn't currently one of the best defensive forward, Rachel certainly has the potential to be one in the future.

11 Powerplay Points
Almost a third of Belmont's regular season scoring was done on the powerplay, and that is something you love to see. Rachel makes the most of the time and space she has with an extra player on the ice and is able to generate some offense and convert on those great opportunities.

44% Faceoffs
For a winger to come in and win an important faceoff is great, for it to happen almost 50% of the time is even better. Considering Belmont has no real training invested in the faceoff circle, this is a nice surprise statistic for the winger.

34 Giveaways
This is just an eyesore to look at. Almost a giveaway every game is really awful from a two way forward and is something that needs to improve as the competition gets fiercer in the SHL.

10 Takeaways
Another statistic that should be improved on a two way forward. While she has shown some promise to be a strong defensive forward in a few years, she is still far from being a Datsyuk,

Overall Season Evaluation
She has some high points and some low points to her statistics during the regular season, but at the end of the day Belmont was still an above average player. She has still got a lot to learn and improve upon, but she had a pretty strong rookie season and paved the way for a great future hockey player. Given the up and down nature of the Stingrays' season, she actually made out quite well by the end of the season.

Playoffs: 17 Games Played

7 Goals
For a two way forward who is for the most part, successful in all offensive aspects of the game, 7 goals isn't too bad. There is certainly room for improvement though. 7 goals in 17 games is not high enough to compete with the top snipers in the league. Its important to keep in mind this was playoff hockey though, going up against some strong defensive teams towards the last couple of rounds. Its also notable that 7 goals placed Belmont second on her team, behind only Anton Wagner who had an outstanding 11 goal playoff performance.

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Belmont lit the lamp 7 times during the NWJHL playoffs

11 Assists
Similar to goals, 11 is quite a respectable amount of assists to pick up during playoff hockey. Belmont's assists in the playoffs were on par with other team assists leaders such as Chris Zap and Jarrko Vatinnen. She has proven that she can be an excellent playmaker, but also an excellent scorer. Having a forward with a good understanding of both worlds is important in higher levels of competition and Belmont is off to a good start here.

18 Points
18 points in 17 games is just over the 1 point per game mark and do pull that off in playoff hockey is something special. Belmont lead the Stingrays in playoff points by a fair margin. Players with the ability to be consistent point generators are among the most valuable in the playoffs, and Belmont has shown she can accomplish this consistency.

+2 Rating
A Plus two rating isn't horrible, but for a two way forward its something you'd like to see a little higher. On the bright side its not a minus, but its certainly something Belmont will want to improve on going up against even stronger competition.

70 PIM (40 from fighting majors)
Considering Belmont is one of the stronger forwards in the NWJHL, having her in the box the last place you want to see her. She cannot score or set people up from the box, and having her there can only hurt the team. We have to question how much higher her point total might have been if she was in the box less and on the ice instead. A couple of times after fighting (most notably in the finals) the Stingrays did score a goal following the fight, so its not like she picks the worst times to fight, but its not something a scorer should have to do. She needs to be more disciplined.

29 Hits
For a smaller player you might not expect this, but Belmont really isn't afraid to get physical. While not up to the pace of some of the bulkier defensemen and grinders for this category, it never hurts to have a forward that isn't worried about being pushed around, and really helps out to have that physical element on the forecheck.

9 Shots Blocked
Shots blocked aren't a category you typically analyze on a forward, but being a two-way forward, this area could certainly use some work. Still, 9 isn't too shabby.

21 Giveaways
This is probably the most painful part of Belmont's playoff statistics. This is an area that must be improved to compete at the SHL level. Turnovers kill and to have 21 of them is averaging more than one a game.

7 Takeaways
Not enough takeaways to neutralize the giveaways, but 7 isn't too bad in this category. Improving this would only be an asset in the SHL.

9 Powerplay Points
Strong teams need players who can convert goals on the powerplay, and Belmont has proven to be one of those players. To think that 9 of her 18 points came with the man advantage really shows what she can do with that extra space on the forecheck.

33.3% Faceoffs
While she's not a center, sometimes a winger has to come in and take the draw, and its a big bonus if that winger can win the draw.

Overall Playoff Evaluation
Overall, Belmont had a very very good playoff performance. Picking up an average of a point every game, and leading the Stingrays in points with 18. Belmont truly had an impressive playoff performance and lived up to her potential.

Interview

So what does this all mean for the future? Well if nothing else, the Rage have drafted a very consistent and multi-talented two way forward. Belmont might lack what it takes to be defined as a superstar player, but she has proven that she can always bring 110% and can do just about anything on the ice. There are plenty of players that can bring some scoring, or some great passing, or skating, but when it comes to putting the whole package together into one player, Rachel really stands out. Expect big things from her in the SHL. It might take her a season or two to really take off, but Belmont will be an asset to her team.

jason97 · 01-04-2012, 06:06 PM

Rachel Belmont= Legend

Witz · 01-04-2012, 06:07 PM

Nice

Hopefully you win the Brodie Witzel trophy for playoff MVP Wink

spidey · 01-04-2012, 06:12 PM

I think some of those grades were a little hard on yourself, but a great article!

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