There were fewer games on the menu this weekend with most of the league off with a bye. That didn’t mitigate the implications of these matchups as three of them were key to the playoff race. Some rose, some fell, but with each passing game the playoff picture becomes more and more clear.
Clark Walter, Saskatchewan Rush
The action got started on Thursday night in the re-scheduled matchup between the Saskatchewan Rush and Philadelphia Wings. This was a must-win game for two teams fighting to close the gap to eighth place. The Rush came out on top due to a quick start that they sat on for the rest of the game, and Clark Walter was a big reason why.
The Rush have put together a great young core of Patrick Dodds, Zach Manns, and Walter on the offensive end. Where Walter shines in that group is through his ability to create chances without the ball. He finished Thursday’s game with four points (3 goals, 1 assist) and his first two goals came off of terrific backdoor cuts, while the third was a savvy play early in the possession.
The most impressive goal of the night was his second of the game. While the ball was on the right side of the floor, Walter and Ryan Keenan ran a slick off-ball pick to open up Walter underneath. Walter’s man got caught running around the pick which gave him a lane to the net. The acrobatic catch was the best part. He snagged a high pass while pressured on his back, tiptoed the crease, and reached around the goalie for the finish.
A little piece of his game that goes unnoticed is his strength on the inside when setting screens. Walter set strong seals that freed up Ryan Keenan on both of his goals that night. The first happened after he cut hard off the bench and found himself in the middle. Once he noticed the ball get swung to Ryan Keenan streaking off the bench, he went to seal the top defender responsible for covering Keenan. The seal gave Keenan all the time he needed to put it in the back of the net.
All in all, Walter’s ability off-ball makes him a very dangerous piece to this Rush offence.
Sam LeClair, Philadelphia Wings
It was a tough weekend for the Philadelphia Wings who saw their playoffs hopes slip away after dropping both games and falling to 5-10. For a team with so many star-studded veteran leaders, it’s hard to believe their summer will start early. But in all that disappointment, a young, up-and-coming star has begun to emerge.
Sam LeClair was a spark plug for the Wings offence Friday when they struggled to get going early. The Wings struggled to get shots on the cage because of their hesitancy. It led to passing up on good chances in favor of making the perfect play, which resulted in turnovers and poor flow. LeClair changed that trend.
For his first of three goals on the night, LeClair came around a great pick from Ben McIntosh and stepped in from mid-range. As Head Coach and General Manager told the sideline reporter, “we need to take more shots,” LeClair took his coaching and capitalized.
His following two goals were a result of taking advantage of sleepy defence. His second goal of the game came off of a backdoor cut through the middle, catching the ball and finishing it on the doorstep with a defender draped all over him. His third of the game was another backdoor cut up by the restraining line and baiting the defender to take away the pass, then quickly backdooring him to the cage.
He stood out all game for his aggressive play on the offensive end by buzzing around, stepping into seams, cutting through the middle with pace, and taking what the Rush defence was giving up.
Wake:Riat BowHunter, Halifax Thunderbirds
Sticking with the theme of players coming out the O-door, Wake:Riat Bowhunter fits perfectly into the Halifax offence. With Cody Jamieson and Ryan Benesch, two older and less mobile sharp shooters, you need a guy like Bowhunter on the left side who’s going to muck it up in the middle and set effective picks to get them their shots. Which is exactly what 85 in purple and orange does.
Bowhunter is like a bull in a china shop when he steps on the floor. The 6’2, 240 lbs lefty out of Six Nations, Ontario uses his frame exceptionally. Every time he’s on the floor you’ll notice players bumping off of him whenever he tries to set a pick. The combination of his size and strength sends opposing defenders the other direction when they try to get through him. It’s like running through a brick wall – trust me.
His stats might not show it yet, but Bowhunter is a big piece of what Halifax does on the offensive end. As Jamieson and Benesch continue to fill up the net, take note who’s opening them up for those shooting opportunities.