One of the QJMHL small market teams, the Acadie-Bathurst Titans seem to continuously struggle to establish themselves as a top team in the league. One again this season, they are relying on some of their younger players to take them to the next level which is never an easy task. Mckeen’s Hockey Rick Springhetti looks at a few of their players.
Christopher Boivin (2014), LW, Acadie-Bathurst
Diminutive player at 5’6”, 160 lbs .. shifty skater who controls the puck well in traffic .. lacks first step quickness and overall speed which limits him in one on one situations as he doesn’t have the strength to beat opponents physically .. possesses the ability to get open in the offensive zone .. displays a very accurate shot on net that is released quickly and often, albeit not very hard,.. ability to make quick decisions catches opponents off-guard .. passes the puck very sharply .. distributes the puck well even while in movement .. experiences difficulty winning battles along the boards but to his credit, he gives a valiant effort .. does a solid job defensively .. anticipates the play very well and will usually be in way of passing lanes, especially in the neutral zone .. at his best on the power play where he can use his strengths well while minimizing his weaknesses.
Guillaume Brisebois, (2015) D, Acadie-Bathurst
Very young defenseman has impressed by his mature, confident play .. very calm under pressure and will not make mistakes trying to get cute but will simply get the puck out of dangerous areas effectively .. agile skater with a smooth stride and well-developed footwork .. still has a lot of filling-out to do so he can get overwhelmed by sustained physical pressure .. aware of his opponents positioning in the defensive zone and will make adjustments quickly which is one of the reason why he has been awarded some ice-time in important defensive situations .. lack of depth at the Titans blue line has given him maybe too many hard minutes but to his credit, he has handled it as well as can be expected for a player of his age and experience .. shot generally gets through traffic and hits his target .. flying under the radar a little for the 2015 NHL entry draft but a player worth keeping an eye on.
Aaron Kerr (2015) LW, Acadie-Bathurst
Signed as a free agent from the Ontario Northern Junior A hockey league after failing to crack the Owen Sound (OHL) roster .. very good skater who is uses his speed well .. can make sharp, controlled turns .. always keeps his feet moving .. solid energy level even in longer shifts .. passes can be a little erratic at times .. works well in the defensive zone .. getting in passing lanes effectively .. needs to make better reads in the offensive zone so that he can get in position more quickly to better take advantage of scoring opportunities .. due to his low center of gravity, he is hard to knock off his feet especially when moving at top speed .. can control the puck very well .. will have to work on his shooting ability as he tends to hesitate a little much near the crease.