Parker Colmer is another forward who was very impactful for Team USA 2 as he brought a very well-rounded offensive game to the table. He was an effective puck carrier who did an excellent job protecting it as he worked his way in on goal, his sharp edgework allowed him to really dig in and get the low center of gravity he needed to fight through traffic. His puck carrying often started in the defensive zone, he showed an eagerness to take on the responsibility of leading the rushes up the ice himself or to make crisp outlet passes to start the attack and then blitz up the ice to join in as a trailing option. He made important defensive interventions down low in his own end by making smart reads, and he was quick to turn the play up ice and launch counter attacks. He did a great job driving the offense, using his speed to get in behind the defense and operate from below the goal line with some nice passing to the front of the net. He saw the ice well and was able to make the most of that through his strong distribution, and his ability to get the puck off his stick quickly and move into supporting positions from there consistently poked holes in the defense that they were able to exploit. He made strong decisions and managed to avoid forcing plays when they weren’t there, and his poise on the puck enabled him to make intelligent plays.

One of the clear offensive leaders on this team was Parker Colmer, that much was reflected in his output during this event as he walked away with nine points in six games. Colmer was a key play driver for his side, his passing range encompassed everything from long stretch passes to help unlock the defense or some quick intricate passing while the defenders swarmed around him. His high intensity forechecking was a key component to helping generate offensive opportunities, he was able to prevent breakouts by closing down passing lanes or quickly getting in on the puck carriers and picking their pockets. He read the intentions of the defense well and was able to drop back into open ice and make interceptions and then quickly launch a counter attack with pace. He generated chances well off the rush and was able to work his way to the top of the circle and fire off some powerful shots. He also worked well off the puck and found open ice in the attacking zone to receive the puck and quickly turn it towards goal. Colmer was a big player for Devils Academy and contributed to much of their success all over the ice

Parker Colmer was very effective at starting plays from the defensive zone and gathering a full head of steam and taking the puck up the ice himself as he looked to break through the defense. He had some nice defensive interventions where he was able to make quick pokes on players looking to beat him, and he was able to spring himself loose a couple of times and get some chances at the other end. He found success driving the net and using his body to shield the puck, and his edgework was very impressive as it allowed him to get the low center of gravity he needed to take the play to the outside and maintain his balance. He moved well off the puck and he hustled very well to join in on plays that he was able to start from his own end, and he was very eager to get on the receiving end of feeds into the slot.

Tallying 2 goals in the victory, Parker Colmer was another example of a player who through a mix of right place, right time, along with driving play via his skill, footwork, and vision, found a high level of success in this one. He scored the 3-1 goal as a bouncing puck came his way, and with a quick settling of the puck, wired a shot into the top corner. He later scored the 7-3 goal as he caught a pass as a trailing man, danced around the nearest defender in the slot, and fired a shot on net beating the goalie clean. The quick reaction to get around the man with speed, and then to transition it into a shot was a sequence of events that really flaunted his skill. When he was handling the puck himself, I liked how he’d stop up, recalibrate, and change up his angle of attack, adding an element of deception to his game. His hands were quick enough, along with his footspeed to escape any aggressive defenders when he was stopped up, making him tough to strip of the puck.

I think my most curious player award could go to Parker since you can see such massive growth potential with the way he can extend his stride and burst. He’s still closer to the beginning of a longer runway journey I think and his habits were nice to see. He scored an early goal by driving the slot and can push into those gaps off turn around plays or north-south plays very quickly. Throw in his ability to open his posture, catch and release shots from the side off 2on1s, and you can begin to see the potential and the growth that is still to come.