In terms of puck possession, Vanacker was a leader for the 99ers. So often, he was the one controlling the puck up and down the ice, evading a check in the neutral zone and entering the zone with control. Roman acted as the primary transition driver shift after shift, helping the 99ers get up ice securely, relying on his slick touches to evade pressure without fail. Despite the success of transporting pucks up ice, Roman wasn’t able to get to the interior as much as I’ve seen in the past off the rush and settled for shots from distance a bit more than I would have liked. He has all the tools to attack the scoring areas and win lanes to the net, it just didn’t come up as much as a typical Roman viewing.

Roman Vanacker’s skill level was evident at times and when he chose to dig in, you could see the ability to tilt the ice shine through. He has quick feet and plays the game with a level of determination that allows him to take over shifts. One play that sticks out was him stripping the puck from UCC defender Maxwell Fransen in the neutral zone, passing it to Anderson to carry into the offensive end while Vanacker got into good position for a scoring chance. These types of sequences, along with strong drives into the opposing end are some of Vanacker’s best work, allowing him to use his creativity and vision, along with his heavy shot to pick corners.

There were strong pushes and shifts throughout this game where the raw talent that Roman Vanacker has was on full display. He has the ability to take the puck and run with it into the offensive zone, using his speed and agility to side-step and beat opponents. He has quick hands, strong vision, and can play with intensity, pushing through opponents and driving the opposing end. He can make quick plays with the puck, finding open lanes and threading passes to players, attempting to push play and create offence. He made some final pushes as time ran out but unfortunately for his team, was unable to create any offence on the scoresheet.

Brantford captain Roman Vanacker plays the game at an immensely high level with the puck on his stick. He is a quick skater who can make tight turns and strong drives into the offensive zone, busting through contact, splitting between opponents and working his way through pressure. He plays with intensity, using his quick hands to evade defenders and make passes to open teammates. Vanacker’s scoring ability was shown off in this game too as he potted two of his team’s three goals, including the game winner in overtime.

Roman Vanacker does a great job making himself aware of his surroundings, scanning the ice before striking. He has excellent speed and acceleration, allowing him to burst up ice in just a few short strides. Vanacker has the strength to attack the offensive zone by blowing up the wing or driving through the slot and to the net. He has great command of the puck when it is on his stick, making strong passes and flashing his quick hands. At times, he showcases the ability to dominate shifts when he wants and can tilt the ice in his favour.

It is no surprise that a player with the surname Vanacker would draw attention but it goes even further beyond that. He plays with purpose, making quick cuts and fast movements and the power and confidence to make things happen. In this game, I noted he started off slow, slipping through the cracks both literally and figuratively. Rather than dominate possessions consistently, he was creating chances in short bursts. He ended the night with two assists but given his stature, I was still expecting more. Later on when Sun County started to rally from behind he delivered, upping his intensity level and aggression, finishing checks and stealing pucks. He showed the dominant ability to take over shifts, driving the net and making needle threading passes to his teammates with consistency. Had he shown this more frequently sooner, the game would have certainly looked different.

It wasn’t an outstanding performance, but Vanacker was still the primary standout on his squad. He was typically at the heart of the play, controlling offensive zone sequences, and dominating possession. Roman controlled the play really well in the offensive zone, combining smart touches and his frame to protect the puck, making him difficult to knock off in small-area situations. There were a few sequences where he effectively spun off a check, created space, and then attacked a seam for a high-danger chance. While it wasn’t the best I’ve seen from him, he still showed well, flashing his puck protection ability and how he can create offence off the cycle.

Vanacker is another skater who played up last year, so this wasn't an introduction; however, it was nice to see him competing against his own age group. His handling and playmaking ability stood out in these games, always having the crafty puck move to skirt a check and open up a lane. He always seemed to be creating something off the back of this shiftiness in his game, deceiving defenders and giving him plenty of space to operate in the offensive zone. Most of his offence revolved around these types of sequences, beating a defender with a skill move and then dishing it off to an open teammate.

While I didn't watch the 99ers as much as the Marlies last year, I was still quite familiar with Roman's game from those views. Vanacker played a relentless, off-puck game, always hunting down pucks and applying pressure all over the ice. Roman was just always engaged without the puck, forcing turnover after turnover all game low. When the puck was on his stick, you could see what his game was all about: creativity and handling to try to spark scoring chances. He had more than a handful of nice little moments where he'd dodge a check with a slick touch, create a chance, showcasing his high-end offensive tools. Vanacker scored in the shootout using these quick hands to stun the goalie and tuck one home.