The sheer speed and rush offence is what draws eyes on Nicolas Whitehead and makes him so tough to contain and he relied on just that during the camp to make himself a standout performer. He was a dominant transition threat in almost every game he played in, flying through the neutral zone with great acceleration, puck skills, and processing ability; he danced around obstacles enroute to gaining the offensive blueline, converging on defenders and creating enough space to snap a shot on net. He was just as strong a playmaking during the games, using the same speed to push defenders on their heels, he often delayed just enough to allow teammates to get into position to be recipients of impressive seam passes that landed flat on the sticks of his teammates. As a whole the game breaking talent Whitehead possesses is what made him such a valuable and impressive skater, all he needed was a few feet of extra ice to do plenty of damage, making the most of his chances with finesse, accuracy, and strong decision making.

To the surprise of no one, Nicolas Whitehead has been one of the top players early out of the NEPACK 15u AAA league. With tremendous wheels combined with great puck handling ability, he’s a lethal play driver through transition off the rush. He generates several rush chances a game by attacking with speed wide, then using his quick release on his snapshot to fire a puck on net before the defender can get their stick in the way. He’s one of the most impressive forwards in the 2007-class at weaving through traffic with finesse and agility, shifting his weight with the puck as he slips off checks and around opposition, turning crowded ice into open ice for himself. A player with the puck skills and pace at which Whitehead plays with often elevates his teammates, as Whitehead does. Due to his speed, he creates several high-danger opportunities for his teammates through the usage of taking advantage of high-danger cross-ice passes before defenders are able to recover and pick off the passes. It wouldn’t be too great of a stretch to say he’s equally as great a playmaker as a goal-scorer. An aside, he also boasts tremendous hands in tight, working along the wall and in the corners he’s able to free up pucks and quickly make passes to open teammates in the slot region before the passing lanes are taken away

Atop the podium, claiming the gold medal at the best player at the Selects 15s PDC, Nicolas Whitehead. Now point production wasn’t necessarily one of the factors that went into this list but leading the event in points with 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points in 4 games was certainly of note. Whitehead has always been a player with the capability to explode on the scene and assert himself amongst some of the best in the 2007 class and it was nice to see him do it in this camp. With tremendous puck possession skill, he seemingly always had the thing on his stick, making plenty of high danger passes, working well off his teammates along the cycle, getting involved physically as he battled in the slot for pucks, there was nothing he didn’t do offensively. He showed off his shot plenty, wiring pucks on goal with a very strong wrist shot that had great accuracy and a deceptive release. Shooting through defenders and dragging the puck around outreached sticks, the angle of his release was tough to defend. Overall, a terrific camp from Nicolas Whitehead.

While Team Southeastern had a tough time generating offense Whitehead still found ways to help his team generate some good chances. Whitehead was really good in the offensive zone creating scoring chances for his teammate. One of my favorite plays from the whole game was Whitehead being the last guy back and winning a one on one battle with an opposing forward from the other team. This showed off his great skating as the other player had a couple steps on him but Whitehead still managed to get back and win the puck from him. While not getting on the scoresheet I was still impressed with Whitehead’s game as his effort and great playmaking were on full display.

It’s been a few months since I’ve seen Whitehead and my first thought when watching him in this game was that he seems to have added some size and strength to his frame. He still isn’t going to overpower any defender, but I thought he was more effective at penetrating through traffic and taking a beating at the net-front than in past viewings. Whitehead’s performance in this game reinforced my thoughts that you can tell which of the players at this tournament played at the junior level last season. He brought an extra level of professionalism and maturity in his game that stood out amongst his teammates. His defensive presence and willingness to attack from behind the puck is well developed. On the offensive side of the puck, he drives with fantastic open ice speed, has hands that can match his feet, and skates with his head up to effectively game plan zone entries. I don’t know if he quite grades out as a game breaking offensive talent but his feel for space and ability to mentally stay ahead of defenders should track to higher levels.

If Kevan was Batman in this contest, Whitehead was Robin. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe just how smooth, efficient, and effortless he is on his skates. He was absolutely flying in this contest, beating defenders to loose pucks all over the ice and creating coverage mayhem with his ability to dart east/west in the offensive zone. I was especially impressed by how diligent Whitehead was about using his speed on the backcheck as well. When the Swiss were able to generate a bit of relief out of their own end and into the neutral zone, Whitehead was quick to track them down, turn the puck back up ice, and put the pressure back on. If there was any area where Whitehead left a little on the table it was in his ability to finish the chances he had in this game. His shot isn’t blowing anybody away and he didn’t show the pinpoint accuracy needed to make up for it. Added strength would probably aid in this area and better help him handle the rigours as he progresses up the ranks.

The National 16 Camp was my first opportunity to view the Ottawa 67s' second-round pick. The most impressive element of Nic's game was his passing. All game long, he was threading passes to the home plate area of the ice and was Black's primary offensive creator. His ability to succeed in this department was created mainly by slick deceptive puck moves to shift the defence out of position and then thread passes through the gaps he made. With the puck, he was shifty and could escape any pressure attempting to contain him. On the defensive side, he broke up plenty of plays through proper stick positioning to intercept and disrupt passes.

Rhode Island set the pace early in this game and Nicolas Whitehead was a big part of that. Establishing the cycle and maintaining pressure using detailed puck handling and deceptive body language not only to evade opponents but even to beat them to loose pucks. He doesn't mind taking the long way around if it means a secure path to handle the puck and evaluate his options. Both in cases of transition and sustained offensive pressure, Whitehead is the type of player who will simply find a way to get the puck where he wants it, as there are very few technical limitations for him. He was maniacal and detailed in how he intervened in his opponents passing lanes or suffocated his check in the defensive zone, both serving as super valuable elements of his teams ability to win possession early on. I've been pleasantly surprised by Whitehead's commitment to playing an effective two way game in this tournament. I found that there were a couple of instances in this game where Whitehead targeted passes at long range, but where his pass speed was less than desirable. Whether or not these were a few fluky outliers I can't say for sure, but I can say that if he wants to maximize his ability to read such outlets, ensuring he has the strength to do so effectively will be vital to his progression.

After coming off what I believe to be was a decent NTDP Evaluation Camp for himself, Nicolas Whitehead was his same old self in this one, and was phenomenal. The pace to his game, mixed with skill and high IQ allowed him to attack and tear apart the opposing teams defensive structure with dynamism and speed. He’s one of those players who I like to claim have the “puck-on-a-string” capability, so calm, controlled, and quick with the puck, he can move in all sorts of ways and remain in possession, opening up plenty of different passing and shooting lanes. He tied the game with a bullet of a shot, picking the corner with a next-level release few players in the class offer, along with had a plethora of other scoring chances on the penalty kill. He scored a shorthanded goal with a quick move to the forehand on a breakaway, snapping it by the goalie, further showing off his elite release. He had another shorthanded breakaway created via good speed and pressure, freeing up the puck and winning a race. Overall, the constant dynamic rush attempts and constant offensive threat when he’s in the offensive zone, he displayed his high-end offensive flare that few players own.

If given space to circle, Nicolas Whitehead is capable of mustering exhilarating speed through the neutral zone, which he did on a number of instances in this game. He's a feisty puck handler along the wall and exhibited excellent endurance in this game while fighting off opponents from Shattuck who challenged him in their own zone. While I often recall Whitehead as being a very offensive focused type of player, there were some key indications in this game of him having rounded out his defensive disposition. He was quick to jump back and cover for his defensemen in the case of a poorly timed rush and made diligent efforts to work opponents off of the puck, beyond his more individual skill-based plays.

I think more of Nicholas’ puck skills lead to success today. He began with some individual drag moves and the quickness in his hand speed was evident. With some quick and heavy releases off the rush combined with keeping his feet moving led to puck battles, high-risk passes through the middle, and heavier dump in attempts with speed. I think he’s one of the players who sees layers well and when he has the puck on the wing and opens his posture the options really open up for him. He’s a player with higher-end skill, speed, but comes with a touch more risk too. He’s going to be an offensive catalyst.

Nicolas Whitehead was outstanding through all 3-periods of the game for Team Matthews. His off-puck speed, tenacity, and positioning made him force several turnovers, and form quick counterattacks in transition as well. His feet and hands synced up nicely, giving him the ability to weave in-and-out of attempted stick checks and crowded areas as he shuffled his way around the offensive zone. In a straight-line his speed was of greatest significance. He won races to open ice, putting him in positions to receive passes and create partial breaks for himself. He had a few good looks on net, one of which came from the hashmarks where he caught a pass and quickly drew the puck back and took a hard shot on net that created a decent rebound. He ended up getting 1 goal in the game, deflecting a shot in front to put Team Matthews up 2-1, it wasn’t the flashiest goal, but a well deserved one for how many quality scoring chances he both set up and attempted for himself. Without the puck in defensive transitions, he was present, continuing to use his speed along with a disciplined stick to intercept passes and strip opponents of the puck. It just felt like Whitehead was all over the ice for Team Matthews in this one, whether it be carrying the puck, or pressuring the puck carriers of Team Kane, a dominant performance for him on Day 1.

Whitehead was one part of the two-headed dragon that absolutely tormented the Gold defense in this game. A four goal performance is what he had to show from it, and they were all plenty nice. His first two goals were very similar and were just clean wrist shots that he blew past the goaltender from just inside the top of the circle. His shot looked great throughout and he must have thrown no less than 10 shot attempts towards goal, he was hungry for more goals even after his fourth. Once he had even the slightest bit of separation and had sights on the goal, he was firing a shot off. His third goal was the best of them all, he chased down the puck carrier behind the net and threw a little check to nudge him off the puck before gathering it and pulling off “The Michigan” as he came around the side of the net. To pull that off on what would be the eventual game winning goal, for your hattrick no less, is a testament to the confidence he was playing with. He was passing and moving well, showing some good vision and taking more of a playmaking role later in the game, Whitehead was really out there doing it all.

I’m honestly not sure what more you could have expected from Nicolas in this game. He was incredibly energized and active all game, especially down low. He was poking pucks loose and building momentum behind the net to draw coverage to the outside. He spun off coverage consistently and fed into the slot from the corners for an earned assist, stayed out of range of stick pressure, and battled for pucks in transition. When you play with your head up, hips open, battling for pucks and not easily giving up power positioning, finding trailers, and slipping into the middle, you get rewarded with as good of a game as he had. Three assists well earned.

He finished this game with a goal and two assists which included the initial PP goal from the left side. He received a puck after a curl off the half-wall and used his high-end snap wrist shot. I really enjoyed the way he can shift laterally with power. It came in handy later on when shooting again off the rush. The velocity he gets is quite impressive.

Another member of the Mount St. Charles Academy 14u AAA club, Nicolas Whitehead tallied 2 goals in this one, both being prime examples of his goalscoring ability. He was very clearly biased towards shooting in this game, taking shots when lanes opened up there was no hesitancy in his game. His first goal came as a result of him dancing around the offensive zone with great speed, weaving in and out of checks before walking into the high slot and firing the puck post-and-in to make the game 2-0. He plays the game at such a breakneck pace that he can make moves at top speed that catch defenders and goalies by surprise, in this case, getting his shot off so quickly while in stride is a testament to how lethal his release is.

Before the five minute mark of the first period I was nearly convinced of this beginning to look like a five-star performance for Nicolas Whitehead. Throughout the game Whitehead just could not stop making incredible offensive plays. On his first shift, off of a Donato Bracco pass up the wall, Nicolas Whitehead made an efficient puck reception and quickly changed direction to head into the offensive zone with pace. His subtle toe-drag gave him the opportunity to get a shot on net from an off-balance position, which resulted in an awkward rebound that Alexander Oliver capitalized on. Minutes later Whitehead earned himself a goal by making a great read off of a dump-in, and repositioning himself to execute a one-timer low in the slot. His timely recognition of the opportunity enabled him to set himself up well, and establish a plan once he received the puck. His no-hesitation one timer was perfectly placed on the far side of the net and released with a powerful one-time snap shot to go up 2-0 early. Within seconds of the puck being dropped at center ice, it was again the combination of Nicolas Whitehead and Donato Bracco putting Team White up 3-0. On this third goal, Whitehead exhibited blistering speed in the neutral zone, and not only in a straight line. On the rush he was forced to move over and through a defending Columbia Blue player, which he did with incredible ease. His zone entry was seamless and he wasted no time dropping the puck back to the blueline for a trailing Donato Bracco to fire in the same spot that he had just prior. These were plays that you didn’t need to look for the details that went right. It was so clear that Whitehead was able to dominate his opposition, particularly in the case of the latter two goals. Before the end of the first period, Whitehead picked up his second goal and fourth point, hammering in a rebound from close range.

Nicolas Whitehead was impressive again with his speed and playmaking ability. His hands are soft, capable of handling the puck with ease with his head up he can set up plays like no tomorrow. He was the one who sent Beveridge on his partial break leading to the goal, with a little deft pass in close he threaded the puck under a stick and through a pair of skates to his teammates stick. Off the rush he loved to fly in from the wing and quickly cut into the high slot before dropping the puck off to a trailing man, opening up a clean shooting lane. Once or twice, he mixed things up by shooting the puck himself, showing off a heavy wrister that almost hit the net on a few chances.

Another member of the Mount St. Charles Academy 14u AAA club, Nicolas Whitehead tallied 2 goals in this one, both being prime examples of his goal scoring ability. He was very clearly biased towards shooting in this game, taking shots when lanes opened up there was no hesitancy in his game. His first goal came as a result of him dancing around the offensive zone with great speed, weaving in and out of checks before walking into the high slot and firing the puck post-and-in to make the game 2-0. He plays the game at such a breakneck pace that he can make moves at top speed that catch defenders and goalies by surprise, in this case, getting his shot off so quickly while in stride is a testament to how lethal his release is.

He finished this game with a goal and two assists which included the initial PP goal from the left side. He received a puck after a curl off the half-wall and used his high-end snap wrist shot. I really enjoyed the way he can shift laterally with power. It came in handy later on when shooting again off the rush. The velocity he gets is quite impressive.

The second Mount St. Charles product in this article, Nicolas Whitehead was a speedy play driving forward who showed off some strong skating fundamentals. His stance is wide which lowers his center of gravity giving him the balance necessary to fight off checks from larger opponents. The anchoring on his edges and shifts of weight on his inside/outside edges made him elusive and quick in his step/movements giving him the leg up in some 1-on-1 instances to create offense. His quick hands let him make plays off the rush with ease, his hockey sense and ability to play at a next-level pace is clearly there as he can play both with skilled players as teammates, along with compete with them as opponents.

One of my favorite players to watch for the Selects over the last few games, Nicolas Whitehead demonstrated elite rush chances and a solid release off the fly. He had numerous chances where he released his deadly snapper at top speeds. His shot is of high enough quality he can threaten from range, forcing defenders to play aggressive to him, or else he will get a clean shot on net and make you pay. He scored 1 goal in the game, with a nice snapper off the rush. The combination of his speed and shooting ability makes him a deadly player at all times.

When collecting the puck I was impressed with Whiteheads footspeed and ability to quickly build speed in a direction entirely opposite to where he was initially travelling. This can be a pretty deceptive element and something that helps him to create a window of space and therefore opportunity, immediately after acquiring possession.

Nicolas Whitehead is a player who I’ve seen play before, and he’s impressed me in the past and has impressed me again today. Always a player you can count on to add value, his speed and puck skills make him an asset in all areas of the ice – along with a responsible 2-way game, you can use Whitehead in all situations. He did a great job on the penalty kill at covering ground in the neutral zone and denying zone entries with an active stick and solid display of agility and edgework in all directions, for a forward especially. He intercepted a couple passes and was able to formulate a quick counterattack shorthanded, generating scoring chances while down a man along with eating up crucial powerplay time for the Stars. He wasn’t the most prominent offensive player in the game today, but his speed was an asset at catching defenders’ attention, acting almost as a decoy as he cut his way to the net, giving whoever was the puck carrier more time and space to make a play.

Nicolas Whitehead is another example of an extremely talented forward that Mount St. Charles had on their roster, playing a huge role as in how they got all the way to the finals. With a goal-scoring mentality, his speed and release were not to be ignored, creating space off the wing and making sharp cuts to the center of the ice he would get off his heavy shot that clearly is above most players his age’s ability. Whitehead would diversify his shot selection throughout the game(s), switching it up using snapshots, wrist shots, and slapshots, he was a quality shooter along with a volume shooter that ultimately allowed him to score a couple of goals.