Yellowaga is a personal favourite of mine and I’m excited to see how he transitions into a full-time junior player. Unlike the other ‘08’s on this list he already has some valuable experience at this level, suiting up for 11 games with Brooks last season, splitting his time in the BCHL with SAHA in the CSSHL U18 league. A University of Maine commit, Yellowaga immediately draws your attention with his athleticism and mobility. He has a leggy frame and flexible hips allowing for fluid transitions and pristine balance transfer. He has power as he lengthens out his stride and isn’t shy about jumping into the rush, adding a layer to the offence when the opportunities arise. He is confident with the puck on his stick and attacks without hesitation. He’s still feeling out how to best create against a tougher competition, but he remains willing and eager to engage, taking chances while still being thoughtful of his defensive responsibility. With his instincts intact, I expect it won’t be long until his offensive game blossoms. On the defensive side of the puck, Yellowaga has a longer way to go based primarily around a lack of size and strength. I like his instincts defending the rush as he maintains a tight gap and challenges early, but he can struggle to separate opposing forwards from the puck if they are established on the cycle.

SAHA struggled to find offence in this championship series, but Yellowaga did his best to press the issue and led the team in points with four assists in three games from the back end. Yellowaga will always be a catalyst for offence as he has great instincts at the offensive blueline, knowing when to pinch, hold the line, or back off. He is very comfortable walking the line, even under pressure, as his skating ability affords him a much wider operating range than most. He doesn’t need to play with much fear as he has the explosiveness, agility, and athleticism to recover from mistakes. I have been very impressed with how quickly he’s adapted from the U15 to U18 level when it comes to decision making with possession as well. He very quickly shed some of his bad habits in forcing plays and had become much more efficient in attacking in the offensive zone. He skates with his head up, uses his shiftiness and unpredictability to create lanes, and finds the pass or the shooting avenue before pressure can collapse on him. On the defensive side of the puck Yellowaga still has some work to do in become a more consistently disruptive defensive presence but there have been definite improvements in this area as well. He looks noticeably bigger and stronger this year and continued development physically will help him better hold his own in the tough areas on the ice. More importantly he is attentive to positioning and focused on his defensive responsibilities which I think is a better indicator of success at higher levels. He is certainly more naturally disposed with the puck on his stick but I don’t think the defensive side of the equation will hold him back at higher levels.

Yellowaga came into the Circle K among the upper echelon of 08 defenders in this tournament and he didn’t disappoint in my eyes. He was the catalyst of the transition game for SAHA, so efficient in making that clean first pass. He always stays moving wherever he is on the ice, which leads to him be able to open up space to receive a pass or even sneak in off the line for a shooting opportunity. Already signed with the perennial powerhouse, Brooks Bandits for next season, Yellowaga will be able to continue to develop in junior next season and I am very excited to follow him.

The 2009-born defenseman Landon Dupont certainly drives the bus for the Edge offense as it sits now but people really shouldn’t discount the play from Nate Yellowaga. He had a great tournament with seven points in six games and is a very mobile and smart outlet defenseman. Nate is one of those players who fits into the category of “makes a great first pass” style of players. He is also usually making plays in motion so when he is giving or receiving a D to D pass, he is curling, fading into better passing angles, or just making a forechecker chase him before making his outlet. It is the timing of his passing decisions that I like most so far. His mobility also makes it easier to adjust defensively and apply pulse pressure on attackers defensively. It also lets him sneak in for shots along the backside or to join the rush and open his posture too. I see him being a very good transition defender who will continue to make more of an impact with added strength.

I don’t think it takes too long to see why Nate was so successful as a 2008-born player in the AEHL last season. What he does not have in size, he makes up for his incredible skating ability. He is so shifty on his edges and often in motion attempting to anticipate the play and capitalize on being quicker to pucks or space. He loves to pinch, jump in the rush, and find ways to be in the passing gaps as a good option in motion. I just came away from watching his games thinking he’s highly intelligent and uses his agility to his advantage so well. Right now, his shot power from the point isn't high level but he’s the kind of player who can sneak down into space to make sure his shots become higher danger.

The 2009-born defenseman Landon Dupont certainly drives the bus for the Edge offense as it sits now but people really shouldn’t discount the play from Nate Yellowaga. He had a great tournament with seven points in six games and is a very mobile and smart outlet defenseman. Nate is one of those players who fits into the category of “makes a great first pass” style of players. He is also usually making plays in motion so when he is giving or receiving a D to D pass, he is curling, fading into better passing angles, or just making a forechecker chase him before making his outlet. It is the timing of his passing decisions that I like most so far. His mobility also makes it easier to adjust defensively and apply pulse pressure on attackers defensively. It also lets him sneak in for shots along the backside or to join the rush and open his posture too. I see him being a very good transition defender who will continue to make more of an impact with added strength.