Hamelin was an offensive factor in a hard fought battle versus the Sabres, scoring a power play goal early in the game before having a goal called back in the third which would have been the game winner. The highest praise I had for him was his ability to make plays in tight ice and thrive down the middle lanes. He’s not the most complex offensive player but his ability to make good decisions and moderate his pace to rise to the occasion often gets him into areas where he’s getting the puck on his stick or getting pucks to the net.

Gavin showcased his ability to operate through pivots, building momentum as he deceitfully switches direction at a moment's notice. This makes him hard to catch as he can throw defenders off-balance and maneuver while in tight. This type of play allowed him to score multiple goals in this tournament, as he was able to create shooting lanes for himself and would deke out the goalie tight to the crease, limiting the goalie's ability to move as they were pushed back into their net. Beyond that, he accelerates well off his first three steps, utilizes crossovers to beat defenders, and has an accurate shot, making him an offensive threat in every game.

Hamelin was a smart and skilled forward who was efficient on both ends of the rink. His quick anticipation and reading of the play allowed him to be an impactful presence in his own end to disrupt plays on the backcheck and win pucks back for his team but also off the rush where he put himself in open spaces to execute plays quickly as well as on the forecheck, getting into the way of his opponents and suffocating defensemen below the goal line with his physical play. He had flashes of strong puck carrying skills where his feet and hands worked in unison to evade pressure and gain the offensive blue line but I was particularly impressed by his ability to spot trailing teammates and find creative ways to get the puck to them in open space.

The distribution capabilities of Gavin Hamelin were on display in this one, using his passing to get the puck out of the defensive zone hastily stretching the play and jumpstarting rushes. His short passing was equally solid, navigating through the neutral zone and gaining entry to the attacking zone. He operated in tight windows and open space effectively, he was very adept at finding his man and moving the play along. He was quick to get the puck off his stick and did not allow the defense much of a chance to nab the puck off him. He had some nice moments on defense too, smothering players at the point and taking away their shooting lanes by stepping in the way. There was perhaps a little more that I was hoping to see in terms of high quality chance creation from Hamelin and in this one, but he still played quite well and did well to open up the ice with his passing.

Tallying a few points in the victory, Gavin Hamelin was a pacey puck carrying option for his team, weaving through traffic with some slick agility and puck control, along with contributing in transition and establishing offensive zone presence. He scored the 2-0 goal by following up the rush, getting to a loose puck in the slot and firing it on net past the goalie. On the 3-0 goal he was involved on the back check, and upon a turnover was able to hook a pass across the ice to an open man who then found a way to slip the puck by the goalie. The awareness to quickly counter off a turnover, move the puck up ice, and make that quick decision with accuracy was a skill Hamelin would show off a few more times throughout the game. Rounding out his efforts, his footwork and quick hands when in sync enabled him to create space when working around the offensive zone, stepping into shooting lanes, and snapping shots on net.