Such a smooth and calculated operator of the puck, McKinney quickly set himself apart as one of the key drivers of offence for this Mission team with his ability to extend plays in the offensive zone by slicing his way through defences using his incredible finesse and creativity with the puck on his stick. His extremely quick lateral cuts allow him to effectively create separation from his opponents and he’s able to do so without losing a step, maintaining his speed through his sharp movements to attack the middle of the ice whether it’s coming off the rush or during extended possessions inside the offensive zone. He’s also a very dangerous playmaker since he’s able to process the game just as quickly as he moves his legs, often finding ways to slide pucks through seams to his teammates in scoring positions or challenging defenders with his sneaky quick release when he finds an open shooting lane. McKinney’s offensive arsenal make him a versatile offensive threat who can use either one of his speed, stick handling or playmaking to generate scoring looks.

Oliver McKinney is a name that at nearly every event he participates in makes his presence felt and shows off why he’s one of the top in the class. The younger brother of Cole, Oliver, plays a similar game in the sense of slippery puck handling, strong chains of possession, and owning a bullet of a wrister that can beat goaltenders clean from a good way out. He has some solid control of his edges as he executes tight turns, and with some good balance to his stride and stance he’s difficult to knock off the puck. He’ll enter scrums of being outnumbered 2-to-1, or even 3-to-1 and still find a way to come out on top with possession as he endures contact and pulls pucks around a through a series of obstacles to keep play alive. When his instincts take over and combine with his high-end skill, he’s able to pull off some impressive instances of creating time and space. He’s one of the better players amongst his peers at handling and adapting to pressure. He won’t always play at the same level of speed others may, but he will slow things down, wait, delay, and buy time and space for himself as he waits for an opportunity. If aggressive, pacey, checkers come after him, he’s calm in his movements to get around them, and or to shoot off a pass elsewhere to diffuse the situation. He won’t seek out those instances to dangle a group of 2-or-3 either, often electing for a simpler brand of hockey, but if they do come, he shows no hesitation in pulling off some dynamic moves to get through a crowd of bodies. When the puck is on his stick in any situation, I feel he is one of the top players at dictating the pace and flow of play this class has to offer. Even in transition he doesn’t succeed merely because of pure speed, but instead reads the space in front of him well, takes intelligent routes, and gets his teammates involved in the play as well. To round out his game, he has an absolute laser of a wrister that was mentioned early in this piece. He can change the angle in a pinch, shoot around bodies, shoot through screens with great accuracy, and seemingly never wastes a shooting opportunity, opposed to shooting high-volume, low-quality shots. With some further strength gains, I can see McKinney being a player primed for that major-junior level of competition, fulfilling any role asked of him, even some penalty killing reps here-and-there.

McKinney was the best player for Team Columbia Blue. He was elite in the offensive zone, and was very creative which created scoring opportunities for his teammates. His greatest trait was his creativity in the offensive zone. He had an uncanny ability to take the puck through the neutral zone with speed, flying past defenders into the offensive end. Once there, he was unpredictable and elusive; you never knew if he would drive hard to the net, make a quick, precise pass to a teammate, or dazzle with a deke that usually caught the defender off guard. Time and time again, this young forward made the extraordinary look effortless, showcasing his flair and imagination on every shift. I admired his relentless compete level and tenacity in battles along the boards. He had a knack for sneaking up behind the net and stealing the puck from unsuspecting defensemen, catching them completely off guard. His stick-checking ability was among the best, rarely wasting energy on reckless forechecking. Instead, he was calculated and patient, knowing precisely when to pounce. His smart, selective approach almost always paid off, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone. McKinney was never afraid to use his body to his advantage. Whether driving hard to the net, winning puck battles along the boards, or muscling opposing players off the puck in the defensive zone, he excelled at using his physicality. His exceptional body positioning allowed him to shield the puck effectively and outmaneuver opponents. He thrived in the physical aspects of the game, never shying away from contact. His willingness to be physical made him a formidable presence on the ice, both offensively and defensively. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with McKinney’s well-rounded game. McKinney’s blend of skill, intelligence, and physicality made him a complete player who impacted the game in countless ways.

At our half-way point of this article, Oliver McKinney played a strong set of games for Pro Hockey, one of the best teams in the event, and as usual was a great puck handling piece for his team, who dominated in transition through both speed, and crafty reads of the ice, attacking in layers, using lateral cuts and mobility, coupled with some slick hands to gain the zone, and set teammates up for success. There’s players who excel in transition as a result of their speed, but upon losing those gaps and open ice, tend to struggle - McKinney on the other hand is the opposite, needing not to rely on speed to be an effective puck transporter, he is one of the few in the entire 2009-born American class that I think has an elite transition game thanks to the diversity he owns. He can outwait, outskate, and stickhandle through crowds at any pace of play, has elite edges and hockey senses as to when to make plays coming out of tight turns. In the process of making these evasive maneuvers he will endure some contact, bumps and shoves, but remains strong on his feet, displaying good balance and resiliency for a player a bit slight of frame. In the offensive zone the hockey IQ and talent doesn’t dissipate, he is great at using the perimeter of the ice to pull in opponents, slip around them, and attack the middle. Tremendous deception through his puck handling, and the looming threat of his shot keeps defenders on their toes. Although with McKinney the points may not always be there, the facilitation of play and doing the little things right are everpresent.

McKinney was another player on Mission that really helped carry their offense. He was all over the ice, using his skating ability to fly past defenders into the offensive zone and set up offensive plays in the opponent’s zone. McKinney showcased remarkable skill throughout the game, particularly with his masterful head fakes that consistently fooled opposing players. His ability to sell the move was exceptional; defenders were left guessing as he changed direction, creating space and opportunities for himself and his teammates. McKinney really showed off his offensive prowess and ability to create offense out of nowhere throughout this game.

McKinney did not showcase the offensive firepower he’s known for in this game, but instead highlighted his impressive two-way play. McKinney was a pest in the neutral zone making it hard for opposing players to gain the zone and made it hard for the opposing team to get anything going. McKinney excelled in his puck-handling ability, consistently keeping his feet moving and displaying remarkable elusiveness. His skating was a significant asset, allowing him to navigate the offensive zone, effortlessly initiating attacks for his team. His combination of agility and speed made him a constant threat, enabling seamless transitions and creating great scoring chances for his teammates.

It’s pretty apparent that McKinney possesses all the tools to be the best player on the ice whenever he steps out on the ice, but things just didn’t seem to be clicking for him this game (the same could be said for the entirety of Columbia Blue). His skating and stickhandling combination make him such an effective puck transporter through the neutral zone, giving him the ability to weave his way through multiple defenders and gain the offensive zone with what seems like relative ease. He could either drive wide on a defender or cut laterally up high to attack into space and provide himself with more options to work with. In the offensive zone he had flashes of high-end acceleration out of his turns to gain separation from defenders, while also drawing defenders towards him to create space for his teammates before executing behind the back or no-look feeds to them. He earned himself an assist on his team’s third goal when he stole a puck in the offensive zone and made a quick cross-ice feed through a seam and onto the tape of a teammate who buried it. Despite his overabundance of high-end tools, the execution was a bit off for McKinney today as there were too many times, he tried to force passes to the middle of the ice or skated himself into crowded areas and limited his own time and space. Despite this, the flashes of potent offensive ability were enough for me to realize the serious upside that McKinney possesses.

It’s pretty apparent that McKinney possesses all the tools to be the best player on the ice whenever he steps out on the ice, but things just didn’t seem to be clicking for him this game (the same could be said for the entirety of Columbia Blue). His skating and stickhandling combination make him such an effective puck transporter through the neutral zone, giving him the ability to weave his way through multiple defenders and gain the offensive zone with what seems like relative ease. He could either drive wide on a defender or cut laterally up high to attack into space and provide himself with more options to work with. In the offensive zone he had flashes of high-end acceleration out of his turns to gain separation from defenders, while also drawing defenders towards him to create space for his teammates before executing behind the back or no-look feeds to them. He earned himself an assist on his team’s third goal when he stole a puck in the offensive zone and made a quick cross-ice feed through a seam and onto the tape of a teammate who buried it. Despite his overabundance of high-end tools, the execution was a bit off for McKinney today as there were too many times, he tried to force passes to the middle of the ice or skated himself into crowded areas and limited his own time and space. Despite this, the flashes of potent offensive ability were enough for me to realize the serious upside that McKinney possesses.

Oliver McKinney will seemingly always do something in any game, at any given point to catch your eye. He managed to get on the scoresheet in this one with a powerplay marker, as from just above the right faceoff dot, he waited, waited, and waited, handling the puck in a deceptive fashion, faking passing options and playing with his head up, freezing the defender in front of him, only to walk into the middle, and rip a strong wrister on net that beat the goalie. The fluidity and smoothness in the way he handles the puck and moves makes him extremely deceptive. He’ll string together flashy moves with ease in motion, he was able to create brief pockets of space for himself via pulling the puck in tight to his body, around to his backhand, and attempt passes out of those moves. He had another quality chance later in the game slipping around from out the half-wall, stepping in front of the slot, and getting a scoring chance from right between the dots. Reading the game well on top of his slippery, evasive nature, he seeks out the lanes and space needed, and has the talent to shield the puck in these congested areas.

While he didn’t pick up any points for his team, he did help to drive the play, got shots on nets, and oftentimes seemed to be a step ahead on the play. A strong skater with silky hands allowed him to make a lot of plays and generate odd man rushes. If he continues to utilize his skill I can see him becoming an important offensive factor for Columbia Blue during this camp.

While he didn’t pick up any points for his team, he did help to drive the play, got shots on nets, and oftentimes seemed to be a step ahead on the play. A strong skater with silky hands allowed him to make a lot of plays and generate odd man rushes. If he continues to utilize his skill I can see him becoming an important offensive factor for Columbia Blue during this camp.