Projection: Top Line Scorer
Projectable Skills: Shot power, Puck protection
Development Opportunities: Aggression without the puck

The most consistent trait of Blake’s throughout the year has been his confidence in offensive situations to control the play and try to find shooting opportunities. He is at his best on the PP or getting himself into good space off the rush or cycle. The puck can come on and off his stick extremely fast on the off side and he can shoot across his body and in motion while picking his spots with intention. To become that true top-tier goal scorer of this class, I’d like to see him be more persistent without the puck to cause more turnovers and be that physical menace at 5on5 that he could be. So many of his skill qualities will translate into top-6 play down the line for the WHL so the questions are simply about how far up the ladder he can climb. What you know for certain is that you are getting a dual-threat passer and scorer from the wing that can play physically and puck protect. With a bit more shot accuracy and finding a balance with a bit more playmaking, Blake has all the makings of being a top-end scorer from this class.

With Blake, he’s so confident as a shooter in multiple scenarios but especially on the PP half wall. There is a comfortability in those moments which is astounding to me. He had added really nice lateral slip passes to the slot or more bullet style passes all the way across laterally to keep goaltenders honest. At the end of the day though, I think Blake loves shooting off curls on the PP and is constantly looking to get to the middle of the ice when he can. Off the rush you’ll always find him trying to cut into the interior and make defenders stick check him. If you don’t, expect a heavy shot release in stride.

Our sixth ranked player, Blake Chorney (NAX U15 Prep) did struggle a little bit to finish off some scoring chances before potting two goals very close to back to back as the days rolled on. His overall game is still headlined as a confident shooter/slasher from the wing but when he’s filtering those backhanded cross-ice passes down low it really rounds his overall play. I thought that while he didn’t completely dominate the play throughout the weekend, he’s still in that mixture at the top of the draft pretty easily.

With Blake, you have a really terrific blend of dual shot/pass decision making in motion. He certainly leans towards being aggressive by cutting back towards shooting areas and continuing to change the angle of attack off the rush or the cycle. That tenacity to curiously attack and explore new strategies is a pathway that could lead to much success for the Saskatchewan forward.

Chorney, for my money, was the most complete and dominant forward at the tournament. He led the championship winning NAX team in scoring with 12 points in five games while playing sound 200-foot hockey. There are so many high-end tools for him to build on, but it starts with his raw power and ability to get to any area on the ice. His maneuverability into space is a treat to watch as he is able impose his strength and will to bull into the interior while also showcasing an enhanced feel for timing and getting his stick free around the net front. There is an underlying intelligence in everything he does so while his size, strength, and explosiveness are clear at this level, I also have few concerns that he’ll be able to maintain his effectiveness in high danger areas even when if he doesn’t have a marked size advantage. His off-puck feel is excellent, and he is a consistent and easy to find target for playmakers to feed. I am also a big fan of his attention to detail, from using the net-front drive to create space behind him, to lifting sticks to open up passing lanes for teammates, he is always thoughtful in his intentions. I will always buy on high IQ players and when you consider his imposing figure and natural physical gifts in tandem, I think he’s on the shortlist as one of the top 2009 skaters in Western Canada.

As one of the highest touted forwards coming into the weekend, Blake was part of a strong Team White which powered their way to the finals. He skates with confidence and determination to find space along the exterior and get his shoulder dipped to the inside to drive towards the net. Blake loves to cut heavy to the slot after entering the zone to find space to release his heavy snapshot. The path to improvement for Blake is finding a bit more diversity in his attack. His determination to be the best player on the ice every shift leaves him sometimes taking shots from too far out, without traffic in front, or by defenders pressuring him earlier on entries to close the gap and bother his shot release. With a few more delays, cutbacks, or keeping the puck wide while opening his stance to feign passes into the interior will keep defenders a bit more honest and reserved with him. His shot is high-end so it's just about making the most out of it. He certainly played like a first-round pick though. The potential is high with him.

Blake comes with that swagger of a person who wants the puck on their stick in the important moments of every game. He was probably the most consistent shooter on Team Sask and knows how to make that extra move, extra dangle, or wait that extra second for the lane to open up. His snapshot is very quick and he fires without hesitation when he sees a spot. He will rehandle or adjust multiple times in a possession to continue to change the angle of his attack on defenders. There are lots of strong puck skills to go with his strength on the puck. It isn’t the length of his reach or his strength which necessarily make the difference though. I feel like it is in the speed of his decision making to pounce on the “right spot” as he is constantly recalculating.