Strengths: Hockey IQ, Defensive details
Development Opportunities: Size and strength, Shot power

I think Brook is another player who grew on me slowly throughout the season and kept inching his way higher on the boards due to his longer term potential. He’s a September birthday with room still to grow and fill out but also is already showing so many details to his game to make possession turn into offense. From smart positioning, quality pinches, and getting pucks on net through traffic he can gather more points than other defenders who are bigger and stronger. He’s the kind of player who makes others better on the ice in small ways that all add up. If he can gain a bit more size and power, it’ll allow his smart decision making to pop even more.

Most of my notes from Brook in these games came from stable play across the board. He has the mobility, engagement, and IQ to be consistently in the play against most competition. I liked how he would ride some players defensively along the boards and finish with controlled physicality without giving up positional leverage. I like how he is able to get pucks through, move play consistently, and be engaged with second and third efforts on most plays. I think it also helps that he still should have some solid growth physically left as a later born player who can get stronger.

Haile is another defender for the Northstars that stands out with his combination of size and mobility. He has an effortless stride and is so light on his feet, changing directions at the drop of a dime and maintaining so much speed through transitions. His athleticism and quickness of thought makes him a deceptively disruptive defensive presence. He can appear passive and relaxed in posture but then he’ll analyze the attacker’s intentions, close with lightning quickness, strip them of possession and turn the puck back up ice before the opponent knows what has happened. He is one of the better defenders I’ve seen at this age group in using his stick as a primary defensive weapon. He has impressive control with one hand, manipulating his stick placement with speed and precision to block passing lanes and plug up zone entries and exits. He is a master of giving a lane and then taking it away the moment the attacker falls into his trap. If I’m nitpicking, I think he could give himself even more opportunities to create turnovers by keeping an even tighter gap. His spacing isn’t a weakness but with his skating and active stick I think he could be even more aggressive.