With Gold’s team identity built around defence, Ruptash was leaned on heavily to serve as their main creator of offence. He had six of the team’s 13 goals in the tournament and added two assists to finish second in the tournament in scoring and earn an all-star nod. Ruptash is the full package on the offensive end. There isn’t really a weakness to key on when the puck is on his stick as he can beat you in so many ways. He has blistering speed off the rush and has an extra gear when he sniffs an scoring chance. He’s a shoot first player but also possesses understated vision and the patience to let the play develop if he senses a far side weakness in the defensive structure. He loves to sauce the puck into space and while at times it is probably an unnecessary flourish, there is no denying his ability execute and lay the pass right on his teammates blade with perfect weight. Ruptash’s greatest offensive weapon however is his finish. He is automatic with time and space and breakaway goals feel like an inevitability. With the power and precision in his game I think Ruptash is destined for a top line role at junior level and is one to watch out for near the top of this year’s WHL draft. If there was one blemish on an otherwise spotless tournament it was his eight minor penalties in five games so discipline will need to be an area of focus.

Projection: Top-line Forward
Projectable Skills: Shot. Stickhandling in small area
Development Opportunities: Active Skating

The St. Albert Sabres were once again a monster this season with offensive weapons up front and on the backend. Luke is one of the stronger, faster, controlled burst players in the AEHL which shows true high-end flashes. When he is in motion and skating with purpose, he’s as dangerous as anyone as a scorer in this draft. He can stickhandle through defensive sticks, evade pressure with power forward like tendencies, and lower his shoulder to get into breakaway moments. He’s an excellent finisher and can out think goaltenders often too. He’s a smart shooter, intentional in motion to cut to the inside position on defenders, and is as smart and as detailed in his board play as anyone too. The battle this season has been his consistency since he can find himself at a standstill and watching the play unfold before him instead of being as dangerous off the puck as he is on. He’s got a one timer, quick release wrist shot, and has the intelligence to drive into the slot areas too. He was played on the second PP unit and doesn’t naturally get as many puck touches as the playmakers but his effectiveness is still really solid. With more energy and consistent pacing shift to shift, he could truly emerge. The hockey IQ and the playmaking will make certain he can be effective though.

I thought Luke came to play in a couple of the tougher matchups over the weekend and showed how much his skills can stack up against a team like Edge specifically. He’s a player that gives you flashes of the high-end important qualities like being able to fend off physical pressure, use power moves to the inside, and attacking defenders one on one through the defensive triangle with success. When he’s on his game, he doesn’t back down, he creates high level scoring chances in the most important areas on the ice, and can outsmart you with pickpockets down low. Luke does have a tendency to kind of drift in the middle of the ice though sometimes and watch the play unfold in front of him instead of adjusting his positioning or attacking the puck constantly. There are moments where he’s a little quieter and almost waiting in the weeds rather than constantly pushing the pace and dictating the tempo. He’s still a very curious, high-end potential player for me.

Luke is a strong, two-way forward who can burst up the ice with power in every stride to gain separation off a break or back check with intensity. His strengths come with lateral drag moves in tight and strong wrist shots from the high slot. While not all plays flow through his puck touches, his strength and wrist shot power make for interesting upside.

There is a confidence about Luke’s game that I really enjoyed. He’s vocal: communicating to his defensemen on retrievals and trying to set things up. His skating is built through power and acceleration. His turns looked smooth on the outside edges and despite sometimes little hops in his crossovers, he built that powerful control with or without the puck. He can protect on the outside and dip his shoulder to drive pucks into the slot or try and dangle with finesse through a defenders feet one-on-one. When you add in the mix of his backchecking, ability to finish checks heavily, and shooting pucks back against the grain, you get a very interesting high-end potential prospect. It is pretty easy for me to put him in the “first-round-consideration” bin for next season.