Lemoyne was a standout on the blue line for Long Island, showcasing a reliable and well-rounded defensive game. He excelled at using his size and strength effectively, particularly in front of the net, where he consistently tied up opposing forwards and executed timely stick lifts to disrupt scoring opportunities. In the corners, he was a force, winning battles and making smart plays to transition the puck up the ice. One of his biggest assets was his smooth skating, which allowed him to keep pace with the tournament’s faster forwards. Combined with his physical presence, this made him highly effective at stepping up and breaking up plays when the opposition was on the attack. His ability to blend mobility with physicality gave his team a dependable anchor on the back end. He also demonstrated a willingness to contribute offensively when opportunities arose. In one memorable play, he jumped up the wing in the offensive zone, skated to the front of the net, and tipped in a shot to get on the scoresheet. This play highlighted his hockey sense and ability to pick the right moments to join the rush.

A smart and physical defender, Lemoyne possesses strong defensive instincts which allows him to sniff out opponents plays and position himself to be able to disrupt them with an active stick resulting in defensive stops at some key moments for his team throughout the event. Although he’s not the quickest of skaters, he still does a good job at using his stick to keep the gap to a minimum between himself and attacking forwards off the rush with good timing on his closeouts as he guides opponents towards the perimeter. His physicality was one of his greatest strengths as a defender whether it was the tenacity he showed to win back pucks during board battles or powerful hits to dispossess opponents and quickly get plays moving the other way. He already plays such a sound defensive game and proved to be an efficient puck mover despite his issues with mobility.

The one word that came up the most frequently in my notes in describing Lemoyne throughout this game was aggressive. He’s a player who definitely wants to be proactive in the way he approaches the game, consistently trying to get a jump start on the opposition and kill plays before they can materialize. Throughout the game I noted a plethora of times where he was able to step in the neutral zone and either kill a controlled entry with a stick check or anticipate the play correctly and pick off a transition pass. He was aggressive as an in-zone defender as well, maintain a tight gap along the perimeter to limit opposing puck-carriers time and space and angle them off with physical body checks. Towards the end of the game he had a few noticeable puck rushes up the ice that saw exit the defensive zone with control and gain the red line with relative ease for a dump in.

Lemoyne was impressive throughout this game, playing a key role in both transition and offensive play. His breakout passes were spot-on, allowing his team to quickly shift from defense to offense and capitalize on fast transitions. One of the most memorable moments came when he decided to take matters into his own hands. He went on a solo rush, weaving through a couple of defenders before getting off a solid shot that showcased his skill and confidence. He also found the back of the net with a beautiful goal, curling down the wing and ripping a precise shot.

Mikko Lemoyne was a blueliner for the Gulls who caught my eye early. His poise working deep in his zone to corral pucks, make a slight move to get around a defender when between his man and the boards, escape the pressure and forward the puck up ice allowed him to contribute to some smooth breakouts for his team. Through some quick feet and good agility, he was able to spin away from opponents, avoid being tied up in battles, and get out of the way of bodychecks as he looked to move the puck. In the offensive zone he did a good job at supporting his forwards, making simple and quick plays. Intelligent passes and positioning enabled him to not be a liability, never taking an unnecessary risk that saw the puck coming back the other way in numbers. His quickness was an asset at times when defending the Jr. Mounties rush, cutting across the ice and taking away angles, forcing speedy puck carriers to dump the puck.