Dernisky put up video game numbers in this tournament with 21 points in six games, tying him with his linemate McMillan, for the tournament lead. He may not stand out physically, but his sense of timing, spatial awareness, and adaptability make him an ever-dangerous threat in the offensive zone. He always seems to pop up in the homeplate area at the perfect moment and despite his small stature you rarely see him tied up or boxed out to the perimeter. He isn’t the fastest player in open ice, but he slows the play down, drawing defenders in, before changing speeds to gain separation. With the puck, he’s a clever, composed playmaker who processes the game at a high level and consistently works against the grain to create openings. His head is always up scanning for options, and he is lightning quick to exploit defensive breakdowns. With any time and space, he is lethal as a passer. I will be following Dernisky closely during the season as I still have two major questions regarding his projection. Can his smarts and skill compensate for modest size and speed as effectively at higher levels? And, how much of his production is a by-product of playing with one of the age group’s best, in Parker McMillan? I’m not sure I got a complete answer on either question at this tournament but with each viewing I get more confident in his translatability.

Teagan is one of those players who makes everyone else better because of his awareness, puck management, and problem solving; both with his puck decisions and his off-puck positioning. I’ve often found him to burst at the right moment to make sure to be open backdoor, in the slot, or ready for a rebound if a puck finds its way there. I like his decisions in exit passes and how he navigates pressure since he can delay or make a stretch bounce pass off the boards. It isn’t any sense of physical dominance with him but a collection of great spacing and decision making. His secondary assists come from crisp outlet passes, his goals come from quality backdoor or really picking a spot in the high slot too. Tactical problem solvers like him usually turn out very well in the WHL.