Jonathan Huberdeau shows diversity in his game (Part 1)
It was no surprise when last season one of the expected performers in the ice hockey world, Jonathan Huberdeau, started his journey in the MasterCard Memorial Cup.
It didn’t take him too long to settle into the team and adapt to the way the game was played there.
This resulted in Huberdeau coming out as one of the breakout performers to carry his team, Saint John Sea Dogs, into the play-offs.
The 17-year-old was not only superb but he also showed that he can play in any position at anytime.
He scored 43 goals and a total of 105 points during the course of the regular season. The performances and talent that he displayed put him as No.3 in the National Hockey League scouting’s list.
He then went to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he was absolutely amazing. He scored a total of 16 goals and a total of 30 points in just 19 games with the Sea Dogs to guide them to the title.
His dominating performances continued this season as well. Sea Dogs was able to outscore its opponents, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, by 4-3 in the opening game of the Memorial Cup’s final this Friday.
Huberdeau not only showed that he is a very strong offensive player but he displayed his skills as a play-maker as well, scoring a goal and also coming up with the game winning assist that saw Nathan Beaulieu scoring the winning goal.
"I was feeling good", Huberdeau said afterwards.
"He's a special player", Beaulieu said. "There's a reason why he's ranked in the top five in the draft".
This year, Huberdeau has gotten even better. As a result, he has boosted his statistics. With the Sea Dogs, he has scored 11 goals and 18 points in 21 games and just ended a brilliant rookie season run that witnessed him scoring 15 goals and a total of 35
points.
"I go back and say last year really started in the playoffs when the kid took off", Sea Dogs’ coach, Gerard Gallant, said on Friday. "You knew he was going to be an elite player".
Sea Dogs’ director said that when Huberdeau came into the team he was sure that he had a lot to offer and when he started playing, he proved the case to be true.
"When he came to us last year in training camp, we knew the boy had a very high hockey IQ, an exceptional player that way -- modest, all the intangibles that you need to become a great, great player", Kelly said.
The team is hoping and is pretty much sure that they can win the Memorial Cup this time as well, if Huberdeau is able to perform the way he has been.
(Continued in part 2) . . . . . . . . . .
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