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Stephen Johns: Prospect Watch

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This is not exactly a topic about Rockford but I wanted to post about a prospect, Stephen Johns. I went down to Kalamazoo to watch the WMU Broncos take on Notre Dame last night and came away really impressed with Stephen Johns.

This kid is a "true" sophomore (19 years old) and at that age, one of the youngest players on the ice and he is a already a large presence (big guy) on the ice and is a very smooth skater and a smart player. Several players tried jukes and toe-drags on him and he was not buying what they were selling--he was a good enough skater not to panic at their moves, just stayed with them and played the man. Text book.

He is opportunistic: He is pretty much a stay-at-home D man but on one play in the 3rd, he jumped in quickly and put his stick in a passing lane to break up a pass and leave the puck dangerously bouncing around in the WMU slot for his forwards to pursue and in a blink he was back in position on the point where he belongs.

I think this guy looks like a well-used draft pick at this point!

Oh by the way, the score was 2-2 after 65 minutes playing hockey and then Western Michigan won the popularity contest.

YOUR CALL


Grimson
Nov 23 2011 01:52 PM

View PostEspoForever, on 23 November 2011 - 01:49 PM, said:

This is not exactly a topic about Rockford but I wanted to post about a prospect, Stephen Johns. I went down to Kalamazoo to watch the WMU Broncos take on Notre Dame last night and came away really impressed with Stephen Johns.

This kid is a "true" sophomore (19 years old) and at that age, one of the youngest players on the ice and he is a already a large presence (big guy) on the ice and is a very smooth skater and a smart player. Several players tried jukes and toe-drags on him and he was not buying what they were selling--he was a good enough skater not to panic at their moves, just stayed with them and played the man. Text book.

He is oportunistic: He is pretty much a stay-at-home D man but on one play in the 3rd he jumped in quickly and put his stick in a passing lane to break up a pass and leave the puck dangerously bouncing around in the WMU slot for his forwards to pursue and in a blink he was back in position on the point where he belongs.

I think this guy looks like a well-used draft pick at this point!

Oh by the way, the score was 2-2 after 65 minutes playing hockey and then Western Michigan won the popularity contest.

Love that.

Anyways.... so he pretty much is like a younger Seabrook is what you're saying?

EspoForever
Nov 23 2011 02:00 PM

View PostGrimson, on 23 November 2011 - 01:52 PM, said:

Love that.

Anyways.... so he pretty much is like a younger Seabrook is what you're saying?
In thought of making that reference, but it's early to lump that praise on him...but I did think of it!

whiteevo
Nov 23 2011 02:03 PM
hey i was there too! i'll echo what espo said, nice looking player. WMU is pretty speedy and was held in check.

good game, glad the Alma-mater got the win.

EspoForever
Nov 23 2011 02:07 PM

View Postwhiteevo, on 23 November 2011 - 02:03 PM, said:

hey i was there too! i'll echo what espo said, nice looking player. WMU is pretty speedy and was held in check.

good game, glad the Alma-mater got the win.
Too bad I did not know you were there. I was in Section 4.

Interestingly, Chris Chelios and Kris Draper were sitting right behind me, probably on a scouting mission for the evil empire. Grin.

Grimson
Nov 23 2011 02:12 PM
You should have told Chelios that his coffin called and it had been waiting on him for three years.

EspoForever
Nov 23 2011 03:09 PM

View PostGrimson, on 23 November 2011 - 02:12 PM, said:

You should have told Chelios that his coffin called and it had been waiting on him for three years.
I would but he is only 2-3 years older than me!

Shoots_he_scores
Nov 23 2011 05:46 PM
I've never seen Johns play but just keeping the college hockey thread updated over the last two years I've noticed one thing about him. Lots of penalty minutes, which is to be expected with a physical defenseman playing in a league that calls a pretty tight game