Spot on. Size isn’t just height, although that matters if all things equal. The kid who is physically light or weak fades away. Look at the little guy in Hingham. One of the smartest, most skilled and best skaters around that has much less of an impact on the game now than 2 years ago. Unless a miracle happens unfortunately one of the best of his birth year will be done after his u18 years. Not knocking him, it’s just fact.
The fact of the matter is that the magic number for size in higher level hockey is 5'10" and above (assuming they can skate and play as well). Yes, there are exceptions for some smaller players but they must be "exceptional" players and really stand out playing with older and bigger players. This coming right from the mouth of the people that are evaluating our little benders...
It's interesting to see how the Bruins(and other NHL teams) are kind of all over on this. Bruins have Chara, McQuaid and Carlo yet also run with Krug and Grzelcyk so it seems size IS a factor but it's not the only one.
It’s about the odds - hundreds of good players 5’7”-5’9”, but as you get above 6’ and then to 6’2”+ then not so many. So while a few smaller size kids can and make, it is a lot harder to do.
It's interesting to see how the Bruins(and other NHL teams) are kind of all over on this. Bruins have Chara, McQuaid and Carlo yet also run with Krug and Grzelcyk so it seems size IS a factor but it's not the only one.
It's called balance. You need smaller, quick guys, hopefully in your bottom pair that can QB the Power Play, and you need big guys that can use their length and gap control to neutralize speed.
The Bruins will have better balance when McQuaid is back. That should reduce Krug's minutes, which exposes him defensively, and I think Grzelcyk ends up being a healthy scratch most nights, or in Providence.
Thayer academy, highly skilled no real size. Proctor academy no size, St Sebs no real size other than couple but across the board these teams are same size as public school,just more skilled.
Is that the kid whose dad looks like he's off his blood pressure pills? The parent who has his son try to play 06 because hes "better than"? That poor kid.