Who would be the favorite for the “Cy-Young” title in the win2day ICE Hockey League if it were awarded? Who are the snipers and finishers who prefer shots to passes and therefore collect more goals than assists?
Overseas, “Cy-Young Players” are the players for whom the gap between goals and assists is the greatest, i.e. the pure finishing players. Although this title is owed to a baseball player and not an ice hockey player, it has been in North American usage for decades.
Who is at the top of the ICE Hockey League? LAOLA1-Scout Bernd Freimüller dealt with this:
Chase Pearson (VSV, C)
Current stats: 8 goals/2 assists/13 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: Twice in college and last season in Michalovce with 17 goals and 12 assists
Player characteristics: Tall, heavy center with strengths around the goal. Not gentle hands, but a useful passer who tends to power himself in front of the box. Should pick up some assists on faceoffs.
Marcus Vela (Graz99ers, C)
Current stats: 7 goals/2 assists/15 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: Nothing flashy, just shortened in the AHL and ECHL. Most likely in Västervik with 11 goals and 7 assists in 28 games.
Player characteristics: Powerful body that scores with a hard wrister from the slot as well as with goals from close combat for the crease. Doesn’t have Palmolive-groomed hands, at most an average passer
Casey Bailey (Graz99ers, RW)
Current stats: 7 goals/2 assists/13 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: Shorter ones in Växjö and the ECHL, longer ones in Iserlohn and the AHL: These slight goal overhangs can also be found conversely in assist-heavy seasons in Iserlohn or the AHL.
Player characteristics: Look for the finish with hard shots from the left half wall in the PP, but also from the slot (see last minute equalizer in Linz). Stats could still balance out, but so far in Graz he has been more of a finishing player.
Brett Findlay (HC Pustertal, C)
Current stats: 8 goals/4 assists/16 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: No
Player characteristics: Certainly the most surprising name here, in his career he has always been more of a preparer who can also play solid defense. His current goal surplus is more likely to be a snapshot and will soon disappear from this list.
Anthony Salinitri (HC Bozen, LW)
Current stats: 8 goals/4 assists/12 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: His last season in the OHL and especially last year in Graz with 17 goals and 6 assists
Player characteristics: It could very well be a good fit, but I’m more and more looking for the qualification myself and I’m good at it too. More concerned with the end goal, has an accurate shot.
Carter Turnbull (Asiago Hockey, RW)
Current stats: 7 goals/3 assists/15 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: Twice in college, once in the ECHL
Player characteristics: Small winger with good legs and hardly any defensive play. Can score with speed, but also in the PP from the half wall. Not necessarily stubborn, but often follows his own tact.
Chris Brown (Fehervar AV19, RW/C)
Current stats: 6 goals/2 assists/14 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: Almost a decade ago in the AHL and last year both half-seasons with Slovan and in Schwenningen
Player characteristics: I’m more surprised by his assist-heavy seasons than this year’s stats. Can hit with a bomb shot from the left halfwall as well as from the slot. Physically strong sniper who can get through traffic, but slow legs.
Mathias From (KAC, RW)
Current stats: 8 goals/6 assists/14 games
Previous Cy Young seasons: Almost none, just small gate overhangs in Rögle and Västeras
Player characteristics: The best skater in this list can eliminate shot blockers with quick lateral movements. Good wrister from the slot or from the side. Can pass, but not a great playmaker.
Power Ranking: The devil rules over the ICE!
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