I’m starting a new series where I break down video, and what better place to start than showcasing part of why Owen Chapman was the first Portland Winterhawks prospect to receive a call-up during the season?
With 17-year-old forward Ryan Miller sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury, general manager Mike Johnston and head coach Kyle Gustafson decided to bring in the team’s third-round pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft from the Saskatoon Contacts, who play in the SMAAAHL (Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League U18).
In 15 games with the Contacts, Chapman has registered eight goals and ten assists. However, as fast of a start as he’s had to the season offensively, the 2008-born forward is known for being a 200-foot player.
As we dive into the six videos I have for you, keep an eye on number 7, I’ll also have him highlighted throughout the clips.
Five-on-five goal
Chapman starts at his own blue line on this play, recognizes his teammate is in trouble, and skates back to assist in defensive-zone coverage. He arrives in time to help break up a centering attempt causing the puck to go to his linemate. From there, he identifies an odd-man rush opportunity and moves north. As he gets to the center faceoff circle, he directs traffic to the skater on the far side of the ice. Lastly, he’s aware the player with the puck is going to cut to the slot and presents a drop pass opportunity. Taking it in stride, he fires a wrist shot, and beats the goaltender cleanly.
Power-play goal
The next clip showcases what Chapman can do on the man advantage. A buzzword you’ll often hear thrown around is ‘hockey IQ.’ This clip is an example of what good hockey IQ looks like on the ice. He receives the pass at the point, and with his head up, notices there is a tremendous out of space within the penalty killers’ box. He takes the space, which gives him time to pick his spot for another wrist-shot goal.
Shorthanded goal
The last of his goals we will review features a shorthanded goal, which comes off a designed faceoff play. Chapman starts out the shift by winning the draw. When he sees his defenseman send the puck around the boards, he makes a break toward the wall to help support the play and, if nothing else, get the puck out of the zone. At the same time, the other forward flies the zone. Once the right defenseman wins the race, his job is to send the puck further down the wall to the streaking forward. Chapman sees the play working to perfection and joins in on a 2-on-1 rush. He takes the pass and makes no mistake with his shot placement.
(FYI: If you have the volume on your device, you might want to turn it down before you play the clip, as the music starts pretty loud.)
Winning Puck Battles in the defensive zone
You already saw how good defense can lead to offense with the first goal clip, but these following three clips are plays that will not show up on the scoresheet but demonstrate Chapman’s focus on the defensive side of his game.
In this first video, the play starts along the wall with four players battling for the puck. Chapman is on the defensive side of the scrum. As the opposing player emerges with possession, he identifies the forward is going to try to beat him wide and to the corner. So watch as his hips pivot and he stops his momentum with his left skate, and wins the race to the corner. Once he arrives, his stick is in perfection position to knock the puck away. He flips the puck up the boards to a teammate who helps clear the zone.
Now let’s see how Chapman’s man-marking is in his defensive zone. The puck is behind his team’s net, and he slides down the zone picking up his guy, number 12 in white. Keep an eye on the spacing between the two players and how quickly Chapman closes on him at just the right opportunity. When the puck is played into number 12, a quick, active stick breaks up the play. As important as the breakup was, Chapman isn’t out of the woods quite yet. He needs to clear the puck out of the danger zone in front of his goalie. He knows where the vacated space is and is able to spin and get the puck out of the zone, forcing a reset.
The final clip I have to show is how Chapman pressures as the F2, or second forward in, on the penalty kill. We’ll pick up the play as the opposing team breaks out of their zone. Chapman reads the play going up the left side of the ice and pressures the puck carrier. Rather than continuing on his path, he immediately turns and gets back to the middle and defensive blue line. As the forward enters the zone and cuts to the center, Chapman greets him there with one hand on his stick to extend his reach. This knocks the puck loose to himself. From there, it is a simple first-time clear and sending the puck all the way down helping kill off penalty.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this film room session.
Please let me know if you would like to see more of this style of content in the future!
