When it comes to the newest WHL team, the Victoria Royals, they definitely have some solid young talent.
Leading the charge in that area might just be centre Steven Hodges.
The 5'11, 167 pound native of Delta, BC is having a very strong draft year for the Royals, posting 17 goals and 36 points at the time of me writing this article.
But, what's even more impressive about his game is his play away from the puck. As mentioned, he's not the biggest of players but that doesn't stop him from grinding, going to the corners and to the front of the net.
To go along with his work ethic, he's a player that constantly has his head on a swivel and clearly has a ton of hockey sense. His vision is also a strong asset, not only being able to see open players, but being able to get them the puck in a proper scoring position. He's taken leaps and bounds in regards to his offensive output over the last 12 months and it's a trend that will surely continue as the Royals young group matures and gets better together. His spot firmly entrenched in the top 6 forward group will also allow him to see big minutes on both sides of the puck against the top forwards and defenceman from across the WHL.
Hodges might not be the most talented offensive talent to come out of the WHL for to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, but his ability to compete hard and stay committed to the game in all 3 zones makes him a player to watch. Steven Hodges is On The Radar.
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