The
Rocket are currently on one of the best streaks of its young history. Not only
is the team winning a lot of games but it’s doing so with the help of the young
prospects of the organization.
During
the last few days, the strong play of Joël Teasdale, Ryan Poehling and Jesse
Ylönen have been noted multiple times, and with good reason. Another youngsters
play that is helping the Rocket a lot recently is Rafaël Harvey-Pinard.
“I
think he’s a nice example for young hockey players from Quebec†revealed Laval
Rocket head coach Joël Bouchard talking about Harvey-Pinard. “To see how a
young player who’s not very tall but still is able to play in an intense way
and on the inside.â€
The
first-year pro playing at the forward position is one of five players who
participated in every Rocket game this year (Ylönen, Weal, Leskinen and
Schueneman being the others). He’s doing so with big responsibilities as he is
playing on the first line of the team while also helping on the penalty kill
where he also applies some offensive pressure.
An
element that’s obvious in Rafaël Harvey-Pinard’s game is consistency night
after night. Since the beginning of the season, he has recorded a shot on goal
in every single game he played except one. He’s leading the Rocket in games
with at least one shot with Corey Schueneman and Lukas Vejdemo.
“Rafaël
has a consistency in his play, that’s his strength†noted Bouchard. “He’s a
hockey player. He can play anywhere on the ice, whether it’s left or the right,
the power play or the penalty kill. He plays the right way and doesn’t
over-complicate things.â€
This
consistency is starting to show on the scoreboard. Harvey-Pinard record a point
in the four games against the Stockton Heat in Calgary. Despite the winning
streak, he is the only Rocket player who has accomplished that feat.
His
efficiency doesn’t only show on the scoresheet. At 5 on 5, he was one the
Rocket’s best players against the Heat. In fact, he maintained the best Corsi
percentage among Laval forwards during this Calgary stint with an impressive
68,33%. This is impressive because anything higher than 66,67% means that the
Rocket has more than the double of shot attempts than their opponent at 5 on 5
when Rafaël Harvey-Pinard is on the ice (41-19 in this case).
Harvey-Pinard
was the best forward in this aspect against the Heat but he also saw that puck
possession leads to scoring chances. He ended the four games series against
Stockton with a +7 scoring chances differential at 5 on 5. This is definitely
the type of performance that leads to team success.
“He does all the little things
very well†summarized his center Jordan Weal. “He’s really buying in the
system, working his tail off every game, every practice and that’s all you can
ask for from a guy like that.â€
It’s
obvious when you watch Laval play these days that there is no shortage of young
talent with the Rocket and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard belongs in that group. Not only
is he efficient but he’s maintaining a precedent set in the organization about
small feisty forwards wearing the #11.
