Woodhouse
Registered User
The most skilled forward to come out of the U.S. National Development program this season, and in fact, he might be the best all-around player coming out of the prestigious team. At 5-foot-11, he’s not huge, but makes up for it with above average speed and is solid everywhere on the ice; think a poor man’s Patrice Bergeron. Despite is average size, he has above-average strength and should continue to bulk up after getting into a top-notch strength and conditioning program at Michigan.
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Warrior with good speed, decent size, and fearlessness in battle areas. Positions himself well when his team is without the puck. Strong on his skates and very mobile. Excellent face-off man with a strong quick release on his shot. Throws the opposition off with his tenacity and infectious edge. Hockey sense plus scoring ability and relentless two-way commitment. A center who distributes the puck exceptionally well and shoots it well. Very strong and has good upside to grow an offensive game. Strong on his skates and a good diagnostician while moving with speed on the attack. He added quickness to his stride but can get quicker. He was selected to the roster for the World Junior Under-18 Tournament in April, and was arguably the best player in the US win in the semis. (Committed to the University of Michigan)
FC
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A complete two-way game is what Compher should be characterized as. He skates well with good acceleration, balance and speed but could improve upon his lateral quickness. His best asset is his vision on the ice and ability to see options. His vision and quickness allow for him to play the role of defensive pick-pocket at times making a difference on both sides of the puck. His hands are creative and allow him to retain possession in traffic while assessing his options. His passes are accurate and crisply distributed.
HF
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2012-13: Compher skated with the USA NTDP U18 squad and represented the USA in the 2013 World Junior Championship tournament. Compher was the U18 team's second-leading scorer, finishing with 18 goals and 31 assists in 55 games and was plus-12 with 53 penalty minutes. Compher was the second leading scorer for the silver medal-winning USA squad at the U 18 WJC, trailing only Tyler Motte, scoring 3 goals with 4 assists and finishing plus-two with 8 penalty minutes in seven games. In a thrilling gold medal game, the USA fell to Canada, 3-2. Compher was ranked 34th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2013 NHL Draft.
Hockey Prospect
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JT was the captain of the U18 team and did an excellent job of leading by example with his intelligent, two-way play. He’s a Swiss army knife of sorts, the type of player coaches are happy to put on the ice in any situation at any time of a game. Need a goal in the last minute? He’s your guy. Need to keep the puck out of your net with the lead? He can do that too. Power play, penalty kill, 4-on-4, you name it. He can do it all with a consistently strong effort. He very rarely takes shifts off and plays the full rink. His skating is excellent with swift acceleration and agility. With quick starts and stops, he can dart around the offensive zone and is very effective in a cycle...read more.
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Compher is the top prospect to emerge from the USA development program in this draft (keeping in mind that Seth Jones played for the USNTDP last year). He is a great all-around player, above average or better at just about every area of the game, despite his 5'11" frame. He is a good skater who picks up speed well, and he has a high-energy element in his play. He forechecks and backchecks with speed, pressuring the opposition, while showing no hesitation to bang bodies. He is very skilled, with above-average puck skills and offensive instincts. On occasion, he will show elements of true offensive flash. He can make individual plays, and he tends to find his teammates well. He also has a big shot, and will be able to score from mid-distance. He is quite strong for a player of his height and age, but he will need to continue to bulk up so that he can play his style at the next level.
McKeen's Hockey
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Smart, tenacious forward plays an authoritative allaround game .. his vision of the ice is exceptional - sees plays before they happen which powers stout positioning and strong puck support - in the right place at the right time .. skating has improved substantially the past two years.. crossovers are crisp and effortless .. utilizes different gear changes - injecting bursts of speed .. demonstrates his fluidity and solid balance while making sharp lateral shifts .. strong and poised on the puck .. deploys nifty head and shoulder fakes to look off checkers .. manages space effectively - displays a sharp sense for pressure .. possesses nifty in-close passing and shooting skills .. locates his outlets with precision - and is adept at getting to the front of goal to unleash his wristshot .. versatile, plays in all situations and multiple roles .. outstanding defensive awareness and diligence...read more.
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One of the more complete two-way forwards in the upcoming draft. Plays a hard-driving physical game and is an intensely competitive guy. Combines that with a fine offensive skillset that includes a rocket shot and sniper’s touch around the net. Tough to play against because he can contribute in so many different ways, and is always in constant motion. Looks to initiate contact and plays hard in his own end, too. High character kid who comes through in crunch time.
TSN
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J.T. combines the attributes of skill and will in his game. Has a strong competitive fire and is not easily denied. Very good quickness and he is capable of making plays at high speed and can beat defenders one-on-one. Has good hands with a good shot and is able to play in tight areas. Very good awareness and makes good plays with and without puck in all areas.
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A favorite of scouts I’ve talked to all year long, Compher has a lot of qualities that NHL teams crave and that could make him a late-first-round pick on Sunday. The captain of the U.S. National Under-18 Team this year, Compher is a gritty two-way forward who has a terrific shot and an ability to create some offense. He plays a blue-collar style of offense, which may make it seem like he doesn’t have the best skills, but he combines skill with his strength and it makes him extremely tough to play against. Compher, who missed considerable time with an early-season injury, played in every big situation for the U.S. over the last two years. He was a bottom-six forward on the 2012 gold-medal World Under-18 Team, playing more of an energetic, physical and defensive style. In 2013, he was a top-line forward and got all the toughest match-ups. He scored some huge goals including a shootout-sealer against Russia in the semifinals at this year’s U18s. He has terrific defensive sense, is a strong penalty-killer and initiates contact often. Compher is a bit undersized, but the way he plays makes it a non-issue. Expect him to make an immediate impact at the University of Michigan next season.
A/V Club
Draft-Day Interviews
2013.06.30 – JT Compher meets with the media after being selected 35th overall. <2:38>
2013.07.03 – JT Compher speaks with WGR's Schopp & The Bulldog. <6:58>
Full Games
2013.04.23 – USA U18 vs Finland U18. <106:39>
2013.04.26 – USA U18 vs Russia U18. <154:14>
2013.04.28 – USA U18 vs Canada U18 (Gold Medal Game). <151:14>
YouTube Clips
Draft-Day Interviews
2013.06.30 – JT Compher meets with the media after being selected 35th overall. <2:38>
2013.07.03 – JT Compher speaks with WGR's Schopp & The Bulldog. <6:58>
Full Games
2013.04.23 – USA U18 vs Finland U18. <106:39>
2013.04.26 – USA U18 vs Russia U18. <154:14>
2013.04.28 – USA U18 vs Canada U18 (Gold Medal Game). <151:14>
YouTube Clips
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