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Joshua Jacobs spent the season in the USHL with the Indiana Ice, where he put up five goals and 23 points in 56 games, and recorded a +36. He was named a USHL all-star this season. In the playoffs he has put up three goals and five points over 11 games for the Ice who are deadlocked at two games a piece with the Waterloo Blackhawks in the battle for the Clark Cup. The fifth and deciding game goes tonight.
Jacobs also has plenty of international experience, playing for Team USA as a 16-year-0ld at the Youth Olympic Games, and playing in the World “Junior A” Challenge and winning a gold medal this past December. Jacobs is committed to Michigan State for next season, but if he changes his mind and decides to go the CHL route, he has been drafted by the Sarnia Sting in the OHL.
Joshua Jacobs
Defense — shoots Right
Born Feb 15 1996 — Shelby Township, MI
Height 6.02 — Weight 193 [188 cm/88 kg]
Joshua Jacobs is a good-sized defenceman with excellent skating ability. He has a long fluid stride, good top end speed, and explosive acceleration. Jacobs has excellent edgework and very good pivots. He is mobile and can change directions quickly. This allows him to close down space and lay some big hits against on-rushing defenders. His mobility also makes him difficult to beat one-on-one and gives him the ability to join the rush and help the Ice create offensive opportunities.
Jacobs offensive game has really taken showing added offence this year after a solid rookie year where he showed a good defensive game for a 16-year-old. He has solid puckhandling skills and can lead the rush or can join as a trailer, and is willing to do so to generate offence. He has good vision and passing skills, which he can use to start the transition game or to quarterback the powerplay. Jacobs has an absolute bomb of a slapshot from the point, and a very good wrist shot and quick release.
Jacobs uses his size effectively exploding into big hits and battling hard along the boards and in front of the net, as well as being a willing shot blocker. He does need to work on his positioning, as well curb a habit for giveaways at times, but he is young and raw with excellent potential to grow past those issues going forward.
Joshua Jacobs style is reminiscent of Ryan McDonagh of the New York Rangers. This isn’t a talent, comparison, but rather a stylistic one. He might be a couple of years away from making a pro impact, but Jacobs has the potential to be a two-way defender in the NHL playing a top four role, and getting some specialty teams time, particularly on a powerplay unit.
Below are some highlights of Joshua Jacobs, as well as some interview clips.
Come back tomorrow to check out my #46 prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft.
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