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The 4th overall pick in the 2013 USHL draft, Brock Broeser played just 8 regular-season games and 8 playoff games for Sioux City before his rights were traded to Waterloo. This year, he has had a great season with 35 goals and 68 points in 57 games for the Blackhawks. This follows up on a solid six goals in five games for the Bronze Medal winning U.S. squad at the Ivan Hlinka tournament, where he was team captain. Boeser also played at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge this year picking up four goals and five points in five games. Last season he put up three goals and seven points in four games at the Under-17 Hockey Challenge last season. Boeser had made a verbal commitment University of Wisconsin, but would withdraw that commitment and has now signed his letter of intent with the University of North Dakota.
Brock Boeser
Right Wing — shoots Right
Born Feb 25 1997 — Burnsville, MN
Height 6.01 — Weight 191 [185 cm/87 kg]
Brock Boeser is a pure sniper who has a tremendous one-timer, and a hard wrist shot with a hair trigger release. He has the hockey sense and ability to find holes in the opposing defence and get himself set up for a shot. A good skater and puck handler, Boeser also has the ability to create openings for himself or others. He can also be a playmaker, with good vision and solid passing skill. Boeser could stand to add more muscle to his frame, to be even more effective in the corners and in front of the net. He doesn’t show fear to go to dirty areas right now, but it is an area where he could simply win more battles with more core strength. Boeser has a low centre of gravity and cycles the puck well now, but should be even better in time if he can add that muscle. He forechecks hard and can punish defencemen in the corners with hits if they don’t move the puck quickly. Boeser also has the soft hands necessary to finish plays in close to the net.
Brock Boeser has good top end speed, but his first few steps and his acceleration are merely decent. His start up is a little choppy and if he can make it a bit smoother he could really improve this area of his game. Boeser has good agility, and the edgework to make quick cuts on defenders. His balance and power are very good at the junior level and allow him to fight through checks, but again a little more lower body strength is needed before he goes pro.
Brock Boeser’s defensive game is inconsistent. At times he looks very strong, with strong backchecking, good positioning and the active stick to break up plays and start the transition game. He gets involved in board battles and shows a willingness to put his body on the line to block shots. At other times, he can get caught puck watching and cheating for the long stretch pass through the neutral zone. The talent to play a two-way games is there, and its hoped that he will become more consistent with added maturity.
Brock Boeser has the potential to be a solid top-6 power winger if he is able to reach his potential. He’s likely got at least two or three years of development ahead of him, but the reward could be worth the wait. Boeser has said in interviews that he models his game after Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders, and the influence is noticeable. Of course this is a style comparison and not a talent one.
Below are some videos of Boeser in action.
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