TYLER
ECKFORD
Alaska
So. | D | Langley, British Columbia
Head coach Tavis MacMillan has high expectations
for Tyler Eckford in his sophomore season.
Key Statistics: As a
freshman, Eckford finished second among Nanooks with
15 assists. His 18 points led the team’s defensive
corps.
What He Does: Last year was only Eckford’s
third season as a defenseman after being converted from
forward while in the British Columbia Hockey League.
His 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame looks imposing on paper,
but Eckford is anything but a banger. He’s a skilled
defenseman with the hands of a forward, the eyes-up
playmaking of an NHLer and the mind of a coach. In fact,
when talking about Eckford, Alaska bench boss Tavis
MacMillan brings up the player’s hockey smarts
just about every other sentence.
The Bigger Picture: With
the early departure of blue liner Jordan Hendry to the
Blackhawks, Eckford is in line for a ton of ice time
this season. He’ll quarterback the power play
and is the team’s first choice to lead the rush
out of its own zone. Eckford needs to work on his defensive-zone
play (as would be expected from a converted forward),
but the Nanooks expect him to provide an offensive surge
this season. Putting the puck in the net was a major
issue for the team last winter, and MacMillan is certain
that Eckford’s repertoire should result in more
than three goals per season. The New Jersey Devils think
so, too. They drafted him in the seventh round in 2004,
making him the only NHL draft pick on UAF’s roster
last season.
Alaska head coach Tavis MacMillan
on Eckford: "His skill level and mind
for the game is clearly much higher than many of his
peers in college hockey. He still has plenty of room
to grow physically, and when he does, he has the skill
level to be an All-American. He should be an All-CCHA
player this season, and with the way the NHL is now,
that game is perfectly suited for a player like Tyler.”
