Canucks select Ethan Keppen 122nd overall
4 years ago
Welcome to Vancouver, Ethan Keppen.
After trading away their 102nd overall pick to Buffalo for picks 122 and 175, the Canucks were finally back on the clock after selecting Nils Hoglander at 40th overall.
The Canucks drafted winger Ethan Keppen with their 122nd overall selection.
Keppen is a solid power forward who scored 30 goals for the Flint Firebirds this season. He’s listed at 6’2″ and 212 lbs.
Keppen’s OHL coach Eric Wellwood recently talked about what Keppen can bring to the table.
“He really uses his size to his advantage and he is fearless out there. He isn’t afraid to go up and down the wing and go to the hard areas to make plays.”
The Firebirds had a pretty brutal season, missing the playoffs by over 50 points. Keppen had a really strong second half for Flint, however, becoming a bright spot for the club in a rough year.
The No. 10 pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Keppen described his game to Aaron Vickers of EP Rinkside.
I’m a power forward that plays a 200-foot game out there that drives hard up and down the ice with the puck.I’ve always been a big kid. This has always been my game since I was playing rep hockey. I’ve always been one of the bigger guys, so I always try to take advantage of it.”That’s been going very well for me.I bring power up the ice, and that creates a lot of space for my linemates. I’m always hard on the forecheck, always making hits to try to create a battle out there. I’m good at retrieving pucks. That’s my offensive game. I’m always trying to play a 200-foot game, which means I try to backcheck very hard. I try to block shots and be a good half-wall player.I try to bring a lot of body presence to the game, is probably one of my biggest abilities.
Keppenen may not having game-breaking speed or skill, but he competes hard, can score goals and plays a solid two-way game with a physical edge.
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