Under the Microscope: Owen Conrad
May 31, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Moncton Wildcats News Release
Owen Conrad has carved his own path in hockey. And while he never hesitates to seek guidance from his family or his coaches, he's comfortable making his own decisions because he's known for being mature beyond his years.
Kyle MacLennan, his head coach with the Weeks Majors of the NSU18MHL, describes the 15-year-old defenseman as being very low maintenance, which is a quality that has helped him get to where is and that will continue to serve him well as his career progresses.
Conrad, who has two goals and 9 points in 12 games so far this season, is mild-mannered by nature. He is determined, hard-working, and comes to the rink every day with the goal of getting better.
The blueliner possesses a great skill set and is hard to play against, even though he doesn't necessarily play a physical game. He moves the puck well, shoots it accurately and with velocity. He also defends well and has a very good stick.
But those qualities aren't what impresses MacLennan the most about his young charge.
"He does a lot of things really well, but the thing that stands out to me is just how poised he is. I find he makes a lot of really small, subtle plays under pressure," explained MacLennan. "When it doesn't look like he has a lot of time or space, he seems to keep things pretty calm. I think it's that poise at such a young age, and the ability to solve problems under pressure, that really jumps out to me over other players that I've seen at this level in the past."
"Owen (Conrad) is a left-handed, big-bodied defenseman with a very good skating stride. He's explosive, mobile and agile on his feet. As a testament to this, he is primarily used on the right side," added Pierre Cholette, Director of Central Scouting for the QMJHL. "He is used in all situations by his coach, as evidenced by his average ice time which hovers around 28 minutes per game, making him a top prospect for the upcoming QMJHL Draft."
Conrad leads by example and can elevate the game of his teammates. Because he's great at both elevating and slowing down the pace of play, players that share the ice with him always seem to get better because of the situations he puts them in.
MacLennan knows that he doesn't need to use a hands-on approach when coaching his talented defenseman, Conrad learns and teaches himself through his own actions in practices and games. The whole team learns a lot from him on a daily basis.
On top of everything else, being self-motivated also plays a big part in Conrad's game, which means that he's fully aware of how important this season is to make a good impression before taking the next step in his hockey journey. So far, it's mission accomplished.
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Owen Conrad
Height: 6'3 ¬Â³ | Weight: 195 lbs
Year of Birth: 2007
Birthplace: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Shoots: Left
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from May 31, 2023
- QMJHL Releases 2023-24 Regular Season Schedule - Cape Breton Eagles
- 2023-24 Regular Season Schedule Released - Halifax Mooseheads
- QMJHL Unveils 2023-2024 Regular Season Schedule - QMJHL
- Under the Microscope: Owen Conrad - Moncton Wildcats
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