Rob Wilton

Cole Shepard’s time to shine

 

Cole Shepard will be a key piece to the offense when the Giants hit the ice this year.

The recently turned 19-year-old will look to impress this coming season as he has his sights set on the 2021 NHL draft. Today we will dive into what Shepard can do to help lead the Giants to a division title this season.

Rookie season:

In Shepard’s first season with the Giants, he put up 11 goals and 18 assists through 50 games. This was a slight bump up from his season in the BCHL where he managed seven goals and 17 assists in 53 games with the Penticton Vees. Last year was all about getting used to the WHL for Shepard. He has the shot and speed to put up some big numbers this coming season. Now it is all about building off a decent rookie season last year.

All about speed:

For Shepard to be successful, he needs to use his elite speed and skating to open up the ice. He has the ability to beat defenders one on one to the loose puck which is a key aspect when maintaining possession. His speed also allows for breakaway opportunities and getting back defensively to break up rushes. This will be a major asset as the BC division features players that can really fly on the ice. Look for Shepard to create chances with his speed and skating which will hopefully lead to more offense this coming season.

Shooting:

Shepard has a great shot but only managed 1.6 per game last season. He has to shoot more for the Giants to be successful this season. With the season condensed like it is, teams will benefit from throwing as much at the goalies as possible. Fatigue will be an issue, and this is where Shepard can use his shot to the team’s advantage. As Wayne Gretzky said, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. You never know if a shot is going to turn into a goal so taking more shots can only benefit the player and the team.

One added benefit of continually shooting on the net is that it sets up open teammates around the ice. If a goalie knows the player with the puck will dump it off rather than fire on the net, the goalie may start to look off the player and focus on what they consider a more dangerous option. By firing the puck as much as possible, Shepard will cause the goaltender to focus more on his shot and less on the pass. This may leave teammates with wide-open nets.

Fatigue:

Shepard is on the smaller side listed at 5-foot-10, 157 pounds. In order for him to succeed this year, he needs to stay healthy and get stronger. This league is tough and the defenders are big. He will have to face guys like 6-foot-3, 209 pound Montana Onyebuchi of Kamloops, or 6-foot-2, 216 pound Jake Lee of Kelowna every night. That is hard on the body. If Shepard is going to be successful, he needs to use his speed to avoid big hits that will wear him down as the season progresses.

Projection:

Shepard should have a breakout year this season. He has all the tools to succeed and will be fighting for the chance to be drafted this coming year. His strong skating ability will be a major asset this year as the Giants will be looking for someone to step up into the role Milos Roman has played the last few seasons. A 10 goal and 20 assist season are very achievable for Shepard. Look for him to get regular powerplay time and an elevated role in the top six this season.