In the 2018 Bantam Draft, the Vancouver Giants selected Drew Sim with the 46th overall pick. Since then, Sim has developed into a top-end goaltender who is ready to make the jump to the WHL. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound goaltender comes into this season as a potential back-up. With a potentially condensed season, Sim has a chance to make a strong impression and play some big minutes for the Giants this year.
Play Style:
Allen York was Drew’s goaltending coach with the Northern Alberta X-Treme prep team last season. York describes Sim as ” A goalie who tracks the puck well” and “very patient with great footwork”. Drew plays baseball during the summers which according to York has made his glove hand very strong. Sim has good lateral movement in the net and has shown mass improvement in the last year. When asked for a player comparison, York described Sim’s playing style as similar to Ryan Miller. “Strong positioning and makes difficult saves look easy” are some of the comparable traits York sees between Ryan Miller and Sim’s.
(Rob Wilton- Vancouver Giants)
Leadership:
Head coach Matt Tassone raved about Drew Sim’s character and competitiveness. “Drew wants to win, but also wants to be the guy,” said Tassone when describing Sim’s as a goaltender. “Drew took advantage of goalie coach time and has the ability to take criticism”. Learning to take criticism is an important trait that young players need to develop as a goaltender. Sim’s continues to work out in the offseason with other WHLers in Edmonton as he prepares for the upcoming WHL season.
Strengths:
Puck moving is a skill that most goalies have trouble with. Sim on the other has mastered the ability to move the puck. Head coach Matt Tassone describes Sim’s playmaking ability as “like having a third defenceman out there”. With Sim’s playmaking ability, his team spends less time in their zone. This also allows them to catch other teams on bad changes. The other strength that Sim possesses is his size. At 6-foot-2, Sim is a big goalie who fills the net very well. His size and athletic ability with lateral movements are some of the reasons he was considered one of the best goalies in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League last season.
(Jordan Martin- NAXT Hockey)
Areas For Improvement:
Like most young players, Sim needs to get used to playing away from home and in the WHL. Sim had a stint with the Giants last season where he posted a 3.05 GAA in two games. When a young player moves away from their home province and family, there are going to be growing pains. If Sim can get settled in the lower mainland, his confidence can grow and we will see the emergence of a young star.
Northern Alberta X-Treme:
Northern Alberta X-Treme has done a tremendous job developing Sim into the goalie he is today. Sim put up fantastic numbers last season going 16-1-0 while posting a .926 save percentage and 2.02 GAA. The program had five alumni drafted into the NHL this past year including Michael Benning and Luke Prokop. With the work that Tassone and his team have put in, Sim has a good shot of joining this list of alumni drafted into the NHL.
(Jordan Martin- NAXT Hockey)
Projection:
Sim has a great opportunity ahead this season. With a condensed schedule that is sure to feature back to backs, Sim could be called upon more frequently this year compared to normal seasons. Miner and Sim should provide a steady goaltending combo this season that will help the Giants compete in the tough BC division. There is also the potential of being part of Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup next year if Sim can impress this year.
Sim is a goaltender who has a high ceiling and could be a huge part of the Vancouver Giants for the next few years. Right now, he has to focus on development and gaining the confidence to play away from home. Currently, Sim is back in Edmonton practicing with other WHL players. This should bode well for his season as he can learn the speed WHL players play at. Sim could be the steal of the 2018 Bantam draft and could be hearing his name called at the NHL draft in a few seasons.
