– Alex Newhook –
Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) | Center | 2019 NHL Draft Eligible
St. John’s, Newfoundland | January 28, 2001 | 5-foot-11, 183-pounds
Alex Newhook has gone on quite the adventure in his hockey career for just a 17-year-old. Born in Newfoundland, he would travel to Ontario to play for the York-Simcoe Express for his bantam and minor midget seasons, where he led the league in scoring with 43 goals and 74 points in just 33 games. With a commitment to Boston College, Newhook had a choice to either pursue NCAA hockey, or to play in the QMJHL where the Halifax Mooseheads hold his rights.
He would ultimately opt for the NCAA route, which led him to an opportunity to play for the Victoria Grizzles in British Columbia, completing his cross-country trek. In his rookie campaign, Newhook would lead the league in points-per-game, with 1.47, backed by 22 goals and 66 points in 45 games. Newhook will return as the Grizzlies’ captain for 2018-19.
Strengths:
- Hockey Sense
- Skating
- Puck Handling
- Playmaking
Alex Newhook is another on a long list of incredible forwards for the 2019 NHL Draft. Simply put, Newhook can do it all offensively. As with all top prospects in today’s era of hockey, Newhook’s success is driven by exemplary hockey sense and skating abilities. He can reach top speeds in an electric first three steps and has the agility to weave through his opponents like butter.
Combine the skating with some tremendous hands and you get a dynamic center who can be expected to produce a highlight reel goal each night. Asides from turning defenders inside out, Newhook understands how to utilize other players on the ice to generate scoring chances. He has excellent vision of the ice and can dangle through opponents with ease before setting up teammates for an open-net goal.
Weaknesses:
- Shot
It’s not easy to list Newhook’s shot as a weakness given his insane gaol totals over the years, but if there’s an area of improvement that could turn him into a superstar at the next level, it would be his shot strength. A strong portion of Newhook’s goals come from one-timers into an open cage or off of a finish to a breakaway move.
If Newhook can add some muscle and put a few more miles per hour into his shot, he would add an extra element to his bag of tricks. Giving opponents reason to respect both your shot and playmaking potential will drive teams wild and only increase Newhook’s potential as a point-producing stud in the NCAA, and even the professional ranks.
Future Potential:
Alex Newhook’s NHL outlook appears to be as a first-line center who can drive offence in multiple ways and be relied upon as a power-play weapon. He is a point-producing machine and a game-changer each night. Comparables include Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene. Newhook projects to be a top-5 selection at the 2019 NHL Draft heading into the ’18-19 campaign.
Prospect Pipeline 