The Denver hockey player survey returns for a second year.

This season, 23 of the 27 players on the roster responded, or 85 percent. That should make the survey statistically reliable.

The 2018-19 season survey includes 25 questions, broken down into various categories. Players were given multiple choices and promised anonymity for their answers. Questions pertaining to skaters only had skaters listed, same for goalie-related questions.

I hope you enjoy this fun exercise that picks the Pioneers’ brains to help shed light on which teammates they view as the strongest in various categories.

Part 1 deals with skating.

MORE SURVEY RESULTS

Part 2 (Questions 5-7) deals with strength and toughness

Part 3 (Questions 8-10) deals with shooting

Part 4 (Questions 11-14) is all about the hands

Part 5 (Questions 15-17) looks at the eyes

Part 6 (Questions 18-22) gets defensive

Part 7 (Questions 23-25) hard work and leadership

Question 1: Which player has the best top-end speed?

• Ryan Barrow – 6 votes (26 percent)
• Les Lancaster, Kohen Olischefski and Emilio Pettersen – 3 votes (13 percent)
• Devin Cooley – 2 votes
• Jack Doremus, Liam Finlay, Michael Davies, Griffin Mendel, Ryan Orgel and Jered Resseguie – 1 vote

Analysis: A total of 11 players received votes, including a goalie (hmmm) and four defensemen. This reinforces what we’ve seen all season – the recruiting emphasis on speed must be working. There is no dominant speedster by percentage.

Question 2: Who is the most agile skater?

• Liam Finlay – 12 votes (52 percent)
• Emilio Pettersen – 5 votes (22 percent)
• Michael Davies – 3 votes (13 percent)
• Griffin Mendel – 2 votes
• Sean Comrie – 1 vote

Analysis: Finlay gets a majority of the votes but Pettersen also appears prominently. Finlay’s escapability, particularly with the puck on his stick, is something to behold.

Question 3: Which goaltender has the best lateral mobility?

• Devin Cooley – 19 votes (82 percent)
• Michael Corson, Filip Larsson – 2 votes (9 percent)

Analysis: The giant sophomore leaves little doubt with his landslide margin.

Question 4: Which skater has the most explosive stride?

• Ryan Barrow – 6 votes (26 percent)
• Jack Doremus, Emilio Pettersen – 3 votes (13 percent)
• Michael Davies, Griffin Mendel – 2 votes (9 percent)
• Slava Demin, Jake Durflinger, Liam Finlay, Les Lancaster, Jarid Lukosevicius, Ryan Orgel and Jared Resseguie – 1 vote

Analysis: This category speaks more to who has the rocket boosters, and impressively Barrow finishes also atop this one, meaning he can get to high speed quickly and find an extra gear from there. Pettersen is second a third time, which is amazing to combine take-off, top-end speed and agility. Davies, Finlay and Mendel also appeared in the three skater categories, and Davies and Mendel got multiple votes in two of them. A total of 12 skaters were listed, so tap your stick on the ice for strength coach Matt Shaw on that one.

NEXT: Strength, toughness and shooting ability

©First Line Editorial 2017-18