You’ve got to hand it to this group of Denver Pioneers. Actually, their hands are so good they can handle the puck anywhere, anytime with no problems.

Part 4 of MagnessMayhem.com’s exclusive player survey reveals which DU players are the stickhandling and passing wizards and which goalies have the best glove hands.

Players were polled anonymously in early December. The survey included 25 questions that covered a range of skills.

Part 1 examined skating

Part 2 dealt with strength and toughness

Part 3 revealed the shooting stars

What changed from previous years? Satisfy your curiosity by checking out the 2018-19 survey and the 2017-18 survey.

Now on to Part 4:

Question 11: Which player is the best overall stickhandler?

• Brett Stapley – 46 percent
• Liam Finlay – 24 percent
• Bobby Brink – 16 percent
• Jay Feiwell, Ian Mitchell – 7 percent

Analysis: Watch more than a period of DU hockey and any of the top three jump out. Their ability to maneuver through traffic in any zone and buy time and space for themselves and for a play to develop is special. Stapley has a rare ability to navigate crowds of defenders at high speed and emerge with the puck. Finlay and Brink bring more razzle dazzle that’s no less impressive. Mitchell is most noticeable on rushes and holding the puck in at the point. And perhaps it’s time to “Free Feiwell” so we can see more of this.

Question 12: Which player is the best passer in traffic?

• Brett Stapley – 79 percent
• Hank Crone, Jack Doremus, Jaakko Heikkinen – 7 percent

Analysis: Many of us can’t pass the salt and pepper as well as Stapley finds teammates in crowds. This was one of the first attributes of Crone’s that became obvious. It’s also a very underrated part of Heikkinen’s game, and one reason why he, Tyler Ward and Bobby Brink have worked well when they’ve played together.

Question 13: Which player executes the best break-out passes?

• Ian Mitchell – 60 percent
• Michael Davies – 24 percent
• Lane Krenzen, Justin Lee – 8 percent

Analysis: Mitchell’s toolbox of skills is pretty full, but one thing that makes him so dangerous is his intuition as to when to skate the puck out of danger and when to make a pass that hits a forward in stride. He and Davies excel at that, and it presents an added layer of difficulty in defending them because both are excellent skaters as well. They’re often fourth attackers.

Question 14: Which goaltender has the best glove hand?

• Devin Cooley – 68 percent
• Magnus Chrona, Michael Corson – 16 percent

Analysis: Cooley also was picked to have the best lateral movement, not a bad combination to have when one covers as much of the net as the 6-foot-5 junior does.

Midseason report: What went right, what needs improvement?

Next: Our focus shifts to the eyes

©First Line Editorial 2019