Claimed: Bradley Marko RW

[Kmarko 22]

Name: Bradley Marko

Position: RW

Height: 74 inches

Weight: 191 lbs

Age: 17

Hometown: Vancouver

 

Vancouver native Bradley Marko looks to make some immediate noise in the VHLM this season. Marko finished 4th in points (59) in the Northwestern Junior Hockey League (NWJHL), leading the Burnaby Admirals to a championship appearance. 

Pros:

Marko has an excellent defensive stick in transition, forcing neutral zone turnovers and providing a reliable forecheck. He can pick an opponents pocket then quickly redirect the offense the other way. Marko lacks the strength or size to be an effective hitter, but makes up for it with his quick hands. His timing on stick lifts and poke checks is second to none, and in a moments notice he can recover the puck and take off full speed in the opposite direction.

 

Marko's explosive playmaking ability makes him a huge concern for the teams he's carrying the puck against. He is a strong skater with good puck control, and his patience allows his teammates to spread out the defense and find the open look.

 

Bradley Marko's most valuable asset is his precision passing. His masterful use of the saucer pass led him to the most assists (54) in the NWJHL last season. Time and time again we saw Marko force a turnover in the opponents defensive zone, then quickly turn and fling a cross-ice pass for a one-timed goal. 

 

Cons:

Marko is an average height for the VHLM, but he is a little underweight and lacks the strength to keep up at the professional level. His speed and positioning have compensated for his lack of strength at lower levels of play, but Marko will need to bulk up to be a force in the VHL. 

 

Marko's shooting abilities are somewhat concerning. He struggles to get pucks up in the air, and has a rather slow release on his wrist shot. He tallied only 5 goals in the NWJHL last season, despite being a part of the most explosive line in the league. That being said, Marko was still the mastermind behind the offense, setting a franchise record for assists. Markos scoring chances come when he is given enough room to make a move on the goalie. 3 of his 5 goals last season came off a deke to his backhand, where he was able to slide the puck into an empty net.

 

Marko's temper is something VHL teams should be conscious of. He lacks discipline, which sometimes leads his team to trouble. Marko took a bad, retaliatory, cross-checking penalty in the NWJHL final last season, where the game winning goal was scored on the ensuing powerplay. He is not afraid to step up and fight for his teammates, but Marko needs to learn when to drop the gloves and when to just skate away.

 

Final Thoughts:

Marko's strong defensive instincts and natural passing ability make him one of the more balanced prospects in the VHLM. With some work on his strength and shooting, Marko has the potential to be a top 6 2 Way Forward/Playmaker in the VHL.