Han Jae-Kuk - Junior Review

[Dtayl 104]

 

 

 

Junior Review: Han Jae-Kuk 

 

     Han Jae-Kuk, better known by his English name Jake Han, has had a very short career in hockey to his point. Jae-Kuk only has one year of junior play under his belt, coming over to hockey following a very successful youth career in soccer. Following some personal issues Jae-Kuk decided to call his soccer career quits and move on to another sport.
    He joined the Anyang Halla of the Asia League Ice Hockey after showing up to the open try-outs. While Jae-Kuk is very new to ice hockey he flashed elite athleticism, and great IQ when on the ice during his try-outs. The coaches decided that he showed enough raw skill to take a flyer on him. 

    Over the course of last season he saw himself climb from the third-line defense up to the first-line, helping his team to win the league championship in his only season. His stats from last season are not eye-popping, as his skills are very raw. However, watching the tape from his first game to his last game with Anyang it is evident of the rapid growth in his on-ice skill. Also his game IQ is clearly high-level as his defensive positioning leaves almost nothing to be desired. 

    Where he struggled most was on the offensive end, where his lack of skill was evident all season long. While he demonstrated good hand-eye coordination and stick handling, he struggled with actually passing and striking the puck properly. He also was bullied quite often over the season because of his smaller stature, bigger defenders were able to move him more frequently than desired. 
    Jae-Kuk seemed to be a fan favorite during his time with Anyang. He regularly interacted with the fans, and was always happy to do interviews. He seemed very dedicated to promoting himself and the club, which could bode well for any teams that want to take a chance on him in the future. What he showed at Anyang is that he is a very marketable player, who could easily become a face of the franchise. 

    Looking through his short career in hockey, we can learn a few things. Jae-Kuk has incredible athleticism and smarts which both translate well into playing hockey. He also is extremely fast at developing his game and improving. However, he has very raw talent when it comes to actually playing the game of hockey. He has almost no offensive ability, and even though he has good positioning he can get bullied off his spots. Any team looking to sign him must look past his shortcomings in favor of his upside, and the fact that he has shown he can win.