Parker McMillan dominates amongst standouts at the 2025 Pat Quinn Classic
BURNABY & DELTA, British Columbia – The 2025 Pat Quinn Classic was packed with talent, hosting several projected first round WHL draft picks, and a total of 312 players looking to boost their draft stock. The games were an excellent display of the talent possessed at this level, seeing highlight reel goals nearly every game.
Burnaby Winter Club and Delta Hockey Academy went toe-to-toe in what ended up being the game of the weekend, a 3-2 overtime thriller that saw Burnaby’s Kenzo Gibson play hero to send BWC to the final. Yale Hockey Academy dominated their way to the Flight 1 championship, while the Seattle Jr. Kraken took home the trophy in Flight 2.
Since 1962, the Pat Quinn Classic has been one of the most prestigious tournaments in B.C., with the U15 level catching the attention of scouts from all over western Canada. Sixteen teams, six of which hailed from the United States, flocked to Burnaby to try their hand in this elite tournament. Here are the ten who boosted their stock the most over the weekend.
Parker McMillan, RW, Yale Hockey Academy U15
Parker McMillan was a dominant standout, scoring seven goals over his five-game weekend, including a hat-trick in the final, and a seven-point outing in Yale's 7-0 win.
A true five-tool player, McMillan does it all. A powerful stride with strong edgework moves him around the ice at a rapid pace. He is one of the smartest players at this level, knowing where to be both with and without the puck. Speed and vision give opponents trouble as it is, but his shot makes him a threat from any angle. The velocity is high-end, with a quick release that can beat goalies from range. He is smart all over the ice, offensively and defensively, with or without the puck. It’s rare to find players who are above average in every category, and McMillan adds even more with his physicality. He’s a killer, a predator, and a menace who does everything he can to make opponents pay for daring to have the puck while he is on the ice.
This freak of an athlete is too good for U15. At this point, McMillan has proven all he can at this level, and would greatly benefit from moving up the ranks. He is simply too dominant. His size and speed is too much for opponents to handle, and continuing at this level would risk the development of bad habits. Learning how to use his size against stronger and faster competition will be vital to his future stardom. McMillan is a name to remember, and one that should be called incredibly early on draft night.
Eli Vickers, LD, Delta Hockey Academy U15
One word: Wow.
Watching Eli Vickers play is pure cinema. Players who see the ice the way he does do not come around often. Pairing the elite vision he possesses with high-end edgework, elite hands, and the ability to sense pressure turns him into an elite, offensive, play driving, play making machine.
He is a balanced, effortless skater who doesn’t have to exert a lot of effort to achieve top speed. Vickers possesses high end skill that allows him to beat opponents consistently in one-on-one battles. His skill and edges make him impossible to pressure on the offensive blue line, giving him a Quinn Hughes-esque look while traversing the offensive zone.
Possessing all the traits of a future number one defenceman, Vickers will not wait long to be picked at the WHL draft. His ability to suffocate opposing offensive plays stands out, eliminating threats along the wall, or even in the neutral zone before they even really develop. He transports the puck through the neutral zone with ease, seeing lanes as they develop. A capable passer as well, he isn’t reliant on one way to develop offence, which makes him even more deadly. Continuing to get stronger and faster will launch Vickers into stardom.
Jack Larsen, C, Seattle Jr. Kraken 14U
Jack Larsen is impossible to miss on the ice, because he usually has the puck. Possessing elite edgework, skating, and puck handling, Larsen is able to dominate. His high playmaking intelligence is a true standout tool. Able to spin away from any defenders and position the puck outside the reach of his opponents while still moving his feet to create separation, which leads to offensive opportunities on a consistent basis. He puts the space he makes to good use, finding open teammates consistently, and having the skill to deliver the puck to them. With his balanced, fluid skating, he moves around the ice with ease. Utilizing the heel-to-heel step, he opens his field of vision up to the entire ice, able to then scan the zone and pass to open teammates that most other players simply do not see.
Larsen started his season as a defenceman, which is evident in the way he plays forward. He is constantly willing to cover the point to allow his teammates to work offensively. He utilizes the low-to-high pass often, and when attacking, he doesn’t just scan the immediate slot for passes, but looks to the high slot hoping to find a defenceman who has snuck down from the point. While this is something common at higher levels, it is relatively rare in U15, which proves the height of his offensive intelligence. Larsen’s defensive details are still very raw as a forward, especially in the neutral zone. This issue should sort itself out as he becomes more familiar with the position. His game is best suited as a centre. Larsen has all the tools to be a top point producing player at the next level.
Ryson Barker, RD, Burnaby Winter Club U15
Ryson Barker plays a very refined game. His two-way style and balanced approach to hockey sets him apart at this level. He defends very well, using strong edgework to gain space from forecheckers while retrieving pucks. His physicality is a factor, willing to step into opponents and make the big hit, but also smart enough to know when it’s better to simply take the puck.
The edgework skill is also evident in the neutral zone, able to close gaps on opponents very quickly and neutralize their attack. He breaks the puck out of his own zone consistently and effectively, willing to skate the puck out, but also sees the ice well and makes strong breakout passes. Not the type of defender to force pucks up the wall, Barker makes a read and a decision quickly. He is capable of making long breakout passes, short ones, or simple ones, but usually makes the correct decision. Able to pass off his backhand is also a skill that loans itself to quick breakouts as well.
While being defensively stable, it’s not the only positive to his game. Offensively, he is more than capable as well. The aforementioned edgework is once again on display here, allowing him to traverse the offensive blueline with ease. No panic to his movements up there, Barker will make plays under pressure from the point. In transition, he is a willing puck transporter as well. He isn’t overly fast, but sees lanes opening as he rushes the puck and is able to find a way into the offensive zone with possession. Barker was impactful over the weekend all over the ice, being the top defender for his club as they brought home a silver medal.
Marcus Phillips, C, Yale Hockey Academy U15
Marcus Phillips was an integral part of Yale's championship weekend. Playing in a matchup role is always a difficult task, but he is more than up for the challenge. The more you watch him, the more you love him. A smart player like Phillips, one that you can trust in any situation is a coach's dream, but to find one with the high end offensive talents that he possesses is rare.
Wanting to consistently attack the interior of the ice, he uses his high skill to get inside to generate chances. Able to make plays with either side of his stick allows his creative brain to generate offence at a high pace. He is an extremely talented puck handler, able to make moves at breakneck pace. This skill is highlighted by his quick decision making off the rush. Lots of players can make quick moves, but it’s the speed at which he decides the move he’s making that sets Phillips apart. His timing is immaculate.
Offensive opportunities follow him around, as he is able to cut through defenders when they pressure him, and end up with the puck in a dangerous location. He’s dangerous off the wall, stepping into the middle of the ice by perfectly placing the puck. He’s dangerous off the rush, with high-skill moves at speed. He’s dangerous out of the corner, using his quick moves to beat defenders to the net for high danger opportunities. His ability to hold on to or pass the puck while playing through contact is a tremendous asset that aids his playmaking ability. Doing all this while playing as Yale’s second line centre, in a matchup role, is incredibly impressive.
Luca Valente, C, Vancouver N.W. Hawks U15
Luca Valente is fun to watch. His exciting style of play is driven by an elite motor. This guy just doesn’t take shifts off. His legs never stop moving as he flies around the ice. He is a very beautiful skater, with perfect balance, proper triple flexion, and a high pace. Using his edgework to evade defenders is a strength of his game, escaping from high pressure situations to explode up the ice. His high-end puck skills pair perfectly with his creativity, as he is able to execute the exciting plays he thinks up on the fly.
This puck possession playmaker is a dominant force for his team, leading the offensive charge on a nightly basis. He welcomed the workload during the tournament, putting his team on his shoulders every time he stepped on the ice. His creativity is above and beyond what is expected from this level. I would love to see Valente at a higher level with teammates who think on the same wavelength as him, as there were several plays he wanted to make but was unable to. He was great without the puck too, playing deep and positionally sound in his own zone, which led to him having the puck in the middle of the ice and primed for offence. He also found soft ice consistently in the offensive zone, seemingly always ready to receive the puck in a high danger spot. Valente’s skating and intelligence pair make him a true difference maker.
Nicklas Chung, C, Seattle Jr. Kraken 14U
Nicklas Chung’s attack strategy is simple: overwhelm. His speed moves his large frame down the ice rapidly, putting defenders on their heels off the rush. His wingspan is massive, and he uses all of it to forecheck with efficiency, trapping opponents in their own zone. His lateral stickhandling flies from side to side, moving the puck past many outreached defenders. His skating is very fast, but he gets out over his toes and limits the length of his stride. While capable of using stops and starts to create space, his lack of balance limits the speed at which he’s able to do so. His puck handling is very effective at this level, but will need to become more refined as he progresses upwards to be able to beat defenders at higher levels.
The potential for Chung is sky-high. The pace at which he operates is incredibly quick, processing the ice and making decisions at high speed. His offensive intelligence is also high, knowing how to create space by manipulating defenders with puck positioning and slight body fakes that make opponents hesitate to attack. To harness his full potential, he will have to clean up some of the technical issues in his game. If he improves his skating, and becomes more comfortable with the puck, he could end up as a true top prospect.
Evan Cuthbertson, RD, Yale Hockey Academy U15
Some players seemingly float around the ice. Some look like dancers, and others slice through opponents. But Evan Cuthbertson? He gallops. He attacks the ice, powering through any opponents in his way. He is a horse on the back-end, using a powerful skating base to move around the ice quickly whether carrying the puck or defending. A strong passer, he is able to fire the puck up ice quickly and accurately to spring offence for his teammates. This pairs with his skill as a puck carrier to make him a dual threat off the rush and in transition.
The offence is fun, but he’s also a very strong defender. His neutral zone defence stands out, as he is willing and able to close gaps quickly and eliminate plays before they develop. His long reach aids in disrupting plays, but he doesn’t depend on it. He will step into players to neutralize them along the wall as well, and uses his feet as his primary defensive tool. His powerful skating allows him to keep up with the speed of his attackers, and his quick transitioning eliminates them quickly. Possessing strong traits and abilities in all aspects of the game make him a true WHL prospect.
Owen Bassano, RD, San Jose Jr. Sharks 14U
Carrying the load for his team, Owen Bassano was a monster on the back end. Very offensively capable, the point production was a result of his puck carrying and puck handling ability. On the rush, he sees the ice well and finds lanes to attack through the neutral zone. In the offensive zone blue line, he is consistently making the correct decisions, making plays that extend his team's possession and gives his teammates chances to make plays. The captain for this group, it was clear to see how crucial he is for his team's success. Whether he was erasing opponents' offence or creating offence himself, he was noticeable on nearly every shift. Using quick crossovers to accelerate, he blows by opponents with high end speed. He uses his reach and puck skills to create offence off the rush by putting defenders on their heels.
Bassano is a smart player. He sees the ice well offensively, and is constantly scanning while defending to know where everyone is at all times. In the neutral zone, he has a great feel for when to step up and when to play the rush. He could be a true two way monster by elevating his stride. His skating is limited by a wide stance and short stride, which takes away from his four-way mobility and halters his top speed potential. This is significant, as he already moves fast down the ice. The potential is here for a top end defender if he is able to adjust his skating.
Owen Zelasko, LD, Seattle Jr. Kraken 14U
Captaining his team to the Flight 2 championship over the weekend, Owen Zelasko impacted the ice in a plethora of ways. Using his long reach to disrupt plays defensively, Seattle’s number one defenceman doesn’t hesitate to eliminate attackers along the walls. His sturdy base makes him difficult to beat in puck battles, and his puck skill allows him to often come out of the battle with the puck. Offence is where he truly shines, however. Possessing offensive instincts that are a distinct plus trait at this level, he uses puck handling and agility to attack offensively. He generates a high volume of chances, especially off the offensive blue line. His puck handling allows him to make opposing wingers look silly, moving around them like they’re standing still. His shot is a plus trait as well, able to fire high velocity snap shots from the point with surprising accuracy.
The offensive tools are very high-end for a defenceman. His speed can often overwhelm opponents, allowing his puck handling to play up as he has space to work. His intelligence in the offensive zone shows up whenever he has the puck. Zelasko’s hands work great at this level, but could become more fluid as he becomes more comfortable with his frame. His skating is fast, and allows him to excel at this pace of play, but will need refinement to be a true asset down the road. He gets out overtop of his toes, which limits his ability to explode laterally when pressured. This hasn’t stopped him from being dominant, however, and with some development, he can absolutely become a legitimate top end player.
