Just Who is Jackson Houck?

When this series started last week and Alex and I were splitting up the work load, I asked if I could do the article on the Oilers 4^th Round pick (194 overall) Jackson Houck. Since draft day I have found very little not to like about this kid.

There has been a knock on Jackson’s skating from the pro scouts, but like I said in the Yakimov piece, skating can be taught, hockey sense cannot, and it seems like there is no problems with that for Houck. Last season he scored 23 goals, added 34 assists and amassed 68 pims, 20 of those penalty minutes came from fighting majors. He can put up points and isn’t scared to muck it up a little. Exactly what the Oilers need.

If you are looking for comparables, a name that I keep coming back to is Curtis Glencross. They are around the same size. Curtis is generously listed at 6’2” but he’s on the small side of that. Both players aren’t afraid to be in the middle of a scrum, battle for pucks down low and have a bit of a scoring touch. The two differences are that Houck was more talented at the same age, playing in the WHL while Glencross played for the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL. Secondly young Jackson is more likely to drop the gloves when the opportunity arises.

What really peaked my interest on the Vancouver Giants right winger was something I read from Redline Report a while back. They ranked the best individual draft picks based on their scouting staff’s rankings and where they were picked; here’s what they had to say;

“We don’t even know how to explain what happened here. Only a correctable skating issue kept him out of our first round.”

They then went on to say this about Jackson;

“Highly underrated! Showed leadership carrying his young team on both offence and defence following a major roster overhaul. Blossoming power winger uses size to establish and hold position around crease. Already tough to move off the puck and has a frame that could still add 20 pounds. Has a great understanding of how to lean on defenders and use his frame to separate them from the puck. Fearless and loves to initiate contact. Goes into traffic with speed and can clear out contested areas. Aggressive style draws defenders to him and opens up ice for ‘mates. Accurate, heads-up passer distributes well in role of setup man. He’s a 200-foot player who puts in the same tireless effort at both ends. Also a willing combatant who will take on anybody. Can change the momentum of a game with a big rush, big hit, or a big goal. Skating is the one knock – lacks initial explosion and top end gear.”

The likelihood of Houck making the team down the road is not good, as the percentage of 4^th round picks that actually make the show is depressingly low. It’s far too early to tell but Houck may be one of the steals of the 2013 draft. It isn’t often that you can find this many positive things written about someone drafted so late.

Jackson should be playing a very prominent role with the Vancouver Giants this year and we should expect to see better point totals. He’s made a fan out of me, and I’ll be watching closely this season starting with the Young Stars tournament in Penticton.

Thanks For Reading. I’ll leave you with this video of Houck laying a beating on Michael Bell of the Everett Silver tips

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19AmeQYVkLw&w=420&h=315]