IL Knockout Fall Derby, Part II: 2027 Goalies and Defensemen

Part 2, the final part of my "Players to Watch in the 2027 Class" from the IL Knockout Fall Derby, ends with my top five players who impressed on the defensive side of the ball. The recruiting window is starting to open up for this age group, and there is a ton of talent that is beginning to erupt onto the scene, especially down low with some talented defensemen and explosive goalies! Check out the players who impressed me the most from the goalie and defense positions:    Burch was great all weekend long. He was great from in close, stonewalling a couple tries from within 5 yards of the crease. Burch was patient when shooters came dodging down the alley and around from X. The tall righty, standing over six feet, had great feet for his size, making plays outside of the net. One play in particular, he came out of the cage to make a play on the loose ball and followed that up with a toe-drag on the opposing defender. In the one game I was able to catch, Burch was one of the more vocal leaders on the field, which is what you want to see coming from a goalie. The explosive netminder plays his high school ball at Lawrenceville in New Jersey, so he is no stranger to seeing quality shots.     Playing defense for the majority of the second half in a title game is not ideal but, Canton concluded with an incredible 10 saves (I stopped counting at that point) to keep his squad within striking distance, making him one of the bigger highlights of the Derby '27 championship game. His ability to read shooters and his mental toughness when planning his defense for extended possessions were particularly impressive. He led his squad with vocalization and was able to quarterback his defense into appropriate slide packages. Canton had exceptional clearing skills, particularly off the shot and a broken clear. Come summertime, college coaches will be keeping an eye on Canton as a goaltender. He is going to make a splash at the next level!     Welson was an instant impact all weekend and was a force all over the field. He had excellent game senses and knew when to go and hunt down the offensive player with the ball. Welson was smart on his double teams when he saw the backs of the offensive players, and his powerful takeaway checks resulted in some "Ooo's and Ah's" from the crowd. His ability to clog up the passing lane and scrap for loose balls makes him a great addition to any team at the next level. He was not afraid to hang down on the offensive side of the ball when he pushed transition. In the second game of the afternoon, he was able to find a seam and scored a rocket of a step-down shot from about 12 yards out.     Weinstock had an active stick and a timely poke check almost every time on his approach, throwing the offensive player off his path. The quick lefty always seemed to be in the right place, at the right time. He was great off the ground, and was able to push transition with authority. I loved the way he hawked down the opposing player off the faceoff. He plays with grit and a bit of attitude, especially with his size being on the smaller end, however, you would not notice with the plays he makes on field.     By far the most polished and best defender in the 2027 age group. The lengthy lefty was everywhere on the field. From locking up attackman down low at X to throwing kayak checks up top on midfielders coming out of the box, Riordon was a force. He was a vacuum on groundballs, successfully getting the ball up and out in transition, almost every single time. Whether it was taking the ball away on consecutive possessions, or his clutch and perfectly timed double teams in the '27 title game, it was clear Riordon was the talk of the weekend. The Defensive MVP of the '27 Derby Championship has an unreal motor and that relentless "DAWG" mindset to never give up on a play.

Part 2, the final part of my "Players to Watch in the 2027 Class" from the IL Knockout Fall Derby, ends with my top five players who impressed on the defensive side of the ball. The recruiting window is starting to open up for this age group, and there is a ton of talent that is beginning to erupt onto the scene, especially down low with some talented defensemen and explosive goalies! Check out the players who impressed me the most from the goalie and defense positions: