Steven Hodges

History

2009-10: A first round pick of the Chilliwack Bruins in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft (9th overall), Steven Hodges appeared in five WHL games with Chilliwack while skating for the Fraser Valley Bruins midget major team in British Columbia. Hodges had 2 assists and was plus-three in his brief time with Chilliwack. He was the second-leading scorer for Fraser Valley; scoring 17 goals with 17 assists in 37 games. Fraser Valley finished seventh in the twelve-team league.

2010-11: Hodges skated in 58 games for Chilliwack in his first full WHL season and played for Canada Pacific in the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He scored 5 goals with 6 assists and was minus-2 with 44 penalty minutes during the regular season for the Bruins. Chilliwack finished third in the BC Division – falling to Spokane in a first round playoff series. Hodges appeared in three of the five playoff games and was scoreless and plus-one. In five games at the WHC, he scored 1 goal with 3 assists as Canada Pacific won a bronze medal.

2011-12: Hodges was one of four players to play in all 72 games for the re-located and re-named Victoria Royals in his second WHL season. The team struggled in its first season after leaving Chilliwack, winning 24 games. Hodges scored 21 goals with 25 assists and was minus-29 with 62 penalty minutes. The Royals were swept by Kamloops in the first round of the playoffs. In four playoff games Hodges had 4 assists and was minus-two with four penalty minutes. He was ranked 85th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Hodges was third on the Victoria Royals with 28 goals and had 23 assists in 60 games in his third WHL season. He missed time early in the season with an upper body injury but rebounded to have a strong season, finishing -3 with 67 penalty minutes. The Royals were much-improved, reaching the WHL playoffs after finishing third in the B.C. Division. Hodges had 2 goals and 4 assists and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes in the six game series with Kamloops.

 

Talent Analysis

Hodges is an excellent skater who has shown a nose for the net and has some grit to his game. He has a high hockey iq and makes solid reads at both ends of the ice. At this stage, Hodges appears to be a candidate for second- or third-line duty, assuming he improves his two-way play. Hodges added height and weight last season and now stands at 6’0 and 175 pounds but he will to get stronger in order to be effective at higher levels of hockey.

 

Future

Hodges will stay in Victoria for another year, and will likely follow that with two or more years in minor-league hockey as he grows and learns the professional game.