Ben Hemmerling is an energetic forward who plays a mature two-way game and occasionally blends in some high-end playmaking abilities. Despite putting up respectable offensive numbers this past season, his game resembles more of a third-line energy player. He’s an aggressive puck pursuer, however, he doesn’t just chase blindly. He has the ability to chase pucks down while being positionally aware, which allows him to use his stick to disrupt opposing players and either pick off passes or get pieces of the puck to help his team regain possession. When he does have the puck on his stick he can really catch opponents by surprise. He’s confident enough to try some risky passes to high-danger areas if he sees even the smallest opening, and he has the ability to successfully thread those passes through narrow lanes. On the flip side, there are occasions where he could be better suited not forcing a pass and holding onto possession. A big knock on him is that he is fairly undersized, especially for the type of game that he plays. He has a decent first few steps that help him avoid open-ice conflicts but he also doesn’t challenge the middle of the ice much and can get stuck to the perimeter. He gets around the ice with hustle and determination more so than pure skating skill, as none of his acceleration, top speed, or agility are top-notch. Still, it’s really hard to not like a player like this who outworks almost everyone else night-in and night-out. He’ll get continued great seasoning next season in a program that is very good at developing prospects, and should he add on some weight and improve his skating he could conceivably contribute to an NHL roster one day.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide