He does not unleash cannonading blasts -- nothing a goaltender would characterize as "heavy'' -- but his shot is strong enough.
His speed is not electrifying, but it's good, and he's a strong, smooth skater who can make a hard, tight pivot to shed a pressuring fore-checker.
Nothing about Ward's game is likely to make the average fan absolutely swoon, but the Alaska Aces blueliner makes plenty of smart, small plays and rarely authors a blunder.
And that's how a guy who describes himself as "quieter, and a little more reserved'' than his counterparts has generated under-the-radar excellence one-third of the way through the ECHL season.
Through 24 games for the league-leaders and defending Kelly Cup champions, Ward leads the circuit in plus-minus at plus-19. He has furnished two goals -- one an overtime strike -- and seven assists while playing in every situation and logging the most ice time on the club. Plus, he usually plays against the opposition's top line.
"There's not a lot of flash, but he's consistently good at everything,'' said Louis Mass, the assistant coach who oversees the defense. "He's a good skater, he's patient, he makes good first passes out of the (defensive) zone.
"He's the whole package. You never worry about him. He's our go-to guy in all situations.''
And when Mass is concerned about another defenseman's play, he turns to the guy he calls his "default safety button.''
"He's a stabilizing influence,'' Mass said. "If another guy is struggling, I think, 'I'll just put him with Wardo -- he'll be fine.' ''
Ward, a fifth-year pro, joined the Aces early last season when then-coach Brent Thompson acquired him from the Florida Everblades. Almost immediately, he became a settling influence on the back line and a pivotal part of the club's run to its second Kelly Cup title.
At 25, Ward is already a veteran -- he began the season with 277 pro games, above the 260 mark that determines an ECHL veteran -- and one of the Aces' alternate captains. Last season he played one game with Peoria of the American Hockey League and has 48 AHL games on his resume.
Aces head coach Rob Murray, who spent the three previous seasons as an AHL head coach, thinks Ward still has enough game to play in the AHL.
Still, Ward seems fine where he's at --playing big minutes for the ECHL's top team.
"I'm only 25, but I started in the league at 21, so I kind of had my chance,'' Ward said. "I'm happy where I am now. I'm realistic about my chances of playing in the NHL, and I love this team and this organization, so I do what I have to do.
"If something were to come up, great. But it's not like I'm grinding it out for my next chance (in the AHL). I'm happy where I'm at.''
Aces captain Brian Swanson, another veteran and a former NHL center, said Ward's even-keeled nature and professionalism have been a calming influence.
"He's one of those guys who is the same -- you never see him get down in the dumps, pissed off, or you don't see him super-pumped,'' Swanson said. "He's just steady. He brings it for us every game. There really are no bad nights, or off nights, for him.''
In the Aces' 24 games this season, only three times has Ward finished with a minus rating. During the Aces' current 12-game unbeaten streak (10-0-2), he is one of only three Aces who has not logged a single game with a minus -- Swanson and winger Garry Nunn are the others.
Happy where he's at professionally, Ward also seems happy where he's at geographically.
The guy who grew up in a Toronto suburb spent most of last summer in Alaska. He and his girlfriend, Marla Wales, who is the outreach coordinator at the Alaska Zoo, camped, backpacked, hiked, fished and visited Denali Park.
"The summer was unbelievable,'' Ward said. "We went on a stretch where I think six weeks in a row we did something.''
Now, though, he's back in the steady grind of the ECHL season and leading the league in plus-minus.
And for the Aces, that's, well, a big plus.
"He's been a rock for us,'' Murray said.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
Ontario Reign (12-9-2)
at Alaska Aces (18-4-2)
WHEN: Tonight and Friday night, 7:15; Sunday, 5:05 p.m.
WHERE: Sullivan Arena
RADIO: LIVE, AM-750 KFQD
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.