Cernak is a physically imposing defender who can wreak havoc on the wall with his size and pure strength. He brings strong play at both ends of the ice. He is aware and has very fluid movements to go with his solid mobility. Makes good decisions with the puck and sees lots of options in front of him as he scopes out the ice and decides what to do with the puck. Cernak makes crisp, effortless passes through the neutral zone. His strong, crisp passes normally lead his man, but can also be inconsistent at times; a challenge for those who try to receive them. Protects and shields the puck with his large frame but has moments where he can give it up with questionable decision on when to move it. Has plenty of purpose when taking all shot types with a large amount of velocity behind each. Has the defensive smarts to pick up missed assignments and uses his stick to swat pucks away or poke them off of sticks. Strong gaps when the opposition tries to enter the zone. Plays his man hard and will drive him into, or even through, the boards to show that he is a physical force and should not be messed with. Not as tight to the man around the crease as he should be. With his size and strength, he can easily move his man out of traffic and away from the net. When he loses the puck, he is quick to pressure the man and give him no space to the outside. A solid defense-first prospect with underrated offensive tools. (May 2015)