CHL stars on display in Penticton
Wednesday September 17, 2014
By Andre Brin
Penticton, B.C. – It is safe to say that the summer is over for NHL prospects. If it ever started.
While NHL training camps may only be getting started later this week, the evaluation process for most of the NHL’s top prospects is well underway, culminating this past week with a series of prospect tournaments and camps at various locations across North America.
In Penticton, the future of Canada’s four western NHL franchises (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg) was on display, with a strong Canadian Hockey League contingent. A total of 87 players with CHL ties were in the Okanagan both showcasing their skills and getting one last tune-up before the beginning of main NHL camps next week.
For players who were here a year ago, there was a new and welcome sense of comfort.
“I feel ready to go this year,” said Canucks’ prospect Bo Horvat, speaking from his second Young Stars Classic. “I had a longer summer, not all the NHL camps that I went to last year, so I feel a lot more prepared for the main camp, but also for this (prospects) camp.”
While many pundits have the Canucks first round pick in 2013 and London Knights’ star penciled in to start the season with Vancouver, the native of Rodney, Ont. knows that an NHL roster spot needs to be earned.
“It’s basically starting from scratch, proving yourself all over again. Especially with a new management in place, you have to prove yourself again. My goal is to make this team. I’ve accomplished a lot in junior and I think I’m ready for the next step.
There is less pressure, but the expectations have grown for other prospects. Such is the case for Greg Chase, a seventh round pick for Edmonton last season, a forward who turned heads with his performance at last summer’s prospect tournament, at the main camp and then over a full season with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. After getting the organization’s attention in September, Chase went on to register 35 goals and 50 assists in Calgary, finishing tied for first in team scoring.
His performance has resulted in an NHL entry-level contract for the native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, not always a given for players selected in the final round of the NHL Draft. Now into his second prospects tournament, Chase definitely feels more comfortable then at this time last year.
“You’re just more prepared. Last year, you were really not sure what to expect coming in, while this year, it’s pretty much the same group of guys we had last year so it’s easy and it’s nice to have that comfort zone.”
In Winnipeg’s camp, forward Nic Petan is using the Young Stars Classic as another building block towards reaching his ultimate goal of playing in the NHL. With the main camp around the corner, the Jets’ second round pick in 2013 wants to leave a lasting impression after registering 113 points with Portland last year.
“The most important thing is that you’re playing against older guys here, stronger guys – so you have to prepare and be ready for that.”
“For me, it’s just important to stay calm out there, and make the right play.”
For goaltender Mason McDonald, this Young Stars Classic was his first game experience in a Calgary Flames’ jersey. The native of Halifax, N.S. finished off the 2013-14 season with the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders. The Flames selected him in the second round at the 2014 NHL Draft, 34th overall, making him the first goaltender selected. This week’s experience provided him with a much better understanding of what awaits him at the professional level.
After losing 4-3 to Edmonton in his first start on Saturday, McDonald rebounded with 15 saves in a 6-1 victory over Vancouver on Monday to close out his week. All part of a learning process for the 18-year old netminder.
“The other night (Saturday) was pretty nerve-wracking, but once that first puck hit me, I was fine. I thought that game went pretty well (despite the result) – I couldn’t do much on the goals really so I had to focus on the positives. It ended up being a good learning tool for the second game.”
Horvat, Chase, Petan and McDonald get to take another step in their careers later this week, as they join main camps with their respective teams. The dream of an NHL career comes one step closer.
THIS AND THAT: A total of 87 players with CHL ties took part in the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, including 68 players who were on CHL rosters in 2013-14 … Both of the Vancouver Canucks’ 2014 first round draft picks Jake Virtanen and Jared McCann were unable to play in any of the games in Penticton. Virtanen took part in on-ice practice sessions, but continues to recover from a shoulder injury that kept him from joining Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship in April. McCann, meanwhile, was ruled out with mononucleosis and was not in Penticton … The 2014 Young Stars Classic rosters included a total of 12 first round picks (including Virtanen and McCann) – all from the Canadian Hockey League … WHL alumnus Spencer Humphries’ journey to this year’s prospect tournament was a unique one. After the 2013-14 season, the former Calgary Hitmen/Tri-City American opted to accept a contract with the KHL’s HC Lev Praga. He finished the season with HC Litomerice of the Czech Division II League. The native of Delta, B.C. actually entertained a tryout offer from the Canucks a year ago before accepting the offer from Lev Praha … The Classic was also the professional coaching debut for Ryan Huska, a very familiar name in the Okanagan, as well as CHL circles. Huska, a native of Cranbrook, B.C., will always hold a place in MasterCard Memorial Cup history, having won four national championships, three as a player with Kamloops and one as an assistant coach with Kelowna. He came one game from adding a fifth title as a head coach, losing in the 2009 championship game with Kelowna. In his seven seasons as head coach in Kelowna, his teams never finished below .500. This season, Huska will be the head coach of the Flames’ top AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Flames.