Some player observations:
Centres:
Drafted:
86-Rory Kerins - LC (2020) (Red)
5’11” 185 Soo (OHL)
Good skater and puck handler. Playmaker who created lots of the offence for the red team. Good zone entries. Good puck control. Good chemistry with Coronato that created some nice cross crease chances.
62-Topi Ronni - LC (2022) (Red)
6’2” 181 Tappara (Liiga)
Defensively responsible, physical. Good 200 ft game. Good hockey IQ. Skates well and showed good speed on the back check. Seemed to have a pretty good motor and played with some bite. Had no issue with the bigger or older players at camp. Good hands. Goes to the dirty areas. Played with Feuk and Klapka often.
77-Ilya Nikolaev - LC (2019) (White)
6’0” 181 Tri-City (USHL)
Scored in the first period. Nice move in shootout and another good scoring chance in 4 on 4 or 3 on 3. One of the better players out there. Better hands than I expected. Good chemistry with Beck. Got lots of ice time. I’m looking forward to seeing how he adapts to the AHL - he showed why he was a mid round pick a few years back.
56-Cole Huckins - RC (2021) (Red)
6’4” 198 Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
Long, rangy player. Seemed to have possession of the puck a lot in the offensive zone and was able to come off the boards with the puck. Played a pretty quiet game but could develop into one of those strong, low event, good possession 4th liners that fit into Sutter’s system if he can continue to build his strength and get a bit meaner. Pleasantly surprised.
84-Josh Nodler - RC (2019) (White)
5’11” 194 Michigan State (NCAA)
Great motor. Didn’t back down from
Anyone and brought some speed to the forecheck and backcheck. Not sure if there is enough high level skill, but is defensively responsible and plays really hard.
54-Cade Littler - RC (2022) (White)
6’3” 201 Wenatachee (BCHL)
Young, big, and raw. Good speed and nice release on the goal he scored on a pass from Veremyev out of the corner.
Tryouts:
94-Carter Wilkie - RC (2018) (Red)
6’0” 190 RIT (NCAA)
Lots of energy. Tried to be physical. Played hard. Didn’t seem to have the high level puck skills, hands, or shot to stand out.
83-Cooper Walker - RC (2020) (Red)
6’0” 174 Guelph (OHL)
Decent awareness. Nice saucer pass to Feuk for a goal. Still looks like a junior player from my view. Son of former NHLer Scott Walker.
93-Elias Cohen - RC (2020) (White)
6’0” 170 Erie (OHL)
Good speed through the neutral zone.
91-Billy Norcross - RC (2021) (White)
6’2” 181 Penticton (BCHL)
Can’t say I noticed him specifically.
78-Liam Walsh - LC (2017) (White)
6’0” 190 Northeastern (NCAA)
Constantly involved in the play. Seemed to have a good understanding of where the play was going and played hard. Didn’t see any standout skills.
Left Wing:
Drafted:
51-Jack Beck - LW (2021) (White)
5’11” 161 Ottawa (OHL)
Good skater with good hands. Was able to create space with his skating and quickness but he could stand to add some more top end separation speed. Creative, generated most offensive chances and possession for his team out there. Good chemistry with Nikolaev. Shot could use some more power but that should come with some added strength.
65-William Stromgren - LW (2021) (White)
6’3” 176 Rogle (SHL)
Really interesting player. Some of the best puck skills and hockey IQ out there. Deceptive shot. The raw offensive skills could translate to the NHL. When you watch him he doesn’t seem to expend much energy but he seems to be in the right places in the offensive zone. He almost seemed sleepy at times but then he would have a slot chance a second later. He created a lot of scoring chances for his team. Most often played with Nikolaev and Beck. Was in on his team’s first period goal. Scored a shootout goal along the ice after a greasy deke. Would love to see him generate some offence in the SHL this year.
87-Parker Bell - LW (2022) (White)
6’4” 201 Tri-City (WHL)
Didn’t see him on the ice today. There were a couple prospects watching from the bleachers.
79-Lucas Ciona - LW (2021) (White)
6’2” 205 Seattle (WHL)
Some good speed out there. Physical play. Not really noticeable otherwise.
60-Lucas Feuk - LW (2019) (Red)
6’0” 190 Vasby (HockeyEttan)
Nice drive to the net with a quick upstairs wrister from in close during 5 v 5. Created some offensive chances with Ronni and showed better stickhandling skills than most during the 4 on 4, 3 on 3 and special teams portions. Overmatched in board battles at times during 5 on 5 but got right back in the play. I’m curious where he will end up playing this year as I’m not sure what level of competition his skills will top out at.
Tryouts:
67-Evan Boucher - LW (2020) (Red)
6’2” 201 Halifax (QMJHL)
Scored a penalty shot goal and a shootout goal, both high blocker on quick wristers. Has good speed and played a strong north-south game. Finished checks and drew a penalty.
71-Max Graham - LW (2022) (Red)
6’3” 181 Kelowna (WHL)
Some nice connecting passes in the neutral zone. Good speed.
90-Jagger Joshua - LW (2017) (Red)
6’2” 194 Michigan State (NCAA)
Drove the net hard with speed on multiple occasions. Played with some bite and seemed to like a player that could get under people’s skin. Played net front on PP.
81-Gleb Veremyev - LW (2021) (White)
6’4” 201 Lincoln (USHL)
Going to Colorado College next season.
In the cycle game off the forecheck or rush in the offensive zone. Not super high skill level, but got some shots on net and scramble chances in front. Had possession in the offensive zone a surprising amount. Ok speed for a big guy. Got an assist on Littler’s goal.
Right Wing:
Drafted/Signed:
39-Matthew Coronato - RW (2021) (Red)
5’10” 183 Harvard (NCAA)
Generated the most offence. Lots of chances. Low centre of gravity/skating stance. Strong on his skates. Great speed. Drives the net hard and has a quick release. Tried a one timer with the dropped knee. Good chemistry with Kerins. Backchecked hard. Would be a pain to play against with his constant high speed motor.
43-Adam Klapka - RW (2018) (Red)
6’7” 238 Bili (Czechia
Will be on the farm for 2022-23. Moves well for his size. Good speed. Better hands and puck control than expected. Held onto the puck a lot in the o-zone when not 5 on 5. Involved in the play lots both physically and with puck movement. Net front screen on a goal for his team. Great speed and a rocket of a wrister on his shootout goal.
Tryouts:
64-Braeden Bowman - RW (2021) (White)
6’2” 205 Guelph (OHL)
Played with lots of speed and energy:
97-Landen Hookey - RW (2022) (White)
6’4” 194 Soo (OHL)
Seemed pretty raw. Involved in the forecheck and the offensive cycle game. Speed was ok on straightaway but skating could use some work.
Defence:
Drafted:
37-Yan Kuznetzov - LD (2020) (Red)
6’4” 209 Saint John (QMJHL)
Strong skater, good defensively, calm
and poised. Rang a wrister off the crossbar on the PP. Made good decisions. Ready for the pro game.
72-Jeremie Poirier - LD (2020) (White)
6’1” 190 Saint John (QMJHL)
Puck is on his stick a lot. Skates and moves the puck well. Got burned to the outside by Coronato but worked to recover. Really shone during the 4 on 4, 3 on 3 and special teams portion of the scrimmage. Rushed the puck. Beat 2 or 3 players in a row on a number of rushes. Beautiful rush while short handed that led to a 3 on 1 passing play he started and finished. Nice shootout move that beat Cooper Black but not the crossbar. Strong showing. One of the highest skill players on the ice. AHL will be a good next step to work on the details of his game.
85-Cameron Whynot - LD (2021) (Red)
6’2” 176 Halifax (QMJHL)
Played his off-side a lot. Good skater, quick puck movement and decision making. One of the strongest defenceman on the red team. Few mistakes. Pretty slight frame.
89-Cole Jordan - LD (2021) (White)
6’2” 205 Moose Jaw (WHL)
Physical. Tried some big hits. Powerful skater who likes to rush. Decent on zone exits. Puck skills need some work to have an impact in the offensive zone.
95-Jake Boltmann - RD (2020) (White)
6’1” 187 Notre Dame (NCAA)
Good skater and good positionally. Had trouble holding the line at times but would recover quickly. Didn’t stand out much either way.
Tryouts:
92-Rhett Rhinehart - RD (2020) (Red)
6’4” 223 Saskatoon (WHL)
Physical, simple, stay at home d-man. Skates well and was involved in the play. Nothing flashy but wouldn’t surprise me if he got a look with the Heat given he played for Mitch Love in the past and had a tryout at the end of the year.
46-Chris Sedoff - LD (2020) (Red)
6’1” 190 Red Deer (WHL)
Some good puck movement but pretty quiet game. Was hoping to see a bit more offensively given his numbers. Seemed to make good reads.
96-Jake Lee - LD (2019) (Red)
6’2” 194 Kelowna (WHL)
Tried to play physical and stepped up to break up plays in neutral zone or pinch which led him to be out of position at times.
98-Mason Ward - RD (2020) (White)
6’5” 214 Brandon (WHL)
Stay at home D-man. Son of a former NHLer. Big and physical. Tough to get by him without being dropped on your rear. Good enough skater to be in position and keep forwards in front of him. I suspect he could end up in the AHL at some point.
74-Aiden Dubinsky - RD (2022) (White)
6’0” 185 Tri-City (USHL)
Son of former Flame Steve Dubinsky. Seemed smaller than his listed size. Good skater, puck mover. Made smart, simple decisions for the most part and seemed poised. Paired with Poirier on a number of shifts. One of the younger ones he could stand to improve his strength. Shot was a bit weak. Going to college will give him time to develop.
59-Dylan Anhorn - LD (2017) (White)
6’0” 183 Union College (NCAA)
Good skater. Puck mover. Good zone exits. Not sure if he has the speed or hands for the next level but he was involved in the play and had the puck on his stick often.
48-Caeden Carlisle - LD (2022) (Red)
6’1” 174 Soo (OHL)
Mobile puck mover. Will need some more strength but was involved in the play.
53-Mikael Diotte - RD (2021) (Red)
6’3” 205 Drummondville (QMJHL)
Mobile defenceman. Skates well, moved the puck decently and rushed it at times. Scored a slapshot goal on the PP portion of the scrimmage.
57-Simon Lavigne - LD (2019) (White)
6’3” 187 Blainville (QMJHL)
Didn’t notice him out there.
45-Trevor Thurston - LD (2020) (White)
6’2” 198 Prince Albert (WHL)
Seemed like one of the more mature players. Stepped up to make some defensive reads in the neutral zone.
Goalies:
Drafted:
40-Daniil Chechelev - G (2020)
6’3” 187 Kansas City (ECHL)
Not on the ice
Tryouts:
Croix Kochendorfer - G (2022)
6’4” 220 Chippewa (NAHL)
Initially on roster. Did not attend.
50-Cooper Black - G (2019) (Red)
6’8” 194 Nanaimo (BCHL)
Going to Dartmouth (NCAA) next year. A gigantic goalie, covers the net and moves decently well. Played during second half - 4 on 4, 3 on 3, special teams and shootout. Allowed 2 goals plus shootout.
82-Patrick Leaver - G (2021) (White)
6’0” 165 Oshawa (OHL)
Small goalie but a battler and made some saves. Allowed one goal.
35-Matthew Kieper - G (2022) (Red)
6’1” 181 Regina (WHL)
Seems calm and efficient in his movements. Allowed 1 goal.
70-Nathan Kirey - G (2021) (White)
6’3” 190 Cranbrook (BCHL)
Local Cochrane kid who played Airdrie Xtreme. Must have been a last minute replacement for Kochedorfer/Chechelev. Battled hard and made lots of saves during the 4 on 4, 3 on 3, and special teams portions. Made a great pad save on a cross crease pass from Kerins to rob Coronato of a sure goal. Allowed 2 goals plus shootout.
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