Foegele’s Back!
Warren Foegele had never skated as a centre until he came from the U.S. collegiate hockey ranks to join the Kingston Frontenacs last November.
About a month into his time with the Frontenacs Foegele was moved from left wing to play centre. He went on to learn the craft of winning faceoffs, using his speed up the middle and becoming a good playmaker.
The Markham native looked very much the natural at centre and that’s apparently what the Carolina Hurricanes thought about their 20-year-old prospect.
“[Carolina] said they like him in the middle so we are going to continue to use him in the middle. That’s where we love him the best, too,” said Frontenacs head coach Paul McFarland of Foegele, who has returned from Carolina’s National Hockey League camp to play his overage Ontario Hockey League season for the Frontenacs.
Carolina general manager Ron Francis, in his exit talk with their 2014 third-round draft pick, spelled out what the Hurricanes envisioned for Foegele.
“We decided for my long-term development that it would make sense for me to go back to Kingston, play in many opportunities and log minutes instead of just playing in the American League for four or five minutes a night,” Foegele said.
“This gives me a better chance to work on some things I need to work on and we’ll go from there.”
The Frontenacs, of course, welcome the return of Foegele. It came at the same time the team learned Lawson Crouse would not be returning to junior. The 19-year-old Crouse has made the roster of the Arizona Coyotes.
“I’m sure Warren gained a lot from just being around [NHL] players for almost a month. That experience is invaluable to him and to us,” McFarland said.
“To have a guy like him back with that experience, it’s only going to help our young guys. He is going to be a guy that leads by example for us each and every night.”
Sure enough, as Foegele took part in his first practice Wednesday at the Rogers K-Rock Centre, the six-foot-two forward led the drills and when he wasn’t involved in a drill he was talking to a teammate.
“Warren is mature beyond his years. He’s got pro habits whether in practice, how he prepares for practices or how he prepares for games,” McFarland said.
“All those things are going to be the little things that rub off on some of our younger players. His work ethic every day is something that our guys need to see.
“He doesn’t take a shift off. It’s exciting to have a guy like that back in our lineup.”
Foegele, who was attending his first NHL camp, took part in the prospects tournament, helping Carolina to a win. He went on to the main Hurricanes camp and was with the big team until the end of exhibition play.
“Overall I thought it was a great experience. I learned a lot. I thought I worked hard and that’s a reason I stayed there so long,” Foegele said.
McFarland said the feedback the Frontenacs received from Carolina was that Foegele had a good camp and made a great impression.
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