One step back, two steps forward for Hitmen
Roster turnovers are an annual and uniquely challenging occurrence in junior hockey.
It just comes with the territory.
Unlike a majority of Western Hockey League teams, there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Calgary Hitmen as the squad dispersed in various directions for the off-season.
Gone are grizzled graduates Colby Harmsworth, Jackson Houck and Keegan Kanzig.
That’s plenty of size and grit to replace.
There’s also high-scoring defenceman Travis Sanheim and team leading scorer and Player of the Year Radel Fazleev – both Philadelphia Flyers prospects – who are both eligible to return but are apt to be plying their trade at the pro level.
That’s a whole lot of skill and world-class experience exiting Saddledome doors.
“We may be young but we’ll be solid moving forward,” assured forward Beck Malenstyn, who followed a breakout playoff performance by representing Canada at the World U18 Championships last month.
“It’s a group of brothers in that room – it always is – and it’s tough to say goodbye to those guys. There are a lot of guys you hope to cross paths with again, but you don’t know if you ever will, and then there’s the guys you’re going to see next year but it’s a long summer without them.
“It’s been a great year with these guys, but I’m looking forward to meeting all the new faces next year.”
There will certainly be no shortage of those chomping at the bit for jobs come fall.
That lengthy list includes 2015 top draft pick Tristen Nielsen, who was able to get his feet wet for three games this past season, a once and for all healthy Matt Dorsey, Lucas Cullen, Murphy Stratton, Noah Geekie, and Calgary native Markus Boguslavsky, who captained his Flames midget team on New Year’s Day to its first Mac’s tournament title since 1996.
“We have built a solid foundation,” said Malenstyn, who is expected to hear his named call at this June’s NHL Entry Draft. “We’re looking forward to coming in here next year with all the new players and the ones returning.”
There is reason for optimism, as not many clubs around the Dub can boast of having their top goal scorer returning.
Sniper Jakob Stukel – fresh off a career-high 36-goal season – was one of only five 1997-born players to lead their respective teams in scoring. Also returning to the fold will be 20-goal performers, linemates Jordy Stallard and Carsen Twarynski, as well as Hitmen Rookie of the Year Mark Kastelic, Dawson Martin, Bryce Platt and Andrew Fyten, who will all look to build off promising first seasons.
The offensive depth doesn’t end there.
Toss in dependable two-way Belarussian forward and Calgary Flames prospect Pavel Karnaukhov and Winnipeg Jets draft pick Matteo Gennaro, not to mention a confident Malenstyn, who appears to elevate his game when it matters most, and the forward group appears to be in fine shape.
“Coming into the playoffs I felt I was in a good spot with my game,” said Malenstyn. “As a group we really pulled together and, even though the result wasn’t what we wanted, the atmosphere within the room was great and I think it set up the perfect environment for me and some of the other guys.”
“Beck struggled with who he was early in the season but he quickly found his game in the second half,” said Hitmen head coach Mark French. “He will be ready to have a big year next season and will help us out from a leadership standpoint.”
Overall, the back end will experience the highest turnover.
Though, the blow will be softened as Jake Bean – the top-ranked draft prospect in the entire WHL – will be coming back to lead the charge.
As a 17-year-old, the hometown product impressively set a new franchise record for goals by a defenceman in a single season when he buried two dozen of them.
A remarkable feat.
Maybe even more astonishing is that Bean was able to set the record despite the distractions of draft chatter following him around for much of the season.
“At certain times it was definitely hard,” admitted Bean. “But as long I just talked to the guys here and focused on the Hitmen that was the easiest thing for me to do. Over the course of the season it wasn’t too bad. Not everyone gets to experience this so I just tried to take it in stride and enjoy it the whole time.”
Three of seven rearguards are expected to move on, including Bean’s partner in crime Travis Sanheim who amassed a combined 162 points over three seasons in a Hitmen uniform.
”I was fortunate to cross paths with him in my career,” Bean said. “He will obviously be moving on to bigger and better things, but he was like a mentor and big brother to me. I’m really happy for him and I’m excited to see what he does next.”
Veteran Micheal Zipp will likely slot into the top four while this year’s rookie duo of Aaron Hyman and Jakob LaPointe – who at times appeared more like wrestling tag team partners by rotating in and out of the lineup – will be relied on to play much larger roles.
“We’re going to get a lot more opportunity and we’re looking forward to it,” said LaPointe, who saw a major increase in ice time when captain Harmsworth was suspended for three games during Calgary’s first round series with Red Deer. “The last half of the season was a big half-season for me. I got an increase in minutes and I got a lot more opportunities. Moving forward, it’s going to help me as a second-year player.”
Defensive prospect Ty Prefontaine, who the Hitmen acquired as part of the Gennaro deadline deal with Prince Albert, should also fit nicely into next year’s plans.
From there, prospects Drea Esposito and Layne Toder – both youngsters who had strong camps with the Hitmen last fall and even sounder campaigns with their respective midget teams this past season – are also expected to make a push for vacant jobs.
Not to be forgotten is next month’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, where the Hitmen could pursue a top-notch blueliner.
The Hitmen overage trio, meanwhile, will be comprised of defenceman Zipp and forwards Taylor Sanheim and Tyler Mrkonjic.
Of course, pieces are still prone to move, be found and/or acquired from now until main camp opens in September.
In the crease, the number one job is Cody Porter’s to lose while Nik Amundrud and Kyle Dumba should face some stiff competition at camp from highly-regarded goalie prospect Jake Davidson.
“I thought Cody did a terrific job,” Hitmen GM Mike Moore said. “I think it’s a learning process for him, and there is certainly room for improvement and development, but with him coming in as a 19-year-old next year we have all the confidence in him to be a starter.
“We also have a coaching staff that is tremendous as far as paying attention to detail and bringing those guys along and giving them an opportunity to get better.
“Everything stacks up very well for us next season, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
