Hurricanes Training Camp Previews

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Lethbridge, AB – With 2010 Hurricanes Training Camp set to open Thursday, September 2nd from the Adams Ice Centre (9th Avenue and 13th St. North) the time has come for a quick refresher on your Lethbridge Hurricanes. This year’s camp should be a shootout with over 70 participants – many familiar faces and an exciting crop of eager young guns.

2010 Camp will include the Canes 19 returning players from the 2009-10 team, the only exclusions being Finnish net minder Ville Kolppanen [Kohl-PAA-nen](who will return to his U-20 club Ilves in Finland) and overage graduates Linden Rowat [ROW-at] (who will attend the University of Alberta), Dustin Donaghy [Don-A-Hay] and Captain Carter Bancks (who is signed to play in Abbotsford, the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate).

In part one of this three part series, we preview just a few of the names to look for in the Hurricanes forward group:

The Canes will return a solid veteran laden group up front led by 09-10 rookie sensation and local talent Mitch Maxwell. Maxwell, a native of Magrath, AB was an unexpected surprise for Lethbridge this past year. After being signed as a 19 year old he totaled a team leading 27 goals in his first WHL season and along with Lethbridge born Max Ross will enter camp as one of the Canes two 20 year old overage forwards. Ross has had a strong summer returning to camp at a very lean 200 pounds and will look for a breakout season after an injury shortened 09-10 which saw him make a position change from defense to forward.

Not to be forgotten are 09-10 Alternate Captains and staples in the Canes forward group Cam Braes and Austin Fyten. Both finished with career years in 09-10 (Braes – 25G, 28A; Fyten – 19G, 24A) and will look to take over as premier Top 6 forwards in their 19 year old seasons. As 91 born players they will be joined by a trio of forwards all looking to make their mark in 10-11; highly skilled Swedish forward Jacob Berglund should greatly improve after showing signs of brilliance in his 18 year old rookie season in the WHL while Brody Sutter will also look at 2010-11 as a potential breakout season, with his size and skill he could very well adapt into a strong power forward.     

The Canes have a solid group of rookies looking to avoid the sophomore jinx – Graham Hood arrived from Regina as part of the Carter Ashton trade and showed a lot of potential as a power forward last year. Players developed from within the Canes system – WHL draft prospects Mark Reners, Ryon Moser, Neal Tarnasky and the only 16 year old last year’s forward group Philip Tot have all proven they can be players in the WHL.

This group will be pushed by a hungry group of Canes young guns up front with names like 93-born Michael Sofillas (29G, 43A) and Brady Ramsay (46G, 34A) as well as 94-born prospects Tayler Balog [BAA-log] (11G, 19A), Ryley Bennefield (21G, 19A) and riding into town for camp coming off strong midget seasons. Sofillas dominated the Manitoba Midget ranks for much of the season, finishing second in the MMHL scoring race. Ramsay was the leading scorer for the Calgary based EDGE school last season. Balog is a highly touted prospect and former 2nd round WHL Bantam draft pick who many had projected would go in the first, while Bennefield was the Hurricanes 1st selection in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft (33rd overall). Some of the other wild cards to watch for include 93-born Russian Alex Kuvaev [Koo-VAY-ev] and a pair of speedy skilled 94-born forwards: Mitch Guiel and Russell Maxwell. Kuvaev was selected by the Hurricanes in the second round of the 2010 CHL Import draft, the 6’3, 190 pound native of Moscow played for Team Russia at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Timmins. ON this past winter and played this past season for Vityaz Chekhov of the Russian Minor Hockey League (MHL). Guiel was the Hurricanes fifth selection – 103rd overall of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft and missed a large portion of this season to injury, but scored 84 points (41G, 43A) in 40 games in 2008-09. Maxwell, the younger brother of Mitch Maxwell had a great showing at 2009 Hurricanes Training Camp and followed that with a solid season in the AMMHL – posting 90 points (40G, 50A). 

This camp will also give Hurricanes fans a look into the future of the club up front with all of the Canes forward draft picks expected to be in attendance – led by blue chip prospect Jay Merkley. This spring Merkley became the highest drafted Lethbridge Hurricanes bantam pick of all time after being selected 3rd overall in the first round of the 2010 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. He tallied 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points and 32 PIMs in 33 games for the Calgary Bisons; good enough for fifth in scoring Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League in 09-10 helping the Bisons capture the 2010 Provincial and League Championships. He also collected individual accolades as the winner of the AMBHL South Division Scoring title, South Division Forward Award and the South Division Most Valuable Player Award.

Overages: Mitch Maxwell (90), Max Ross (90)    
Veteran forwards: Cam Braes (91), Austin Fyten (91), Brody Sutter (91),
Sophomores in 10-11: Jacob Berglund (91), Mark Reners (92), Ryon Moser (92), Neal Tarnasky (92), Graham Hood (92), Philip Tot (93)
Rookie (s) to keep an eye on at camp: Alex Kuvaev (93), Brady Ramsay (93), Michael Sofillas, Tayler Balog (94), Ryley Bennefield (94), Mitchell Guiel (94), Russell Maxwell (94), Jay Merkley (95)

In part two of this three part series, we preview just a few of the names to look for on the Hurricanes defense:

Veterans Mike Reddington and Brennan Yadlowski [YAD-lau-Ski] will be counted on to lead this group along with veteran Cason Machacek [MA-Ha-Check]. Reddington, who enters camp as the Canes 3rd overage player is a former WHL and Memorial Cup Champion and has shown that he has all the ability to be a leader, enforcer and a contributor on the power play. He won’t have to lead this group on his own however as the highly skilled Yadlowski will help command this Canes blue line. Nowhere is the character of this defensive group more well defined then with the play of Machacek. Machacek has developed as a solid contributor to the Canes top 4 by simply being solid. After a great summer in which the 180 pound workout machine added nearly 20 pounds of muscle, Machacek will look to assert himself as a physical force on this year’s squad.

Quasi-rookies Derek Ryckman and Daniel Johnston, who have both battled injuries early in their careers will both look for breakout seasons this year. The 6’4’ Ryckman started his sophomore season in 09-10 looking like a seasoned veteran before an injury to his shoulder cost him the year. Johnston, who arrived in Lethbridge along with Berglund as part of the trade of Luca Sbisa was unable to play most of his rookie season in 08-09 in Portland due to a neck injury and only last year had the chance to truly develop. Both these 92-born d-men will enter camp looking to make a big impact in 2010-11.

The true sophomores, Landon Oslanski and Reid Jackson will round out this group of 7 returning d-men. Jackson is a Canes draft pick who last season showed signs of coming into his own with solid decision making and the ability to move the puck. Oslanski has proven to be a great bonus from the same trade that brought Reddington from Spokane, showing the ability to function in and command a WHL power play unit is no easy task, let alone as a 17 year old.

This core group would undoubtedly make the fall of 2010 a far cry from 2009 – when the Canes were forced to begin the season with the youngest defensive group in the league. With this group the Canes of 2010-11 will be a team that opposing forwards do not like to play against. But just as the forwards will be pushed by a group of rookies, so too will this group of d-men. 94- born Adam Henry and 93-born Brandyn Hulit already logged minutes in the WHL last season. While another Hurricanes family tie – 93-born defenseman Austin Yadlowski may also challenge for a spot on this year’s roster. This also has not taken into account the plethora of talent in waiting on the backend led by the Hurricanes first two defensemen taken in the 2010 WHL Draft Macoy Erkamps and Joel Topping who along with the rest of the Canes impressive 2010 draft class will be taking in their first WHL camps

Overages: Mike Reddington (90)
Veterans: Brennan Yadlowski (91), Cason Machacek (91), Derek Ryckman (92)
Daniel Johnston (92)
Sophomores: Landon Oslanski (92), Reid Jackson (93)
Rookie (s) to keep an eye on at camp: Brandyn Hulit (93), Austin Yadlowski (93), Adam Henry (94), Macoy Erkamps (95), Joel Topping (95)

In part three of this three part series, we preview just a few of the names to look for on the Hurricanes last line of defense, the goaltenders:

Hurricanes sophomore Brandon Anderson will be given every opportunity to take over the starting goaltender’s role this season but he will be challenged by a mixed group of prospects and veterans. Anderson has already shown that he can play in pressure situations after being given the opportunity to play a majority of the games in 2009-10 after starting goaltender Linden Rowat was put out due to injury. As a rookie Anderson performed solid in his role and though his record may not show it, his experience gained as a 17 year old WHL goaltender this past season will only prove to help the fiery youngster from Langley as he continues his career.

This summer, the Hurricanes signed a veteran presence in net, listing 91-born goaltender Dylan Tait. Tait is a veteran of the KIJHL and AJHL and was formerly a prospect of both the Kelowna Rockets and Kootenay Ice. A Lethbridge local, he could be the prefect fit to push and develop Anderson along the way while challenging him for his spot as the starting goaltender. Of course, also vying for this spot on this year’s team will be a host of prospects including 93-born draft pick Alex Wakaluk – highly touted for his lineage, work ethic and focus; as well as list player Tanner Kovacs who showed great promise during 2009 Training Camp and will look to build on what was a solid season in Alberta Minor Midget. Hurricanes 4th round pick and fifth selection in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft – Ryan Ferguson is expected to attend his first WHL camp.  Ferguson is the Hurricanes highest drafted goaltender since 2007 when the club drafted Brandon Anderson with the 50th overall selection in the third round. The 6’0, 165 lbs. Ferguson finished his AMBHL season with a solid .906 save percentage and a 3.04 GAA while playing with the Calgary Royals (Gold) of the AMBHL.

Veteran: Dylan Tait (91)
Sophomore: Brandon Anderson (92)
Rookie (s) to watch: Luke Lee-Knight, Alex Wakaluk (94), Tanner Kovacs (94), Ryan Ferguson (95), Brayden McMahon (95)

Be sure to visit LethbridgeHurricanes.com for daily Hurricanes 2010 Training Camp news – full camp lists will be made available following player registration. Scrimmages will begin on Friday afternoon before the players are divided into four teams of rookies and veterans for the weekend intersquad tournament. Camp will then wrap on Sunday as the tournament Consolation and Championship finals are held. Fans are encouraged to attend camp to get their first look at the 2010-11 Hurricanes – On Saturday and Sunday, volunteers from the Lethbridge United Way will be on hand to take donations upon entry for this worthwhile cause.

2010 Training Camp Schedule:
Thursday, September 2nd
3:00 – 5:00 PM – Registration – All Players
5:00 – 5:30 PM – Player/Parent Orientation
6:00 – 7:00 PM – Team A Practice   
7:15 – 8:15 PM – Team B Practice  

Friday, September 3rd
*8:30 – 10:00 AM – Team C & D Practice (Goalies – 8:15)
11:00 – 12:30 PM – Team A vs. Team B Scrimmage
2:00 – 3:00 PM – Team C vs. Team D Scrimmage
4:30 – 6:00 PM – Team A vs. Team B Scrimmage

Saturday, September 4th – 1st Annual Charity Intrasquad Tournament Begins!
9:00 – 10:30 AM – Team 1 vs. Team 2
11:30 – 1:00 PM – Team 3 vs. Team 4
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Team 1 vs. Team 2
5:00 – 6:30 PM – Team 3 vs. Team 4

Sunday, September 5th – Intersquad Finals in support of the Lethbridge United Way
9:00 – 10:30 AM – Consolation Final
12:30 – 2:00 PM – Championship Game

*All Times Subject to Change
*Please note the Friday Morning Practices have been combined into one session