Sportsnet.ca http://sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/feed/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 05:28:38 EDT en-US hourly 1 Juniors Featured Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:05:03 EDT Tue, 14 Nov 2023 22:03:31 EST Noah Love four_cols_meta sn-collection 17108085075915487 Which junior league produces the best NHL players? 5747232 four_cols Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:35:59 EDT Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:38:03 EDT Sportsnet Video The Hockey Central panel tackles One Big Question and debates whether the OHL, NCAA, or WHL, produce the best hockey players, helped by special guest Ken Reid.

]]>

]]>
Hockey NHL videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/9626d918-07bb-4d31-8226-44bcfba5b568/83ccf739-c83f-479d-a174-a23d8cd1e673/160x90/match/image.jpgSportsnet Video bc-video
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images cowan_easton1280 Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan sets Knights point streak record 5747232 four_cols Sun, 17 Mar 2024 19:23:33 EDT Sun, 17 Mar 2024 23:18:33 EDT Sportsnet Staff Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has added himself to the London Knights record books after extending his point streak to 34 straight games.

]]>
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has added himself to the London Knights record books after extending his point streak to 34 straight games.

Dave Gilmore previously held the record which was set in the 1993-94 season.

Cowan registered a pair of assists against the Windsor Spitfires in Sunday’s 6-3 victory. He now has 90 points in 52 games this season.

The Strathroy, Ont., native has seen a big bump in production after registering 53 points in 68 games with the Knights last season.

Cowan was selected in the first round, 28th overall, by the Maple Leafs during last year’s NHL Draft.

The Knights have two games remaining on their schedule including a rematch against the Spitfires Friday.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey OHL TOR sn-article
Photo by Rich Gagnon MacklinCelebrini Sportsnet’s 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: March Edition 5747232 four_cols Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:40:15 EDT Wed, 13 Mar 2024 23:17:29 EDT Sam Cosentino With trade deadline movement finished, we know who will enter the off-season with first-round picks. So, Sam Cosentino updates his ranking of the top 32 prospects available this year.

]]>
With the trade deadline having come and gone, there’s much more clarity on who are the haves and have-nots. Teams that started the season with high hopes and expectations they have failed to meet have likely acquired additional draft capital. For those looking to make a playoff run, they’ve likely moved off some 2024 picks, knowing there’s a first-round ledge that falls off this year from around pick 20.

The draft board is also starting to come into focus, save for conditional picks and of course the lottery, which we expect to occur in late April or early May. Anaheim, Calgary, Montreal, Philadelphia, San Jose and Ottawa all have additional first-round picks. 

While that doesn’t have an impact on the rankings, it will have an impact on how teams with multiple picks approach the draft and the impact will be seen in various mock drafts that typically start to filter out after the lottery. 

From a pure rankings perspective, one thing hasn’t changed is Macklin Celebrini’s place at the top of the charts. Celebrini projects to be a future NHL star. His 29-goal regular season fell just three short of a goal per game pace. He failed to record a point in only four games, he produced 19 multi-point games and did all of this as the youngest player in college hockey. The numbers are matched by his effort, his compete and his smarts, making him the most coveted player in this draft class.  

Other than that, it’s crowded at the top. Defencemen everywhere keep pushing the limits on their potential and the scramble for the most important position to draft and develop will be fun to watch. There are a number of things to consider. After Celebrini, will the teams following the first pick covet a big, stay-at-home type? A two-way dynamo with room for growth? Will the smaller, offensively gifted defencemen be the flavour of the day? Defencemen come in all shapes, sizes and tools in this draft class. It’s so diverse and so tough to call that organizational need may be the deciding factor in a number of picks inside the top 10. 

The fly in the ointment is Ivan Demidov. The Russian sensation exhibits a lot of the same characteristics Celebrini does, but the level of play he faces in the MHL is nowhere near that of college hockey, where Celebrini plies his trade. Demidov’s two points per game rate is second in MHL league history for any player who has played 30 or more games. 

There remains an abundance of risk when selecting players out of Russia. Will the path for those players continue to be muddled by the geo-political circumstances that aren’t changing? Is there a PR element to selecting players from Russia knowing how things have been handled politically? Will the player be pressured into staying at home? Some NHL teams have better relationships than others with their Russian counterparts and those teams, if picking inside the top 10, will have some serious things to consider when it comes to Demidov versus one of the top available defencemen.

As we venture down the rankings, a few more forwards start to enter the fray. Spokane’s Berkly Catton is loaded with intangibles and is a dual threat offensively. Tij Iginla leans goal scorer, but plays a quick game that enables him to shrug off defenders. Konsta Helenius is a solid two-way player, while Cayden Lindstrom possesses the traits of a prototypical power forward. And surely we can’t forget about the prolific goal-scoring ability of Cole Eiserman, who started the year as our No. 2 ranked player.  

From a scouting angle, the men in black coats who watch from the stands have used the past few weeks to do their due diligence on players whose teams may not make league playoffs, or whose high school teams have ended their seasons. They’re also getting final looks at late birthday players as they aren’t eligible to play in the U18 World Championships. That tournament represents the last big scouting event, and it takes place in Finland beginning April 25. Until then, playoffs are right right around the corner in North America and those viewings provide great context. 

With that, we turn to our latest rankings:

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 190 pounds

There are no circumstances where he deviates from his game. He’s a high skill, high compete player who has dominated as the youngest player in his loop.

2. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL) 6’7, 211 L
Height: 6-foot-7 Weight: 211 pounds

He isn’t likely going to be the power play specialist he was at the start of the season, but he skates extremely well and handles the puck without issue. Reminds me of Nikita Zadorov.

3. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 181 pounds

In a vacuum he’s the most talented forward this draft class has to offer outside of Celebrini. Demidov possesses many of the same traits Celebrini does, only his track record is against younger, more unproven talent.

4. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 208 pounds

All the elements in his game are translatable to the NHL. There are times when he tries to force plays as opposed to taking the simpler way out, but his talent will outgrow that picky criticism. 

5. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 194 pounds

With good size, deft puck handles and a wicked shot, he resembles a skilled power forward. Instead, he’s an high-end offensive defenceman.

6. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 204 pounds

Everything about his game screams pro, especially his elite skating ability. There are times when he could make better and quicker decisions with the puck. 

7. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 170 pounds

A little undersized for the position, but there’s no glaring weakness in his game. He’s a play driver and a dual threat offensive player as evidenced by his 50-goal, 100-point season to date. 

8. Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 183 pounds

Transitional defenceman who processes the game quickly. Is patient with the puck, creating time and space to break it out, or to be successful on zone entries. 

9. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 181 pounds

An Erik Karlsson-type player who is the best defenceman at creating offence in this class. He has a boatload of confidence with the puck on his stick, often baiting and evading defenders to open pass or shooting lanes.

10. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 210 pounds

Timeline for his return is still uncertain, but getting into game action before the year closes will help solidify him into a top 10 position come June. 

11. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 186 pounds

A 50-goal campaign is well within reach. While goal-scoring pops, he’s a wickedly creative offensive player who specializes in making space.

12. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 180 pounds

Plays a pro style game and is often on the right side of the puck when he doesn’t have it, but is also competitive and skilled enough to make things happen when he does have it. 

13. Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP
Height: 6-feet Weight: 195 pounds

The hardest thing to do in hockey is score, and he’s doing that at an elite level.

14. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 211 pounds

Plays a pro-style game and understands what’s needed from him each and every shift. His elite shooting ability will always make him a threat to score. 

15. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 194 pounds

A player you can trust in all situations and someone who has produced well at the pro level despite getting only mid-tier minutes. 

16. Igor Chernyshov, LW, HC Dynamo Moscow (KHL-MHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 189 pounds

Would rate out as average to slightly above average in puck skills and skating ability, but he has continued to find a way to produce points at an elite level because his effort is consistent and he thinks the game well.

17. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 175 pounds

Some of his identity as an underaged player has been forgotten and replaced by noticing his super slick hands and creativity. His continuous growth hasn’t impacted his ability to handle the puck with pace.

18. Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen HC (Czech)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 178 pounds

The low offensive numbers have never been in line with his skill set. Add in the injury issues and there remains a ton of questions as to whether or not he can reach the potential that his talent teases.

19. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 185 pounds

The type of player who won’t be denied. He’s able to use his sturdy frame to work underneath opponents and then utilize his escapability to create offence.  

20. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 176 pounds

Will have to fill out and improve his play away from the puck, but when he has it in the offensive zone, he’s a threat to strike from anywhere. 

21. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 187 pounds

Has turned it up over the past month and a bit. He moves well, shoots it well and has a little bit of grit in his game.

22. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 156 pounds

As slight of frame as he is, he remains one of the most dynamic offensive players this draft class has to offer. However, off-ice issues may bump him out of round one and, for some teams, off their list completely.

23. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK Helsinki (Liiga)
Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 170 pounds

With injuries consuming a large portion of his season, scouts would like another chance to corroborate what’s been seen from him as an underaged player in the past.

24. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 176 pounds

production hasn’t slowed from the start of the year.  Yes he’s benefitted from playing with great linemates, but he’s also been a play driver for his linemates. 

25. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 175 pounds

After missing more than two months, he’s starting to find his stride just in time to leave a lasting impression with scouts. He still has a chance to impress with perhaps some WHL playoffs and potentially some time with Canada at the U18s. 

26. Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight 185 pounds

Has been remarkably consistent in effort and production. Has learned that he belongs amongst the best in this draft class. Extremely smart player whose confidence continues to grow. 

27. Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 165 pounds

Has steadily improved over the course of the season. His skating and edge work are notable. Crafty player who drives offence. 

28. Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s (HS)
Height: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds

Banged up in his final high school game, his highly anticipated return to USHL Sioux Falls has been derailed. Will he be ready in time for the U18 worlds?

29. Adam Jecho, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 201 pounds

Given his journey and injury issues this season, he’s more of a project pick than a sure fire hit. His size will win out in any benefit of the doubt argument.

30. Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 176 pounds

Like a number of Swedes last year, he has shown marked growth. He may not end up going as high as Axel Sandin-Pellikka did last season (17th), but his rise to prominence is similar. 

31. Julius Miettinen, C, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 205 pounds

Adjustment to North America took longer than even he expected. Plays a hard-nosed game where he’s able to ward off defenders and find his way to the net. Point production has increased dramatically since the start of 2024.

32. EJ Emery, D, USNTDP
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 185 pounds

There’s value in self awareness and this player knows that his defensive play, athleticism and simple puck moving abilities are keys to making him a projected late first round pick.

]]>
Hockey NHL NHL Draft sn-article
CP168910190(1) Scout’s Analysis: Ranking the top 40 prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft 5747232 four_cols Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:52:04 EST Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:52:32 EST Jason Bukala Back with his second rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, scout Jason Bukala expands his list to 40 names, with one very familiar still at the top.

]]>
Some things have changed since I last did my rankings in January, which I did after the WJC, CHL-NHL top Prospects Game and the All-American Prospects Game.

As more hockey is played and I’m able to view more of them in person or through video we’ll get a clearer look at the 2024 class. A month after the last rankings, I’m expanding these to the top 40.

But while some things change, some will stay the same, including where we start at No. 1…

No. 1: Macklin Celebrini, F, Boston University (NCAA)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 190 pounds

Celebrini is the consensus first overall and he’s holding strong in the slot. He’s an elite play driver who brings relentless compete up and down the ice. He’s tied for third in NCAA scoring with 26 goals and 22 assists, including an incredible 16 goals and seven assists in his past 15 games overall.

Celebrini is a complete player. He has the compete, skill, and hockey IQ to be used in a variety of roles without sacrificing offence.

No. 2: Ivan Demidov, F, SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 181 pounds

Demidov continues to be a nightmare for opponents playing against SKA in Russia’s top junior league. His elite element is clearly what he projects to bring offensively at the NHL level. He has top-line upside, plays with pace, possesses an outstanding release, and battles to make plays coming off the wall.

He’s too talented for the MHL. Demidov has scored nine goals and 19 assists in his past 10 games.

No. 3: Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL)
Height: 6-foot-7 Weight: 211 pounds

It’s very rare to see a prospect with the kind of skating and agility Silayev possesses in relation to his stature. His offence has been virtually non-existent in recent weeks, but he contributes to team success with his ability to kill plays in the defensive zone and launch the attack with on time outlets to his forwards.

Silayev has a chance to be a top pairing two-way/shutdown defender at the NHL level. The kind of player who complements someone like Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar.

No. 4: Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 208 pounds

No. 5: Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 204 pounds

Dickinson continues to log a ton of ice time in London. He’s deployed in all situations. Dickinson’s a fantastic skater with an effortless stride. He shoots the puck with authority, and joins the rush as an extra layer in transition. He’s produced 17 goals and 45 assists. There are times I’d like to see Dickinson gap up and kill plays with more authority, but he has it in him and shows enough push back defensively overall.

Dickinson projects as a top pairing NHL defenceman who can be deployed in all situations. He has some Owen Power in his game and approach.

No. 6: Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 194 pounds

No. 7: Berkly Catton, F, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 170 pounds

Teams are always looking for scorers and Catton fits the bill. A past first overall selection in the WHL draft, he is a dynamo offensively. He’s a crafty, hard to check, potential top-line NHL scoring forward who has produced 43 goals and 49 assists in his first 56 games this season.

No. 8: Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 183 pounds

Buium projects as a top pairing, two-way/transitional defenceman at the NHL level. He’s a highly skilled, competitive defenceman who brings offence and defends with purpose. Buium has plenty of push back physically. He plays quick and fast, pinches down to extend plays in the offensive zone, and gaps up with authority defensively.

Buium is second in defencemen scoring in the NCAA (behind Montreal draft pick Lane Hutson) with nine goals and 29 assists in 30 games.

No. 9: Cayden Lindstrom, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 210 pounds

I had Lindstrom too low in my last ranking. He’s out with injury and hasn’t had the opportunity to improve his stock on his own, but what’s easy to recognize is how valuable he is to his team when he isn’t in the lineup.

Medicine Hat misses having Lindstrom in their lineup. He was matching up against top lines, provided push back physically, pushed the play, and scored timely goals. He’s been limited to only 32 games, but has produced 27 goals and 19 assists. His 86 penalty minutes speak to his “involved” approach.

Lindstrom projects as a potential top-line NHL power centre.

No. 10: Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 181 pounds

Right-shot defencemen are worth their weight in gold at the NHL level, especially ones who project to produce offence the way Parekh does.

Zayne is a dynamic talent. He’s equal parts shooter and distributor when quarterbacking the power play. He’s an elusive defenceman who walks the offensive blue line to open lanes. He’s an area defender in his zone who relies on an active stick and jumping to space ahead of opponents to create turnovers.

It’s impossible to teach the skill that Parekh has. He projects as a potential top pairing/transitional NHL defenceman. He isn’t shy about taking chances, leading and joining the rush, offensively.

No. 11: Konsta Helenius, F, Jukurit (Liiga)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 180 pounds

Helenius plays the game fast and he’s a threat off the rush. The kind of forward who leads zone entries off the power play breakout. He’s a play driver who’s sees the ice and makes plays. Although he isn’t the biggest player in the draft class he’s plenty strong. He leverages well along the wall and has the strength and quickness to escape pressure with the puck on his stick.

Helenius has been on a nice run of offence. In his latest 10-game segment he produced four goals and five assists. All of his ice time comes at even strength and the power play, skating for for Jukurit in Finland’s top pro league.

No. 12: Tij Iginla, F, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 186 pounds

Iginla continues to score goals in the WHL. He’s the second-leading scorer for Kelowna with 40 goals and 30 assists in 54 games.

Iginla leans shooter more than play maker/distributor, but he sees the ice and makes responsible decisions moving the puck. He possesses solid pace, high end compete, some muscle in the trenches and a sound understanding of how to play the game in all three zones.

No. 13: Sacha Boisvert, F, Muskegon (USHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 176 pounds

Boisvert leads the USHL with 30 goals. He definitely leans shooter/goal scorer more than play driver, but his skating has improved to the point where he’s more of a threat off the rush. Boisvert is very difficult to defend in small areas. He’s crafty escaping his check and taking the play to the net. As he continues to add more strength, his separation in open ice should only improve.

No. 14: Cole Eiserman, F, USNTDP
Height: 6-feet Weight: 195 pounds

Eiserman is, arguably, the most elite shooter in the entire draft. He’s a pure goal scorer who has produced 39 goals and 22 assists. The bulk of his time on ice comes at even strength and the first power play unit.

Eiserman’s offensive element is attractive, but he has room to improve defensively. He continues to lack some consistency with his three zone detail and effort. Late offensive zone exits, and some cheat defending his own zone, need to be cleaned up before the end of the season.

However, teams are always looking for goal scorers and Eiserman is certainly that. He only needs to be average in the other areas of his game to earn more of my trust and move back up the rankings.

No. 15: Liam Greentree, F, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 211 pounds

Greentree continues to produce offence for the Spitfires. He’s a goal scoring power forward who’s hard to knock off the puck. He extends plays along the wall and hunts pucks in the crease area. Greentree is better than average defensively and he doesn’t cut corners. There’s a real possibility the could end up in a top six NHL role complementing lighter, equally skilled, linemates.

No. 16: Terik Parascak, F, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 176 pounds

In a most recent 10-game segment he produced five goals and 10 assists. More impressively he was a plus-7 over those games. Parascak is deployed in all situations for the Cougars, which speaks to his hockey sense and commitment. Doesn’t just bring offence, but his 34 goals and 51 assists certainly stand out.

No. 17: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, F, Mora (Allsvenskan)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 194 pounds

Good size and strength. Plays with pace. Rotates well off the cycle and finds quiet ice in the offensive zone. Solid release and he shoots the puck quickly and accurately. Averages around 13 minutes of ice time per game playing in Sweden’s second division. In his last 10-game segment he logged one goal and four assists.

No. 18: Andrew Basha, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 185 pounds

Basha continues to impress. He plays the game with a mix of skill and tenacity. Basha is the kind of prospect who projects to be able to adapt to whatever role a coach asks of him. His combination of energy and offence are attractive attributes.

Basha has produced 25 goals and 47 assists so far this season. He has a chance to become a top six NHL forward.

No. 19: Cole Hutson, D, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 159 pounds

No. 20: Igor Chernyshov, F, HC Dynamo Moscow (KHL-MHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 189 pounds

Chernyhshov is a late birthday (November 2005) who’s tracking towards the end of his season in Russia. It will be interesting to see how much momentum he has towards the draft in June.

Chernyshov doesn’t have elite scoring numbers, playing at both the KHL and MHL levels in Russia, but he’s a big body who moves very well. He’s showing signs of potentially going to another level offensively, too. He has a great release and sees the ice, rotating off the cycle and finding seams to make plays, in the offensive zone.


No. 21: Ryder Ritchie, F, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 175 pounds

Ritchie has been sidelined with injury and missed a significant amount of his season. Before sustaining a knee in jury in December he had produced 13 goals and 19 assists.

Ritchie is relatively young for this draft class. He was born in August, one month before the cut-off for this cycle. He isn’t the biggest body, but he plays hard between the whistles and has a bit of a throwback style of game. He’s a mix of skill and will who’s responsible on and off the puck.

22. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK Helsinki (Liiga)
Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 170 pounds

It’s hard for me to envision Kiviharju falling any further than the early-20s after missing most of his season with injury. He’s due to return to Team Finland’s lineup in time for the U18 World Championships in April.

Kiviharju is a power play quarterback who leans distributor more than shooter. He’s a stocky and strong defender who relies on small area quickness to win pucks. Kiviharju is the kind of undersized defenceman who can launch the attack and join the rush as an extra layer, or escape his zone and lead the play up ice on his own.

No. 23: Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen HC (Czech)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 178 pounds

I’m monitoring Jiricek to see if there’s any chance of him returning to the lineup before the end of the season. He is also out with a knee injury that was suffered at the World Juniors and required surgery.

Jiricek is tall and lean. He has time to fill out his frame as he matures. He burst on to the scene at the U18 Worlds last spring in Switzerland. The two-way defenceman was having a bit of a disappointing season offensively before his injury, but there’s no denying he has the tools and hockey sense to potentially slide into a second pairing role at the NHL level in time.

Jiricek is a right-shot defenceman who can be deployed in all situations and provide secondary offence.

No. 24: Emil Hemming, F, TPS Turku (Liiga)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 194 pounds

No. 25: Michael Hage, F, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 187 pounds

Hage provides offence. It’s his most elite element. He has a great stick. He catches pucks and makes plays quickly, before opponents get set to defend against him. He has a gear off the rush, makes subtle plays in small areas, and the ability to rip pucks from the weak side flank on the power play. He’s average defensively, on and off the play. Offensive upside wins out when projecting his upside at the NHL level, though. Could end up skating in a top six role at even strength and certainly be used on the power play.

No. 26: Trevor Connelly, F, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 156 pounds

Connelly is easily defined. He’s a light, skilled, crafty playmaker who provides offence. He’s verbally committed to Providence College, but not until 2025-26. Connelly is more quick than fast, but it could have something to do with his core strength. Once he adds more strength he should be able to sustain more pace in transition. For now, my list is based on a player’s play on the ice, but as we draw closer to the draft I’ll do my due diligence on any off-ice issues that may affect the rankings.

No. 27: Henry Mews, D, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Height: 6-feet Weight: 183 pounds

Mews started playing defence later in his minor hockey development. You can see how he thinks the game offensively might have something to do with his years playing forward. Mews is a play maker/transitional defenceman. There’s some risk/reward with his approach, but also no denying what he can provide offensively. He’s a power play quarterback who’s already produced 10 goals and 40 assists this season.

Mews is another player on this list who has loads of room for more consistent detail defensively, but his offence also wins out at this stage of the first-round.

No. 28: Beckett Sennecke, F, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 175 pounds

I appreciate the potential upside Sennecke could provide. He’s a big, rangy, skilled forward who’s difficult to defend when shielding pucks and using his reach as an advantage. He’s capable of making plays in small areas and escaping. He also has some net drive when he gains the edge off the rush.

In time Sennecke will add more weight and strength to his frame, which could lead to even more impact overall.

He is having a solid year in Oshawa (21 goals, 27 assists), but hasn’t exploded to a new level quite yet. I’m monitoring his game closely as we come down the stretch. He could easily move up in these rankings.

No. 29: Brodie Ziemer, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 190 pounds

Every time I watch Ziemer play I come away with something positive. He comes to me in every game I view.

Ziemer is the captain of the USNTDP U18 Team. He’s an infectious player who plays the game quick and fast. He creates offence at even strength and the power play. He has the commitment, and hockey sense, to be used in a variety of roles.

Ziemer has produced 20 goals and 22 assists in 42 games.

No. 30: Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 176 pounds

No. 31: Maxim Masse, F, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 186 pounds

Masse brings a combination of size and skill. He has excellent puck touch. He’s an equal threat playing the bumper or the flank on the power play. I appreciate how he extends plays along the wall and absorbs contact in the process. He doesn’t shy away from the hard areas.

Masse isn’t a burner in open ice and he’s not a transition threat off the rush, but once the play sets in the offensive zone he’s very difficult to defend.

No. 32: Cole Beaudoin, F, Barrie Colts
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 209 pounds

I’m splitting hairs on a group of prospects in between slots 32-40, but Beaudoin has done enough for me (so far) to slot into what would be the last pick in the first round.

Beaudoin’s a big body power forward who leans goal scorer more than playmaker. He goes to the net to set screens and look for rebounds. He’s difficult to move off the play in the trenches and is a capable skater the full length of the ice.

Beaudoin is benefiting from being used in a variety of roles for the Colts. He’s produced 25 goals and 30 assists so far this season. If Barrie doesn’t go on some sort of a playoff run, Beaudoin should be a candidate for Team Canada’s U18 roster for the World Championships in Finland.

No. 33: Tanner Howe, F, Regina Pats
Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 175 pounds

Howe’s primary element is offence and he’s produced 25 goals and 47 assists in 58 games. Howe has understated skating ability. His small area quickness, and agility, leads to escapes in the offensive zone, which lead to scoring chances.

Howe isn’t the kind of player who will roll over the boards in key defensive scenarios or on one of the penalty killing units. He should find a home amongst the middle-six forwards and slot into a power play unit at the NHL level.

No. 34: Lucas Pettersson, F, MODO J20 (Sweden)
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 170 pounds

No. 35: EJ Emery, D, USNTDP
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 185 pounds

Some of my most recent viewings of Emery have been average compared to earlier in the season, but I still believe he could be an efficient two-way/leaning shut down defenceman at the NHL level.

Emery’s execution with the puck ranges. Simple is generally the best approach. But he’s a solid skater, has a long reach, and the ability to close physically on opponents. He’s the kind of defenceman who is best paired with more of an offensive/risk-taking partner.

No. 36: Alfons Freij, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 192 pounds

No. 37: Kamil Bednarik, F, USNTDP
Height: 6-feet Weight: 185 pounds

No. 38: Sam O’Reilly, F, London Knights (OHL)
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 178 pounds

O’Reilly has to be watched closely to be fully appreciated. On balance, he’s produced his share of offence for the Knights this season (17 goals, 31 assists) but it’s the other areas of his game that have earned the trust of the coaches in London.

O’Reilly can be trusted in most defensive scenarios. He skates fine on straight lines, but his edge work and agility has room to improve for the NHL game. His combination of skill and detail projects him as prospect who can be thrust into a variety of roles.

No. 39: Teddy Stiga, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 176 pounds

No. 40: Luke Misa, F, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 170 pounds

Misa plays the game fast. He’s a threat off the rush offensively and an active “area” defender defensively. When he sees a lane to the net, in transition or coming off the wall in the offensive zone, he’s more than willing to take pucks to it.

Misa has produced 23 goals and 53 assists in 57 games this season, but he provides more than just offence. He has the hockey sense and commitment to be used in a variety of roles up and down the lineup. Assuming the statistic is accurate, he’s a tidy plus-35 on the year so far.

Jason Bukala is a former NHL scouting director and founder of The Pro Hockey Group

]]>
Hockey NHL NHL Draft sn-article
Juniors Headlines Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:05:46 EDT Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:52:57 EST Noah Love headlines_meta sn-collection baseimage(19)(1) Mooseheads forward Jordan Dumais suspended five games after impaired driving charges 5747234 headlines Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:31:07 EDT Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:04:18 EDT Canadian Press Jordan Dumais of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Halifax Mooseheads has been suspended five games after being charged with impaired driving earlier this month.

]]>
Jordan Dumais of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Halifax Mooseheads has been suspended five games after being charged with impaired driving earlier this month.

Halifax police arrested the 19-year-old winger on March 1 when a vehicle was stopped around 2:20 a.m. for a traffic violation.

Dumais is scheduled to appear in court at a later date to face two impaired driving charges, police said in an email.

The QMJHL suspension for Dumais, who played for Canada at the 2024 world junior hockey championship and is a draft pick of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, was announced Friday.

The league didn’t specifically mention the charges in announcing the ban, but said the player “violated the QMJHL and the team’s code of conduct.”

The Montreal native has 16 goals and 47 points in 21 games for the Mooseheads in an injury-plagued 2023-24 campaign.

Dumas sat out Halifax’s 4-2 win over the Charlottetown Islanders before the suspension was announced. He’ll miss the team’s three remaining regular-season contests along with its playoff opener.

The five-foot-eight, 169-pound winger had one goal and one assist at the world juniors in Sweden, where Canada crashed out in the quarterfinals to Czechia.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey sn-article
OHL_ROUNDUP OHL; CHL; Sportsnet OHL Roundup: Barlow’s hat trick helps Attack beat Wolves 5747234 headlines Sun, 17 Mar 2024 21:13:47 EDT Sun, 17 Mar 2024 21:13:48 EDT Canadian Press Captain Colby Barlow scored three goals as the Owen Sound Attack defeated the visiting Sudbury Wolves 6-4 in Ontario Junior Hockey League action on Sunday.

]]>
Captain Colby Barlow scored three goals as the Owen Sound Attack defeated the visiting Sudbury Wolves 6-4 in Ontario Junior Hockey League action on Sunday.

Servac Petrovsky added two goals for the Attack (29-29-5-3), while Cedrick Guindon netted a single.

Quentin Musty scored twice for the Wolves (36-22-4-3), while Alex Pharand and Kocha Delic added singles.

The Attack outshot the Wolves 33-31 and went 1-for-4 on the power play. The Wolves went 0-for-2 on the power play.

Elsewhere in the OHL on Sunday:

FRONTENACS 4 BATTALION 3 (OT)

KINGSTON, Ont. — Paul Ludwinski completed his hat trick by scoring at 4:50 of overtime, lifting the Kingston Frontenacs to a 4-3 victory over the visiting North Bay Battalion.

Matthew Soto also scored for the Frontenacs (31-31-4-0).

Anthony Romani, Owen Van Steensel and Sandis Vilmanis scored for the Central Division-leading Battalion (36-20-7-2).

STORM 5 RANGERS 4

GUELPH, Ont. — Charlie Paquette’s second goal of the game, scored at 18:28 of the period, proved to be the winner as the Guelph Storm edged the Kitchener Rangers 5-4.

Gavin Grundner, Jake Karabela and Cam Allen also scored for the Storm (30-27-6-1).

Luca Romano, Simon Motew, Tanner Lam and Carson Rehkopf scored for the Rangers (41-22-2-0).

STEELHEADS 7 BULLDOGS 2

BRANTFORD, Ont. — Mason Zebeski scored twice as the visiting Mississauga Steelheads rolled past the Brantford Bulldogs 7-2.

Gabriel Chiarot, Adam Zidlicky, Jack Van Volsen, Chas Sharpe and Angus MacDonell also scored for the Steelheads (37-21-8-0).

Adrian Rebelo and Calvin Crombie scored for the Bulldogs (35-20-8-2).

ICEDOGS 3 COLTS 0

NIAGARA, Ont. — Charlie Robertson made 30 saves and earned the shutout as the Niagara IceDogs blanked the visiting Barrie Colts 3-0.

Gavin Bryant scored twice for the IceDogs (17-40-6-1), while William Stewart scored once.

Goaltender Sam Hillebrandt stopped 23 of 25 shots for the Colts (26-34-4-0).

KNIGHTS 7 SPITFIRES 4

WINDSOR, Ont. — Ruslan Gazizov scored twice as the visiting London Knights beat the Windsor Spitfires 7-4.

Jackson Edward, Kaleb Lawrence, Max McCue, Denver Barkey and Jacob Julien also scored for the Midwest Division-leading Knights (48-14-1-3).

Ryan Abraham, Valentin Zhugin, Anthony Cristoforo and Colton Smith scored for the Spitfires (18-39-5-3).

GENERALS 7 STING 2

OSHAWA, Ont. — Beckett Sennecke scored once and added two assists as the Oshawa Generals buzzed by the visiting Sarnia Sting 7-2.

Matthew Buckley, Connor Punnett, Calum Ritchie, Rasmus Kumpulainen, Connor Lockhart and Owen Griffin also scored for the East Division-leading Generals (38-19-7-2).

Easton Wainwright and Carter Kostuch scored for the Sting (24-37-3-1).

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey OHL sn-article
WHL_ROUNDUP WHL Roundup: Broncos’ Gould-en touch helps to beat Oil Kings 5747234 headlines Sun, 17 Mar 2024 23:10:53 EDT Sun, 17 Mar 2024 23:10:54 EDT Canadian Press Ryan Gould scored two goals and added an assist as the visiting Swift Current Broncos defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-4 in Western Hockey League action on Sunday at Rogers Place.

]]>
Ryan Gould scored two goals and added an assist as the visiting Swift Current Broncos defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-4 in Western Hockey League action on Sunday at Rogers Place.

Ty Coupland, Clarke Caswell and Conor Geekie also scored for the Central Division-leading Broncos (38-21-4-2), who led 2-1 after the first period and 4-3 heading into the third.

Gavin Hodnett scored twice for the Oil Kings (25-37-3-1), while Ty Nash and Marc Lajoie added singles.

The Broncos went 2-for-4 on the power play and outshot the Oil Kings 33-32.

The Oil Kings went 1-for-3 on the power play.

Elsewhere in the WHL on Sunday:

THUNDERBIRDS 5 WINTERHAWKS 4 (OT)

SEATTLE, Wash. — Sawyer Mynio scored at 3:59 of overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds rallied from behind to beat the Portland Winterhawks 5-4.

Antonio Martorana, Jordan Gustafson, Braeden Cootes and Jeremy Hanzel also scored for the Thunderbirds (25-37-2-0), who trailed 4-2 heading into the third period.

Carter Sotheran scored twice for the U.S. Division-leading Winterhawks (46-15-3-1), while Josh Davies and Gabe Klassen netted singles. Tyson Jugnauth and Luca Cagnoni each had two assists.

COUGARS 6 GIANTS 3

LANGLEY, B.C. — Terik Parascak and Zac Funk each scored twice as the visiting Prince George Cougars beat the Vancouver Giants 6-3.

Jett Lajoie and Carlin Dezainde also scored for the B.C. Division-leading Cougars (47-15-1-3).

Jaden Lipinski scored twice for the Giants (32-30-4-0), while Cameron Schmidt netted a single.

HITMEN 3 HURRICANES 2 (OT)

CALGARY, Alta. — Reese Hamilton scored at 3:12 of overtime as the Calgary Hitmen edged the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-2.

Maxim Muranov and Carson Wetsch also scored for the Hitmen (27-30-7-1).

Brayden Edwards and Luke Cozens scored for the Hurricanes (32-29-5-0).

WARRIORS 6 PATS 3

REGINA, Sask. — Jagger Firkus scored twice and Brayden Yager had a goal and three assists as the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors beat the Regina Pats 6-3.

Pavel McKenzie, Atley Calvert and Lynden Lakovic also scored for the Warriors (43-20-0-3).

Anthony Wilson, Zane Rowan and Corbin Vaughan scored for the Pats (22-37-4-2).

CHIEFS 6 WILD 1

SPOKANE, Wash. — Roulette Conner scored two goals and added an assist as the Spokane Chiefs whipped the visiting Wenatchee Wild 6-1.

Brayden Crampton, Ty Cheveldayoff, Lukas Krai and Shea Van Olm also scored for the Chiefs (29-31-5-1), who outshot the Wild 35-21.

Karter Prosofsky scored for the Wild (33-28-4-0).

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey WHL sn-article
QMJHL_ROUNDUP QMJHL; CHL; Sportsnet QMJHL Roundup: Boisselle leads Olympiques past Cataractes 5747234 headlines Sun, 17 Mar 2024 18:47:14 EDT Sun, 17 Mar 2024 18:47:16 EDT Canadian Press Justin Boisselle’s second goal of the game, scored at 7:53 of the third period, proved to be the winner as the Gatineau Olympiques edged the visiting Shawinigan Cataractes 4-3 in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action on Sunday at Centre Slush Puppie.

]]>
Justin Boisselle’s second goal of the game, scored at 7:53 of the third period, proved to be the winner as the Gatineau Olympiques edged the visiting Shawinigan Cataractes 4-3 in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action on Sunday at Centre Slush Puppie.

Charles Boutin and Justin Dumais also scored for the Olympiques (24-31-5-6), who were outshot 34-25. Jeremie Minville chipped in with two assists.

Jiri Klima, Vince Élie and Natan Éthier scored for the Cataractes (27-34-3-1), who trailed 2-0 after the first period but tied the game 2-2 heading into the third.

The Olympiques went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Cataractes were 0-for-4.

Elsewhere in the QMJHL on Sunday:

EAGLES 3 WILDCATS 1

MONCTON, N.B. — Antoine Roy scored a goal and added an assist as the visiting Cape Breton Eagles topped the Moncton Wildcats 3-1.

Luke Patterson and Étienne Desjardins also scored for the Eagles (37-26-1-2).

Etienne Morin scored once for the Wildcats (36-22-4-3).

SEA DOGS 8 ISLANDERS 4

SAINT JOHN, N.B. — Tyler Peddle and Drew Elliott each scored twice as the Saint John Sea Dogs dunked the visiting Charlottetown Islanders 8-4.

Nico Laforge, Matteo Mann, Brody Fournier and Jacob Beaulieu also scored for the Sea Dogs (19-38-5-3).

Anthony Flanagan, Simon Hughes, Ross Campbell and Kyle Powers scored for the Islanders (25-33-5-2).

DRAKKAR 5 PHOENIX 1

SHERBROOKE, Que. — Niks Fenenko scored a goal and added an assist as the visiting Baie-Comeau Drakkar rolled past the Sherbrooke Phoenix 5-1.

Justin Poirier, Jules Boilard, Justin Gill and Kirill Evstigneev also scored for the East Division-leading Drakkar (52-11-2-1).

Charles-Antoine Beauregard scored for the Phoenix (32-27-1-5).

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey QMJHL sn-article
17105607135913075 Blades’ Suzdalev scores insane final-second Michigan goal full_width Fri, 15 Mar 2024 23:46:26 EDT Fri, 15 Mar 2024 23:49:51 EDT Sportsnet Video Watch as Washington Capitals prospect and Saskatoon Blades forward Alexander Sudzdalev scores a stunner, beating the first-period buzzer with a Michigan goal to even the score against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Courtesy: @TheWHL

]]>

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey WHL videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/92c60fea-35ba-448e-87b5-0a1bb4d7cb48/a83355fc-56db-4fde-b7d5-288e6e78f6d8/160x90/match/image.jpgSportsnet Video bc-video
ohllogo Two Sudbury Wolves players suspended for ‘inappropriate’ group chat comments feed_column Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:09:02 EST Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:09:07 EST Sportsnet Staff Sudbury Wolves Nathan Villeneuve was suspended 15 games and Evan Konyen was suspended 10 games for violating the OHL’s social media policy, the league announced Wednesday.

]]>
Two Sudbury Wolves players have been suspended for comments made in a team group chat, the OHL announced Wednesday.

Centre Nathan Villeneuve was suspended 15 games and right wing Evan Konyen was suspended 10 games.

The suspensions come out of the conclusion of an OHL investigation into allegations surrounding “inappropriate game-related comments” shared on a Wolves group chat after a game between the Wolves and the Barrie Colts on Jan. 18.

In its statement, the OHL did not specify what the comments were.

The OHL opened an investigation on Feb. 21 after accusations surfaced that the Wolves had placed a bounty on Kashawn Aitcheson, who laid a hard but legal hit on Wolves forward Villeneuve during the Jan. 18 game.

Aitcheson did not play when the two teams met again three days after the incident, nor did he play when the teams met again on Feb. 28.

The OHL’s investigation concluded Villeneuve and Konyen violated the league’s social media policy “in a manner detrimental to the welfare of the league, one that would greatly compromise player safety and the overall integrity of the game.”

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey OHL sn-article
QMJHL_Logo-Couleur-big Sea Dogs coach released from hospital after experiencing medical emergency during game feed_column Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:45:15 EDT Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:45:22 EDT Sportsnet Staff Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard has been released from hospital, after experiencing a medical emergency during a QMJHL game on Saturday, the team announced on Sunday.

]]>
Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard has been released from hospital, after experiencing a medical emergency during a QMJHL game on Saturday, the team announced on Sunday.

“Travis was released from hospital this morning and is on his way home to his family in Saint John,” the team said in a statement. “What happened last night was scary and the outpouring of support and concern for Travis has meant a lot to him and the team.”

The Sea Dogs were playing the Cape Breton Eagles when the game was suspended in the third period on Saturday. The Eagles were leading 6-0 at the time.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey sn-article
Bedard Hockey Canada says Alberta will host 2027 World Juniors, other events feed_column Sat, 24 Feb 2024 17:14:44 EST Sat, 24 Feb 2024 17:14:45 EST Canadian Press The world junior hockey championship is returning to Alberta.

]]>
EDMONTON — The world junior hockey championship is returning to Alberta.

Hockey Canada says the province will host the world juniors in 2027. No cities or venues for the tournament have been set.

Alberta last hosted the world juniors in 2022 in Edmonton. Ottawa will host the event next year while the 2026 tournament will take place in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minn.

Hockey Canada also announced that Alberta will host this year’s world para hockey championship at WinSport Arena in Calgary from May 4-12 and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup at Rogers Place in Edmonton from Aug. 5-10.

Alberta will host the Hlinka Gretzky Cup again in 2026 and some Canada-U. S. women’s rivalry series games in 2025 and 2026.

“Hosting international games and tournaments are critical to provide opportunities for our men’s, women’s and para athletes to develop and compete on the world stage, showcase our teams and communities, and inspire the next generation of participants and fans,” Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Katherine Henderson said in a statement.

The announcement included an $11-million commitment from the Alberta government to host the events throughout the province.

“We are grateful that the Province of Alberta has made this significant investment to enable these events to be played on home ice, which will significantly benefit each of our programs, including our national teams that are preparing for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” Henderson said.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey World Juniors sn-article
Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Hockey Puck Generic 1 Manitoba RCMP investigating report of hazing involving rural hockey team feed_column Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:51:48 EDT Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:51:50 EDT Canadian Press Manitoba RCMP are investigating after receiving a report of hazing involving a rural hockey team earlier this year.

]]>
Manitoba RCMP are investigating after receiving a report of hazing involving a rural hockey team earlier this year.

Police say Pembina Valley RCMP received a report stemming for an alleged hazing incident that occurred in Winnipeg in January.

RCMP would not confirm or deny that the hazing reported took place, but only that they are investigating.

Winnipeg police say the investigation was initiated by RCMP and they have assisted with some local issues.

A francophone school division that oversees 24 schools in the province confirmed in a statement some of their students were involved in the matter and it has launched its own internal investigation.

The Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine says it does not tolerate hazing or any other abuse, and is working to provide support to the students and families involved.

]]>
Hockey sn-article
chl_logo1280 Antitrust lawsuit filed in United States against CHL, major junior leagues feed_column Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:23:02 EST Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:23:04 EST Canadian Press A new class-action lawsuit alleges that Canadian major junior hockey leagues violate antitrust laws in the United States by colluding to restrict the negotiation powers of players.

]]>
A new class-action lawsuit alleges that Canadian major junior hockey leagues violate antitrust laws in the United States by colluding to restrict the negotiation powers of players.

The suit was filed Wednesday in New York by the North American division of the World Association of Ice Hockey Players Unions.

It alleges players are subject to systemic abuses, including the artificial reduction of compensation and conducting involuntary drafts, where a team can obtain an athlete’s exclusive major junior rights without the presence of a collective bargaining agreement.

The plaintiffs allege the system is “a cartel (that) artificially suppresses and standardizes compensation by denying players their freedom of choice, freedom of movement and freedom to play for the club of their choice.”

The Canadian Hockey League and its three major junior circuits — the Western Hockey League, Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League — are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The NHL is also named as a “co-conspirator.” The lawsuit alleges the NHL colludes with major junior leagues to prevent its players from finding employment in minor professional leagues like the American Hockey League or the ECHL, while those circuits actively recruit under-20 players from Europe.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to enforce the geographical draft restrictions, contracts and agreements in place, along with damages for players for compensation and from league profits. Plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

The CHL said in a statement it had only been made aware of the complaint Wednesday, adding the World Association of Ice Hockey Players Unions has not been certified to represent any of the players in its leagues.

“Until we can thoroughly review the document, we are unable to provide comment as to the legitimacy of its contents,” the statement read.

Eight of the CHL’s 60 teams are based in the U.S. — five in Washington state, two in Michigan and one in Pennsylvania.

The lawsuit alleges the three major junior leagues maintain a system that gives a league exclusive rights to recruit within a geographic territory, eliminating competition between the leagues despite being independent entities under the CHL umbrella.

The competition among clubs is further reduced by the way leagues handle their entry drafts, the lawsuit claims.

“In an involuntary draft, players may be drafted even if they did not apply to participate in the draft, with the end result being that the drafting club will enjoy the exclusive rights to that player for the entirety of his major junior hockey career,” the lawsuit states.

The lack of bargaining power for major junior players allows clubs, many of which are financially successful, to artificially reduce compensation, the lawsuit alleges.

The two former major junior players part of the suit are Isaiah DiLaura and Tanner Gould. DiLaura, 23, is from Lakeville, Minn., and Gould, 19, is from Calgary.

“Teenage players continue to be treated like disposable objects, just like I was,” DiLaura said in a news release. “I am hoping this lawsuit will put an end to that.”

A $30-million settlement between the CHL, its leagues and players seeking back pay for minimum wage was reached in Canada in 2020. But judges in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta refused to sign off on the agreement.

The judges objected to wording in the settlement they said was too broad and could prevent the players from pressing other legitimate claims.

— With files from The Associated Press.

]]>
Jr Hockey OHL QMJHL WHL sn-article
(Bjorn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency via AP) Macklin Sportsnet’s 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: February Edition full_width Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:35:59 EST Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:47:20 EST Sam Cosentino In the last edition of the rankings before the NHL trade deadline, Sam Cosentino looks at what the top prospects are doing to increase their draft stock.

]]>
Plenty has happened since our last rankings in the middle of January. After digesting all that was the world juniors, scouts were back on the road to attend a number of prospect events from the middle of the month through to the start of February.

The All-American game, which features a combination of players from the USNTDP and the USHL, was well-attended, but not necessarily well-received. Scouts felt the game lacked intensity and competitiveness. Further, scouts lamented the fact that a handful of players weren’t eligible for the 2024 draft, including the game’s MVP, top player James Hagens.

A week and a half later, the CHL/NHL Top Prospect game took place in Moncton. The owner of the Moncton Wildcats, Robert Irving, enjoys putting his stamp on big-time events. He loves to show off his city, his team and the team’s facility, Avenir Centre. The CHL built in an additional day to the program, which was designed to reduce travel stress, especially for WHL players, some of whom came from as far away as four time zones. The extra day also made for plenty of time for players to do media interviews, complete on- and off-ice testing, and still have enough rest to compete in the game with energy and enthusiasm. The game itself was highly competitive and, in general, the event was as successful as it’s ever been.

Coming out of the CHL game, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek tweeted that a format change was coming for the prospects game. The idea that was thrown out was a two-game competition between the CHL’s top prospects and the best players from the USNTDP U18 and the USHL.

For example, Sasha Boisvert is from Canada, but he would participate on the U.S. side because he plays in the USHL. So, not necessarily a true Canada-vs.-USA format, but enough to create plenty of intrigue.

An informal poll of scouts revealed heavy interest, for a number of reasons. First, the USA-Canada theme would instantly create a more competitive environment. Depending on an alternating venue schedule done year-to-year or game-to-game, scouts could settle into one place, opening up a window for team meetings. Lastly, the event could be marketed to a higher level, generating more financial support for each of the two entities.

From a logistical stand point, on- and off-ice testing could be streamlined, providing scouts with data for what would be a high percentage of the best draft-eligible players playing in North America. Making one of the teams would be highly competitive because the rosters spots would be cut in half due to having two separate events. Ideally, if there was a way to include NCAA players, the potential to have all of North America’s best prospects in one spot for two games would be a great bonus for NHL scouts.

Stay tuned to see if this becomes a reality, but the idea of amalgamating the two games would provide a win-win scenario for everyone involved.

As for this month’s rankings, it’s crowded at the top. Macklin Celebrini remains in a class by himself as the projected first-overall pick. He continues to play a complete game and, as of this writing, he is the NCAA’s top goal-scorer while also the loop’s youngest player. (He won’t turn 18 until June.) The top-10 players are loaded with defencemen who keep leap-frogging one another. The variety of defencemen is also intriguing, and NHL teams picking in the top 10 will be able to lean to an organizational bias or need-based strategy.

After Celebrini, the forward group is quite interesting. Ivan Demidov is the next most talented forward, yet he can’t get out of the MHL and there’s always the risk of the player not coming to North America or not being allowed out of Russia. Spokane’s Berkly Catton is the safest bet. He looks like a future letter wearer, not to mention his deft skill.

Outside the top 10, more forwards enter the fray. Tij Iginla continues to play well in Kelowna, and his name alone adds value to what is already a really good player. Cole Eiserman, of the USNTDP, once thought to be the consensus second-overall pick, has slipped outside of the top 10, but if a team is looking for a pure goal-scorer, he could find himself back inside the top third of the draft. Cayden Lindstrom of Medicine Hat hasn’t played since Dec. 16, but at six-foot-four, 215 pounds, he will draw considerable interest from teams that appreciate the size-and-skill combination.

As we move farther down the rankings, it’s clear that things will open up considerably around 20th overall. In these rankings, that grouping includes Adam Jiříček of Czechia and fellow defenceman Aron Kiviharju, both of whom remain out of their respective lineups. Pre-season rankings had both ranked inside the top half of the first round; and both might have enough currency in previous seasons/events to make them attractive higher than where I have them placed. Furthermore, there is precedence for drafting players who have spent a larger portion of their draft-eligible season on the injured list.

A number of NHL teams feel the same way. Vancouver and Winnipeg have each moved their 2024 first-round picks in trades that have made them better immediately. With teams projected to pick 20th or later, this tactic may be repeated as we creep toward the March 8 trade deadline. On the receiving end of those picks, Calgary and Montreal are happy to accumulate the additional draft currency and elevate their risk tolerance or use those picks to address a positional need.

Digesting the above, here’s our last rankings before the trade deadline, with our next edition due about a week after the deadline passes.

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): There’s no slowing this guy down. World juniors, NCAA play, Beanpot, all the while averaging almost a goal per game.

2. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL): With reach and great skating ability, he can close space extremely quickly. Unexpectedly, he will make small-area plays, especially on the breakout.

3. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA): He runs the whole gamut as a two-way defenceman. He can get up ice in a hurry and is not afraid to stay low in the offensive zone. There remains some immaturity in his game.

4. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL): From the moment he stepped into the OHL, he’s improved steadily. That growth curve has scouts thinking there’s still plenty of room for growth in his game.

5. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): He’s well above the league he’s playing in and likely won’t get a chance to change that situation. This will give pause to some scouts for a lack of experience against other high-end teams/players.

6. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga): It’s disappointing not to see him at the Five Nations, but his Liiga team is making a run, and he’s a big part of that run.

7. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL): He continues his meteoric rise inside the top 10 and has a chance to surpass the 30-goal plateau.

8. Zeev Buium, D, U of Denver (NCAA): He’s bidding to become a point per game defenceman, which hasn’t happened in NCAA play. There’s much more to him than his ability to produce. His mobility allows him to be an effective three-zone player.

9. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL): He traveled four time zones getting back to Spokane after the top prospects game, and has six multi-point efforts in his last nine games since.

10. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL): He can be too casual at times, but his offensive instincts and his ability to execute plays all over the ice are extremely attractive.

11. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL): Uber-talented, the son of Hall of Famer Jarome continues to carve his own path. He has plenty of deception in his game that creates space to use his wicked shot.

12. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): He was starting to find his grove before getting injured in mid-December. Getting back in the lineup for at least some games down the stretch will be important.

13. Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP: He hasn’t slipped as much as being surpassed by players playing more-coveted positions. He may be the most proficient goal-scorer in this draft class, and that means something.

14. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL): He’s loaded with creativity and vision, and is scoring goals with a shot that explodes off the stick.

15. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): He brings a power-forward element to the game with good touch around the net, yet shoots it well enough to score from a distance.

16. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan): He’s a steady player who checks all the boxes, but lacking one dynamic element doesn’t allow him to stand out from the crowd.

17. Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Liiga): He’s quick off the mark with his first three steps allowing him to back off defenders or escape quickly from them. He’s effective coming off the wall and getting into scoring position.

18. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): He’s a tireless worker and fearless competitor who possesses plenty of skill to make and finish plays.

19. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL): His silky-smooth hands allow him to make small-area plays. He is deceptive in his shot-making.

20. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Moscow Dynamo (MHL): He has been in a difficult spot bouncing from the MHL to the KHL, which is akin to a North American player bouncing between the CHL/USHL and the NHL. He is a dynamic player off the rush.

21. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL): He’s on an 11-game heater as he remains one of the most talked-about prospects in this draft class.

22. Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm (OHL): He benefitted from the tutelage of Matthew Poistras last season and benefitted more this year as Poistras’ NHL success opened up more prime time.

23. Adam Jiříček, D, HC Plzen (Extraliiga): His currency from events past and his brother’s high draft position will play in his favour, and likely have him taken higher than this ranking would suggest.

24. Aron Kiviharju, D, Jokerit (Liiga): The latest projections have him back from injury in time for the world U18 tournament, where it will be fascinating to see if he can regain his stride there.

25. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL): He uses his reach effectively to keep the puck away from defenders, and possesses excellent puck skills and a quick release that goalies have trouble tracking.

26. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL): He is always around the puck and is a threat from the tops of circles down because of a sneaky release and uncanny accuracy.

27. Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s (HS): St. Andrew’s continues to earn respect as a developmental destination for high-end prospects. Letourneau is all of that, in a frame that will always be coveted by NHL teams.

28. Cole Hutson, D, USNTDP: His eight points in four games at the Five Nations will be a springboard to the rest of the season. The U18 worlds will be a great test to gauge how far he’s come from the start of the season.

29. Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, Vaxjo (U20): His showing at the Five Nations tournament was another step in his rise to prominence. He has benefitted by playing close to his peer group in league play, as opposed to getting limited minutes in either the Allsvenskan or SHL.

30. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): Injury setbacks combined with some of the draft year blues have him ranked lower than where he should be.

31. Lucas Pettersson, C, Modo (U18): Shifty, two-way centre leans more playmaker than scorer. He’s able to handle and execute efficiently in high-pressure situations.

32. Colton Roberts, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL): After lengthy conversation with colleague Jason Bukala, I can’t help but think of his rawness, but also his upside.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey NHL sn-article
Easton Cowan Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan extends OHL point streak to 33 games feed_column Fri, 15 Mar 2024 20:49:07 EDT Fri, 15 Mar 2024 20:51:49 EDT Sportsnet Staff London Knights forward Easton Cowan has tied Dave Gilmore’s record for the longest point streak in franchise history at 33 games.

]]>
London Knights forward Easton Cowan has tied Dave Gilmore’s record for the longest point streak in franchise history at 33 games.

Cowant recorded an assist on Ruslan Gazizov’s fourth goal of the game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to extend his streak.

Cowan was making his return to the lineup after missing one game with an upper-body injury.

Cowan broke a tie with Sting alumnus Jordan Kyrou for the fifth-longest point streak in the OHL in the last 30 years.

The 18-year-old now has 89 points (32 goals and 57 assists) in 52 games this season.

Cowan was selected in the first round, 28th overall, by the Maple Leafs during last year’s NHL Draft.

The Knights next play Sunday on the road against the Windsor Spitfires.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey OHL TOR sn-article
London Police Press Conference Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:52:55 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 19:07:00 EST Josh Beneteau carousel_meta sn-collection truong Police chief challenged for statement on what’s contributing to violence against women 5876028 carousel Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:57:04 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 20:43:05 EST Sportsnet Staff As a reporter started to ask a question during Monday’s press conference regarding the 2018 World Junior sexual assault case, London police chief Thai Truong stepped to the podium and said he wanted to address some previous queries.

]]>
As a reporter started to ask a question during Monday’s press conference regarding the 2018 World Junior sexual assault case, London police chief Thai Truong  stepped to the podium and said he wanted to address some previous queries.

Truong went on to give his thoughts about his concerns about sexualization of women in a wide variety of outlets contributing to violence.

“There’s a widespread prevalence of violence towards women worldwide,” he said. “One contributing factor and one complex thing we need to address is us as a society and a community because the sexualization of young women and girls in today’s society is contributing to the violence against women.

“Part of it, and I’m not blaming the media, but I do want to highlight how we portray young women and girls on TV, in music videos, how we write about them, magazine shoots, all that contributes to sexual violence and the normalization of what we’re seeing.”

Another reporter at the press conference later challenged Truong on his comments and the police force’s investigation.

“You mentioned just now things in media contributing to problems with the way in which women and girls are perceived and the way sexual violence is perceived,” the reporter said. “Would it be fair to say that taking nearly six years to lay a sexual assault charge in a high-profile case would also contribute to sexual violence against women?”

“That’s a fair question,” said Truong, who became London police chief last June. “It’s not something as chief of police that I am happy about that it took six years. I truly am not happy about that whatsoever. … That is why I apologized to the victim and to her family.”

Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Carter Hart, all 25, and Alex Formenton, 24, have been charged with one count of each of sexual assault. Michael McLeod, 26, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, including one relating to aiding someone else in the offence. All five individuals, who represented Canada during the 2018 World Junior tournament, surrendered separately to the London Police Service within the last 10 days and were released following charges.

Host Jeff Marek and Sportsnet reporter Paul D. Grant, who was in London for the press conference, discussed Truong’s statement on the Jeff Marek Show after the media event concluded.

Marek said while he understood the chief faced a difficult task during the press conference in the midst of a lengthy legal process, he didn’t think it was the right time to make that kind of statement.

“I found that really tasteless that in front of assembled media, the chief took a shot at media and somehow made media culpable even in a vague passing form,” Marek said.

Added Grant: “I think (the press conference) was very highly scripted, a lot of statements being read, there were messages being stuck to, etcetera. I think at that point he went off the script, it just seemed to me, judging by his body language and the way he approached the podium and interrupted the question being asked. It just felt like he went off script and I think he got a little hot.”

Mark Lazerus, a senior NHL writer for The Athletic, who has written about the investigation, also was critical of Truong.

]]>
Hockey NHL sn-article
17071637475875978 London police chief apologizes for lengthy time of investigation in 2018 world junior hockey case 5876028 carousel Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:11:40 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:58:35 EST Sportsnet Video London Police Chief Thai Truong shares the results and details into the 2018 investigation involving the Canadian World Junior hockey team.

]]>

]]>
Hockey NHL videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/3447747f-8324-48d2-8bfa-af09a94f54ed/30126629-35a4-4e2a-8c0a-62df5abb2163/160x90/match/image.jpg2018 World Junior sexual assault allegationsnoadsSportsnet Video bc-video
17071637535875980 Detective outlines timeline of London police’s 2018 World Junior Hockey investigation 5876028 carousel Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:13:07 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:48:10 EST Sportsnet Video Detective Sergeant Katherine Dann of the LPS sexual assault and child abuse unit outlines the timeline of the London Police’s investigation into the 2018 Canadian World Junior Hockey team.

]]>

]]>
Hockey NHL videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/61326a1d-e05a-4344-a6f1-b8464ea91081/7a6ab0fe-bf9a-4481-a1bc-59e282e4b78e/160x90/match/image.jpg2018 World Junior sexual assault allegationsnoadsSportsnet Video bc-video
17071680685876056 What triggered a review to 2018 World Junior case after it was originally closed without charges? 5876028 carousel Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:23:45 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:27:03 EST Sportsnet Video Chief Thai Truong and Detective Sergeant Katherine Dann of the LPS sexual assault unit discuss why the 2018 Canadian World Junior Hockey investigation was reviewed then reopened, after it was originally closed in February 2019 without any charges laid.

]]>

]]>
Hockey NHL videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/0f7dbdce-a164-43cd-bb6b-89fe96d40f3d/dde1f6d6-7f0e-435d-ada4-558c1f5e967e/160x90/match/image.jpg2018 World Junior sexual assault allegationsnoadsSportsnet Video bc-video
London What to expect next in 2018 World Junior investigation full_width Mon, 05 Feb 2024 20:44:10 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 20:44:16 EST Paul D. Grant Now that the first court appearance and a press conference by the London Police Service pertaining to the investigation around the 2018 World Junior alleged sexual assault have occurred, the next question becomes: What’s next?

]]>
LONDON, Ont. — Now that the first court appearance and a press conference by the London Police Service pertaining to the investigation around the 2018 World Junior alleged sexual assault have occurred, the next question becomes: What’s next?

In talking to legal experts and lawyers, Sportsnet was able to answer some of these questions.

First, what do we need to know about Monday’s court appearance?

In the first court date surrounding the case involving five players charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in 2018 allegedly involving members of that year’s Canadian national junior team, the players did not appear and their lawyers appeared via video conferencing. No charges were read, and no pleas were read into the record. The lawyers established who they were representing. A publication ban on the victim’s name, referred to in redacted court documents as “E.M.,” was ordered in place by the justice of the peace. The Crown in the case, Heather Donkers, said the “substantial” amount of evidence – which would range from texts to photos to videos to audio and social media posts – would be sent by couriers to defence lawyers Monday and Tuesday. The next hearing in the case was set for April 30. 

So what will happen between now and April 30?

A lot of, to quote one lawyer, “delays.” Some of the province’s most highly regarded defence lawyers hired by the defendants will review the evidence sent to them by the Crown, there will be discovery, pre-trial motions filed by the defence, evidentiary hearings, meetings, etc. And although the charges have been laid by London police, they have yet to be read in court, so that has to happen along the way as well.

Could these delays influence the outcome of the trial?

Potentially. Even given all the anticipated delays that are the norm for this kind of case, the trial date must be set within six months of the charges being laid and a trial should conclude inside of three years. Four of the five players charged were charged on different days, so the clock is ticking slightly unevenly around this. Nonetheless, if the trial date has not been set before the six-month deadline, the charges are at risk.

What other challenges does the Crown face in getting convictions?

Time is a common thread throughout this incident. According to court documents, the alleged incident occurred in June 2018. The matter was investigated by London police shortly thereafter but was concluded, without charges, in February 2019. After news came to light in the aftermath the settlement by Hockey Canada with the victim in April 2022, an internal review was conducted by London police, after which the investigation was re-opened by then-Police Chief Steve Williams in July 2022. That investigation concluded with charges being laid in the last week of January 2024. A trial, given the multitude of motions and Ontario’s overbooked court system, might not start until 2026. Under more typical circumstances, it’s difficult to get a conviction in sexual assault cases but the fact the trial could potentially begin eight years after the first investigation could be the most severe challenge in getting a conviction. Given that inebriation was a factor at the time of the alleged incident, adding years to memory recall at the time by the time there is a trial will further exacerbate that challenge.

Will there be one trial?

The Crown will certainly push for one trial for a multitude of reasons, one of which is to avoid the victim having to testify more than once around the same incident. If any of the defence lawyers are successful in asking for a separate trial for their client, then it is likely they will all get separate trials. Or, there could be, say, three trials if there are two plea bargains to lesser charges. Also, expect the defence to push for a trial by judge, as judges tend to adhere to evidence and precedent, while jury trials tend to favour the prosecution, as jury members sometimes let emotion override evidence.

If there are convictions, what will happen next?

One lawyer predicted that if there is a conviction, it would be appealed. And if the appeal is unsuccessful, then taking the case to the Supreme Court is not out of the question, given the visibility, the stakes and the high competency of the defence lawyers. Also, a sexual assault conviction can result in a maximum 10-year sentence, but typically a first-time offender is sentenced to around two years.

What’s next for the London Police Service?

Chief Thai Truong and Detective Sergeant Katherine Dann read statements and then answered questions from the media, but faced the full brunt of what many Canadians have been thinking all along: What took so long? To which Chief Truong offered “our sincerest apology to the victim and her family for the amount of time it has taken to this point.” But the failure of the original investigation and the investigative procedures of a police force working on earning back trust from its community will be a long road to hoe.

]]>
Hockey NHL CGY NJ PHI sn-article
truong London, Ont., police chief’s apology a good step but missing key elements: experts feed_column Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:56:18 EST Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:56:20 EST Canadian Press The London, Ont., police chief’s apology this week for the time it took to lay sexual assault charges against five professional hockey players marked an important step in acknowledging harm but lacked key elements needed to demonstrate full accountability and rebuild trust, experts say.

]]>
Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.

TORONTO — A southwestern Ontario police chief’s apology this week for the time it took to lay sexual assault charges against five professional hockey players marked an important step in acknowledging harm but lacked key elements needed to demonstrate full accountability and rebuild trust, experts say.

In a news conference that drew national attention Monday, London, Ont., police Chief Thai Truong apologized to a complainant and her family on behalf of the force for taking nearly six years to charge five then-members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team.

But the chief repeatedly declined to explain why the case was initially closed without charges in 2019, or what prompted the review that led investigators to reopen it in 2022, citing the ongoing court case. Truong said there would be a time when he could provide more information, adding he was “confident” such a situation wouldn’t happen again.

None of the allegations against the players have been tested in court. All five have said, through their lawyers, that they will defend themselves against the allegations.

The chief did well to acknowledge the delay and that the harm it caused goes “far beyond” the complainant, and appeared sincere in expressing his regret, said Shannon Moore, a professor at Brock University whose research focuses on restorative justice and trauma-informed policy, practice and pedagogy.

However, “there are many more pieces that are needed” in order to help repair some of the harm done, she said.

An effective apology needs to reflect the “whole truth of the harm caused,” and that goes beyond just the time it took to lay charges, Moore said. “It’s also what happened to just lead to this delay — what actions weren’t taken, which actions were taken.”

It’s also important to uncover and address any systemic issues that led to the decision making, she said.

As well, “there has to be action for this to feel meaningful, like changes within the police force, for instance,” she said.

Police may be limited in what they can say at this time, but must demonstrate an “absolute commitment to taking action when some of those limitations are lifted,” Moore said.

“It comes down to trust, the trust needs to be rebuilt, because it has been broken,” she said.

“Until someone that feels an impact from this harm has a sense that real reparation has been taken forward or a real understanding of the totality of the harm caused, then that trust isn’t built.”

In an emailed statement, Truong said Monday’s news conference was meant to provide context for the charges, with the understanding that there would be limitations on what could be revealed.

“We understand and acknowledge that there were several questions that we were not able to answer during the press conference, but as I shared with the public — there will be a time and a place for me to speak to these questions when the investigation has made its way through the court process,” he said in his emailed statement.

“Any discussion into the particulars of the investigation may put the success of that prosecution at risk. Our main priority at this time is to protect the prosecution and support the victim of this very serious alleged crime.”

While the chief must be mindful of the criminal court case and what defence lawyers could bring up at trial, there are ways to indicate action is being taken without compromising legal proceedings, said Melanie Randall, a law professor at Western University whose work focuses on sexual violence, including state accountability for responding to such violence.

Truong could make an “explicit promise to be fully forthcoming” at the end of the trial, with a detailed report and external oversight, rather than offering “a vague ‘we can’t talk about that now,”’ she said.

The force could also ramp up its work with community groups and supports related to violence against women, so that those groups could attest to a “concrete change,” she said.

When a public institution apologizes, it’s important that its actions align with its words, she said.

“Words are important, but actions are more important,” she said.

Randall recalled participating in efforts to hold Toronto police accountable in the case of Jane Doe, a woman who was sexually assaulted by serial rapist Paul Callow, also known as the “balcony rapist,” in the 1980s. Doe sued police for failing to warn residents in the area that there was a rapist at large — a case she won in the late 1990s.

Police at the time issued a public apology but then rescinded it during the civil trial, and fought to avoid having to pay compensation, Randall said.

Another public apology was delivered after the verdict.

“It’s much easier to say you’re sorry than to actually be sorry,” Randall said.

“Because if you’re truly sorry, you might have to pay compensation, or you might have to have your institution critically scrutinized from outside and you might have to make huge changes — you might actually have to change the culture.”

]]>
Hockey sn-article
Brandon Taylor/OHL Images Connor Lockhart of the Peterborough Petes Generals’ Connor Lockhart eligible to return after league investigation feed_column Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:46:49 EST Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:47:11 EST Sportsnet Staff Oshawa Generals forward Connor Lockhart is eligible to return to play on Saturday after the Ontario Hockey League concluded its investigation into the player for violating its code of conduct.

]]>
Oshawa Generals forward Connor Lockhart is eligible to return to play on Saturday after the Ontario Hockey League concluded its investigation into the player for violating its code of conduct.

“The OHL understands that the Durham Regional Police Service has closed this matter. The League investigation revealed that Lockhart violated OHL rules and the League’s Code of Conduct. This is in addition to the findings of a previous Oshawa Generals team investigation that determined the player violated team rules.”

Lockhart has been suspended for the team’s past eight games, which the league announced as “appropriate” and deemed him available to return to action. The OHL did not explain how Lockhart violated its rules or provide any other details to justify the suspension.

The 21-year-old was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. The Ottawa native was not tendered a contract by the Canucks, leaving Lockhart without an NHL deal.

Lockhart was traded by the Peterborough Petes to the Oshawa Generals back in the fall for a third-round pick in the 2025 OHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Draft.

In 37 games this season, split between the Petes and Generals, Lockhart has 21 goals and 46 points.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey OHL sn-article
(Peter Power/CP) CHL Top Prospects Game Will NCAA coaches vote to allow CHL players to play U.S. college hockey? feed_column Mon, 05 Feb 2024 13:45:37 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 13:45:44 EST Sportsnet Staff NCAA men’s hockey coaches are discussing a change that could have a dramatic impact on the landscape for the best teenage hockey players in the world.

]]>
NCAA men’s hockey coaches are discussing a change that could have a dramatic impact on the landscape for the best teenage hockey players in the world.

On 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said NCAA coaches could vote on changing a rule prohibiting Canadian Hockey League players from later playing in the U.S. college ranks after this season concludes.

Currently, players suiting up for one CHL game relinquish their NCAA eligibility.

“Even if coaches go for it, there’s the question of how quickly will the NCAA allow it to happen,” Friedman said. “So there’s that, but we are headed toward a future of where CHL players are going to be able to play NCAA hockey. The question is when.”

For decades, the CHL and NCAA have been fierce rivals. Players eligible to be drafted into the CHL in young teenage years often have to make a call on what route they are going, which has a huge impact on drafts for the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League.

But Friedman says new NIL rules in the NCAA, allowing student-athletes to earn money for their name, image and likeness, have changed the thinking when it comes to policies around the CHL.

If a rule change like this is approved, it would have massive ramifications on many levels of hockey.

The Canadian Junior Hockey League, with 132 teams in nine regional junior-A leagues, is currently an option for elite players looking to preserve NCAA eligibility. If the NCAA allows CHL players to play, the CJHL could become less attractive for top players.

But there have been fractures in the CJHL system recently with the British Columbia Hockey League breaking out of the Hockey Canada umbrella. Last month, five teams from the CJHL’s Alberta Junior Hockey League agreed to a deal to move to the BCHL, causing hard feelings on both sides.

Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek said on the podcast that the junior-A teams would have a new role if the NCAA opens the door for CHL players.

“Those leagues would essentially become feeder leagues for (NCAA) Division III in the U.S.” Marek said.

Also, Canadian university teams in U Sports could be negatively affected. Top U Sports teams often feature many players from the CHL after they graduate from the junior ranks but do not advance directly to the professional level.

Marek also said the NHL would have to figure out rules for players drafted in the top league. Currently, NHL teams have two years to sign a player drafted from the CHL and four years to sign a player drafted from the NCAA.

Another question would be when a player would be eligible to move from the CHL to the NCAA.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey OHL QMJHL WHL sn-article
Matt Slocum, Noah K. Murray, Matt Slocum, Paul Sancya, Corey Sipkin/AP/CP Alex Formenton Cal Foote Michael McLeod Dillon Dube Carter Hart 2018 World Junior investigation Court proceedings adjourned to April 30 in 2018 World Junior case feed_column Mon, 05 Feb 2024 10:30:36 EST Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:17:53 EST Paul D. Grant Court proceedings have been adjourned until April 30 in the case against five players charged with group sexual assault in June 2018 of a woman by members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team.

]]>
Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.

LONDON, Ont. — Court proceedings have been adjourned until April 30 in the case against five players charged with group sexual assault in June 2018 of a woman by members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team.

Lawyers representing Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, and Michael McLeod attended Monday’s arraignment — the first court appearance pertaining to this case — via video conference. None of the players were present Monday. Because of the adjournment, no charges were read in court and no pleas were entered.

Assistant Crown attorney Heather Donkers said during the appearance that lawyers for each player will receive disclosure, consisting of a package of “substantial” evidence collected by London police during their investigation on Monday or Tuesday. The contents of this disclosure will be reviewed and discussed during the next hearing.

Justice of the Peace Elizabeth Oudekerk ordered a publication ban on this case, which prohibits the publishing of any information that could lead to the identities of the alleged victim and two witnesses being made public.

Dube, Foote and Hart, all 25, and Formenton, 24, were each charged with one count of sexual assault last week. McLeod, 25, was charged with two counts of sexual assault. All five individuals surrendered to the London Police Service, separately, within the last 10 days and were released following charges being laid.

The charges come more than a year after the London police re-opened their investigation into the alleged incident on July 22, 2022. An initial investigation was launched in the summer of 2018 and concluded in February 2019 without charges being laid.

In May 2022, it was revealed that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman in London, Ont., after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight men, including members of the 2018 men’s world junior team, in June 2018.

Criticism of Hockey Canada’s handling of the alleged assault — plus allegations of another one involving the 2003 Canadian team at the World Junior tournament in Halifax — prompted an overhaul of the governing body’s leadership. Board chair Michael Brind’Amour resigned in August 2022, followed by interim chair Andrea Skinner in early October. Three days later CEO Scott Smith departed. Hockey Canada’s board members also resigned to make way for a new slate of directors.

Those changes came after a series of parliamentary committee hearings in Ottawa and almost all sponsors suspending financial support of the tournament and Hockey Canada’s world junior program. Additionally, eight provincial associations halted fee transfers and/or called for wholesale changes to the organization.

Hockey Canada officials testified on Parliament Hill in July 2022 that the organization had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989, not including the 2022 payout to the London plaintiff.

Revelations of a fund partially maintained by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims, prompted further criticism of Hockey Canada’s leadership.

Hockey Canada subsequently launched its own investigation of the alleged group sexual assault, led by lawyer Danielle Robitaille of Toronto law firm Heinen Hutchison Robitaille. The Robitaille report was obtained by London police during the course of their relaunched investigation.

Dube is a member of the Calgary Flames, Hart is with the Philadelphia Flyers, Foote and McLeod are with the New Jersey Devils, and Formenton is with Swiss league team Ambri-Piotta. All players were granted leaves of absence from their pro clubs prior to being charged.

]]>
Hockey NHL CGY NJ OTT PHI sn-article
Noah K. Murray/AP Cal Foote Possible sanctions beyond case for players facing 2018 sexual assault charges feed_column Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:45:55 EST Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:53:43 EST Canadian Press A Canadian lawyer says the five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team facing sexual assault charges also have the potential to encounter legal issues with their respective NHL teams as well.

]]>
Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.

The five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team facing sexual assault charges also have the potential to encounter further sanctions regardless of the outcome of their case.

Richard McLaren, an Ontario lawyer who authored a report into Russia’s sports doping at the Olympics, said players could be banned from playing in the NHL due to violating their team’s and the league’s code of conduct.

“There’s a lot of factors,” he said. “It involves the player, their team, the league and the players association when it comes to further repercussions.”

Lawyers for all five players: Alex Formenton, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, New Jersey forward Michael McLeod and Devils defenceman Cal Foote say their clients intend to plead not guilty.

Formenton, a former Ottawa Senator who plays in Switzerland, surrendered to police in London, Ont., on Sunday. 

The five players have also been allowed to go on indefinite leave from their pro clubs.

The NHL has conducted its own investigation into the sexual assault allegations, which have not been proven in court.

McLaren says even if the players are acquitted in a criminal court, the code of conduct agreement laid out by the players’ union and pro clubs means they could be banned from playing in the NHL in the future.

“That’s totally possible,” he said.

But they can also continue a playing career, McLaren said, adding that in his opinion it’s unlikely they would be barred from playing in the United States if they’re acquitted.

McLaren said that facts need to be proven and if they aren’t proven to a high enough standard for criminal charges, then civil actions can take place.

“It depends on the league and what it decides to take when it comes to the collective bargaining agreement and the players association,” he said.

That can also mean that a player whose contract expires by season’s end may not get signed by another team while there isn’t a verdict or resolution. Dube, Hart, McLeod and Foote are all free agents following 2023-24.

“Sport doesn’t have to wait for a criminal case to proceed. It’s not in the players’ hands,” said McLaren. “There’s no obligation to renew the contract because the clubs don’t need to take long-term action because the contract ends.”

Tom Mayenknecht, a principal in Emblematica Brand Builders and a former sports executive, said the players’ behaviour and attitude during the court case could have a bearing on any possible future.

“These things depend not only on what the players have been accused of doing and what they could potentially be convicted on, it’s often measured on how they handle it,” he said.

He said the players’ professional clubs will be required to make a decision on whether to continue to employ them while the case remains without a verdict.

Mayenknecht said sports teams and fans can also have a short memory when it comes to a player’s behaviour.

“There are examples of athletes from individual and team sports who have made some horrible errors in judgment and (committed) horrible acts and are not only charged but proven to have done so, and they’ve found ways to get back to a situation where they can operate moving forward and people have forgiven them,” he said.

NHL teams have directed inquiries about the players involved in the case to the league.

The league did not return a request for comment when asked about its role in handling inquiries for teams.

]]>
Hockey NHL CGY NJ PHI sn-article
WHL_ROUNDUP WHL Roundup: Conor Geekie scores twice, Broncos defeat Raiders feed_column Wed, 13 Mar 2024 01:12:02 EDT Wed, 13 Mar 2024 01:12:18 EDT Canadian Press Conor Geekie had two goals and two assists as the Swift Current Broncos defeated the Prince Albert Raiders 4-2 on Tuesday night in the Western Hockey League.

]]>
Conor Geekie had two goals and two assists as the Swift Current Broncos defeated the Prince Albert Raiders 4-2 on Tuesday night in the Western Hockey League.

Luke Mistelbacher and Peyton Kettles also scored for Swift Current (36-20-6) while Connor Hvidston and Clarke Caswell pitched in with two assists.

Broncos goaltender Reid Dyck kicked out 27 of 29 shots.

Ryder Ritchie and Niall Crocker scored for Prince Albert (30-28-5). Krzysztof Macias had two assists.

Raiders goaltender Max Hildebrand saved 22 of 25 shots.

BLADES 4, WHEAT KINGS 0

SASKATOON — Austin Elliott earned an 18-save shutout as the Saskatoon Blades topped the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-0.

Egor Sidorov scored three goals while John Babcock scored once for Saskatoon (46-12-5).

Netminder Carson Bjarnason kicked out 32 of 36 shots for Brandon (30-28-7).

WINTERHAWKS 3, CHIEFS 2

SPOKANE, Wash. — James Stefan knocked in the game-winning goal at 5:34 in the second period as the Portland Winterhawks edged the Spokane Chiefs.

Luca Cagnoni scored twice for Portland (44-15-3). Winterhawks netminder Jan Špunar stopped 25 of 27 shots.

Conner Roulette and Berkly Catton scored once for Spokane (27-30-6). Chiefs goaltender Cooper Michaluk stopped 37 of 40 shots.

GIANTS 5, AMERICANS 1

LANGLEY, B.C. — Jaden Lipinski scored twice and Ty Halaburda had three assists as the Vancouver Giants defeated the Tri-City Americans.

Connor Levis, Mazden Leslie and Adam Titlbach also scored for Vancouver (30-29-4). Brett Mirwald made 24 saves.

Cash Koch scored the lone goal for Tri-City (22-38-3). Kyle Kelsey stopped 42 shots.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey WHL sn-article
17072429475876721 Celebrini ‘bleeping’ pumped after helping lead BU over their rivals at TD Garden feed_column Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:11:02 EST Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:10:07 EST Sportsnet Video Check this out, as a very pumped up top NHL draft prospect Macklin Celebrini discusses Boston University’s huge Beanpot semi-final win over their rivals from Boston College, and his early thoughts on facing Northwestern in the Finals.

]]>

]]>
Hockey NHL NHL Draft videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/995fb7fa-9d6f-4455-a354-6b406fc523fd/0407ea5e-4e33-4054-9469-49999df5faa3/160x90/match/image.jpg32thoughtsblogSportsnet Video bc-video
Derik Hamilton/AP Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart Four more members of 2018 World Junior team charged with sexual assault feed_column Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:33:29 EST Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:02:53 EST Sportsnet Staff Four more members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team have now been charged with sexual assault by police in London, Ont., bringing the total number of players from that team charged to five.

]]>
Four more members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team have now been charged with sexual assault by police in London, Ont., bringing the total number of players from that team charged to five.

Lawyers representing Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart, New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod and Devils defenceman Cal Foote confirmed the charges in statements shared with Sportsnet.

On Sunday, former Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton turned himself in to police in London.

“The London Police Service have charged Mr. Dubé with sexual assault,” Louis P. Strezos and Kaleigh Davidson said in a statement to Sportsnet. “He will plead not guilty and maintains his innocence. He will defend the allegations in court. We ask that you respect the privacy of Mr. Dubé and that of his family. There will be no further comment at this time.”

“We act for Carter Hart and confirm he has been charged with one count of sexual assault,” Megan Savard and Riaz Sayani of Savard and Foy said in a statement. “He is innocent and will provide a full response to this false allegation in the proper forum, a court of law. Until then, we have no comment.”

“We can now confirm that more than five and a half years after EM’s initial complaint to police, the London Police Service has charged Mike McLeod with sexual assault,” David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein of Greenspan Humphrey Weinstein said in a statement provided to Sportsnet. “Mr. McLeod denies any criminal wrongdoing. He will be pleading not guilty and will vigorously defend the case. None of the evidence has been presented, let alone tested in court. We ask that the public respect Mr. McLeod’s privacy, and his family’s privacy. Because the matter is now before the court, we will not comment further at this time.”

“I can confirm that my client, Cal Foote, was charged with sexual assault,” Julianna Greenspan of Greenspan Partners LLP said in a statement. “Cal is innocent of the charge and will defend himself against this allegation to clear his name. What is most critical at this time is the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial that everyone in Canada is entitled to. As the matter is before the Court, I ask that Cal’s and his family’s privacy be respected. There will be no further comment at this time.”

The NHL and the NHLPA declined to comment when reached by Sportsnet.

In May 2022, it was revealed that a woman had alleged in a lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight men, including members of the 2018 men’s world junior team, in June 2018. Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit with the woman, known only as E.M., for an undisclosed sum before the allegations came to light. Hockey Canada’s handling of the suit led to a national reckoning for the organization, including hearings in Ottawa and turnover of its leadership.

A year ago, London police filed an application with the Ontario Court of Justice stating they had reasonable grounds to believe five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team had sexually assaulted a woman.

None of the allegations against the five players charged have been tested in court.

Dube, 25, is a six-year NHL veteran who has appeared in 325 games. He took a leave of absence on Jan. 21 and the Flames said in a statement he would be meeting with medical professionals for his mental health.

Hours after news broke that Dube had been charged, the Flames released a statement saying the club was unaware of the pending charge when Dube’s leave of absence was granted.

“We have now become aware of the charge of sexual assault that has been laid against Dillon Dube,” the statement reads. “We take this matter very seriously. Because the matter is now pending legal proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time.

“We had no knowledge of pending charges at the time Dillon’s request for a leave of absence was granted.”

Hart, 25, asked for and was granted a leave of absence by the Flyers on Jan. 23. He is a six-year NHL veteran who has appeared in 227 games.

McLeod, 25, was granted a leave of absence by the Devils on Jan. 24. He is a six-year NHL veteran who has appeared in 287 games.

Foote, 25, has appeared in 145 NHL games over parts of five seasons with the Devils, Predators and Lightning. He was granted a leave of absence by the Devils on Jan. 24.

Formenton, 24, currently plays for Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss hockey league. He was granted a leave of absence by his club on Jan. 24.

London police have called a press conference for Feb. 5 to provide an update on the case.

]]>
Hockey NHL CGY NJ PHI sn-article
QMJHL_Logo-Couleur-big Former QMJHL player Noah Corson guilty of sexual assault feed_column Fri, 09 Feb 2024 15:48:08 EST Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:32:52 EST Canadian Press Former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League player Noah Corson has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in 2016.

]]>
Former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League player Noah Corson has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in 2016.

In a decision dated Friday, Quebec court Judge Paul Dunnigan said that Corson did not do enough to verify the age of the victim — who was 15 years old at the time — even though, as Corson’s defence argued, he “sincerely believed” she was at least 16, the legal age of consent.

The assault occurred in Drummondville, Que., about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal, and involved two other minors accused in the case. They both pleaded guilty to sexual assault in youth court in 2021.

Their identities, as well as that of the victim, are protected by publication bans.

Corson, a former player with the Drummondville Voltigeurs and son of former Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs player Shayne Corson, was 18 at the time of the assault.

Dunnigan’s ruling focused on Noah Corson’s understanding of the victim’s age, not on her claim that she did not consent to the group sex. The judge said the fact Corson did not take “all reasonable measures” to confirm her age meant there is “no need to settle other questions to arrive at the verdict.”

The Criminal Code states that an individual must be at least 16 years old to consent to sex, though there is an exception for 14- and 15-year-olds when their sexual partner is less than five years older than them. However, Dunnigan cites legal precedent that states the exception does not apply to cases involving more than two participants in a sexual act.

He said Corson’s belief that the victim was at least 16 would constitute a valid defence, but only if he had done everything he reasonably could have to verify her age. His failure to do that was enough to determine his guilt, the judge said.

Noah Corson’s lawyer Jasmin Laperle told reporters Friday that the judge did not consider the credibility of witnesses who testified in the case. “Little attention was paid to those elements,” he said.

Laperle did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment from The Canadian Press.

In remarks to reporters, prosecutor Marc-André Roy underlined what he called the victim’s courage and “tremendous will to overcome significant obstacles.”

“It’s the end of her journey,” he said.

]]>
Hockey NHL QMJHL DRU sn-article
Adrian Dix B.C. minister says Criminal Code applies on ice after apparent chokehold during PJHL game feed_column Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:32:24 EST Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:32:45 EST Canadian Press British Columbia’s health minister has weighed in on hockey violence, saying the Criminal Code applies both on and off the ice, after an incident in which a player appeared to put a goalie in a chokehold.

]]>
British Columbia’s health minister has weighed in on hockey violence, saying the Criminal Code applies both on and off the ice, after an incident in which a player appeared to put a goalie in a chokehold.

Adrian Dix says he hasn’t seen video of the incident in a Pacific Junior Hockey League game in Richmond last Thursday, involving a defenceman for the Richmond Sockeyes and the goalie for the North Vancouver Wolf Pack.

But Dix says “criminal actions need to be taken care of by criminal processes,” regardless of where they occur.

He told an unrelated news conference on Tuesday that players who think they can do things on the ice that wouldn’t be allowed elsewhere are “kidding themselves.”

Video of the game shows the Sockeyes’ Eithan Grishin appearing to put Wolf Pack goalie Evan Paul in a chokehold during a fight, before Paul falls motionless to the ice.

The Wolf Pack said on social media on Saturday that Paul was recovering at home after suffering a “severe injury” in what it called a “horrible incident.”

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey sn-article
Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency via AP celebrini_macklin1280 Sportsnet’s 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: January Edition full_width Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:26:30 EST Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:01:55 EST Sam Cosentino We saw some great performances from numerous draft eligibles in the World Junior Championship as scouts came away with a plethora of information and a few new players to track. Sam Cosentino shares his latest top 32 rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft.

]]>
The world juniors typically provide great context for participating draft eligibles.

First-year draft eligibles are usually two years younger than the rest of the competition. While some of them compete in the college ranks or the European pro ranks, coming back closer to the peer group can create additional stress above and beyond that which is created by competing for your country.

With a number of rankings available publicly and access to video platforms, more hockey fans are paying more attention to the NHL Draft. The scrutiny of 17-year-old and 18-year-old players has never been more intense.

Performing well at the world juniors can go a long way in setting a player’s path forward. The documented pressure is one thing, but scouts getting a lengthy look at players in a best-on-best tournament provides an opportunity to corroborate what has been seen previously in league play. What skills translate, how does the skating stack up and, in general, can players do at the world juniors what they do in league play? It is definitely not the lone determinant in a player’s draft fate, but it does elicit great, projectable information.

With that said, we saw some great performances from a number of the draft eligibles in the tournament. Macklin Celebrini added another checkmark on his way to being the first player selected in the final in-person NHL Draft. Konsta Helenius and Emil Hemming played major minutes for a Finnish team that wasn’t as talented as what we’re used to seeing. Zeev Buium definitely took a step forward for the gold medal-winning Americans. Norwegian budding star Michael Brandsegg-Nygard met expectations, while injured Czechia defenceman Adam Jiricek left us with more questions than answers after being injured 10 minutes into the first game.

All told, scouts came away with a plethora of information and a few new players to track for the rest of the season. All of that information must now be digested and presented the next time their respective teams meet.

There are a number of events for scouts to take in during the next month. The Chipotle All-American Game goes in Plymouth, Mich., on Monday. A short time later, the top 40 draft-eligible players from the CHL will gather in Moncton, N.B., for the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Each of those events will be well attended by scouts, AGMs and, in many cases, general managers as they try to get a sense of what the 2024 draft class looks like in person. The first week of February will also see a number of scouts converge in Plymouth for the U18 Five Nations tournament. The USNTDP U18 team will host top draft eligibles from Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and Czechia.

It’s important to reiterate the number of high-end defencemen available in this group. Because it’s a more coveted position, a few of the more talented forwards will get pushed down the ladder and there will be a number of teams that will be conflicted about whether or not to reach on a defenceman or stick with one of the forwards available. The goalie picture remains unchanged as it pertains to the first round. At this point, no one netminder has bolted his way into the top 32.

The forward group will provide plenty of scuttlebutt in draft circles. After Celebrini, there are a number of ways teams can lean. Is it the nifty, highlight-making Ivan Demidov? The super sniping Cole Eiserman? How about the leadership of Berkly Catton or the size of Cayden Lindstrom? It will be fun seeing which of the forward group can gain momentum in the second half of the season.

Until then, here are our post world juniors 2024 NHL Draft rankings for the month of January.

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): His three-zone play against the best the world has to offer was more than impressive for Canada at the WJC.

2. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): Has the unique ability to make plays mid puck-handle. He’s got great top-end speed, and he’s light on his skates.

3. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL): Ice time and production have dipped considerably but big, rangy defencemen are en vogue right now in the NHL, and he’s the biggest in class.

4. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL): An elite skater in a sizeable package who is an effective all-situation player.

5. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA): Can transport the puck not only because of his skating ability, but his handles are elite for a big defenceman.

6. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL): Multi-faceted offensive player who can back defenders off with speed, but also pace himself accordingly to create space.

7. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): There’s nothing in the game that he can’t do well. Doing it night in and night out will be the task to complete in the second half.

8. Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP: Still operating at a goal-per-game pace mid-season. Defensive play and play away from the puck are the areas of concern.

9. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga): Based on minutes played, would’ve liked to have seen more production at the world juniors, but he’s a multi-talented player who’s not afraid to be in the fight.

10. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL): He’s so electric offensively that you can live with some of the defensive deficiencies. Will be interesting to see how he handles the addition of two high-end offensive defencemen to the Saginaw roster.

11. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan): No surprise he was a leading player for Norway at the world juniors. Withstanding the rigours of the second half of the Allsvenskan season is the next big challenge.

12. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL): Continued success to the tone of eight multi-point efforts in his last 10 games. Occupying a top-10 spot is not out of the question by year’s end.

13. Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA): Significant contributor to Team USA’s gold medal efforts at the world juniors. Played over 18 minutes per game, while putting up five points and a team-best plus-11 rating.

14. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): Good, old-fashioned hockey player who has some stubbornness in his game. Has been out with a lower-body injury for almost a month.

15. Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Liiga): Further back in his development, he gets a higher ranking based on having a high ceiling. A more rounded game that relies less on his NHL-like ability to shoot the puck is advised.

16. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL): A gifted playmaker who’s elusive in tight quarters. Can beat defenders wide with speed, and can also get it done driving the middle lane.

17. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): Skating is unorthodox but he always manages to get there. Plays a hard, physical game on both sides of the puck and is plenty skilled.

18. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Moscow Dynamo (MHL): Not afraid to get involved physically, Chernyshov can power through the opposition

19. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL): While there are some warts in his game, there are three things that excite NHL scouts: his size, shot and puck skills.

20. Henry Mews, D, Ottawa 67’s (OHL): There’s no doubting his offensive abilities, but he’s at a point where he has to understand he can’t just defend with his feet.

21. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL): The days where teams overlook previous transgressions are over. There are definitely teams that have him on a no-draft list.

22. Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Extraliiga): Injury after one game at the world juniors does leave doubt based on his Extraliiga play before joining the national team.

23. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Liiga): A projected four-month absence would make the Five Nations tournament in early February as a return to play target and that would be the perfect venue to kickstart a run to the end of the season.

24. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): Fun player to watch because you’re never sure what trick he’s going to pull out of his bag to create offence for himself or his linemates.

25. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA (MHL): Has had at least two games at three different levels in the last month alone, making it hard to get a true read. He’s never been a high-end producer, but there’s plenty of room for the complimentary player who keeps it simple.

26. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL): Can evade defenders utilizing size and reach. Can also beat defenders one-on-one with soft hands and good puck skills.

27. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL): Proving that his torrid start was no fluke. Since Dec. 3, has points in 13 of 15 games. The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be a great test.

28. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL): With the shoulder issue well behind him, his offensive production is starting to match his elite skating ability.

29. Tanner Howe, C, Regina Pats (WHL): A player who leads by example, he’s consistently in the fight. He won’t be left behind at the next level, but he may not produce at a rate projected based on more than point-per-game numbers in junior.

30. Charlie Elick, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Starting to figure out how he will be most effective at the next level. Defencemen who move pucks effectively and are nasty to play against have a chance to play for a long time.

31. Maxime Masse, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL): Continues to show flashes of brilliance, but it may not be enough to keep him in the first round by the time June rolls around.

32. Alfons Freij, D, Vaxo J20 (Sweden): Jumped back into the consciousness of scouts at the World Jr. A Challenge where he recorded the most points of any defenceman. League play has yielded solid numbers as well.

]]>
Hockey NHL NHL Draft sn-article
Darren Calabrese/CP Tij Iginla, Tanner Howe Scout’s Analysis: Projecting rising draft prospect Tij Iginla feed_column Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:20:14 EST Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:20:19 EST Jason Bukala Tij Iginla is a rising prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft, but how similar is he to his father as a player and what does he project to be as a pro? Jason Bukala looks at the player after the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

]]>
One of the most significant trades in Calgary Flames history occurred on Dec. 19, 1995, when Joe Nieuwendyk — the 1988 Calder Trophy winner and 1989 Stanley Cup winner — was traded to the Dallas Stars, who had moved south from Minnesota three years prior. In return, the Flames picked up Jarome Iginla, who was the 11th overall pick of the 1995 draft.

The move was integral in getting the Stars over the top as they became a dominant team and won the Stanley Cup in 1999. For Calgary, they moved one franchise cornerstone for a high-end prospect who became the next face of their team and eventually led them back to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004 and won the Rocket Richard Trophy twice.

The last time we saw an Iginla in the NHL was 2017 when Jarome wrapped up his career in a season split between Colorado and Los Angeles. Seven years on from that, we may be getting closer to a new generation of NHL Iginlas.

In December, Eric Francis went to the Circle K Classic U-18 tournament in Calgary to see Joe Iginla, Jarome’s 15-year-old son who has already played a couple games for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings and is an intriguing prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.

And, still, there is another Iginla…

Closer to the NHL’s radar is 17-year-old Tij Iginla, who has 31 goals (fourth in the WHL) and 55 points in 40 games with the Kelowna Rockets. Tij played in Wednesday’s CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game, where he was named player of the game for the losing side.

Prior to that game, Iginla — and other prospects — sat down with our Jason Bukala and Sam Cosentino for interviews as Sportsnet’s prospect experts do their work to better know the upcoming draft class. Iginla told them about how he lives at home with his family while playing for Kelowna and the huge benefit it is to have that structure and familiarity with his home life.

Iginla also discussed how difficult it was for him last season, when he was a member of the WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds. On such a strong roster, Iginla only got into 48 regular season games, then just three post-season games, and didn’t play at all in the Memorial Cup, where Seattle lasted until the final.

Coming off such a season where he wasn’t used as a full-time player, Iginla started outside of our initial top 32 draft rankings for the 2024 class in October. However, by the time our second list came out in November, Iginla had risen to No. 25, in December he was 23rd and in our most recent list in January he had climbed all the way to No. 12.

Could he be a top 10 prospect in this class? Clearly a player on the rise, we’ll see where Iginla ranks in Bukala’s rankings next week, and Cosentino’s next list a couple weeks later.

For more on Tij Iginla, we turn to Bukala for a scouting report out of Wednesday’s Top Prospects Game.

SCOUT’S ANALYSIS

When you have a name like “Iginla” there will be inevitable comparisons:

• When the Dallas Stars selected Jarome Iginla in the first round of the 1995 draft, he was coming off a season where he scored 33 goals and 38 assists for the Kamloops Blazers.

• Tij should easily eclipse his father’s goals and points in his draft year. He has already produced 31 goals and 24 assists for the Kelowna Rockets.

• The game has changed over the years. When Jarome was drafted as a goal-scoring, power-forward type, he was whistled for 111 penalty minutes.

• Tij isn’t shy about battling in the trenches and has an edge to his game on occasion, but his overall approach isn’t as physically aggressive as his father’s was at the junior and NHL levels. So far this season, Tij has 19 penalty minutes.

If a goal scorer is going to play to his identity at the pro level there are three things I look for before breaking down their skill attributes:

1. The prospect has to play the game quickly and fast enough. If he lags with his pace, he will have no chance of playing to his offensive element at the NHL level.

2. The player has to display the ability to think the game effectively when things are happening quickly around him.

3. There aren’t any easy days in the NHL. Prospects have to be programmed with relentless compete.

Tij Iginla is a match for me in all three categories.

He’s sturdy and strong (5-foot-11, 182 pounds), has the pace to be a threat off the rush, and battles to extend plays along the boards and out front the net. When a lane opens up, he’s aggressive ripping pucks on net and follows the play to the crease looking for secondary chances.

Tij played exactly to his identity at the prospects game in Moncton. His handles in transition were well thought out. When an opponent gapped up, he chipped the play deep and worked to win the puck back as the first forward on the forecheck. He absorbed contact along the wall, sometimes from more than one defender, which opened up space for his linemates to make plays. I especially noticed how he surveyed the ice in the offensive zone and rotated off the cycle, making “low to high” plays.

Tij cannot be described as the power forward his father was, but he’s a better skater at the same age and has his dad’s puck touch when it comes to directing pucks on net with authority.

NHL Projection: Top six forward. Goal scorer, power play contributor. Competes in hard areas

NHL Draft Stock: Top 10 pick projection is looking likely

NHL Arrival: Could tease at first NHL training camp, but more realistically will compete for an NHL job in the fall of 2025.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey NHL WHL sn-article
17064928295869926 Blades’ Minten goes end-to-end before undressing defender for incredible OT goal feed_column Sun, 28 Jan 2024 20:50:51 EST Sun, 28 Jan 2024 22:09:52 EST Sportsnet Video Watch as Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten scores a magnificent goal in overtime to win it for the Saskatoon Blades against the Swift Current Broncos.

]]>

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey WHL SAS SC TOR videohttps://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/1704050871/1b6867bc-3412-4a15-8e7d-65d4be858df0/eb6d741d-8bc2-4142-9161-06572c4e1002/160x90/match/image.jpgSportsnet Video bc-video
Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Hockey Puck Generic 1 AJHL cancels all games between five BCHL-bound teams and 11 remaining clubs feed_column Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:22:25 EST Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:26:25 EST Canadian Press The Alberta Junior Hockey League has cancelled all upcoming games involving five teams poised to bolt to a rival junior A circuit and its 11 remaining clubs.

]]>
The Alberta Junior Hockey League has cancelled all upcoming games involving five teams poised to bolt to a rival junior A circuit and its 11 remaining clubs.

The B.C. Hockey League announced Saturday the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints will come under its umbrella in 2024-25.

The AJHL scratched four games off its schedule earlier this week before Thursday’s announcement.

The league said in a statement it is “taking steps to protect the integrity of the AJHL and (Canadian Junior Hockey League) playoff system” along with ensuring “the safety of our players and officials.”

The five teams heading to the BCHL will still be allowed to play scheduled games against one another “out of respect for the players,” the AJHL said.

The BCHL cut ties with Hockey Canada — the sport’s national governing body — in May. The league said at the time the move toward an independent setup would provide more options for players looking to compete in U.S. college hockey. 

The CJHL is a step below the top-tier Canadian Hockey League, which includes the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey sn-article
Eduard Sale Colts trade Kraken prospect Eduard Sale to Rangers feed_column Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:11:43 EST Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:11:49 EST Sportsnet Staff The Barrie Colts have traded Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Sale to the Kitchener Rangers, as reported by Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek.

]]>
The Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts have traded Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Sale to the Kitchener Rangers, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports.

The Colts have also sent defenceman Olivier Savard to the Rangers and in exchange received centre Kyle Morey, defenceman Blair Scott and nine draft picks.

Sale was drafted 20th overall by the Kraken in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Over 25 games with the Colts this season, Sale notched seven goals and 13 assists. The 18-year-old is fresh off winning a bronze medal with Czechia at the 2024 World Juniors, where he recorded seven points in as many games.

The forward signed his three-year, entry-level deal with the Kraken this past July.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey sn-article
Christinne Muschi/CP Team USA’s Isaac Howard Scout’s Analysis: Why USA dominated and other thoughts from the WJC feed_column Sat, 06 Jan 2024 10:52:41 EST Sat, 06 Jan 2024 11:04:25 EST Jason Bukala Team USA had, by a wide margin, the deepest team at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Jason Bukala offers his analysis of that and other key points as he wraps coverage of this year’s tournament.

]]>
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship is in the books. Heavily favoured Team USA defeated tournament hosts Team Sweden by a score of 6-2 to win gold on Friday. The bronze medal went to Team Czechia after it defeated Team Finland, 8-5.

Take a bow, Gothenburg

The WJC felt very similar to last year’s tournament in Halifax and Moncton. The city of Gothenburg embraced the event. Restaurants around the rink were packed every day and local sports bars carried all of the games on their screens. An event like this clearly gives the economy a nice boost to start a new year. Fans who were new to the European way of cheering on their teams were greeted with drums, flags and songs being belted from the stands. It’s unique to Europe and it’s something any die-hard sports fan should experience at least once in their lifetime.

 American depth

Team USA had, by a wide margin, the deepest team in the tournament. American hockey has been on the rise for several years. The U.S. National Development Team Program, based in Plymouth, Michigan, has been churning out NHL draft picks at an exceptionally high rate. The Team USA roster had 10 NHL first-round picks, six second-rounders, four third-rounders and one fifth-rounder. All but four of those players had graduated from the USNTDP. 

Team USA has a good thing going in Plymouth. The structure of USA Hockey, from the grass roots all the way up to the NHL, is having noticeable results. Hockey has taken hold across the country and, by population alone, the Americans are stocking their cupboards with exceptional talent.

Standouts

Montreal Canadiens second-round pick (62nd overall in 2022), Lane Hutson, is one of my favourite players to watch develop. The undersize, power-play quarterback and transitional defenceman impacts the play every time he hits the ice. He’s widely recognized for his offensive skillset, but he also never backs down from a challenge defensively. Size doesn’t matter when it comes to Hutson. He’s programmed differently than some other skill players: He never shies away from contact or engaging along the wall and out front his net.

Hutson was selected to the tournament All-Star team. He didn’t score a goal, but he chipped in with six assists. Hudson averaged over 26 minutes in time on ice. He was used in all situations and finished with a plus-8.

Sooner or later, the Buffalo Sabres are going to have to give forward Jiri Kulich a long look at the NHL level. Buffalo selected Kulich 28th overall in 2022. Before arriving at the WJC, he had 16 goals and six assists for 22 points at the AHL level with the Rochester Americans. Kulich played to his strengths and produced six goals and six assists for 12 points in seven games for the Czechs to be the overall scoring leader at the world juniors.

Kulich is a pure shooter. He wants the puck on his stick on the power play and puts very little thought into what happens next. He rips pucks from the weak-side flank, or walks to the middle to open up a shooting lane. His three-zone game will need more detail as he matures at the NHL level, but his goal-scoring element is elite.

Here’s an example of what Kulich provides on the power play:


Jonathan Lekkerimaki was excellent for Team Sweden. The Vancouver Canucks’ first round-pick (15th overall in 2022) received plenty of deserved, positive recognition at the tournament. He was named the tournament MVP after scoring seven goals and adding three assists in seven games for the Swedes.

Lekkerimaki, like Kulich, has the ability to beat goalies from long range with a lethal one-timer. The Canucks have to be excited about Lekkerimaki’s development and trajectory. He suffered through some setbacks last year, including injury, but has clearly worked hard to put himself in a position to be a potential NHL player in Vancouver, maybe as early as next season.


Quick hits

Fraser Minten (Toronto second round, 38th overall, in 2022) was the captain of Team Canada. He averaged between 15 and 20 minutes of time on ice and was deployed in all situations. Minten scored one goal and added two assists in the tournament, with all his points coming in games versus Latvia and Germany.

Minten is a much better player than he displayed at this event. He, like a lot of Team Canada’s players, never seemed to get in a groove and play to their strengths. I had no issues with his compete, but his thought process and execution were off compared to what I have viewed back home at the junior and pro levels.

Another Leafs prospect, Easton Cowan (first round, 28th overall in 2023), generally skated in a middle / bottom-six role for Team Canada. He scored only one goal in the tournament, an empty-net tally versus Germany, but generally played an energy / checking role.

Cowan’s ice time hovered around 15 minutes per game. He was used at even-strength and the penalty kill. Cowan worked hard and played quick. He will be better for this experience. He’s eligible to return to Team Canada next year in Ottawa.

Defenceman Elias Pettersson from Sweden (Vancouver’s third-round pick, 80th overall, in 2022) was a workhorse throughout the tournament. He averaged close to 20 minutes every night. All of his ice time came at even-strength and the penalty kill. Pettersson was tasked with matching up against top opponents and did a fantastic job in the role. He’s a bit of a throwback — I appreciate his occasional nastiness.

Another Canucks prospect, defenceman Tom Willander (first round, 11th overall, in 2023) was steady for Team Sweden. He was thrust into a variety of roles. The bulk of his ice time came at even-strength and the penalty kill. The smooth-skating Willander continues to impress with his elite skating and ability to escape pressure in the defensive zone. Willander finished the tournament with one goal and two assists. He was an impressive plus-9 defensively.

Winnipeg Jets first-round pick (14th overall in 2022) Rutger McGroarty was the captain for Team USA. He did it all for the American squad.

McGroarty skated between 17 and 19 minutes every game. He was used in all situations. His three-zone detail (plus-8), physical presence and offensive contribution (five goals and four assists) were excellent. The fact McGroarty can be slotted into a role, up and down the lineup, and thrive is a bonus for the Jets. He’s not a one-trick pony.

Draft eligibles

Observations on three draft-eligible prospects from the WJC:

Although Team Canada didn’t advance out of the quarter-final round, top prospect Macklin Celebrini still finished 16th in scoring (four goals and four assists) despite playing two fewer games than his competitors.

Celebrini played to his identity. He was creative with the puck on his stick, a threat off the rush and uber-competitive in the trenches trying to win pucks. Celebrini’s primary element is his offensive skill, but his three-zone effort and detail are very reliable for a scorer.

Team Czechia defenceman Adam Jiricek suffered a knee injury in the opening game of the tournament versus Team Slovakia. Early reports indicated the injury could keep him out of the lineup for the rest of the season. It’s a tough blow for the projected first-round pick. Jircek is a six-foot-two, 170-pound right-shot D who plays a two-way game and quarterbacks the power play as a distributor more than a shooter.

Smooth-skating forward prospect Konsta Helenius didn’t score his first goal until the bronze-medal game, but he will be better for the experience overall. Team Finland’s coaching staff wasn’t shy about putting Helenius in scenarios to succeed. He averaged over 17 minutes TOI and was deployed at even-strength and the power play. I’m sure Helenius would have liked to score more than one goal and one assist at the tournament, but it was a heavy lift for the young player. Expect his name to be called in the top of the first round in Vegas.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey World Juniors sn-article
Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Hockey Puck Generic 1 Five Alberta-based teams leave AJHL, agree to terms with BCHL feed_column Sat, 20 Jan 2024 19:13:52 EST Sat, 20 Jan 2024 19:13:58 EST Sportsnet Staff There was a major shakeup in the junior hockey world on Saturday, as the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) announced it has agreed to terms with five Alberta-based teams for the 2024-25 season.

]]>
There was a major shakeup in the junior hockey world on Saturday, as the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) announced it has agreed to terms with five Alberta-based teams for the 2024-25 season.

The Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints all agreed to terms with the BCHL and will leave the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

Two AJHL games (Olds vs. Blackfalds, Brooks vs. Drayton Valley) on Saturday and two games Sunday (Spruce Grove vs. Calgary, Whitecourt vs. Brooks) were cancelled by the league. The AJHL said it will consider other schedule implications going forward.

It’s the second time in the last year that the BCHL has made major headlines in the hockey world. In May of 2023, the BCHL announced it was breaking away from Hockey Canada.

The move away from Hockey Canada was done to provide more options for players under 18 years old who are looking to compete in college hockey in the United States. BCHL teams are now able to recruit 16- and 17-year-olds from other provinces, which is currently against Hockey Canada regulations.

Hockey Canada rules state that players looking to play junior A hockey must do so in their own province. That rule does not apply to the major junior teams under the Canadian Hockey League umbrella, but CHL players are ineligible from participating in NCAA hockey. The NCAA considers the CHL to be a professional league because it includes players who have signed NHL contracts.

As a result, Hockey Canada announced players who participate in a league not sanctioned by Hockey Canada will be ineligible to compete in the Canadian Hockey League, Canadian Junior Hockey League or try for a spot in Canada’s under-18 club championships.

Another wrinkle to this story is Okotoks — one of the five teams to agree to terms with the BCHL — was scheduled to hose Canada’s National Junior A Championship next year. With the Oilers heading to the BCHL, a new host likely will have to be found.

]]>
Hockey Jr Hockey sn-article
Jay Wallace/Victoria Royals Cole-Reschny-Victoria-Royals Meet the 16-year-old standout stepping up big for the Victoria Royals feed_column Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:19:48 EST Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:38:47 EST Ryan Dixon Looking to help his Victoria Royals back to the post-season for the first time since 2019, Cole Reschny is showing why he’s now a highly regarded 2025 NHL Draft prospect.

]]>
From battling on frigid Prairie rinks with his two brothers to competing at a national championship last spring to his first taste of international hockey a couple months ago, every experience in his young hockey life has pushed and shaped Victoria Royals rookie centre Cole Reschny.

And, of course, the challenges keep coming.

The Royals have been playing without their top centre for more than a month now because Robin Sapousek left to represent Czechia at the World Junior Championship in Sweden and sustained an injury at the tournament. That thrust the 16-year-old Reschny into a situation where he’s constantly facing other WHL teams’ top lines and defence pairs, comprised of players who often have three to four years and upwards of 20 pounds on him.

“He’s battled through,” says Royals coach James Patrick. “He’s very competitive, he gets very emotionally involved in games. Sometimes you want to protect a younger player [from those matchups], but I also believe it’s going to make him stronger in the long run.”

Now a highly regarded prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, Reschny initially left tiny Macklin, Sask., at 13 for a couple of prep school seasons at Edmonton-based Northern Alberta Xtreme Hockey. Last year, he shifted back to his home province to play U-18 AAA hockey with the Saskatoon Blazers. The Blazers had a magnificent year, advancing to the Telus Cup and winning bronze on the national stage in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

“Last year was a special year for me,” Reschny says. “The team we had, how close we were and then getting the chance to go [to nationals], that was huge for lots of us, especially me getting to play against the other best teams in Canada.”

Blazers coach Troy Walkington praises Reschny for the way he kept finding new gears as the stakes got higher, especially given the fact he was usually facing competition one to two years his senior.

“He elevated his game every step of the way,” Walkington says. “And that’s difficult to do. You’re still 15, you know? You’re not a veteran player.”

In the fall, Reschny had to prove himself all over again to a new coach. Patrick is in his first year with Victoria and he didn’t know a whole lot about the kid his club selected third-overall in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft.

“All I knew of him was he is a high draft pick,” Patrick says. “I watched him in training camp. I would say he looked good for a 16-year-old, but that doesn’t tell me much.”

It didn’t take long for Patrick to start learning what Reschny is all about. After recording just a single goal in his first five contests, the centre ripped off a 14-game point streak that saw him rack up six goals and 15 assists in that stretch. The run was interrupted in early November when Reschny competed at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Prince Edward Island. Though his Canada Red squad failed to medal, he still showed extremely well with three goals and eight points in seven games.

Reschny says it was tough leaving with a poor team result, but he definitely believes he benefited from his first foray into international hockey.

“I really took advantage of [soaking] everything in,” he says. “New coaches, playing with different players. It was nice.”

Returning to Victoria an even more confident player, Reschny has continued to produce to the tune of 37 points in 38 games.

“He makes plays, is No. 1,” Patrick says of Reschny, who’s formed a strong chemistry with right-winger Dawson Pasternak. “And that’s the biggest thing: Who can make plays, who’s a difference-maker as far as creating something out of whatever time and space you have? He does that very well. Every game he’s in on a number of scoring chances or he creates a number of scoring chances. [Reschny and Pasternak] are our go-to guys offensively, they’re the guys I start overtime with. And it’s a big assignment for a 16-year-old.”

The only 2007-born player with more points than Reschny in the WHL this season is Medicine Hat Tigers phenom Gavin McKenna. But as strong as his offensive game is — and it’s certainly his calling card — Reschny knows his way around the entire rink.

“I’m a 200-foot centreman,” he says. “I play well in both zones, I take pride in getting the puck out of the zone as much as I do. I love to shoot the puck, I also love to set my teammates up.”

According to Walkington, Reschny doesn’t just help those around him with pillowy passes. His work ethic and willingness to drive into tough parts of the ice raise the bar for everyone on his squad.

“When you are able to work with him on a day-by-day basis, his motor and the way he competes, that’s the part that jumps out,” Walkington says. “He sort of drags everybody along with him and he forces everybody to be better. And, for me, that’s a telltale for an elite player and certainly a leader.”

If there’s one thing Reschny would like the fans around him in Victoria to experience, it’s the thrill of a post-season surge. Due to a combination of the pandemic and subpar squads, Victoria hasn’t seen a Royals playoff game since the spring of 2019. With the club sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, there’s a strong chance that could change in a couple months.

“Obviously that’s the goal after the last couple years. Last year [when Victoria finished one spot out of the post-season] was especially tough, not being able to make the playoffs,” Reschny says. “I think this year has been a pretty good bounce-back so far, but we haven’t finished it yet. We’re working together to give the city a playoff experience for the first time in a while and then, hopefully, a run.”

Assuming the Royals get there, it will give Reschny yet another chance to shine on a big stage.

]]>
Hockey HDIC Jr Hockey WHL VIC sn-article