Category Archives: Prospects
Some have called him difficult. Others have considered him un-coachable. Yet, if you poll all 30 National Hockey League general managers, they would all marvel at the gifted abilities possessed by New York Islanders prospect Kirill Kabanov. That assessment sounds eerily similar to a former five-time NBA champion, just recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Still only 19 years of age, Kabanov has high hopes of shedding that tarnished reputation and making 29 organizations rue the day that they let him slip into the third round (65th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
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Washington Capitals forward Joel Ward’s ascension onto the National Hockey League scene could definitely be looked at as an unconventional one. In spite of beginning his hockey career nearly 15 years ago as a member of the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League, it was a resurgence a few years later playing roller hockey at Hot Skates in nearby Lynbrook that paved a pathway back to the NHL and onto a four-year, $12 million contract in the nation’s capital.
For New York Islanders prospect Rhett Rakhshani, his route to the NHL hopes to follow a similar path as Ward. Yet, it was his love to flow freely in his hometown of Huntington Beach, California on roller skates as a five-year old that gave him the impetus to make the transition onto the ice just a few short years later. (more…)
Many of the sport’s brightest young stars honed their craft in backyard ponds all throughout Canada. Others were fortunate enough to step out of their cribs and onto practice rinks in hockey hotbeds such as Massachusetts, Vermont and the Great Lakes States. For Matt Donovan, his journey began in a region more known for beef and Sooner football, yet it was his determination to excel on the ice along with a passion handed down to him by his father that has many in the New York Islanders organization excited about their 21-year-old defensive prospect.
“My dad grew up around hockey in Boston,” said the Edmond, Oklahoma-born Donovan. “So ever since I was born, hockey was in me.”
Donovan began skating in hockey rinks run by his father in Edmond and neighboring Bethany, Oklahoma at the tender age of two, and quickly grew tired of the sports that his friends and classmates would play.
“I played football and baseball until the sixth and seventh grade,” said Donovan. “But when I was 12, 13 years old, I kind of stopped playing other sports.”
Donovan would continue to play locally until the age of 16, but decided – with the support of his family – to move to Dallas, Texas to play ‘AAA’ midget hockey as a high school sophomore.
“Surprisingly, moving alone to Dallas was an easy transition,” said the six-foot-one, 205-pound Donovan. “My parents knew the housing family pretty well.”
Donovan’s steady play in Dallas made him a hot commodity as he was transitioning into a high school junior.
“In Dallas, I knew that I was getting noticed by coaches,” said Donovan. “But I was too young to talk to them, so I let my dad talk for me.”
Donovan quickly settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, attending John F. Kennedy High School. In Iowa, he played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, a member of the United States Hockey League.
In spite of living in a third residence – all in different states – in a three-year span, Donovan would make the most of his opportunity on the ice. He recorded 30 points (12 goals and 18 assists) in 59 games and was named to the USHL all-rookie team. Furthermore, his play attracted the NHL scouts, as he was selected by the Islanders in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
“I talked to a couple of teams,” said Donovan. “I honestly thought L.A. would pick me.
“They sat down with me for an hour or two, and they told me that they liked me. I talked to the Islanders for a little bit.”
Donovan returned to Cedar Rapids for his high school senior season, and scored 51 points. He led all defensemen in goals and points during the 2008-09 campaign, and was named to the USHL All-Star First Team.
“Cedar Rapids gave me a chance to work with great coaches,” said Donovan. “It was a perfect transition from midgets to college hockey.”
While playing for USA Hockey in selected festivals run by his father, Donovan was excited at the prospects of playing collegiate hockey and quickly narrowed his choices to two former Western College Hockey Association (WCHA) rivals and current National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) foes Denver and Colorado College.
His immediate bond with head coach George Gwozdecky, along with a quick half-hour flight or 10-hour car ride to Edmond made the University of Denver the only choice, according to Donovan.
“Coach G allowed me the opportunity to play my game,” said Donovan. “He built on my strengths as an offensive defenseman, making faster decisions seem simpler.
“He also pushed me into a becoming a better defensive defenseman.”
As a freshman, Donovan played 36 games. He scored seven goals and added 14 assists, and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. He capped off a stellar 2009-10 season, by winning gold for Team USA in the Under-20 World Championships. He scored five points in seven games for the victorious Americans, who ousted future teammate Calvin De Haan and the Canadians, 6-5 in the finals.
“My freshman year gave me confidence that I could play on the college level,” said Donovan.
With an eye on joining the Islanders, Donovan would return to Denver for his second and final season. He played in all 42 games for Denver, amassing 32 points (nine goals and 23 assists) and leading all Pioneer defensemen with a +17 rating. Donovan’s Pioneers would reach the NCAA final four, before bowing out to Islanders prospect Brock Nelson and the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.
“As a sophomore, I believed that I stepped it up another level … making plays on a pro level,” said Donovan, who was selected as a WCHA Second Team All-Star. “I was confident that I was ready to take the next step.”
Gwozdecky was also pleased with Donovan’s progression.
“Matt came here thinking as an offensive minded player,” said Gwozdecky, winner of seven NCAA championships at Denver. “But he left here as a player who prided himself on the defensive end of the ice.”
Despite some resistance from his mother, who was hoping that he would earn his degree, Donovan would sign his three-year entry level contract last spring with the Islanders. He was assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport and had a goal and four assists in six games as a Sound Tiger to close out the 2010-11 season.
After scrimmaging with the Islanders prospects last summer, Donovan returned to Bridgeport in the fall for his first full year of seasoning at the ‘A’ under first–year Sound Tigers head coach Brent Thompson.
Thompson quickly grew fond of Donovan’s tenacity.
“Matt is a strong kid, and he is starting now to get engage physically,” said Thompson. “I know that at UD (Denver), he was there for his offensive game, but I really love his defensive potential.
“Whether he is here (at Bridgeport) for a solid year or two, I could definitely see him being a top-four defenseman on the NHL level. He reminds me a little of Andy McDonald because of his style. They both skate well and are very good decision makers.”
Playing alongside defensive prospects Aaron Ness and De Haan, Donovan and the Sound Tigers experienced some growing pains at the tail end of the 2011 calendar, as they dropped nine of 10 games in a 28-day span (December 4-31).
Luckily for the Sound Tigers, the start of 2012 has completely turned what looked to be a dismal 2011-12 season around. Donovan’s play on the blue-line has anchored that resurgence. Playing without an injured DeHaan, who suffered a shoulder injury sidelining him for 4-to-6 weeks, Donovan’s minutes have increased and so has his productivity.
In the midst of the Sound Tigers’ current seven-game winning streak, in which the team has outscored its opposition, 25-8, Donovan has collected 10 points – one goal and 9 assists. He is currently tied for eighth in the AHL for defensive scoring with 22 points, with four goals and 18 assists.
“Playing in Bridgeport, it is great having all the young guys around pushing one another,” said Donovan, who himself in discussions with Islanders management believes that his game is similar to current captain Mark Streit. “But it is also getting me ready to play in the NHL.
“Whether it is playing tough on the puck, winning battles against the walls or ripping shots at the net from the point, the more I play, the more comfortable I am.”
With only three Islanders defenseman – Streit, McDonald and Travis Hamonic – signed past the 2011-12 NHL season, Donovan is surely one prospect that will get a look at as the current season comes to a close and the 2012-13 NHL campaign quickly approaches in the fall. Yet, Donovan isn’t putting any timeline on when he would like to be called up.
“Honestly, I’m really not thinking of it,” said Donovan. “I still want to work on my game.”
If that call up is indeed made, Donovan would become the fourth Oklahoma native to don a jersey in an NHL game. Burr Williams played three seasons in the mid-1930’s for the Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins. Dan Woodley played two seasons for the Vancouver Canucks in the late 1980’s. Tyler Arnason is currently playing for the Florida Panthers.
“Coming from Oklahoma, it is just very excited to be drafted,” said Donovan. “I went to see the Oklahoma City Blazers when I was younger. My dad ran the rink.”
Donovan also hopes his future success mirrors that of fellow Edmond native Shannon Miller, who captured Olympic Gold in gymnastics in 1996. Donovan was only six years of age at the time.
A gold medal would be golden, but a playoff appearance on Long Island should suit Donovan and the Islander fans just fine.
Only time will tell.
As goaltender Kevin Poulin lay on the Nassau Coliseum ice last February writhing in pain after dislocating his left kneecap during warm-ups, Islander fans eerily felt like they were experiencing a bit of déjà-vu. Former top overall pick Rick Dipietro has battled through recurring injuries for the past five seasons, ever since he had his hip surgically repaired in the spring of 2008.
Dipietro’s hope for a successful run on Long Island seems to be in serious doubt, and a 15-year, 67.5 million dollar contract signed back in the fall of 2006 further haunts a die-hard fan-base, desperately hoping for success in the final seasons at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike.
Luckily, Poulin’s injury only cost him the final few games of the 2010-11 National Hockey League campaign, as his off-season rehabilitation was deemed a major success. The 21-year-old Montreal native’s play in Bridgeport this season, along with a one-game audition on Long Island back in December has many in the Islanders organization excited about his future between the pipes.
“I was caught in a rut (on the ice) during warm-ups. It wasn’t fun,” said the 6-foot-2 Poulin, who was selected in the fifth round (126th overall) by the Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. “But my knee is perfectly fine. I don’t feel any pain or any restrictions.
“I was able to rehab right after I suffered the injury in February, and was back in goal for our (Bridgeport’s) first game in October.”
Ironically, Poulin’s prosperity in goal almost never materialized.
While playing as an 11-year old in a players-vs.-parents exhibition game back in Montreal, Poulin’s peewee hockey team was in dire need of a net-minder, as the team’s starter had suffered an injury. In stepped in Poulin, who instantly fell in love with the action that the goaltending position would command.
“I was a stay-at-home defenseman as an 11-year old,” recalled Poulin. “From squirt hockey to peewee hockey, that’s the position I would play.
“But even as a kid, I was always very athletic. I also really enjoyed diving everywhere to get the puck.”
Instantly, Poulin would pattern his game after two sturdy, butterfly-style goaltenders in 19-year NHL veteran and future hall-of-famer Dominik Hasek and fellow French-Canadian and current Vancouver Canuck net-minder Roberto Luongo.
Coincidentally, Luongo was selected fourth overall by the Islanders in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played 24 games on Long Island during the 1999-2000 NHL campaign, before being dealt along with Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers for Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish on June 24, 2000 – the same day that former general manager Mike Milbury selected DiPietro with the first overall selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
“Both Dominik and Roberto are hybrid goaltenders,” said Poulin. “And their butterfly style is how I like to play.”
Through his early teen years, Poulin would continue to hone his limited goaltending skills on the peewee level, but it wasn’t until he latched on to goaltending coach Daniel Freschette as a member of the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) that the-then 16-year-old Poulin truly believed that his NHL future would be as a goaltender.
“When Daniel got a hold of me, we started from scratch,” said Poulin. “He was my first true goaltending coach, and he made things very simple.
“We worked on reading plays and positioning.”
As a rookie in Victoriaville, Poulin played in 24 games. He went 10-6 and posted a respectable 3.34 goals against average. He was backing up 19-year-old QMJHL veteran Jean-Christophe Blanchard.
Blanchard would begin the 2007-08 QMJHL campaign – Poulin’s second – as the Tigres’ top goaltender, but was shipped off to Rimouski midway through the season, paving the way for the 17-year-old Poulin to handle the reigns.
Despite finishing with a less-than-robust 18-23-3 record and a 3.75 GAA, he still was asked to participate in the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Prospects game, as the 2008 NHL Entry Draft approached.
“The prospects game allowed me to compete with others, who were also being drafted,” said Poulin. “I realized that I could play against them, and compete on the next level.”
After being selected by the Islanders in the summer of 2008, Poulin quickly returned to Victoriaville for more seasoning.
Over the next two seasons in Victoriaville, Poulin played in 93 games, winning 53 of them. His fourth and final season – the 2009-10 campaign – made believers of many in the hockey circle, including a former Montreal legend, who handed Poulin with the most flattering of compliments.
Patrick Roy, an 18-year NHL goaltender – 10 years playing for the Montreal Canadiens – and current Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL) head coach and general manager declared Poulin as the best goaltender in Canadian Junior Hockey.
“Everyone knows what he achieved,” said Poulin of Roy. “I have never really talked to him, but it gave me a huge boost in confidence.”
Poulin finished the 2009-10 season with a 35-16 record and an ever-so-shrinking 2.63 GAA, posting a .916 save percentage. He was named second-team all QMJHL, beaten out by current St. Louis Blues prospect Jake Allen.
Following the season, the Islanders organization quickly signed Poulin to a three-year entry level contract, as he was assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport to open the 2010-11 season.
In 15 games in the ‘A’, Poulin went 10-5 and posted a miniscule 2.19 GAA. His play, coupled with further injuries to Dipietro’s knee, allowed the then 20-year-old Poulin to earn the promotion to Long Island to serve as Nathan Lawson’s back-up.
“It was unbelievable to get the call up to Long Island,” said Poulin. “It was a dream come true.”
After stopping all 19 Edmonton Oilers shots in relief of an ineffective Lawson on January 6, Poulin would earn his first National Hockey League start on January 8 in Colorado. Poulin stopped 34-of-37 Avalanche shots and teammate John Tavares netted an overtime goal, as the Islanders prevailed, 4-3 in overtime. Poulin earned the game’s third star in the 4-3 victory.
He would win three more times to close out the NHL season, finishing the campaign with a 4-2-1 record in 10 appearances, posting a healthy 2.44 GAA.
He credited his success to the camaraderie he had with his team’s other goaltenders.
“Ricky (Dipietro) and I talked a lot,” said Poulin. “He, along with Al (Montoya) made sure that things were comfortable for me.”
Following his first taste of NHL play, Poulin returned to Long Island this past summer to compete with fellow prospects Anders Nilsson and Mikko Koskinen, along with Dipietro, Montoya and newest Islander goaltender Evgeni at Islanders training camp.
The logjam provided Poulin with healthy competition, and also provided the 21-year-old with perspective moving forward.
“We have plenty of good goaltenders in this organization,” said Poulin. “The main thing for me is progression.”
Poulin, Nilsson and Koskinen all returned to Bridgeport to compete for the top spot under first-year head coach Brent Thompson. The former head coach of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces quickly grew fond of Poulin’s athleticism.
“Kevin is 6-foot-3 and has great lateral movement,” said Thompson. “He reads the play very well, and works very hard.
“The funny thing about Kevin is that he doesn’t lack confidence. Sometimes he might be too overconfident.”
The triumvirate quickly shrunk to two as the start of the AHL season progressed, as Koskinen grew tired of his lack of playing time. He returned overseas to play for KalPa in the Finnish Hockey League.
Both Poulin and Nilsson played well, despite the lack of experience in front of them.
Ironically, both the young net-minders would be summoned back to Long Island to earn an NHL start, as Dipietro (concussion), Montoya (concussion) and Nabokov (groin) all were sidelined due to injury.
Nilsson lost in his debut, 5-0 at the hands of Pittsburgh Penguins, while Poulin saved 26-of-29 shots in an Islanders 3-2 setback to Dallas.
Poulin quickly returned to Bridgeport as the 2011-12 calendar year closed. He earned valuable minutes for Thompson and the Sound Tigers and nearly stamped his name in American Hockey League history.
As the 2012 calendar year commenced, Poulin recorded back-to-back-to-back shutouts, stopping all 76 shots he would face in 4-0 victories over Worcester, Manchester and Portland.
With an eye on earning that elusive fourth consecutive shutout at Providence on Sunday afternoon, Poulin twirled another gem, but fell 30 minutes short of the AHL mark for consecutive shutout minutes.
Bruins forward Calle Ridderwall beat Poulin five-hole at 3:37 of the second period to stop the streak at 221 minutes and 54 seconds.
Despite allowing that goal and a second tally to Ridderwall late in the game, Poulin would stop 22 of 24 Bruins shots in a 3-2 Sound Tigers shootout victory – the team’s fourth straight win to open up the 2012 year.
For the season, Poulin’s record is 11-12 with a 2.77 GAA.
Despite his standing at one game under .500, Poulin isn’t discouraged. He is still embracing the process at hand.
“I want to fully be ready when I get called up again,” said Poulin. “Whether it takes one year or three years, the organization will know when I am ready.”
Still, Poulin is enjoying his time in Bridgeport, as his 22nd birthday quickly approaches in April.
“There are a lot of guys in Bridgeport who played both in college and in juniors,” said Poulin, who enjoys hanging out with his teammates at the Café in downtown Milford. “My teammates are very nice and the guys here are all on the same page.
“We all have one goal in mind, to play in the NHL.”
Yet, with a frustrated fan-base desperately craving some present-day success, could Poulin’s recent hot streak coupled with the team’s rash of injuries and inconsistencies between the pipes lead to a full-time call up.
Will Poulin continue to lead the Baby Islanders past the NHL All Star Game, scheduled for January 29 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa?
Only time will tell.
Ever since Aaron Ness laced up his first pair of skates at the tender age of 2, he has heard the cackles cascading from hockey rinks all across the Twin Cities and beyond. Yet, despite being diminutive in size, Ness wouldn’t let the chatter around him be a distraction. Simply put, Ness let his talents on the ice speak volumes rather than waging a war of words against his harshest detractors.
“I always had to deal with it,” said Ness, who himself recalled standing 5-feet-8 inches tall and weighing a rather lanky 160 pounds, as a senior at Roseau High School in Roseau, Minnesota. “I never would change my game. I would use my speed and knowledge to outsmart my opponents.”
That determination and skill-set earned Ness an honor bestowed on a select few in his home state of Minnesota, after his 2007-08 senior season at Roseau. Following in the footsteps of current Islanders scout and 14-year NHL veteran Trent Klatt and current Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Paul Martin, Ness was named “Mr. Hockey” for the year of 2008.
Statistically, Ness led the Rams and the entire of Minnesota in defenseman scoring with 72 points, tickling the twine 28 times, while assisting on 44 others.
Along with winning the school’s first “Mr. Hockey” award, Ness was named the 2008 Associated Press Minnesota High School Player of the Year, as well as earning All-Associated First Team honors.
Beyond the tight-knit hockey community of Roseau – population 2,773 – Ness’ stellar season also didn’t go unnoticed.
After accepting a four-year scholarship to play hockey at the University of Minnesota, Ness’ attention was quickly reverted to the competitive NHL scouting combine, prior to the 2008 Entry Draft in Ottawa.
“During my draft year, I never really thought of myself as a professional,” said a humble Ness. “My buddies told me that they were hearing that professional teams were looking at me, and that it was a realistic dream.
“But at the combine, the experience was crazy. I talked to nearly every team for a short amount of time. I really didn’t know who would draft me.”
With projections of being a late first rounder, Ness slipped into the second round and was quickly snatched up by the Islanders with their second of three 2nd-round selections – 40th overall.
“It was pretty special to be selected by the Islanders,” said Ness.
With hopes of building up his physical core, Ness became a Golden Gopher in the fall of 2008. He skated 37 games as a freshman, scoring two goals and assisting on 15 others. Despite finishing second amongst Gophers defenseman in points, the team finished in the WCHA and failed to reach the NCAA tournament.
Ness would return to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore and junior seasons, but experienced similar struggles both individually and team-wise. In 74 combined games as a sophomore and junior in St. Paul, Ness was only able to accumulate 26 points – four goals and 22 assists. As a team, the Golden Gophers did not reach the NCAA tournament in either year.
“My time at the University of Minnesota was better than expected,” said Ness. “However, hockey-wise, I was not as pleased.
“I never put up the numbers that I wanted to, and as a team, we were never able to put it together. The little things and the bounces never went our way.”
Still, Ness believed it was this time – following his junior season – to take his talents to the NHL.
“After three years, I believed that I was mature enough to take that next step,” said Ness, who grew two inches and gained over 20 pounds in his three years in college.
After signing his three-year entry level contract last March with the Islanders, Ness was quickly summoned to its AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. He played 13 games as a Sound Tiger and collected four points – one goal and three assists.
Yet, it was the experience itself that made Ness quickly take notice.
“Bridgeport gave me an opportunity to work with a great coaching staff,” said Ness. “It also gave me a chance to build on my strengths, which is my quickness and my vision. It also allowed me to work on my shot and build on my physical strength even more.”
After a brief stint in Bridgeport to close out the 2011 AHL campaign, Ness not only took part in his fourth Islander summer scrimmage, but was asked to participate – for the first time – to compete with the Islanders for a coveted spot on its opening day roster.
“It was a pretty good camp,” said Ness. “It was a great learning experience to play with a lot of good players. I know that if I continue to play my game, I will be able to produce.”
The 21-year-old earned the accolades of current New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano, who was quite tempted to bring Ness along to compete for a third pairing spot with the parent club, but decided that it would be best for him to earn seasoning in Bridgeport under first-year head coach Brent Thompson.
“When I first watched Aaron play, I thought his style was very similar to (Mark) Streit,” said Thompson. “Aaron has great speed and mobility.
“And while he is small, he competes like a buzzard.”
In his first full season in Bridgeport, Ness is earning top-four minutes, while competing alongside Islander prospects Ty Wishart, Matt Donovan and Calvin De Haan. He has collected 11 points – two goals and nine assists – in 33 games.
“We have such a tight knit team in Bridgeport,” said Ness, who hopes to pattern his game after Detroit Red Wing blue-liner Nicklas Lidstrom, based on the future hall-of-famer’s ability to excel in all zones. “There are so many good guys here, who are all competing for one goal, and that’s to play in the NHL.”
While itching for an opportunity that may indeed come by season’s end, Ness does not have a personal timeline on when he would like to be called up to the Island.
“I could get called up today or tomorrow, but I know that I need to continue to grow as a player each day,” said Ness. “I am hopeful that when I do get called up, I will provide offense, while staying strong in the defensive zone.
In his free time, Ness enjoys going bowling with roommates Sean Backman, Tyler McNeely and Matt Donovan, as well as playing Xbox.
“Aaron is a guy that the Islander fans will really enjoy,” said Thompson. “ He is a first class kid that possesses tremendous leadership qualities.”
Only time will tell if size truly matters.
Just ask former Islander draft pick and current Minnesota Wild top pairing defenseman Jared Spurgeon, who is playing over 20 minutes a night while standing 5-feet-9 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds.
Before being named head coach and general manager of the Niagara Ice Dogs prior to the 2010-11 Ontario Hockey League season, Marty Williamson led the Barrie Colts to 239 regular season victories and two Central Division titles in his six seasons in a similar role at the helm of its division foe.
Yet, despite amassing a league-best 116 points in leading the Colts to the 2009-10 OHL Championship finals against Western Conference foe Windsor, Williamson clearly recalled an in-house struggle he would have to face – as the team’s general manager – midway through that campaign.
“We knew that we had the type of team to contend for an OHL championship,” recollected Williamson. “But in order to take that next step, we were looking to add a top- pairing defenseman.
“When (current St. Louis Blues defenseman and 2008 fourth overall NHL draft entry selection) Alex Pieterangelo became available, we knew that they (Niagara) would be asking for a player that all the other teams in the OHL had wanted in a trade – Ryan Strome. We hesitated, but thought it was a deal that we had to make.”
Only 16 years of age at the time of the trade, Strome was playing alongside 18, 19 and even 20-year-olds in Barrie. Nonetheless, Williamson saw a limitless potential in his Mississauga, Ontario, Canada center iceman.
“Ryan always had great vision,” said Williamson. “He owned the ice playing in Midget, and we thought it would only take time for him to do it here (in the OHL).”
Strome, who collected 104 points – 41 goals and 63 assists – as a 15-year old for the Toronto Marlboros in Midget Hockey, scored five goals and assisted on nine others in 34 games in Barrie. After the trade, he would pot three goals and dish out 10 assists in 27 games for Niagara.
“I thought the trade to Niagara really allowed me to step into my own,” said Strome. “I was given an opportunity to get power play minutes. And being that Niagara was in a rebuild, I was playing on the team’s top two lines.”
Despite finishing 56 points behind his former Central Division foe, Strome’s new squad snuck into the 2009-10 OHL post-season before bowing out to the Ottawa 67’s in the conference quarterfinals in five games.
Strome would generate three assists in the five-game setback. Nevertheless, the short time in Niagara would not only prove to be a springboard to the team’s rise up the OHL rankings, but catapult the then six-foot, 177-pound Strome to a household name among NHL scouting directors just a few short months later.
Ironically, Williamson would come along for the ride.
“When I had an opportunity to coach Ryan again, I thought he would be a mid-to-late first round NHL pick with the potential to score 70-to-80 points,” said Williamson. “His progress was definitely sped up by a year.”
As the 2010-11 season commenced, Strome centered Williamson’s top line and took the OHL by storm. He racked up a team-high 106 points – 33 goals and 73 assists – in 65 games. He finished third overall in league scoring, behind Ottawa 67 center Tyler Toffoli and Kitchener Ranger Jason Akeson, who both finished with 108 points.
The Ice Dogs would finish 36 points ahead of last season’s standings – 96 vs. 60 – while advancing to the Eastern Conference finals before falling to current Islander prospect Casey Cizikas and the Mississauga Majors in five games.
At season’s end, the International Scouting Service also touted Strome as its ninth best overall prospect heading into this past June’s NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota.
Garth Snow and the Islanders organization would not wait that long, grabbing the now 6-foot-1, 183-pound Strome with the draft’s fifth overall selection.
“I was excited to be drafted by the Islander organization,” said Strome, who spent the past few off-seasons in his native Mississauga weight training with current Islander forwards John Tavares and Matt Moulson. “Both John and Matt speak highly of the organization. They are both high-end character guys.”
After the selection, Strome spent the summer in Uniondale participating in the Islanders Blue-White Scrimmage, showcasing his talents in front of a hungry Islander fan base.
“The Islander fan base was very nice and very welcoming,” said Strome. “I wanted to show them that I could be a very creative player with the puck, with the vision to help others.”
Strome also participated in the Islanders training camp, with hopes of earning an NHL roster spot by mid-Fall. While he was able to earn an opening day roster spot due to a groin injury suffered by 2010 first round pick Nino Niederreiter, Strome would not dress and was quickly summoned back to Niagara for his third OHL season.
“While I was hoping to make the team, I know that I must get physically bigger to be a more effective player,” said Strome. “I want to be a more well-rounded hockey player.”
Upon his return to Niagara, Strome has continued to light the lamp on a regular basis. In his first 24 games with the Ice Dogs, Strome has scored 16 goals and dished off 17 assists. The Ice Dogs sit tied for second with the Colts in the Central Division with 41 points, three points behind division leader Brampton.
According to Williamson, Strome’s all-around game has also vastly improved.
“While Ryan doesn’t have as many points as last year, he is concentrating more on the little things,” said Williamson. “He has improved his face-offs and working on shortening his shifts.”
Over the past week, Strome earned a coveted slot for Team Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championships. The tournament is slated to begin on December 26 in both Calgary and Edmonton, with the gold medal game scheduled for January 5, 2012 in Calgary.
“To be a top-6 player for the World Junior Team will be very good for Ryan’s development,” said Williamson.
Yet, Strome’s vision is clearly set for a return visit to Long Island.
“Having played with the guys during the summer, I know that I want to get there as soon as I can,” said Strome, who eyes Detroit Red Wing center Pavel Datsyuk as the “two-way player” he hopes to emulate on the NHL level.
Off the ice, Strome enjoys napping and playing Xbox, but he still is a self-admitted hockey rat. His passion was accentuated, during an off-ice talk with Tavares.
“John gave me a lot of tips,” said Strome. “He told me how important it is to be professional, both on and off the ice.
“He and I are very similar. We both take hockey very seriously.”
Compared to Edmonton Oiler second-year forward Jordan Eberle by Williamson, due to his “flash and dash” style of play, Strome’s NHL potential is strictly up to him.
“Ryan is a fun, loving guy with a great personality,” said Williamson. “He is a great teammate, and should be a fixture in the Islanders lineup for years to come.”
Whether he centers the team’s second line or becomes a fixture on the team’s top line with his workout buddies, Strome should be in the Islanders lineup come October.
No pressure for an 18-year-old.
Like many of Canada’s youth, defenseman Brenden Kichton began toying with the sport of hockey on the ponds of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Under the tutelage of his figure-skating mother, Kichton learned the basics of skating and in turn instantly fell in love with Canada’s national sport. More than a decade later, Kichton is lighting the lamp in the Western Hockey League and making a serious case to being mentioned among the next crop of Islander blue-liners.
“I started skating at five years old,” said the six-foot, 190-pound Kichton, who was selected by the Islanders in the fifth round – 127th overall – in this past June’s NHL draft in Minnesota. “I would always wait for the pond in our backyard to freeze.”
Kichton is currently in his fourth season playing for the Spokane Chiefs yet his ascension to earning top-pairing minutes for second-year head coach Don Nachbaur and the Chiefs was definitely a prolonged process.
“It took me a little while to get my opportunity,” said the 19 year-old Kichton. “I played behind great players such as (former Islander draft pick and current Minnesota Wild defenseman) Jared Spurgeon and (current Ottawa Senator defenseman) Jared Cowen.
“It was definitely a learning process.”
In his first two seasons at Spokane, Kichton only registered 28 points – five goals and 23 assists – in 127 games.
Nevertheless, Kichton remained patient and that persistence would pay major dividends following the 2009-10 campaign in Spokane. He attended the Detroit Red Wings prospect camp during the summer of 2010, and quickly noticed that he belonged.
“Going to Detroit was definitely an eye-opener for me,” said Kichton. “I saw that I could play with those guys. Even the speed of the game wasn’t a problem.”
Despite breaking his hand at the tail end of the prospect camp, Kichton returned to Spokane for the 2010-11 campaign a more confident hockey player. Statistically, he reached levels only exceeded by one former Chief – a name quite familiar to Islander fans.
In 64 games, Kichton netted 23 goals and assisted on 58 others. His 81 points fell one short of the Chiefs’ all-time single-season record for a blue-liner. That record is held by former New York Islander draftee Bryan McCabe, whose 82 points came in the 1993-94 season.
“I felt like I was given the opportunity to show what I was made of,” said Kichton, whose scoring prowess helped the Chiefs reach the WHL Western Conference Finals before bowing out to Islander top prospect Nino Niederreiter and the Portland Winterhawks in six games. “(Coach) Don (Nachbaur) put his trust in me to play with Jared (Cowen).
“It resulted in me being extremely confident with the puck.”
Nachbaur concurred.
“When I got here, there was a huge turnover in the roster,” said Nachbaur, whose coaching career spans nearly two decades. “I knew that Kich was playing behind five or six 19 year-olds the previous year, when he was 17. I thought that if I paired him with (Jared) Cowen, it would be a good fit.
“They complemented each other extremely well.”
Nachbaur earned his third WHL coach of the year honors with the 2010-11 Chiefs. He had previously been bestowed those honors with the 1994-95 Seattle Thunderbirds, followed by the 2007-08 Tri City Americans.
Kichton’s break-out season quickly drew the eye of NHL scouts, as this past summer’s entry draft approached.
“I expected to be drafted,” said Kichton. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to go in the second round or the sixth round.”
Before entering his final season in Spokane, Kichton took a quick detour and participated in his first Islanders Blue-White Scrimmage in Uniondale in July. The experience gave Kichton a keen perspective on what he would need to build on and improve on in hopes of making Long Island a full time residence for him.
“I definitely had a lot of nerves playing in the Scrimmage,” said Kichton. “But after I spoke to (Islander scout) Eric Cairns, he made me feel very comfortable.
“It made me excited to show the Islanders organization and their fans what I could bring forward in the future.”
With an aim on delivering a Chynoweth Cup to the city of Spokane, Kichton also hoped that his final season in the ‘W’ would be one to continue and develop his all-around game.
“My vision and my all-around defensive play are my strengths,” said Kichton, who models his play after both San Jose Shark defenseman Dan Boyle and former New Jersey Devil defenseman Brian Rafalski, due to their playmaking skills despite not being overall “big” guys. “I know that in order to make it to the next level, my agility has to improve.”
From the season’s opening face-off, Kichton’s play has not tapered off from last season. He has continued to be a point-per-game performer, despite not having Cowen playing alongside him.
Kichton has scored six goals and assisted on 23 others in the team’s first 27 games. He is currently third among WHL defensemen in scoring. His all-around play has also been recognized by Hockey Canada. Kichton was one of 41 players recently invited to compete for a coveted slot in this winter’s World Junior Championships. The tournament begins on Boxing Day in Calgary and Edmonton.
“Kich has a great work ethic and he continues to get the job done for us,” said Nachbaur, who has had the privilege of coaching former Islander defenseman Brendan Witt, along with current Calgary Flames defenseman Cory Sarich and Minnesota Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner during his coaching tenure. “It’s all up to him whether he gets to the next level.
“He knows that he has to hit the ice like a pro and the gym like a pro.”
Kichton is ready for the challenge ahead.
“I would love to play in Bridgeport next season,” said Kichton. “I would love to prove to the Islanders organization that I can be a defenseman who could contribute both offensively and defensively.
“Hopefully, I will be there to lead them to a Cup.”
Off the ice, Kichton enjoys fishing, golfing and watching other sports. He is a huge fan of Tom Brady and the Patriots, and despite growing up in Western Canada, he lists the New York Mets as his favorite baseball team.
“When I was in New York in the summer, we (the prospects) got to see a game at Citi Field,” said Kichton. “It was awesome.”
With hopes of signing an entry level contract with the Islanders at season’s end, Kichton might be able to call an arena adjacent to Citi Field home in the not-so-distant future.
Only time will tell.
