Rookies continue unbeaten streak at Young Stars tourney

PENTICTON, B.C. There’s no Stanley Cup to parade around the ice at the Young Stars Classic, but the Edmonton Oilers keep winning year after year.

This year’s successful edition wrapped up Monday with free agent signee forward Joe Gambardella and centre Chad Butcher carrying them offensively in the deciding 5-4 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks’ prospects.

This is the fourth consecutive affair they’ve finished first.

“We talked before this that the players had only one thing to do: showcase their talents, and they certainly did that,” said Bakersfield Condors head coach Gerry Fleming, whose rookies team hasn’t lost in regulation time in the last four years in the South Okanagan tournament. “What these kids should be taking out of this is the energy you have to play with.”

Gambardella, who scored two goals Monday, can play centre or on the wing. He’s older than most of the players at 23, getting a later start on his professional career, but the UMass Lowell player is around the puck an awful lot, always a good thing.

“He’s a skilled, cerebral player. He really thinks the game well, and while there’s going to be an adjustment period for him as a pro, he’s done some good things,” said Fleming, who had him for six late-season games with the American Hockey League’s Condors. “I feel he can play either position. His board work is good. Along the wall was where we wanted to see how he’d do, he did the job.” Gambardella says he’s flexible. “I’m whatever the organization needs me to be,” he said. “I played mostly centre in college. This still feels surreal to be playing my first pro tournament.”

The 165-pound Butcher finished the tournament with seven points, tops among all players.

“He’s good on draws, physical. He’s a gritty kid with some skill,” Fleming said.

Kailer Yamamoto, the Oilers’ first-round pick this June, had an assist on one Gambardella goal and was stoned on a chance of his own.

“He’s so tenacious. For not an overly big (155 pounds) guy, he always seems to come out with the puck. He’s engaged in the battles. Hopefully, he has a good (main) camp with us,” Fleming said.

Yamamoto was certainly more noticeable than the Canucks’ 2016 first-round defenceman pick Olli Juolevi, who should be standing out in his second Young Stars tournament, but merely blended in.