Young Stars Classic starts with doubleheader today
Canucks’ new AHL coach watching his prospects for 1st time in Penticton
Trent Cull will be observing with an open mind at the annual Vancouver Canucks’ Young Stars Classic tournament that runs today to Monday at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton.
In his first year as head coach of both the Canucks entry at Young Stars and the Vancouver’s American Hockey League affiliate Utica Comets, Cull said there are a lot of players who could seize a chance to get invites to the Canucks main training camp later this month.
“For a lot of guys, they’ve got five days here to create an identity and show what they can do,” said Cull. “Do whatever you can to get yourself to Vancouver later this month. It’s a great opportunity here.”
The seventh annual Young Stars event features top prospects from the Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets.
Action gets going today with the Oilers taking on the Flames in the Battle of Alberta at 4 p.m., followed by the Canucks facing the Jets at 7:30 p.m.
Cull — taking over from Travis Green, who was promoted to head coach of the parent Canucks — was getting his first look at many of the players.
“It’s a really skilled group, with a lot of big, strong kids,” said Cull. “I thought the effort was there for the first practice. It was great to get everyone out on the ice together. It was a good day.”
Cull is keeping an open mind a little by design and as much be necessity, since a lot of the players are new to him.
“I’m getting a lot of advice and input from (Utica Comets GM) Ryan Johnson and the coaching staff,” said Cull. “You welcome any input, especially before that first game (tonight). We’ll see how things go after that first game and take it from there.”
Players on all four teams range in age primarily from 18 to 23, with the rosters comprised of draft picks, free-agent signings and camp invitees.
With the Canucks, a lot of eyes at the tournament are on two recent first-round picks — right-winger Brock Boeser (23rd overall in 2015) and defenceman Olli Juolevi (fifth overall in 2016).
Boeser is the only Canucks player to have played in the NHL, joining Vancouver for nine games and scoring four goals and an assist late last season after his NCAA season ended.
“You can see he’s a real good player who is capable of making others around him better,” said Cull. “He’s got some swagger and confidence and I like that . . . it helps make you confident as a team.”
Juolevi was one of the only two players picked in the top 10 of the 2016 draft not to play an NHL game last season. He returned to London of the OHL and enjoyed a strong season.
“I really like Olli,” said Cull. “He’s so smooth, calm, in control, and handles the puck so well. He’s going to be a real good player for a lot of years.”
While development of young prospects and trying to help them get better every day is an emphasis at events such as the Young Stars, Cull said everyone still wants to win.
“As coaches and players, the juices get flowing when the puck is dropped and you want to win hockey games,” said Cull. “It’s early in the year and a lot of guys are learning to play together on all (four of) the teams. Mistakes are going to happen.”