ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
Canucks fall in overtime to Kings, ending win streak to start the season
Surrey native Michael Rasmussen, a Tri-City Americans centre projected by many to go in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, will surely attract a large contingent of scouts to the Langley Events Centre Sunday afternoon (4 p.m., TSN 1410) for his team’s matchup with the Vancouver Giants. Here are five things to know about Rasmussen.
1 He can score
Rasmussen, 17, who’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, was leading the WHL in goals of Saturday morning, with 11 in 11 games. The top goal-scorer in the league last year was Dryden Hunt, a 6-foot, 201-pounder who tallied 58 times as 20-year-old with the Moose Jaw Warriors. In 2014-15, it was Oliver Bjorkstrand, a 6-foot, 168-pounder who tallied 63 times as a 19-year-old with the Portland Winterhawks. In 2013-14, it was Mitch Holmberg, a 5-foot-10, 175-pounder who bagged 62 goals as a 20-year-old with the Spokane Chiefs. What are we saying? Guys this young and this large don’t normally score quite like this in this league. 2 He’s in demand International Scouting Services, a prospect website, has Rasmussen at No. 9 in October rankings. Bob McKenzie of TSN had him at No. 13 in his September rankings, while Craig Button of TSN had him at No. 27 in his. 3 He’s in good company The Americans picked Rasmussen seventh overall in the WHL bantam draft. He was playing at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton at the time. Other OHA products include Tyler Soy (2016 Anaheim Ducks seventh-rounder), Ryan Gropp (2015 New York Rangers second-rounder), Joe Hicketts (Detroit Red Wings free-agent signing) and Curtis Lazar (2013 Ottawa Senators first-rounder). 4 He started young Rasmussen put up 18 goals and 25 assists in 63 regular-season games last season as a 16-year-old for the Americans. For comparison, Evander Kane scored 24 goals as a 16-year-old with the Vancouver Giants in 2007-08 and Ty Rattie counted 17 goals at that age for the Portland Winterhawks in 2009-10. Nolan Patrick, who seems to be everybody’s pick as No. 1 in this coming NHL draft, had 30 goals and 26 in 55 games as a 16-year-old for the Brandon Wheat Kings in 201415.
5 He makes friends
Tri-City defenceman Juuso Valimaki, 18, is also projected to go in the first round this coming draft. ISS, for instance, ranks him No. 18 overall. The Tri-City Herald reports that Valimaki’s mom Nia, as well as his brothers Niko, 14, and Rasmus, 6, have moved to the Kennewick, Wash., area from Finland and Rasmussen is billeting with their family.
Americans general manager Bob Tory told the Herald: “Juuso and Michael hit it off from the get-go last year. They have a lot in common. They are focused on becoming the best they can be, and professional players. As much as Michael helped Juuso’s transition to the States, Juuso helped Michael adjust as a 16-yearold away from home.”