GAUDETTE GETS CALL, WOO IMPRESSES EARLY
It’s the first edition this season of the weekly tracker, where we take a closer look at the efforts of the Canucks’ highest-profile prospects, writes Mike Raptis.
JETT WOO
He’s the dark horse defensive prospect so many are cheering on, and for good reason.
Besides having a great name, Jett Woo has a great game.
The Canucks’ second-round pick from the 2018 NHL draft was sidelined with a lower-body injury to start the season, missing the first four games for the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. But he’s back now, and through four games played, the hard-hitting defenceman is already making an impact.
Woo, who had nine goals and 25 points in 44 games last season for the Warriors, has one goal and one assist and is a plus-two.
He was also named the third star in his first game back.
“I feel great, I feel ready to go,” he told Discover Moose Jaw before lacing up the skates to kick off his campaign.
Woo, a six-foot, 203-pounder, plays a rugged game with an active stick. He can hold his ground with the best of ’em.
He can also fire the puck, which is why Woo’s spent time on the Warriors’ first-unit power play as the left-side D -man. Woo scored his first of the season in a 4-3 loss in Brandon on Friday with a blistering slap shot.
All in all, he’s a natural leader who’s great in the community, taking the time in early October to help Moose Jaw ’s Read to Succeed program for school kids.
ADAM GAUDETTE
He wears the number 17 and has a strong 200-foot game. Sound familiar? If you’re thinking Ryan Kesler, you’re close; just a little short on the integrity metre.
Adam Gaudette has started his rookie season with the AHL’s Utica Comets on a strong note, scoring two goals and adding two assists in four games played.
He netted his first professional goal on Friday in a 4-3 loss to the Charlotte Checkers.
But Gaudette really took off this past weekend, scoring a goal and adding two assists in a 7-4 win in Toronto against the Marlies.
The young centre is getting rave reviews from those around the hockey world, and was called up for the Canucks’ game tonight against the Penguins after Jay Beagle broke his hand.
QUINN HUGHES
The Quinn Hughes watch has officially begun, though there hasn’t been much to write home about so far.
Hughes’ University of Michigan Wolverines are 0-1 to start the young NCAA season, losing their opener 5-2 to Vermont on Oct. 6. The fleet-footed defenceman had four shots on goal in that game, and finished a minus-1.
The team has played in two exhibition games since then, a 7-4 win over Waterloo on Oct. 7 and a 6-3 loss to brother Jack Hughes and the stacked American under-18 team on Oct. 12. Quinn had an assist in the win and went pointless in the loss.
The Canucks’ first-round pick did take the opening faceoff against Jack in a nice moment for the boys.
Now that’s something to write home about.
Quinn has had his moments though, going end to end on a rush against the U-18 team, only to have the goalie make a great save on the teammate he dished the puck to.
JONATHAN DAHLEN
Dahlen — who has shown his playmaking ability for the Comets, but has yet to find the net himself — has his pro career off to a modest start.
Dahlen has three assists in four games, the prettiest being a feed from behind the net to Brendan Gaunce for a goal in a 3-1 win over the Bellevue Senators on Oct. 6.
Dahlen nearly scored in the same game, but was stopped by Senators goalie Mike McKenna.
He’s honing his game and reportedly doing great things in practice that will surely pay off in the long run.
MIKE DiPIETRO
The Canucks’ goalie prospect had a scary start to his season — he was piled on top of and left the game in a Sept. 28 win over the Saginaw Spirit — but DiPietro has bounced back with a solid run for the Windsor Spitfires.
The OHL’s shutout leader from a year ago got his first on Oct. 4, stymying the London Knights in a 2-0 win. He had 32 saves and was the game’s first star.
There were a couple of losses last week in which he gave up three and four goals, respectively, but DiPietro was still one of the best Spitfires on the ice, getting beat only on high-quality chances.
DiPietro got back in the win column with a 38-save effort on Sunday against the Kingston Frontenacs in a 5-2 win. He is now 2-3 with a .907 save percentage and has a 3.02 goals-against average.
OLLI JUOLEVI
It’s been an up-and-down rookie season for Juolevi so far with the Comets. His offensive game has been good, but he needs to keep working on things defensively.
His debut on Oct. 5 went well, leading Utica’s D-men in several statistical categories, including controlled exits and shot attempts.
Juolevi has two assists in five games played, and is getting noticed for his ability to distribute the puck, as well as the effective subtleties to his game.
But Juolevi is also a team-worst minus-7, meaning there’s much room for improvement defensively.
TONI UTUNEN
A smooth-skating defenceman trying to stabilize himself in pro hockey, Utunen hasn’t wowed anybody in his first 11 games for Tappara in the top-tier Finnish SM-Liiga, but he hasn’t been a disappointment either. The Canucks’ fifth-round pick from the 2018 draft has had a solid start to his season, with an assist and a plus-4 rating so far.
It’s a step forward for Utunen, who played 11 games for Tappara last season to little effect before being loaned out to Division 2 squad LeKi.
At five foot 10 and 169 pounds, he has a slight build for a defenceman, so it will be telling if he can hang with the big boys in Finland this season.
TYLERMADDEN
The son of three-time Stanley Cup Champion and Selke awardwinner John Madden, Tyler’s got the pedigree part down. But now it’s time to blaze his own path with the Northeastern Huskies.
The Canucks’ third-round pick of the 2018 draft is off to a nice start, scoring in consecutive games against Sacred Heart, both wins.
Madden, an NCAA rookie, is being deployed on the first line and it’s paid dividends thus far. Let’s hope he bulks up on that fivefoot-11, 150-pound frame. Maybe he can get some tips from his pops, who played at around 185 pounds.
WILL LOCKWOOD
The forgotten man among Canucks prospects, Lockwood has started his season on a positive note. The University of Michigan right-winger scored a goal in the Wolverines’ only regular-season game, and netted a goal and an assist in an exhibition game against Waterloo.
Lockwood was playing well last season until sustaining a serious shoulder injury against Canada at the world junior tournament in December.
After months on the sidelines, Lockwood, a hard-nosed, creative forward, is looking to get his form back. It appears he’s on the right trajectory again.