Prospect blitz to hit Activa Sportsplex
Forty-five draft picks and free agents eager to make an impression on Blueshirts’ management
The prospects are coming.
The Kitchener Rangers will host 22 youngsters selected in the last two Ontario Hockey League drafts, 20 free agents and three players from the Under-18 draft at the club’s annual development camp running this weekend at the Aud and Activa Sportsplex.
Three of this past season’s top rookies — forwards Luca Romano, Tanner Lam and Matheas Stark — highlight the group that includes 25 forwards, 15 rearguards and five goalies.
“That will bring up the intensity and the level of play, which is a positive,” Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie said of the established trio. “We’re excited to see the 2008-born players and getting to know them a bit better and we have some interesting free agents coming in.”
Thirteen players from the 2008 class, selected earlier this month in the OHL draft, are slated to appear alongside nine prospects from last year’s draft.
“We’re excited about a few guys potentially leaving a mark,” said McKenzie. “It should be a good mix of guys.”
Prospects will be split into two teams — Blue and White. Practices and on-ice testing are set for Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m., while games run Saturday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 10 a.m.
“It’s their introduction to our organization and what we want and our standard of what we expect out of our players,” said McKenzie. “It’s obviously a fun weekend too, but we want to see them work.”
All on-ice work will be at the Activa Sportsplex. Members of the public can attend to watch for free.
Who’s missing?
Defenceman Cameron Reid, last year’s first-round draft pick, is still banged up from the team’s postseason run and will sit out camp to rest. Fellow rearguard Andrew MacNiel (fourth round, 2023) is currently competing with the Fort Erie Meteors in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Sutherland Cup round-robin play.
Swiss mister
Logan Biser spent this past season playing for ZSC Lions Under-17 squad in Switzerland, where he had nine goals and six assists across 36 games. The forward from London previously played for Schwenninger ERC U17 in Germany.
Like father, like son
The name Michael Modopoulos might sound familiar to Rangers fans. The free agent’s father, Jason, was a forward for parts of two seasons with the Blueshirts in the mid 1990s. Michael, a six-foot-two, 195pound defenceman, played this past season with the Georgina Ice in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
Northern touch
Four free agents taking part at camp come from teams in Northern Ontario — F Anthony Bertrand (Eliot Lake Vikings), F Evan Norris (Kirkland Lake Gold Miners), F Brant Romaniuk (Timmins Rock) and D Sean Short (Espanola Paper Kings). McKenzie said the team takes a special interest any time 16-year-olds — like this quartet — have suited up in a junior league.
Imports incoming?
The Canadian Hockey League import draft runs July 3, four days after the NHL draft concludes. Kitchener has two imports on its protected list in forward Eduard Sale and Slovak forward Tomas Pobezal, currently playing at the Under-18 world hockey championships. The Rangers can make two selections in the draft. Sale, who has been called up by the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, can return to the OHL or turn pro next season.