Talented Czech prospect makes comeback with Habs
Martin Reway is looking to resume his hockey career after missing all of last season with a heart problem.
The 22-year-old Czech is among 23 players invited to the Canadiens’ rookie camp, which begins Thursday with a 12:30 p.m. practice in Brossard. After that session, the Canadiens will take a bus to Toronto for a tournament against rookies from the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Reway averaged better than a point a game with Gatineau in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but he didn’t attract much attention in the draft because he’s only 5-foot-8.
The Canadiens, who have never shied away from small players, drafted Reway in the fourth round in 2013 and general manager Marc Bergevin has described the right winger as a player with National Hockey League talent.
After playing two seasons in Gatineau, Reway returned to Europe and again put up point-agame numbers in the Czech and Swiss leagues.
He was preparing for a North American return last fall before an inflammation of the heart was diagnosed and it appeared that his NHL dreams were over. But he resumed skating in March, and has been active on social media, talking about his hopes for the coming season.
Another intriguing storyline from the camp revolves around the goaltending situation. Michael McNiven, one of eight players signed by the Canadiens, will be in camp along with BaieComeau’s Antoine Samuel, who is in camp on a tryout.
McNiven was the top goaltender in junior hockey last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Owen Sound Attack. He’s in a position to turn pro, but there’s a likelihood he’ll return to Owen Sound as an over-age player, because that’s where he’ll get the most ice time. McNiven is listed as one of two goaltenders on the Attack roster for the coming season.
Charlie Lindgren has the No. 1 spot with the Laval Rocket and that means Rosemère native Zach Fucale might be headed back to Brampton of the East Coast Hockey League so that he can get lots of ice time.
This is a young group of rookies.
Of the eight players under contract to the Canadiens, only one, forward Daniel Audette, has played a full season of pro hockey in North America.
Meanwhile, defenceman Victor Mete is headed back to junior hockey with the London Knights.
Reway and defenceman Noah Juulsen are the only players in the signed group with even an outside chance of sticking with the Canadiens, but Jeremiah Addison, who helped Windsor win the Memorial Cup last season, heads a group of hopefuls headed to the Rocket.
The other players under contract are forward Antoine Waked and defenceman Simon Bourque.
Three other players have signed American Hockey League contracts: Thomas Ebbing, a centre from Michigan State; centre Niki Petti from Hamilton in the OHL; and defenceman Stefan Leblanc from Mississauga in the OHL.
The rookies will return to Brossard for three days of practice beginning Monday. It’s expected most of the rookies will be invited to the main camp that begins on Sept. 15.