Freddie's Fodder: A Look Ahead to Canes' Camp

With the start of training camp for the Lethbridge Hurricanes less than two weeks away, there are a number of things I am looking forward to with the new season on the horizon. Here are some questions I am watching to see how they will unfold over the next month or so.

1. Is Brandon Anderson ready for the prime time? Linden Rowat has graduated from the WHL, and import Ville Kolppanen won’t be returning to the fold this season. Right now it’s Anderson’s crease. Is the 18 year old prepared to shoulder a key piece of the puzzle to return Lethbridges’ Boys of Winter to being once again a legitimate playoff contender?

2. Where will the scoring come from? The Hurricanes scored just 178 times last year. That averages out to less than 2.5 goals per game. Of the returnees who can be looked to for breakthrough years?

3. Rich Preston was busy on the trade front last season. What area of need will he address first this off season? With an abundance of quality returning defencemen, is that the position of strength Preston makes a move with to add another scoring forward? This team has stockpiled picks and prospects over the past 12 months, will those assets be replaced with WHL ready players?

4. Who will take over as team Captain? There are four players that I believe are at the top of Coach Preston’s list. 20 year old veteran d-man Mike Reddington, or one of three 19 year olds – Brennan Yadlowski, Austin Fyten or Cam Braes. All are worthy candidates and no one should be surprised if any of those players are named Captain sometime next month. However, my pick would be veteran forward and Shawnigan Lake, BC native Cam Braes. A Bancks to Braes transition would be the most seamless. They both have the respect of their teammates, play a similar type game and are willing to make sacrifices to put the team first, shift in and shift out. The other big reason why Braes is my guy – is because of age. If he returns as a 20 year old next season, now you have a two year team leader. That’s a real key to establish some continuity in this teams leadership group moving forward.

5. Are the three 20 year olds eligible to return the three that we will see on opening night? Defenceman Mike Reddington, forward Mitch Maxwell and utility player Max Ross all finished the 2009-10 campaign with the Canes’ and as of right now have no competition for the trio of overage spots. Is Coach Preston content with that group, or will he be tempted by an abundance of 20 year olds which I suspect will be made available over the next several weeks?

6. Sophomore seasons are quite often when we see Western league players make the biggest year over year leap in terms of progress in their junior careers. During camp, I am looking forward to seeing how far the games of three defencemen and three forwards has come. On the back end how much more confidence in their games will Daniel Johnston, Reid Jackson and Landon Oslanski have? Up front, what has a summer of development done for the games of Mark Reners, Phil Tot and Ryon Moser? All six of these players will be looked upon by Rich Preston to provide the hockey club with more. Who is ready to take the biggest steps forward?

7. Which of the young players will make the biggest impact at training camp? Although most of the group from last season’s team is eligible to return, I believe Rich Preston wants to give some of his young prospects a real shot at making this roster. By all accounts it was a good draft this year, but those young talents aren’t in the 2010-11 mix because of their age. Here’s who in particular I am looking forward to seeing at camp: Jordan Baillie – Fort Saskatchewan Midget ‘AAA’, averaged nearly a point a game, and got a look with the big club late in the season. Similar to Baillie, Mitchell Guiel is another diminutive type forward who is very skilled. He had a pretty good 2009-10 campaign playing in the BC Midget league. Michael Sofillas is another similar youngster. Some feel his high end skill has all the ingredients to make him a legitimate WHL scorer. Taylor Balog – Tisdale Midget ‘AAA’, big power forward type, can he make the jump as a 16 year old. Biggest adjustment from Midget ‘AAA’ to the WHL is the speed the game is played at. Maxwell II? Can young local Russell follow in Mitch's’ footsteps? Ryley Bennefield – Leduc Midget ‘AAA’, 2009 2^nd round pick scored 21 goals as a 15 year old rookie in a real good league. On the back end; 3^rd round pick from a couple of years ago - Drew Graham (Lower Mainland product), now 17 years old, started the season here last year is he ready to stick? Adam Henry, the Manitoba product dressed in 6 games last year with the Hurricanes. I think he may be ready to be a WHL regular this season. Brandyn Hulit, the 17 year old local product should make a serious push to unseed one of the veterans on the back end. Austin Yadlowski will try to make travel easier on his and Brennan’s family. He was a late round 2008 pick, but did the Canes’ get a steal in the tenth round?

Bring on training camp!

Fred

Fred Jack is the colour analyst on Hurricanes radio broadcasts on CJOC.

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