Canes' Camp: A Look at the "D"

This is part-two of Hurricanes Communication Director Ryan Ohashi's pre-camp preview. This three-part preview can also be read on the Hurricanes website at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.

In part two of this three part series, we preview just a few of the names to look for on the Hurricanes defense:

Veterans Mike Reddington and Brennan Yadlowski will be counted on to lead this group along with veteran Cason Machacek. Reddington, who enters camp as the Canes 3rd overage player is a former WHL and Memorial Cup Champion and has shown that he has all the ability to be a leader, enforcer and a contributor on the power play. He won’t have to lead this group on his own however as the highly skilled Yadlowski will help command this Canes blue line. Nowhere is the character of this defensive group more well defined then with the play of Machacek. Machacek has developed as a solid contributor to the Canes top 4 by simply being solid. After a great summer in which the 180 pound workout machine added nearly 20 pounds of muscle, Machacek will look to assert himself as a physical force on this year’s squad.

Quasi-rookies Derek Ryckman and Daniel Johnston, who have both battled injuries early in their careers will both look for breakout seasons this year. The 6’4’ Ryckman started his sophomore season in 09-10 looking like a seasoned veteran before an injury to his shoulder cost him the year. Johnston, who arrived in Lethbridge along with Berglund as part of the trade of Luca Sbisa was unable to play most of his rookie season in 08-09 in Portland due to a neck injury and only last year had the chance to truly develop. Both these 92-born d-men will enter camp looking to make a big impact in 2010-11.

The true sophomores, Landon Oslanski and Reid Jackson will round out this group of 7 returning d-men. Jackson is a Canes draft pick who last season showed signs of coming into his own with solid decision making and the ability to move the puck. Oslanski has proven to be a great bonus from the same trade that brought Reddington from Spokane, showing the ability to function in and command a WHL power play unit is no easy task, let alone as a 17 year old.

This core group would undoubtedly make the fall of 2010 a far cry from 2009 - when the Canes were forced to begin the season with the youngest defensive group in the league. With this group the Canes of 2010-11 will be a team that opposing forwards do not like to play against. But just as the forwards will be pushed by a group of rookies, so too will this group of d-men. 94- born Adam Henry and 93-born Brandyn Hulit already logged minutes in the WHL last season. While another Hurricanes family tie – 93-born defenseman Austin Yadlowski may also challenge for a spot on this year’s roster. This also has not taken into account the plethora of talent in waiting on the backend led by the Hurricanes first two defensemen taken in the 2010 WHL Draft Macoy Erkamps and Joel Topping who along with the rest of the Canes impressive 2010 draft class will be taking in their first WHL camps

Overages: Mike Reddington (90)
Veterans: Brennan Yadlowski (91), Cason Machacek (91), Derek Ryckman (92)
Daniel Johnston (92)
Sophomores: Landon Oslanski (92), Reid Jackson (93)
Rookie (s) to keep an eye on at camp: Brandyn Hulit (93), Austin Yadlowski (93), Adam Henry (94), Macoy Erkamps (95), Joel Topping (95)

Be sure to visit LethbridgeHurricanes.com for daily Hurricanes 2010 Training Camp news – full camp lists will be made available following player registration. Scrimmages will begin on Friday afternoon before the players are divided into four teams of rookies and veterans for the weekend intersquad tournament. Camp will then wrap on Sunday as the tournament Consolation and Championship finals are held. Fans are encouraged to attend camp to get their first look at the 2010-11 Hurricanes – On Saturday and Sunday, volunteers from the Lethbridge United Way will be on hand to take donations upon entry for this worthwhile cause.

This blog post is brought to you by www.clearlylethbridge.com

A thanks to Ryan Ohashi for putting together this pre-camp preview.