The WHL isn’t the only hockey league taking a break for Christmas. All the other junior and midget teams are also getting a breather, which makes this a good time for a prospect update. I’m working off Everett’s protected list from the offseason, so surely there are recent additions who I’ve overlooked, as well as players listed here who have been dropped. But anyway, here we go. Players are listed with their position, age, team and statistics:
SIGNED PROSPECTS
Mario Petit, G, 17, Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
8 G, 5-3-0, 2.84 GAA, .901 Sv%
Addison Runey, LW, 17, Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)
13 G, 2-3-5, 19 PM
Bryce Kindopp, RW, 15, Lloydminster Bobcats (AMHL)
21 G, 8-8-16, 22 PM
Jantzen Leslie, D, 15, Lloydminster Bobcats (AMHL)
23 G, 1-7-8, 10 PM
Notes: Petit and Runey are both playing at lower junior levels, while Kindopp and Leslie are in their first season at the midget level. Kindopp also has appeared in two games with the Tips this season. Leslie, who I’ve heard in playing well, will be representing Alberta at the Canada Winter Games in February.
UNSIGNED, ATTENDED TRAINING CAMP
Alex Astasiewicz, D, 16, Golden Rockets (KIJHL)
32 G, 4-15-19, 12 PM
Cory Babichuk, D, 16, Edmonton CAC (AMHL)
24 G, 3-10-13, 24 PM
Avery Belcourt, D, 16, unknown
Not available
Andrew Fyten, C, 16, Edge School Prep (CSSHL)
19 G, 12-15-27, 46 PM
Spencer Gerth, RW, 16, Golden Rockets (KIJHL)
37 G, 6-7-13, 41 PM
Kevin Jakisch, LW, 16, Winnipeg Wild (MMHL)
24 G, 16-12-28, 16 PM
Dayton Rasmussen, G, 16, Colorado Thunderbirds (T1EL U-16)
8 G, 6-1-1, 1.48 GAA, .904 Sv%
Ryan Warner, D, 16, South Island Royals (BCMML)
25 G, 2-4-6, 30 PM
Ryan Anderson, LW, 15, Edmonton SSAC (AMHL)
23 G, 8-9-17, 14 PM
Blake Bergquist, LW, 15, Phoenix Junior Coyotes (T1EL U-16)
16 G, 5-1-6, 12 PM
Jake Christianson, D, 15, Hollyburn Huskies (PCAHA)
Not available
Connor Dewar, C, 15, Parkland Randers (MMHL)
23 G, 6-10-16, 30 PM
Carson Dimoff, LW, 15, Phoenix Junior Coyotes (T1EL U-16)
16 G, 7-5-12, 26 PM
Brendan Studioso, RW, 15, Everett Junior Silvertips (NAPHL U-16)
15 G, 8-7-15, 14 PM
Riley Sutter, RW, 15, CBHA Rangers (AMMHL)
15 G, 9-15-24, 20 PM
Wyatte Wylie, D, 15, Everett Junior Silvertips (NAPHL U-16)
15 G, 1-8-9, 4 PM
Notes: This list contains the bulk of Everett’s future, and there are are some players having nice seasons. Astasiewicz is having an exceptional season for a 16-year-old defenseman playing junior B. Fyten and Jakisch are having good first seasons playing at the major-midget level. Anderson (Alberta) and Dewar (Manitoba) are joining Leslie at the Canada Winter Games. Dimoff is his team’s leading scorer. Sutter is putting up big numbers at the midget-minor level, and he’s getting regular call-ups to his organization’s midget-major team. Lastly, it’s been suggested that Rasmussen, despite attending training camp and moving out of Minnesota, is leaning toward the NCAA route.
UNSIGNED, MISSED TRAINING CAMP BECAUSE OF INJURY
Nick Henry, RW, 15, Central Plains Capitals (MMHL)
11 G, 3-7-10, 18 PM
Brian King, C, 15, Rocky Mountain Roughriders (Colorado U-16)
9 G, 1-5-6, 10 PM
Notes: Both these players missed both camp and the start of the season because of injury, but are reportedly quality prospects. I’m told King is legitimately interested in the WHL.
UNSIGNED, DIDN’T ATTEND TRAINING CAMP
Jake Durflinger, RW, 17, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
25 G, 5-11-16, 52 PM
Auston Matthews, C, 17, U.S. NTDP U-18
27 G, 24-25-49, 8 PM
Alec Mehr, C, 17, Bloomington Thunder (USHL)
21 G, 6-3-9, 18 PM
Tyson Jost, RW, 16, Penticton Vees (BCHL)
24 G, 11-14-25, 2 PM
Patrick Khodorenko, C, U.S. NTDP U-17
27 G, 4-11-15, 32 PM
Notes: These are the big guns. Matthews is being touted as the frontrunner to be picked first overall in the 2016 NHL draft. Jost is considered a potential top-10 selection in that same draft. All five of these players have been to Everett (Durflinger attended two training camps, Mehr, Jost and Khodorenko attended one, Matthews visited in the offseason), so there’s at least some hope they may come to Everett instead of choosing the NCAA route. Matthews and Jost are game changers should they join the Tips, while I’m convinced Durflinger, Mehr and Khodorenko could all be impact players immediately. These are the players who could be the difference between Everett being good in the future and the Tips being great.
There are other players on Everett’s list, but I chose not to include those who have never (to my knowledge) been to Everett.
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