PENTICTON, British Columbia – Everybody you talk too this week has been talking about the NHL’s Young Stars Tournaments that have been going on in different parts of North America. But Canada has been focused on Penticton with four of our seven teams taking to the ice in British Columbia.
The Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks gave us a great couple days of hockey and for everybody around the NHL their first look at the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 and this is my final report from the tournament.
Players to Watch:
#45 Mark Schiefele – In Minnesota, in 2011, Mark Schiefele was picked 7th overall by the Winnipeg Jets which came as a surprise for most people as NHL Central Scouting had a poor midterm ranking for him at 21st. But he was able to lift his game in the final stretch of the season and finished ranked 16th. There was a great deal of pressure on Schiefele being picked so high in the draft and he came to Penticton to prove that he was up to the task.
First, Schiefele finished the tournament tied for first place in points with three points in three games, (2G 1A). But he was more than that on the ice, he was a great skater, had great hands and was able to force turnovers. Schiefele was one player who for sure raised his profile during this tournament and may be the only player on the young Jets squad who has a chance to make the roster out of camp.
#52 Ivan Telegin – If the name sounds like you have heard it before, it’s because Ivan Telegin is known for his time spent in Saginaw playing for the Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. Telegin was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010 101st overall. Telegin hails from Russia and was selected 42nd overall by the Spirit in the Import Draft.
Telegin made a name for himself at the Jets tourney not for his razzle-dazzle scoring that the big left winger can pull off but for the fact that he is playing better than more seasoned players. Telegin plays almost like a shut-down style defencemen as his specialty is separating players from the puck. The Spirit used Telegin for the power play and penalty kill units proving he can play top line hockey, although Telegin may not make the Jets roster this year, he will not be returning to the OHL. One can see Telegin on a development spot on the St John’s Ice Caps and used on a call-up basis.
#59 Zach Redmond Zach Redmond hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba and loves that he plays for the home team and Redmond was rewarded by wearing the “C” for the Jets Young Stars team. Redmond earned the captaincy after being selected 184th overall in the 2008 entry draft, he turned down a chance to play in the NHL to go to school first and finished with a sports marketing degree.
Redmond had a great showing at this tourney although he didn’t put up a point during the tourney, the fact that he was still able to put up a +3 rating shows how important he is too a different facet of the game. Not a goal scorer but a great setup man and great on tuff and physical plays. Redmond is capable of creating a play out of nothing. Redmond is not afraid to do digging in the corners and removing the opposing team from the puck. Redmond will not make the Winnipeg Jets roster this year, but will be a great player for the Ice Caps.
These are top three players from this year tournament. Additional reports will be coming to these pages from the Winnipeg training camp with a physical. The team will hit the ice and the MTS Iceplex Today for on-ice work out. This weekend there will be a free open practice for fans at the Iceplex.
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