National Junior Team Development Camp : UPDATE

A development camp for the Canadian Junior team is underway in Saskatoon, where an extensive list of invitees have showcased their skills, and have tried to impress scouts and team personnel early in the intrasquad Red vs White games. Last year, when we consider the major International events leading up to the World Juniors, Saskatchewan was very well represented, eventually sending 3 very skilled players to Ottawa. (Defenseman Keith Aulie, Goaltender Dustin Tokarski, and Forward Jordan Eberle). This year, only 3 players have been invited to the development camp in Saskatoon. These 3 players however, are shoe-ins to make the squad in December. In no particular order:


C - JORDAN EBERLE - Regina Pats, WHL - Regina, SK.

What can't be said about this guy that everyone doesn't already know? He is the REAL DEAL. The Edmonton Oilers have the best group of young prospects in the entire league, and Eberle is no exception. Being the leader on a lackluster Regina Pats team for the past couple years has not gone unnoticed, and Eberle developed into a staple on Team Canada's Roster in Ottawa last year. Eberle's efforts earned him a Top-3 forward honour for Team Canada for the tournament, joining New York Islanders phenon John Tavares, and Canucks top prospect Cody Hodgson. If you still don't know who Jordan Eberle is, his talent can pretty much be summed up by watching this video of what could be considered the biggest goal in Canadian Hockey history since Paul Henderson's heroics in the '72 Summit Series: (Just turn down the volume if you can't stand Pierre Maguire like us)





If Eberle has not cracked the Oilers line up by late November next season, he will definitely have a spot on Team Canada. The only potential problem I see is that Oilers' new coach Pat Quinn knows exactly what Eberle can bring to the table, so he may be sticking around the City of Champions.

C - BRAYDEN SCHENN - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL - Saskatoon, SK

The younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Luke Schenn really could have made the squad last year, but an extra year for development could make all the difference, as this big centreman for the Wheat Kings will be the hometown kid to watch, as the tournament will be played in his hometown of Saskatoon. Regarded as a "Puck-possession" forward, Schenn will make an excellent addition to the 2nd or third line, and in our opinion, would work extremely well with skilled players like Jordan Eberle & Cody Hodgson, or perhaps would fit in the best on the energy line with potential returning players like Patricie Cormier and Stefan Della-Rovere. Brayden Schenn is in the same boat as a lot of these players. If he doesn't crack the Los Angeles Kings lineup (which we believe he won't quite yet), he has a roster spot saved for him already.

D - JARED COWEN - Spokane Chiefs, WHL - Allan, SK.

Drafting Cowen 9th overall was definitely the best move that the Ottawa Senators could make in the 2009 entry draft. A powerful defenseman, Cowen enters development camp on the injury list, but his reputation as a potential star preceeds him, and we could see an uneblievable group of kids on the blueline this year, with potential returnees in Regina Pats big-man Colten Tuebert, the 6"7 monster Tyler Myers, and powerplay specialist Ryan Ellis of the reigning Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires. Jared Cowen won't make the Senators lineup quite yet, so he will be on the squad come December.

INTERESTING SIDE-NOTE - The coach of Team Canada, who was named in the past few months, is Pat Quinn's assistant last year, Willie Desjardins, who hails from Climax, Saskatchewan.

FURTHER OUT:

C - Jaden Schwartz

Although it is still early, we don't see this youngster making the Team Canada squad too soon, but in a couple years, we believe that he just may turn some scouts' heads in the World Junior tournament in Edmonton/Calgary in 2011. This 16 year old centreman from Wilcox, SK. is on the shorter side, at only 5"9, but his skill makes up for it, as he was drafted by the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. Although he was a late draft pick (8th round), 2 years can make a lot of difference, and this next season will be a big determining factor, whether he remains with his SJHL club, the Notre Dame Hounds, or joins the Americans. Either way, he is under the PrairiePuck's radar, and let's hope that talented players like Schwartz will keep the ongoing tradition of skilled Saskatchewan-born players making the Team Canada Junior Squad.



PP

GETZLAF - Quickly becoming the most popular family in Canada

Not only do we see athletic talent run in many families, there seems to be a trend these days that showcases professional athletic talent in families. For instance, the Stastnys, the Sutters, the Staals, the Hulls, and many more have impressed the world with their athletic talent. In Regina, we have another family to be proud of, in more ways than one.

Ryan Getzlaf, a native of the Queen City, and superstar of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks has been a fan favourite not only in Anaheim, but north of the border since he stepped foot on the ice and into the public's radar.

Ryan went to Robert Usher Collegiate high school, which has since closed its doors, and was drafted in the WHL bantam draft to the Calgary Hitmen, where he played the duration of his junior hockey, and led to the Ducks selecting Ryan in the first round, 19th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft, widely regarded as one of the best draft classes in NHL history. Just to give you an idea, players like Marc-Andre Fleury, Dion Phaneuf, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Eric Staal, Thomas Vanek, Zach Parise, and Corey Perry also went in the first round.

Ryan continued to play with his junior club in Calgary for the next 2 years, and due to the 2004/2005 NHL lockout, he made his NHL debut the same year as Sidney Crosby, helping the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup the next year.

Internationally, Getzlaf broke into the hockey scene with his presence on the Canadian under 20 junior team in 2005. Because of the NHL lockout, many of the future stars of the NHL that were still eligible to play in the tournament had formed what we know now as the "Dream Team". This talented squad that won Canada it's first gold medal in 8 years in Grand Forks, including players like Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Dion Phaneuf, Corey Perry, Patricie Bergeron, and of course, Sidney Crosby. On the other end of the coin, both Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin were playing for the Russian squad, so it was a great tournament

Since then, the past few years have been great for Ryan Getzlaf, as he continues to make his mark on the league. With recent Ducks' captains Chris Pronger being shipped to Philadelphia, and Scott Neidermeyer nearing the end of his career, Getzlaf seems to be being groomed to become the captain of the club. He was recently named #6 on the list of the top 10 Canadian born players in the league, and seems to be a lock for a roster spot for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.


Ryan's older brother Chris, however, has become a fan favourite in a much different way, as he is the hometown hero, playing for the hometown team. Chris Getzlaf is a wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. Chris attended the Univeristy of Regina, and was drafted to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, only to be eventually traded to the Riders in a steal of a trade that landed us both the hometown boy, and a crowd favourite in Corey Holmes, for the brutal Jason Armstead. The Riders went on to win the Grey Cup that year, and Getzlaf has grown into his role on the team, and recently has replaced the injured Andy Fantuz at the slotback position. This past Saturday, Getzlaf was named the CFL's Canadian Player of the Week, helping the Riders to a come-from-behind 24-23 victory over the host Calgary Stampeders with this 65 yard touchdown:

It is pretty clear that with a properous NHL career ahead of Ryan, and the talent that older brother Chris has shown Rider nation, the Getzlafs aren't going anywhere.

PP