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The camp offers a first look at a prized new draft pick, players looking to take the next step and surprising names looking to impress
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Published Jul 01, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
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Development coach Mikael Samuelsson always maintains a laser-like focus at Canucks annual UBC development camp. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG
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The Vancouver Canucks will roll out the welcome mat Monday at UBC.
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There should also be a wrestling mat in the annual development camp. Sometimes, it takes more than encouraging words and pats on the back for prospects to get a grip on their evolving careers. And it takes more than drills, systems, scrimmages and conditioning.
It’s tough love that can often help the most. And a classic example of what can be accomplished is the union between development coach Mikael Samuelsson and winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
Samuelsson, a former Canucks winger and Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, makes no apologies for his direct manner to right the wrongs. He’s frank and effective. No picnic in the park.
Last year at the development camp, his prime purpose as a Sweden-based motivator was continuing to prep Lekkerimaki for a defining Swedish Elite League season. The 15th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft responded with 31 points (19-12) in 41 games and then played six more with the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
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It has placed him in position to compete for a Canucks roster spot next fall.
Winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki got a leg up on improving his career by attending Canucks development camp in 2022. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG
And it’s why this camp is shifting its focus because getting down to more workable numbers and better ratio between coaches and players is going to make it a more personalized experience for players, who crave that type of instruction.
In that respect, the camp has been reduced from 50 to 28 players. It will still include top prospects, 2024 draft class members and a few invites.
New Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra and new Canucks skills and skating coach Jason Krog will join Samuelsson, development coach Mike Komisarek, new assistant coach Yogi Svejkovsky, and Henrik and Daniel Sedin with instruction in smaller group drills and 1-on-1 assessments. That’s vital.
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“We’re hoping they walk away with more of an understanding of things to work on and can then apply it on their own in practices and games,” Canucks assistant general manager Cammi Granato told Canucks.com. “When you have a large group, it kind of gets lost because you’re catering to the masses. This is catering to the individual, which will hopefully be really helpful.”
Which, again, gets us back to the Samuelsson-Lekkerimaki connection.
It’s been quite the journey. After all, adversity strikes every player at some point and it hit Lekkerimaki hard in the 2022-23 season.
It started with a bad bout of mononucleosis in the summer of 2022 at the world junior championship. It robbed him of strength and stamina and led to a prolonged scoring slump. Then came a November concussion from a high hit and a month on the sidelines. Lekkerimaki then had a poor 2023 world junior tourney with just one goal in four games and was even benched as Sweden finished fourth.
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His regular season then ended in early February after suffering a foot injury in practice.
“At that time it was bad, of course, with bad luck,” Lekkerimaki recalled. “We talked a lot about that when I was injured. He (Samuelsson) told me that when you work hard and come back from injury, nobody is going to know you were injured.”
Samuelsson was right. After managing just nine points (3-6) in 29 games with Djurgardens IF of Stockholm in the second-tier Allsvenskan league, he had 15 points (5-10) in 15 playoff games. What did Samuelsson say?
“You’re talented to get here and we need to improve your game,” he said. “The way I work, I’m never satisfied. There’s always room for improvement and it could be a little frustrating. I’m very honest. And that’s the good thing about player development. He has a great shot, and I saw a lot of things, but I also saw a young boy.”
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Here are five prospects to watch:
Tom Willander of the Boston University Terriers looks on prior to the start of the game against the Denver Pioneers during the NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Four semifinal at Xcel Energy Center on April 11, 2024 in St Paul, Minnesota. Photo by David Berding /Getty Images
Tom Willander: The 11th overall selection in 2023 draft had a solid NCAA rookie season at Boston University. The right-shot defenceman acclimated quickly to the North American game with 25 points (4-21) in 38 games. Won world junior championship silver in 2024 with native Sweden. On the fast track.
Josh Bloom #17 and Braden Hache #6 of the Saginaw Spirit celebrate their win against the London Knights in the 2024 Memorial Cup Final at Dow Event Center on June 02, 2024 in Saginaw, Michigan. Photo by Nic Antaya /Getty Images
Josh Bloom: Winger stood out at 2023 development camp before a hard pro transition. Played in AHL, ECHL and OHL and captured Memorial Cup title in May with Saginaw. Scored winner in final minute.
The Canucks drafted Swedish winger Melvin Fernstrom in the third round of the 2024 NHL draft on Saturday, June 29, 2024. Fernstrom led Sweden in scoring at the recent World U18s. Photo by Orebro Hockey /prv
Melvin Fernstrom: Third-round 2024 pick led Team Sweden at world U18 event with eight points. His elusiveness and good release attracted the Canucks. Needs to build total game but a natural playmaker.
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Anthony Romani poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks with the 162nd overall pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Candice Ward /Getty Images
Anthony Romani: Sixth-round 2024 pick impressed as overage winger. Led OHL in goals this season with 58 for North Bay and his 111 points in 68 games asks the big question. Is it transferable to pro?
Parker Alcos: Sixth-round 2024 pick is a Port Moody product who had 15 points (1-14) in 67 games. The blueliner will grow into his 6-foot-3 frame and work his way into a shutdown role with good mobility and awareness.
CAMP ROSTER
FORWARDS: Vilmer Alriksson, Josh Bloom, Benjamin Brunelle, Davis Burnside, Melvin Fernstrom, Daimon Gardner, Ethan Gardula, Callum Hughes, Jackson Kunz, Ty Mueller, Riley Patterson, Matt Perkins, Anthony Romani, Kaden Shahan.
DEFENCE: Parker Alcos, Joe Arnsten, Aiden Celebrini, Hyde Davidson Jackson Dorrington, Christian Felton, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sawyer Mynio, Basile Sansonnens, Tom Willander.
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GOALIES: Aku Koskenvuo, Jonathan Lemieux, Ty Young.
ON-ICE SCHEDULE
Monday, July 1
Group session: 1:00pm – 1:45pm (Rink C)
Tuesday, July 2
Group session: 10:00am – 11:20am (multiple rinks)
Small Area Games: 11:40am – 12:30pm (multiple rinks)
Thursday, July 4
Group session: 9:45am – 10:40am (multiple rinks)
Intrasquad game: 11:00am – 12:30pm (Father Bauer Arena)
*Schedule is subject to change
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/ubc-development-camp-five-prospects-to-watch