LANGLEY, British Columbia — Carson Rehkopf, No. 31 on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rating of North American skaters offered by BioSteel, had a purpose and an help for Staff White in a 4-2 win in opposition to Staff Crimson within the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Prime Prospects Recreation at Langley Occasions Centre on Wednesday.
Rehkopf (6-foot-2, 193 kilos), a left wing with Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League, was named participant of the sport for White. He is a projected second-round decide within the 2023 NHL Draft and regarded a two-way participant with power-forward upside.
“It is unbelievable,” Rehkopf stated. “This can be a sport you could have marked in your calendar. It was superior to be part of. We’ve got a terrific group of men, so it was actually satisfying.
“It is good [to win player of the game]. You come right here to win however you could have a pleasant sport your self, in order that’s fairly good too.”
Calum Ritchie (No. 17) had a purpose and an help, and Colby Barlow (No. 10) and Luca Pinelli (No. 49) every scored for White. Scott Ratzlaff (No. 6 North American goalies) allowed one purpose on 25 photographs, and Jackson Unger (No. 17 North American goalies) allowed one purpose on 22 photographs for White.
Riley Heidt (No. 26) had an help and 5 photographs on purpose and was named participant of the sport for Crimson. Zach Benson (No. 7) and Mathieu Cataford (No. 27) scored.
Carson Bjarnason (No. 1 North American goalies) allowed one purpose on 17 photographs, and Charlie Robertson (No. 12 North American goalies) allowed two objectives on 13 photographs for Crimson.
Listed below are 5 issues discovered from the 2023 Prime Prospects Recreation:
Bedard set for stretch run
Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 decide within the 2023 draft, had six photographs on purpose and went 9-for-11 (50 p.c) on face-offs for Crimson.
Ratzlaff made 4 saves in opposition to Bedard, together with a left-pad cease off a one-timer from the slot late within the second interval.
“They speak about [Bedard] loads,” Ratzlaff stated. “He is obtained a terrific launch, he can shoot from wherever and he is very dynamic, so I believe conserving him off the scoreboard, that was type of a crew purpose, or simply ensuring he is at all times coated, ensuring we have eyes on him.”
Bedard (5-10, 185) with Regina of the Western Hockey League did not have some extent however had two hits and did full a move from between his legs for a scoring likelihood halfway by the second interval.
“It is hockey, it is aggressive and also you’re allowed to hit so you’ve got at all times obtained to count on that, and clearly it was good for the followers and all the things,” Bedard stated. “It is a contact sport and you are going to get hit and you are going to give hits. That is a part of it, and it was good.”
Bedard will look to increase his 32-game level streak (81 factors; 39 objectives, 42 assists) when Regina performs Medication Hat on Jan. 29.
Mann-up
Matteo Mann (6-5, 222; No. 53) has fairly a assist crew surrounding him in his draft-eligible season because the son of Ottawa Senators assistant basic supervisor, Trent Mann, and nephew of an American Hockey League coach, Troy Mann.
The precise-shot defenseman, who factors to his potential to defend as his biggest asset, has 5 assists and 27 photographs on purpose in 25 video games in his third season with Chicoutimi of the Quebec Main Junior Hockey League.
“I believe it is a terrific useful resource to have guys that work at that stage within the sport,” Mann stated. “My dad clearly is concerned with gamers on a regular basis, so he is aware of the small print that he is searching for. So, if I’ve questions, I can ask him, and he is capable of give me issues that I can work on in my very own type of approach away from the crew.
“My uncle is a coach on the professional stage (Belleville of the AHL) and that is the place I need to be as quick as attainable, so I am type of capable of ask him the issues that he is searching for from his gamers and what he desires from guys.”
Curiously, Trent Mann has by no means filed a scouting report on his son in preparation for the 2023 draft.
“He will not do this,” Matteo stated. “I believe it is for the advantage of each of us. He would not need to impact or get in-between something with me for his profit or for my profit.”
Elevating Arizona
Two forwards within the sport had been born in Arizona.
Proper wing Ethan Gauthier (5-11, 176; No. 14), who turns 18 Thursday, was born in Phoenix. The best-ranked participant from the QMJHL has 47 factors (17 objectives, 30 assists) and 15 power-play factors (5 objectives) in 43 video games with Sherbrooke.
Heart Jaden Lipinski (6-4, 208; No. 38) was born in Scottsdale. The 18-year-old has 33 factors (14 objectives, 19 assists) and a 50.8 face-off profitable share (304-for-599) in 43 video games with Vancouver (WHL). He is also 3-for-4 in shootout makes an attempt.
Lipinski was additionally raised in Scottsdale, the place he lived for 15 years earlier than becoming a member of Vancouver.
“I believe having the Arizona Coyotes down there’s doing wonders,” Lipinski stated. “You are seeing quite a lot of prospects popping out of there, and you are going to see extra over the subsequent few years. There’s not quite a lot of rinks, however the Ice Den in Scottsdale, which is fashionable to most individuals, is producing quite a lot of good expertise.”
Ahead Auston Matthews, chosen No. 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs within the 2016 NHL Draft, was born in San Ramon, California, however moved together with his household to Scottsdale when he was 2 months previous.
“I used to be lucky to skate with [Matthews] just a little bit over the summer season and simply seeing what he is been capable of do, popping out of Arizona and when he did it, it was even smaller than it’s now, is fairly spectacular,” Lipinski stated.
Lardis aces on-ice exams
Nick Lardis (5-10, 165; No. 96) completed among the many prime 5 in seven of 10 on-ice classes which allowed gamers the chance to showcase their particular person strengths whereas gauging their health and ability ranges amongst their friends for NHL administration and scouts.
The left wing for Hamilton (Ontario Hockey League), who was Central Scouting’s lowest-ranked skater within the sport, positioned first in weave agility with puck and response, and second in transition potential with puck.
“I’ve labored just a little bit on the stuff over the summer season and skilled in these particular areas loads too,” Lardis stated. “In my residence membership too in Peterborough I did this testing and I did actually good, so I hoped to get a extremely good rating.”
Defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz (5-11, 188; No. 33) completed second within the on-ice testing, Erie heart Carey Terrance (6-0, 175; No. 50) was third and Guelph defenseman Cameron Allen (6-0, 194; No. 29) was fourth.
Bedard’s solely top-five end was in transition potential with puck.
Lind-Bedard jersey swap
How a lot would you bid on a sport jersey that Bedard autographed when he was 9 years previous?
Kalan Lind (6-0, 158; No. 23) of Crimson Deer (WHL) will not ever should after collaborating in a jersey trade with Bedard following a hockey event in Edmonton that every participant participated, the Brick Worldwide, in July 2015.
“I’ve a nickname, ‘Kaco’, and when me and Connor switched jerseys, I truly simply signed my nickname. I did not signal it ‘Kalen’ or ‘Kalen Lind.’ So, Connor went as much as my mother and requested her if I might not less than write my quantity on there so he would bear in mind who it was. I used to be No. 13, he was No. 98 … numbers we each nonetheless have.
“And sure, I’ve nonetheless obtained the jersey hanging up downstairs at my home. Whenever you see the place he’s now … he is a terrific participant and he will most likely have nice issues come his approach sooner or later.”
Bedard stated he nonetheless has the jersey.
“It is humorous as a result of he was sporting a [Saskatchewan Junior] Pats jersey. I believe it is in my closet again residence,” Bedard stated.
Would Lind each contemplate promoting the jersey sooner or later?
“We’ll should see what occurs,” he stated with a large grin. “It may be price some huge cash in the future. That is what I am considering.”
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and unbiased correspondent Kevin Woodley contributed to this report
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