Here we go!
The Vancouver Canucks prospects have gathered in Penticton and will hit the ice for their first game against the Winnipeg Jets tonight at 7:30 p.m. PT.
I didn't make the trip up to the Okanagan this year, so I'll be streaming the game on Canucks.com like most of the rest of you; it'll also be broadcast on radio on Sportsnet 650.
Here's a peek at Thursday's first practice:
One surprising note from Thursday: Jett Woo will not be in Penticton.
Jett Woo not at Young Stars. Being treated in Van for a lower body injury according to Ryan Johnson
— Ed Willes (@willesonsports) September 6, 2018
I wonder what the Canucks training staff picked up in his testing? Woo has been at the Moose Jaw Warriors training camp and didn't see aware that anything was wrong, although he didn't play in the Warriors' first preseason game against Regina last Saturday.
"It's going to be fun," Woo told Mark Smith of Discover Moose Jaw earlier this week about coming to Canucks camp. "I'm going to take everything that I learned my first time going there (for the Canucks' development camp in July) and at my first World Junior camp and show them that I’ve improved, both on and off the ice."
Woo was in great spirits after the World Junior camp last month.
.@Jett_Woo on his summer downtime: "That's one thing that I've been having trouble with. I'm always one to want to go to the gym or be out on the ice. Especially after this World Junior run, I feel so good about my game right now & my summer hockey mode turned off at that camp."
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) August 8, 2018
Woo was going to be the lone representative from the Canucks' 2018 draft class at Young Stars, so it's disappointing that he won't be able to show his stuff. It's also a bit worrisome. After a hot start, he was limited to 44 games with the Warriors last season. First, he missed six weeks with a separated shoulder, according to Mike Sawatzky of the Winnipeg Free Press. He came back in late December and played 12 games before missing another month with a strained oblique muscle and a hip pointer. When he returned for the stretch run and the playoffs, he was unable to rediscover the scoring touch that had made him so impressive during the early part of last season.
I'll be interested to hear whether Woo's current issue is a carryover from these problems from last year, or if it's something new. There's already talk that he won't be able to take part in the Canucks' main camp, either.
Also on the topic of injured defensemen, Jeff Paterson has a bit more info on the absent Matt Brassard in his Day 1 Young Stars wrapup at TSN.ca. Paterson reports that Brassard underwent offseason shoulder surgery and that he was at the Canucks' July development camp, but couldn't participate in on-ice activities. He also re-affirmed that the plan is for Brassard is to re-join the Oshawa Generals in October, when he's healthy.
On a brighter note, it's all systems go for Olli Juolevi after his offseason back surgery.
Olli Juolevi said he’s 100% ready to go for Young Stars and training camp, but admitted that he did miss about a month of regular training due to his back procedure. #Canucks
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 6, 2018
Like last year, Utica head coach Trent Cull is running the show in Penticton. At Friday's morning skate, he has been practicing special teams.
Palmu, Jasek, Gaudette, MacMaster and Brisebois on PP2. #Canucks
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 7, 2018
I like the possibilities presented by both those units. Let's hope for lots of penalties!
At full strength, it looks like Kole Lind will skate with Jonathan Dahlen and Elias Pettersson tonight. Ryan Johnson told Sportsnet 650 today that Pettersson has put on 10 pounds and looks stronger, which is huge if true, as they say.
Pettersson doesn't shy away from hot topics in interviews. I hope he stays this candid.
Pettersson was asked about playing with Dahlen - “Some of you guys say we’re the new Sedins...we’re not there yet...maybe we’ll get there one day...if we do I’ll be very happy. Jonathan and I are very excited to play together and can’t wait for tonight.… #Canucks
— Irfaan Gaffar (@sportsnetirf) September 7, 2018
Michael DiPietro gets the start in net tonight. Enjoy the game!