The-James Hockey League

Kamloops Loses Most of Pre-Season and Makes Big Deals

by Kamloops Knights on Sun Oct-9 2022 21:53 worth $1,441,500.00 (961 words)

The Knights Management was frustrated after not being able to reach the finals with a star-studded lineup, which was further hampered by a poor showing in the pre-season.  Massive changes were made after what most team analyists are calling the most competitive training camp the Knights have ever hosted.
The ice at the Fortress was teeming with activity as General Manager and Assistant Manager John Pezel and Rob Cosco watched the organization battle from their box. 
This season saw the most Regina prospects in camp than ever before with 22 year old LW Alf Mandich, 20 year old LW Nelson Salo, 21 year old D Leroy Chartier and 23 year old D Willie Cormier surviving the early and mid-camp cuts to try and force jobs.  Cormier is now required to pass through waivers, so he is likely going to be carried by the team as an extra defenseman.
"I feel like I can help the Knights.  I am sort of a standard defensive defender and I really like playing with these offensive players and trying to learn how to be a good partner.  So far, I'm learning a ton from Evariste, as he is the perfect partner for Brycen, Leroy and I to be paired with in camp.  He has seen everything and has had success at every level." 
Evariste MacSweyn is the 35 year old 3rd pair defenseman who recently rehired, Coach Rudy McNeill, is pairing with these young players.  McNeill is trying to find out who will make the best option after the team was forced to trade Harold Hamonic due to a contract dispute.  McNeill does favour veteran players over younger ones, but he explained that he will give people a shot regardless.
"Yeah, I do sort of have that reputation of playing the steely vets, because they are just so coachable and know what it takes to win, but, that being said, I want to get a bit of a picture of the future and guys like Chartier and Mandich have earned a look.  You always want to know what you have coming down the pipeline."
Kasper Campeau, the 21 year old goalie phenom was a notable absence in training camp which the Knights said is because of a family issue.  Campeau is poised to headline the Regina team in net again this season, but is also on the radar to someday take over the Knights job from the Superstar, Dan McCarthy, currently ranked by some as the #1 goalie in the world.  McCarthy will be backed up by Campeau and other goalies as the Knights try to go deeper in the playoffs.
Aside from the Hamonic trade, which brought in Jarrod Dumart on a tryout contract until he was traded as well, there have been a number of other deals.
One of the largest deals, brought in left winger Cal Muckalt in exchange for 24 year old talent, Teuvo Moe.  Management had this to say about the deal.
"Muckalt is such a presence and we are lucky to have him.  He isn't going to break records for scoring, but he is one of the best defensive veterans around and is super steady out there.  He is probably going to have looks with the McDavid line because we feel that McDavid can score more goals with someone creating space out there.  He will also probably see some time with line 1 with Weibe and McSween."
The Muckalt deal saw Moe, who mostly sat on the bench for Kamloops, leave, but it wasn't the only deal to see players leave.  A massive trade that shocked the hockey world happened just last night when star sniper, Johnny Rasmussen was moved along with former Calgary sensation, Hy Hentunen for draft picks.
"In all honesty, it hurt to lose Johnny, but we are going in a direction of youth.  Clay Despres sat last year after getting 40+ points and we felt that it was time to give him a permanent spot.  We wish Johnny the best and we know that his buds on the team will miss him."
Nothing was mentioned about the loss of Hentuen, but he didn't really seem to gel with the Kamloops regulars.  The Knights picked up two 1st round Ottawa selections as well as a 2nd, which increases an already packed prospect/farm system.  It will be very interesting to see how the younger lineup plays this year with some veteran roles being changed.  Knights captain, Joni Siklenka, had this to say about the camp and the team's plans.
"You know, we are all sad to see Harold and Johnny go.  They were a big part of our team and I am friends with them both.  I think that management had a tough decision to make about who will play for us moving forward and it's only going to get tougher as our farm guys push hard against us.  To be honest, it's good for the team to have the best players playing and no one getting a job for free.  It will eventually put us at the top of the standings and I just hope we keep moving towards that cup.  I really really want one now and the guys left here will do anything for it I know."
With the first game after the trades going in Kamloop's favour, it appears for now that the trades are working.  Time will tell who gets that 6th defensive job and if Despres can keep that LW job over Thain Kadri or Jiri Bye, but the goal is to trim the fat and ice the best possible team.  There will be more trades coming though, as Regina is teeming with prospects due to the volume of draft picks the Knights have had and also have coming.

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