The Canadiens’ rookies had a final opportunity on Tuesday to impress the club’s staff enough to win an invitation to the main camp, which takes off this morning. For the occasion, the hopes of the Habs rubbed shoulders with a formation made up of players from the country’s university ranks.
With goals from Joshua Roy, Mika Cyr, Brenden Sirizzotti, Isiah Campbell and Kaiden Guhle, the red-clad team triumphed on the 5-3 count, however, the score didn’t matter.
We especially remember that Jesse Ylönen stepped on the ice for the first time since his arrival in Canada. The 21-year-old Finn didn’t look too rusty, despite the 14-day quarantine he had to respect when he arrived in Montreal.
The only player with NHL experience present at this camp (one game), the Canadiens’ second-round pick in 2018 missed a bit of finishing around the net (one of his shots hit the post), but he still seemed to be one step ahead of his opponents.
Logically, he should be an important cog in the Laval Rocket.
However, his refusal to receive doses of COVID-19 vaccines could thwart the organization’s plans. It is to be hoped that the leaders of the team will manage to convince him, otherwise Jean-François Houle could be deprived of his services practically one in three games, or 22 of the 72 games that the Rocket will play on American soil.
Ylönen is one of 16 recruits who received an invitation to the main camp. Which means that the management did not give up on the project.
Six more Quebecers
Among the 15 other athletes to have successfully completed the first stage, we note Quebeckers Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Cédric Desruisseaux, Justin Ducharme, Joshua Roy, Xavier Simoneau and Alexis Gravel.
Left aside for this clash against university training, Mattias Norlinder and Cameron Hillis also received their invitation card. Along with Guhle, Gianni Fairbrother, Jan Mysak and Riley Kidney.
For their part, William Trudeau, Thomas Caron, Charles-Antoine Pilote and Charles-Antoine Roy are among the 10 players cut off. Trudeau will return to complete his apprenticeship with the Charlottetown Islanders in the QMJHL. As for the other three, they are free to offer their services to the team of their choice.
In the Eye of Lions
Moreover, it is not only Marc Bergevin and his close guard who had a close eye on the progress of this meeting. The Trois-Rivières Lions, the Canadian’s school club in the ECHL, were also well represented.
General manager Marc-André Bergeron, head coach Éric Bélanger and assistant coach Pascal Rhéaume took the opportunity to spy on both the hopes of the Canadiens and the university players.
All the more reason for the latter to give fierce opposition to their rivals. Not surprisingly the intensity level was very high, these getting a rare opportunity to show off.
Rewarded efforts
Joshua Roy
Once again, he showed great intensity and did some hard work in the opposing zone. The winger is also engaged and aware of his defensive play. He showed a lot of seriousness and his efforts were rewarded.
Jesse Ylönen
The Canadiens’ second-round pick in the 2018 draft didn’t hit the mark, but he had a blast. Members of the varsity team were able to witness his smooth skating and nimble hands. The Finnish striker was everywhere on the ice.
Kaiden Guhle
The defender went back to basics, to simpler games, and it paid off. He stuck his shoulders out a few times and made sure the enclave wasn’t too congested. He scored in an empty net.
Mika cyr
The New Brunswicker continued his momentum from the first two games. In addition to being committed and intense, the center player has shown he has a good sense of the game. His defensive work near his blue line allowed him to score the Canadiens second goal. However, his outfit did not earn him an invitation to the main camp.
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