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In the words of the greatest entertainer in all of sports…FINALLY!!!!!! The puck, has come back to Penticton!

The Young Stars Classic is set to get under way and here are 5 reasons why the Canucks win this thing – not that it really matters much.


5. Home Ice Advantage

Located in the B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, It’s safe to say that Penticton is a Canucks town. Home ice can generated a lot of energy – especially for young players. Expect that energy to power Vancouver to victory.


4. Joacim Eriksson

We’ve all heard about his lights out season in Sweden, now we get to see what one of the best goaltenders outside the NHL can do. If he’s half as good as advertised, he’s the best goalie in this tournament. Goaltending wins games and Vancouver has a huge advantage in net.


3. A Great Group Of Non-Roster Invites

They aren’t the headliners for this event, but make no mistake about it; the non-roster guys are the players that will be the hungriest at this event. Ones to watch are: high-skill blueliner Sacha Guimond, who posted nearly a point a game in the ECHL, scrappy Adam De Champlain, who fought 17 times last season, highly skilled Phillippe Maillet, who had 83 points in the QMJHL and big David Pecan, who was a sixth round selection of the Blackhawks in 2009. These four guys will be noticeable at the event.


2. An Elite 2013 Draft Class

For Horvat, Shinkaruk, Cassels, Cederholm, Liberati and Subban this will be their first game as Canucks. If you ask me, this is a pretty special draft class and this tournament is going to have some highlight-type moments from each of these kids. Look for the rumoured line of Shinkaruk/Horvat/Pecan to produce, Cederholm to crush people and Subban to control the power-play.


1. A Coach Who Is Looking To Make An Impact

While this tournament is mainly a showcase for the players, watch for new Utica Comets head coach Travis Green to be equally excited behind the bench. Green coached the Portland Winterhawks to the Memorial Cup Tournament last season and this is the first chance he has to leave an impression on his new employers. He’s already said he plans on riding Eriksson, so that to me says he’s looking to win this thing.


Roster

Defence

Peter Andersson
Jeremie Blain
Anton Cederholm
Frank Corrado
Daniel Johnston*
Miles Liberati
Evan McEneny
Jordan Subban
Henrik Tommernes
Sacha Guimond*

Forwards

Ludwing Blomstrand
Cole Cassels
Adam De Champlain*
Mitch Elliot*
Cain Franson*
Alex Friesen
Brendan Gaunce
Alexandre Grenier
Zach Hall*
Kyle Hope*
Bo Horvat
Niklas Jensen
Phillippe Maillet*
Alexandre Mallet
Jesse Mychan*
Wesley Myron
David Pacan*
Hunter Shinkaruk

Goaltenders

Mathieu Corbeil*
Eddie Lack - likely won’t play
Joacim Eriksson

*invitees that have neither been drafted nor signed by the Canucks


So, how do you like Vancouver’s chances?


Until tomorrow my friends, stay classy

Ian

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