To the surprise of many, Champlain Athletic Club's WHL Entry Draft is over after four rounds.
The team chose Max Friberg out of Timrå in Sweden with their fourth round pick. "We whiffed on a couple other targets who were taken ahead of our pick, namely Bogdan Yakimov, but we're happy with Max; he's a quality player who can play well in all three zones and he's got a track record at the junior level. He's ready for the next step, which our development program will help him make," said GM Locria Fox, citing Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk's Yakimov as their target this round. "His forechecking is relentless, and he's a quality player to have around, he works hard and has a good attitude." Friberg adds to the list of World Junior alumni, having won a gold medal with Sweden in 2012, at a tournament he led with 9 goals.
The team then revealed it was their last pick of the draft, as all three fifth round picks were shipped to Gulfcoast Guardians in exchange for a third round pick in 2017. "There weren't enough quality players left who follow our rules," said Fox.
Back in Burlington, players continue to work hard at camp. New draftees Shayne Gostisbehere, Andrew Copp, and Michael Paliotta arrived today and will start their training camp tomorrow. "It's good to be back in Burlington," said Paliotta, captain of UVM this past season. "I spent four terrific years at UVM, and now I get to play professionally in a place I love, it's a dream come true. I can't wait to get back on the Gutterson ice."
Monday, August 17, 2015
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Champlain Athletic Draft: Rounds 1-3 Recapped
Day 1 of the WHL Draft is complete. Champlain Athletic had three picks in their first draft.
Fans crowded Ri Ra Irish Pub on Church Street for the draft (in more than one way) party. Martin St. Louis, Jacob Trouba, Jonathan Quick, Jiří Tlustý, and Seth Jones were on hand to sign autographs for the fans, and Tlustý brought his shiny new Chairman's Cup, an award given to the best player on a non-playoff team, which he won in a landslide. Nobody even had half as many votes as the Czech forward, who produced 53 goals last season. "It's nice to be rewarded for my hard work, but I never want to even see this trophy ever again," said a hungry Tlustý. "We want playoffs, and mission playoffs began the minute the final horn sounded last season." The runner up was teammate Jonathan Quick after he posted a yeoman .894 save percentage, second in the league only to Atlantic Schooners' James Reimer.
Champlain's first selection came at #23, and the team wasted no time in announcing defender Shayne Gostisbehere as their first selection. Though he doesn't have the name value of other players available, Gostisbehere has the potential to be a top-pairing offensive defenseman. He suffered a nasty knee injury that led him to miss most of last season, hurting his draft stock, but Champlain management figures he'll come back better than ever. "You didn't see people giving up on Ryan Murray after he blew out his knee. Why should Shayne be any different? He's a dynamic offensive defenseman and will be in our top 4 for years to come," said GM Locria Fox. Gostisbehere was teammates with Jones and Trouba at the 2013 World Junior Championships in Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia, and the three won a gold medal together for Team America.
The team's next pick didn't come until the third round, when they took William Karlsson. However, he was just a pawn in a trade, as he was packaged with Patrik Nemeth - another defense prospect coming off a nasty injury - and shipped to Starbulls Rosenheim. The Germans sent them 2nd round pick Michael Paliotta, who was captain of the UVM Catamounts this past season. "Michael is another criminally underrated defense prospect, and we're trying to build a fanbase here, so bringing in a recent Catamount captain is amazing for us," said Fox. "But we didn't just pick up Paliotta to score brownie points with the fans and sell tickets. He's a gamer, a leader, and he can play on both special teams. He is a terrific all-around defenseman, and a terrific person to have around. And we always planned on having him, it was just a manner of how, and we worked out a deal with Starbulls that we're both happy with." Again, there's a connection through USA Hockey - Paliotta was teammates with Trouba and Jones at the 2011 U18 World Championships, in which again, the US won gold.
The team's final pick came just five picks after the Karlsson/Paliotta swap, and after having Borna Rendulić, a friend of Fox, selected by the Kelowna Cats a pick before (much to the anger of the Champlain GM), the team regrouped and added yet another American, center Andrew Copp, captain at the University of Michigan. Thought the connections were over? Wrong. Copp was teammates with Trouba and Jones at the 2012 U18 World Championships (again won by the US), and was also teammates with Trouba with the Wolverines and US National Team Development Program. "Copp is your quintessential third-line center. He has all the physical tools and some of the technical tools. His game still needs refining, but like Paliotta, he's a leader, useful in all three zones, and he's fairly close to WHL ready," said Fox. "He was a quarterback when he played gridiron in high school and he shows the leadership qualities that such a position requires. He has the physical tools to be a solid power forward in this league, he just needs to fix some issues with technique, and I trust that our development program will be able to do just that."
As for team numbers, Gostisbehere will wear #14, Paliotta claims his #2 from his UVM days, and Copp has been allocated #51. The three will report to training camp immediately.
The team has one pick in Monday's fourth round and three in the fifth, though the team says they're likely to trade the fifth round picks.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Champlain Camp Opens Up
Preparation is key to any WHL season, and that was the thought process of Champlain Athletic when they decided to open training camp in July.
45 members of Champlain Athletic's hockey side congregated in Burlington this afternoon. The lone absentee was Jim O'Brien, and with good reason: he had been traded to the team (from Edmonton, in exchange for Carl Klingberg) just before the start of camp. Tye McGinn has also been traded, to Waterloo, for a late round pick.
Before camp started, new addition Martin St. Louis announced that this season would be his last. "There's no place I'd rather end my career than where it started," said St. Louis, a UVM alumnus. "Burlington is an amazing place, and I want to give the fans here everything I've got in my last season. These fans deserve nothing but the best, and I'm going to make sure Champlain gives it to them."
Most of the first day was primarily meant for teambuilding. After light jogging early in the afternoon, the team broke into groups and hiked up Camel's Hump, with an incentive for the winning group. The winner was the team of Vladimir Tarasenko, Seth Jones, and oddball of the group, goalie Igor Bobkov. Jones joked: "We bonded quickly, using memories of beating Team Canada at the World Juniors." This group gets the morning weight session off tomorrow!
Asked why she opened camp before the upcoming draft, GM Locria Fox responded, "Given that whoever we draft probably won't be playing right away, it's important to get our first team playing together and gelling as soon as we can. On top of this, they need to get acquainted to Cammi [Granato] and the rest of our new coaching staff. The prospects will join immediately after the draft." The team's top pick is at #23 overall, but they've been mum on who it will be spent on.
We'll see how the team looks in an on ice evaluation game tomorrow.
45 members of Champlain Athletic's hockey side congregated in Burlington this afternoon. The lone absentee was Jim O'Brien, and with good reason: he had been traded to the team (from Edmonton, in exchange for Carl Klingberg) just before the start of camp. Tye McGinn has also been traded, to Waterloo, for a late round pick.
Before camp started, new addition Martin St. Louis announced that this season would be his last. "There's no place I'd rather end my career than where it started," said St. Louis, a UVM alumnus. "Burlington is an amazing place, and I want to give the fans here everything I've got in my last season. These fans deserve nothing but the best, and I'm going to make sure Champlain gives it to them."
Most of the first day was primarily meant for teambuilding. After light jogging early in the afternoon, the team broke into groups and hiked up Camel's Hump, with an incentive for the winning group. The winner was the team of Vladimir Tarasenko, Seth Jones, and oddball of the group, goalie Igor Bobkov. Jones joked: "We bonded quickly, using memories of beating Team Canada at the World Juniors." This group gets the morning weight session off tomorrow!
Asked why she opened camp before the upcoming draft, GM Locria Fox responded, "Given that whoever we draft probably won't be playing right away, it's important to get our first team playing together and gelling as soon as we can. On top of this, they need to get acquainted to Cammi [Granato] and the rest of our new coaching staff. The prospects will join immediately after the draft." The team's top pick is at #23 overall, but they've been mum on who it will be spent on.
We'll see how the team looks in an on ice evaluation game tomorrow.
Friday, June 12, 2015
The Greatest Catamount Comes Home
There's no better way to end a career, than to end it where it all began. And for Champlain Athletic, it feels so good.
The club made a MASSIVE trade with the Ottawa Polar Bears just hours after the end of the Bears' Cyber Cup Finals defeat. The A's sent the 5th overall pick to Ottawa, along with their own third round pick (as they also own Chicoutimi's, from last year's Mathieu Perreault trade). In exchange, the team gets a deal that adds much-needed attacking firepower, and a return home.
Martin St. Louis made his name in Burlington, wowing crowds at Gutterson Fieldhouse over four years that saw the core of him, Eric Perrin, and Tim Thomas produce the finest team in UVM history, including the team's first Frozen Four in 1996. Tonight, he returns home, along with fellow scoring ace Paul Stastny, up-and-coming offensive defender Patrick Wiercioch, blue-chip prospect Patrik Nemeth, and depth prospects Chris Brown and Aaron Ness.
St. Louis and Stastny bolster an attack in desperate need of help: the two combined for 165 points last season. St. Louis would have actually led the team in scoring, while Stastny would've been fourth.
"We're so proud to bring Marty home, he's still a UVM guy at heart. He's still a dominant player even at his age and brings our side elite scoring prowess and championship experience," said GM Locria Fox, alluding to St. Louis's Cyber Cup ring from his lone season in Las Vegas in which he was named the most valuable player in the playoffs. "Him and Paul will bring our team some much-needed scoring, while Wiercioch helps us in the back. Nemeth should develop into a solid defender over time if he can rehab from his most recent injury. As for Brown and Ness, they were more or less throw-ins, guys we're taking a flyer on and hoping we can get some use out of. Think Riley Nash circa 2013/14."
Fox was also reportedly pleased with how she was able to get elite players without giving up any of her team's existing major prospects.
"We believe Elias Lindholm and David Pastrňák should be ready for WHL action next year, albeit in limited roles. The additions of Marty and Paul won't affect our plans for them, but it gives them time to develop before stepping into a bigger role, and also gives them veterans to look up to."
St. Louis has also won 3 Lady Byng trophies throughout his WHL career.
Fox says she isn't done making moves this offseason.
The club made a MASSIVE trade with the Ottawa Polar Bears just hours after the end of the Bears' Cyber Cup Finals defeat. The A's sent the 5th overall pick to Ottawa, along with their own third round pick (as they also own Chicoutimi's, from last year's Mathieu Perreault trade). In exchange, the team gets a deal that adds much-needed attacking firepower, and a return home.
Martin St. Louis made his name in Burlington, wowing crowds at Gutterson Fieldhouse over four years that saw the core of him, Eric Perrin, and Tim Thomas produce the finest team in UVM history, including the team's first Frozen Four in 1996. Tonight, he returns home, along with fellow scoring ace Paul Stastny, up-and-coming offensive defender Patrick Wiercioch, blue-chip prospect Patrik Nemeth, and depth prospects Chris Brown and Aaron Ness.
St. Louis and Stastny bolster an attack in desperate need of help: the two combined for 165 points last season. St. Louis would have actually led the team in scoring, while Stastny would've been fourth.
"We're so proud to bring Marty home, he's still a UVM guy at heart. He's still a dominant player even at his age and brings our side elite scoring prowess and championship experience," said GM Locria Fox, alluding to St. Louis's Cyber Cup ring from his lone season in Las Vegas in which he was named the most valuable player in the playoffs. "Him and Paul will bring our team some much-needed scoring, while Wiercioch helps us in the back. Nemeth should develop into a solid defender over time if he can rehab from his most recent injury. As for Brown and Ness, they were more or less throw-ins, guys we're taking a flyer on and hoping we can get some use out of. Think Riley Nash circa 2013/14."
Fox was also reportedly pleased with how she was able to get elite players without giving up any of her team's existing major prospects.
"We believe Elias Lindholm and David Pastrňák should be ready for WHL action next year, albeit in limited roles. The additions of Marty and Paul won't affect our plans for them, but it gives them time to develop before stepping into a bigger role, and also gives them veterans to look up to."
St. Louis has also won 3 Lady Byng trophies throughout his WHL career.
Fox says she isn't done making moves this offseason.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
New Farm Team Unveiled
Champlain Athletic Club has reached an agreement with the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, to house the club's farm affiliate next year.
The team's name will be HC United of Manchester and they will play out of the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The logo features deer antlers, a reference to the state animal, the white-tailed deer. The team colors, navy blue, white, and silver, were chosen to match that of the University of New Hampshire, strengthening the organization's bond with college hockey programs.
Vivere aut mori is Latin for the famous state motto of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die."
The jerseys were also revealed, showing something that Champlain will also be doing this year: if a player is born in a nation where Cyrillic is used, their name in Cyrillic will be placed on the jersey just below the number, shown here by Igor Bobkov.
The team's name will be HC United of Manchester and they will play out of the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The logo features deer antlers, a reference to the state animal, the white-tailed deer. The team colors, navy blue, white, and silver, were chosen to match that of the University of New Hampshire, strengthening the organization's bond with college hockey programs.
The jerseys were also revealed, showing something that Champlain will also be doing this year: if a player is born in a nation where Cyrillic is used, their name in Cyrillic will be placed on the jersey just below the number, shown here by Igor Bobkov.
The team's head coach will be Natalie Darwitz.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Folin Angel
The Champlain Athletic Club has announced that they have traded forward Vladimír Sobotka to Edmonton Mountain Men, along with the Las Vegas Bulls' fourth round pick in the upcoming WHL draft. In exchange, the team receives defender Christian Folin.
Folin, 24, comes from the municipality of Kungsbacka, Sweden, on the nation's west coast. After playing for the Frölunda junior program, he moved to North Ameria, first in the USHL with Fargo Force and later in the NAHL with the Austin Bruins. He then played two solid years at UMass-Lowell - winning two conference tournaments with the team - before being taken with the 70th pick (Round 3) of last year's WHL Entry Draft.
Sobotka, 27, posted 31 points in the WHL last season, but recently signed a 3 year deal with Avangard Omsk Region of the Kontinental Hockey League.
The fourth round pick was acquired midseason for Alexey Marchenko.
"We're glad with our return with Christian, he's a young defender on his way up. At worst, he'll be a solid depth defender; at best, he could potentially fit in our middle pairings," said GM Locria Fox.
Folin, 24, comes from the municipality of Kungsbacka, Sweden, on the nation's west coast. After playing for the Frölunda junior program, he moved to North Ameria, first in the USHL with Fargo Force and later in the NAHL with the Austin Bruins. He then played two solid years at UMass-Lowell - winning two conference tournaments with the team - before being taken with the 70th pick (Round 3) of last year's WHL Entry Draft.
Sobotka, 27, posted 31 points in the WHL last season, but recently signed a 3 year deal with Avangard Omsk Region of the Kontinental Hockey League.
The fourth round pick was acquired midseason for Alexey Marchenko.
"We're glad with our return with Christian, he's a young defender on his way up. At worst, he'll be a solid depth defender; at best, he could potentially fit in our middle pairings," said GM Locria Fox.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Champlain Athletic Reveal Arena Plans
Champlain Athletic Club has released several 3D sketches of their home arena, which will be ready for the start of the 2016-17 WHL season. In the meantime, the team will play their games outdoors at Centennial Field.
Here are models of the Green Mountain Arena:
The inside has not been modeled, but the team expects to have a team store, a sports bar, air hockey tables, and a restaurant which serves the finest cuisine from the various nations Champlain players hail from.
In other PR news from Champlain, we can also confirm that the team has created three charities:
-One, All For Hockey, that will help cover costs for equipment, coaching, and travel for families who want to play hockey but just can't afford it.
-One, The Fox Fund, that will aid transgender individuals without a home or a job due to their gender identities. This was the brainchild of transgender GM Locria Fox.
-One unnamed fund that will help diabetes and cancer research
Here are models of the Green Mountain Arena:
In other PR news from Champlain, we can also confirm that the team has created three charities:
-One, All For Hockey, that will help cover costs for equipment, coaching, and travel for families who want to play hockey but just can't afford it.
-One, The Fox Fund, that will aid transgender individuals without a home or a job due to their gender identities. This was the brainchild of transgender GM Locria Fox.
-One unnamed fund that will help diabetes and cancer research
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