When forward Axel Blomqvist returns to the Victoria Royals roster, sent back today by the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, there will be a couple of avid Royals teammates listening to his tales from pro camp.
That’s because forward Tyler Soy and defenceman Chaz Reddekopp, among the 42 Western Hockey League players cited in Central Scouting’s preliminary list of players to watch for in the 2015 NHL draft, hope to be in pro camps next September.
“I’ve picked the brains of both Brownie and Joe,” said Soy, referring to Royals defencemen Travis Brown and Joe Hicketts who have been returned from the NHL camps.
“They say it’s so much faster, bigger and stronger up there. You’re not dealing with teenagers anymore, but men.”
Not that Soy gets ahead of himself. “I try not to get too focused on lists and rankings, and just keep working hard” said the native of Cloverdale.
Reddekopp admitted it’s “cool to see your name up there” on the Central Scouting rankings but that it’s important to keep it in perspective. After all, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Both Reddekopp and Soy have been given ‘C’ rankings for the 2015 NHL draft, which indicates probable candidates for the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. The rating of ‘B’ is for the second- and third-round probables and ‘A’ for projected first-rounders.
Victoria head coach Dave Lowry wants Reddekopp and Soy not to be content with ‘C’ and to set their sights higher.
“I want to see growth and improvement and for them to move up in category,” said Lowry, adding both players are capable.
“Especially if Chaz [six-foot-three, 215-pound Reddekopp] is dialed in and realizes he needs to play a big man’s game every night.”
Reddekopp is listening: “I know I have the size and need to play big … and speed is also part of it … to help me get to the next level.”
So is keeping the ears open in the dressing room.
“All the guys who return from pro camps tell us what it’s like up there and give pointers to the other guys who haven’t yet been [to pro camps] about what to expect,” said West Kelowna-native Reddekopp.
Of the six Royals who were invited to pro camps, four have returned — Blomqvist, Hicketts, Brown and Brandon Magee, the latter from Calgary Flames camp. The Royals remaining in NHL camps are defenceman Keegan Kanzig and forward Austin Carroll, both with the Flames.
“The players who have been to pro camps can bring back some professionalism to show the other guys,” said Brown, who leads the Royals after two games with two goals and three points.
“The biggest thing you learn [up with the pros] is about paying attention to the little things.”
That’s what the Royals (0-2) will need to do when they open at home with games Friday and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Kamloops Blazers.
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