Camping Guide 2010 - Interview with Brandon Kozun

Too small. Too short. Not big enough.

Listed at 5' 8", Brandon Kozun has heard it all before. Yet, it hasn't stopped the 20-year old right winger from putting together an impressive hockey resume.

He's coming off back to back 100+ point seasons for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. Last year he led all of junior hockey with 107 points (32g, 75a). And he was a top player for Canada at the World Junior Championships over the winter.

That certainly doesn't sound like a guy that should have fallen all the way to the sixth round before being drafted in 2009.

I'm sure scouts did their normal level of prodding and investigation before the draft. However, one thing that may have gone overlooked is...um...his astrological sign. Serioulsy.

Born March 8th, he's a pisces.

For those unfamiliar, let's review a few of their characteristics...

Pisces are said to long for movement and/or be extremely restless. If you've ever seen this kid on the ice, you'd understand. His feet never stop moving. Ever!

People born under this sign are always trying to adapt themselves to the situation they're in.  Perhaps that's what makes him so coachable.

Additionally, the symbol of a pisces depicts duality, a struggle between one's spiritual soul and it's physical body.  Simply put, his small frame is struggling with his inner player.  His heart and drive - and fearlessness - don't match up with his smallish frame.

Finally, what about their natural ability to imitate or mirror another person?  While many people in Southern California will be quick to compare him to Mike Cammalleri or Paul Kariya, I'd say he's shooting more for Theo Fleury.

Enough of the Miss Cleo type hockey analysis though.  See what Brandon has to say...

MM:  Take us back in time a week or so. When you came down to LA for the start of rookie camp, where was your head? Do you come in super confident, saying 'I'm going to make the Kings roster this year.' Or did you come in with tempered expectations, thinking about probably going to Manchester, just trying to learn and soak in as much as you can?

Camping Guide 2010 - Interview with Jordan Nolan

Some players have a very linear path to the NHL. They play for one junior team, get drafted, make a brief stop with that team's AHL affiliate and then eventually make their NHL debut.

Jordan Nolan isn't one of those players.

His story reads more like the tough luck, work extremely hard for everything he's earned path.

At the 2005 OHL Draft, John Tavares was taken first overall by the Oshawa Generals. He just completed his first year with the New York Islanders. Three future members of the Kings organization were also taken in that first round - Drew Doughty (Guelph), Jake Muzzin (Sault Ste. Marie) and Michael Pelech (Kitchener Rangers).

Two rounds later, with the 50th overall selection (3rd round), the Erie Otters did the tried-and-trued hockey thing, they went the bloodlines route...taking Jordan, son of former NHL winger, turned coach, Ted Nolan.

Since then, it's one big wild ride for the big forward.  He played just one season with the Otters before ending up on the Windsor Spitfires for the next two seasons.  At that point, he requested a trade and was sent to the Soo Greyhounds.

Near the end of his first season in the Soo he was suspended 20 games.  Many felt that would be the end of his junior hockey career, as it would extended into the following season - forcing him to miss nearly one third of his over-age year in the OHL.

That didn't stop the Kings from drafting him in the seventh round just a few months after the suspension was announced (2009 NHL Draft).  They liked what they saw in the 6' 3" center-left wing.  He brought good physical presence to the organization.  Something sorely laking at that point in time.

LA-PHX Rookie Game #2 Preview with Corey Elkins

Game one is in the books, with the Kings picking up a 5-4 win in overtime.

A few hours from now the two-game series wraps up with a matinee affair in Glendale, AZ.

For some players this will be it, their final game in a Kings jersey. For many others, they'll be returned to their junior teams over the next week or so and won't be seen again until next summer's Developmental Camp. For Corey Elkins, rookie camp will just be the end of another chapter.

His hockey travels have taken him to the USHL, to a top college program, and last season to the Manchester Monarchs - where he led the team in goals and points, as a rookie.

This Saturday, he'll be one of just a handful of players at the Kings training camp with a legitimate shot at earning a place on the team for the upcoming season.

Today, he helps us get ready for the second and final game in the LA-Phoenix Rookie Series...

First off, the ankle - Muzzin hit you with a puck the first day of camp and you were pretty bruised up - how are you doing now?

What to do with Martin Jones?

One game doesn't make a career. He isn't a bust. The Kings shouldn't trade him.

Just sayin' - he sure hasn't risen to the occasion when there's a crown on his chest.

I interviewed over a dozen players selected at this past June's NHL Draft. Every one of them who played in the WHL listed Martin Jones as the toughest goalie they had ever faced. His teammates from the Canadian contingent at the World Junior Championships sang his praises. In April he was crowned the WHL goaltender of the year.

Rewind to last September, when the Kings met the Coyotes in game one of their annual two-game rookie series. Final score, 6-1 Phoenix. Jones suffered the loss and gave up all six goals.

After that game, he had the following to say of his performance "It’s hard to bring a bunch of guys together and try and get them game ready in a week and try and get chemistry going...In a game like that you need your goalie to make a save, keep you in it early and I don’t think I did that tonight".

Fast forward twelve months, this time it was the late saves.

In game one of this year's doubleheader between the same two teams, Jones gave up four goals - including three in the third period...with the final one inside of two minutes left in the game.

LA-PHX Rookie Game Preview with Kyle Clifford

Cross referencing the Phoenix Coyotes rookie camp roster with the HockeyFights.com database, there doesn't appear to be anybody who's had an official scrap with the Kings Kyle Clifford.

In just a few short hours, that should change.

For the past few years the Kings and Coyotes have made it a point to test each other's rookie squads with a few "games" near the end of the camp.  Don't think for a minute though these are just glorified scrimmages.

Coach Ray Edwards was on the Coyotes website earlier today talking about how serious they're taking these games, saying "We want to win."  And that's all nice and dandy.  However, a few of the Kings kids may have more on their mind that just a simple victory.  They were embarrassed last year in a 6-1 loss when the Coyotes came to LA (the series alternates location each year).

Clifford may be just the guy to help them out.  The former second round draft pick is coming off back to back OHL seasons with at least 110 penalty minutes.

He's not solely an enforcer though. Last season he had 57 points in 58 games (28 g, 29 a).

In the annual OHL Coaches Poll a few months ago, he was voted the best defensive forward in the Eastern Conference and second in the 'Hardest Worker' category. 

Currently, he's fighting for a shot to make the Kings roster this season - something many people believe he'll do.

With game one of the two-game rookie series set to take place later tonight, we checked in with Clifford to see how camp is going so far and talk about the team's preparation for the Coyotes.

MM:  How did things go over the weekend for you, getting back on the ice with all the other prospects?

10 Tidbits on HockeyFest 2010

Over the weekend, the Kings held their second annual HockeyFest. While the new end-of-summer tradition was scaled back from last year's grand event, a sold-out crowd of 2,000 fans seemed to enjoy it just as much.

Like last year, by far, the most popular activities at the event were the speaker sessions. Fans were treated to current and former players sharing stories and answering questions.

And it all kicked off early Saturday morning - too early - with Dean Lombardi, Ron Hextall and Jeff Solomon giving a State of the Franchise.

Using our popular 10 Tidbits format, here are selected highlights from the event...

1.  Goalies - The unintentional funny quote of the day came from Hextall when he said "Bernier hasn't made the team yet." Um, ok.  I guess that gives hope to three of you that previously purchased Ersberg jerseys.  To end any possible controversy heading into camp, he also said "Jonathan Quick is our #1 goalie" about 32 times.  Regarding Niemi - "We didn't even talk about it. Our goaltending is solid."

Live Updates from HockeyFest

The Mayor will have live updates throughout the day from HockeyFest. If you can't attend or want the inside scoop on what's going down at the Kings training facility, follow along at www.twitter.com/Mayor119 (note: you don't have to have a twitter account, simply read the updates on the page...it's that easy).

The basic schedule of events today will be as follows:

IN DEAN WE TRUST...50% off, four hours only!

[UPDATED]  The big blowout sale on t-shirts has ended. Thank you to all who ordered - we set a single day record!  If you missed it, yet still want to show you're support... IN DEAN WE TRUST shirts are available, simply click here to access the store.

Throwback Thursdays - Interview w/ Brian Kilrea

Ottawa is a long way from Los Angeles.

Yet, the older you get, the more you realize the world we live in is actually a rather small place. The hockey world is even smaller.

On October 14, 1967 Brian Kilrea was one of about two dozen players that made up the inaugural L.A. Kings roster. On that specific night, he was skating on a line with Ted Irvine and Lowell MacDonald at the Long Beach Arena. Their new home - The Forum in Inglewood - wouldn't be ready for a few more months.

About 2,400 miles away in Ottawa, a 17-year old Terry Murray was just beginning his junior hockey career as a defenseman for the Ottawa 67s - as luck would have it, also an expansion team.

Later that night, Kilrea would forever become linked with the Kings, scoring the first goal in franchise history.

Today, the two men have switched teams. Murray is now the coach in Los Angeles and Kilrea is the General Manager back in Ottawa.  However, the path that has taken 'Killer' (as he's affectionately known) from the Kings of '67 to the front office of the 67s, was a road filled with many twists and turns.

A few years after requesting a demotion to the minor leagues during his first season with the Kings, he eventually moved on to a successful coaching career in the OHL - a job that saw him tend herd over teams that once included Jim Fox...and more recently, featured one of the Kings draft picks earlier this summer, Tyler Toffoli.

Along the way he won over 1,100 games behind the bench, led two teams to the Memorial Cup (1984 and 1999), won the OHL title three times, was a five-time OHL Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

Not bad for a guy that only played 26 NHL games.

In the interview below we cover it all. From the first goal in Kings history to some of the players he's been associated with throughout his illustrious career.

MM: Take us back to October of '67.  The Kings are playing the Flyers and you score the first-ever goal for the team...

Teddy Irvine carried the puck down the left wing, they went into the corner - he and Lowell McDonald - and they were battling for the puck. They fed it to me in the slot and I got off a quick shot. I wouldn't say I picked my shot, but I one timed it and it found room to go in. That goal got us back in the game, after being down 2-0. We went on to win that game 4-2. I scored into the empty net with less than a minute to go also.

After the game, Jack Kent Cooke, our owner, came down to the locker room and was going around congratulating everybody for winning the first game. The trainer had already given me the puck from earlier. So, when he came to talk to me, I gave the puck to him. You would have thought I gave him a million dollars or a puck of gold. He was just delighted, smiling from ear to ear. He really treasured that memento, the first goal for the Los Angeles Kings.

Any off ice memories with your linemates or some of the other guys that first season in L.A.?

2010 Camping Guide - Interview w/ Corey Elkins

After a long summer, we're just a few days away from something huge.

Since Dean Lombardi's arrival in Los Angeles in April 2006 he has been on a mission to stock the organization with high-end prospects.

This Saturday, 3,000 fans are expected to descend upon the Kings training facility in El Segundo, CA for the second annual HockeyFest - where fans can interact with alumni, get autographs and attend various speaker sessions.

Simultaneously, the fruits of Lombardi's labor will be on display, as the Kings Rookie Camp gets underway in the same building. Nearly every major prospect he's acquired in the last four years will be present - forwards Clifford, Kozun, Loktionov, Schenn, Toffoli and Weal; defenseman Deslauriers, Fransson, Hickey, Muzzin and Teubert; plus goalies Berube and Jones.

Corey Elkins will be there too.  The 6'3" center just completed his rookie season with Manchester, where he posted 21 goals (tops on the team) and 43 points (second on the team).  Both totals also placed him in the top-10 for rookie scoring in the AHL.

He was expected to battle Brayden Schenn for a possible roster spot with the big club this season.  Now, with news coming out today about Schenn having a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for several months, you may start to hear more about Elkins.
Get ready for camp!  Here's the first in a series of exclusive interviews you'll find on MayorsManor in the days to come...

MM:  You signed with the Kings organization as a free agent coming out of college in the spring of 2009.  What made you want to sign in Los Angeles, especially considering the team hadn't made the playoffs in eight years at that point?

CE:  Well, when I was going the process it was crazy. It was almost like getting recruited for college all over again.  The opportunity just felt right with the Kings though. I liked Hex (Ron Hextall) and Jack (Johnson) and some of the guys that were coming out. I had some meetings with them and it all felt right. With me being a little older, it looked like I could have a quick learning curve in LA and get some good experience - whether it be in Manchester or with the Kings. It was also exciting to be part of such a young and up and coming team. You see the talent. If you go though the guys that are in the organization, you know it's just a matter of time.  So, I was excited to be part of that.

You're pretty familiar with the Kings future, having been to a few of the camps already.  How about the past?  Let's see how well you know your Kings history - can you name five players that wore the old purple and gold jerseys?