On Monday the Kings and Ducks announced this year's Freeway Face-Off Series would be sponsored by Subway - you know, the sandwich people.
Well, before you get all hyped up and go order a foot long combo to help support the people supporting the NHL, take note of this...Subway was also the title sponsor of a huge hockey tournament that just wrapped up last week.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Subway Super Series was played throughout Canada, with a team of Russian players challenging various Canadian Junior All-Star teams. Don't worry, I'm not writing an article all about Subway, its actually about the Kings many prospects that participated in the tournament this year.
When the six-game event kicked off with a pair of games in the QMJHL area, defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers (Kings third round pick in 2009) was the only LA prospect on either side of the ice. He was held pointless, however his team won both games. This kid looked extremely well rounded in the September rookie camp here in SoCal and expect to hear his name quite a bit in the years to come.
A few days later things moved over to the OHL. Unfortunately, the Kings second round pick from this year - Kyle Clifford (who, coincidentally was the MVP of the Kings rookie camp this year, which you can read all about by clicking HERE) was not available due to an injury. No other Kings draft picks cracked the line-up. Didn't matter much though, as the Russians lost both games again.
Then, last week, when the final two games were staged over in the WHL, the Canadian roster was littered with Kings prospects. In fact, all three Kings selections from this past June's draft that came from the WHL were selected to play - Brayden Schenn (#5 overall, first round), Linden Vey (4th round) and Brandon Kozun (6th round). Additionally, 'Mr. Nasty' Colten Teubert (#13 overall, 1st round '08) captained the team for game one, while undrafted goaltending prospect Martin Jones started game two.
Quick game summaries:
Wed 11/25 - Schenn and Vey both had an assist. WHL won 2-1.
Thurs 11/26 - Vey goal, Kozun assist, Jones win (only gave up two goals). WHL won 4-2.
Of course, Schenn wasn't available to play for the WHL squad on Thursday because he was making his NHL debut for the Kings in Vancouver.
Final comments on Teubert... As noted in some of my previous articles on this kid, he's been somewhat of a loose cannon (click HERE to read notes from August when he took out his own teammates in practice!). However, upon closer examination of his stats, perhaps he's finally learning to control his emotions and play a more intelligent defensive game. Last year he played 60 games with the Regina Pats and had 37 points (12g, 25a), with 136 penalty minutes (almost identical to his 135 from the season before). So far this year, in 27 games his offense is on pace to be at the same level (currently, 20 points: 6g & 14 a). It's his PIM that have taken a dramatic notch down. With only 46 PIM so far, he's on pace for about 102...or a 25% decline. Nice.
So, now that we know who some of the stars were for the north of the border Subway Series...who's going to steal the headlines tonight when Subway presents game one of the Freeway Faceoff Series between the Ducks and Kings?
Man, all this writing is making me hungry.
The Mayor
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Click to read interviews on MayorsManor.com with...
Brandon Kozun
Colten Teubert
Kyle Clifford
Nic Deslauriers
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