Super Series - WHL Report with Linden Vey

When you're hot, you're hot.

And Kings prospect Linden Vey is more than warm right now. His November already includes back-to-back Player of the Week honors from his junior team, the Medicine Hat Tigers. Plus, he was named the WHL Player of the Game in the just completed Subway Super Series.

His scored a goal in the second game of the WHL vs. Russia portion of series (Russia had previously played a pair of games against both the QMJHL and OHL). That meant four of the five Kings prospects had goals in the tournament. Of course, that excludes their sixth prospect (goalie JF Berube) for obvious reasons - as in, he was busy guarding his own net, not trying to score in the other one.

Vey, a 6-foot right wing taken in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Draft, came into the series following a four point night for Medicine Hat (1g, 3a) - which topped his three point effort the game before (1g, 2a).

As hot as he was though, it was the cold that almost kept him from playing against Russia this week. In the interview below he tells us all about what happened and provides some thoughts on a few other Kings prospects, his play so far this year and the upcoming World Junior Championships...

MM:  This was your second time playing in the tournament. Overall, how would you compare last year's experience to this year - better, worse or just different?

Super Series Report - Interview w/ Maxim Kitsyn

When it comes to prospects, people like to talk about the 'buzz' factor. Some guys have it, others just can't seem to catch it.

Right now, the name Maxim Kitsyn is being spoken by nearly everybody who follows Canadian junior hockey.

Drafted by the LA Kings this past June, he's usually referred to as power forward - words that aren't said very often when describing Russian born players. Known more their skill, scouts say he's a good skater with speed, acceleration and balance. Oh yeah, and toughness.

Although some teams were leery of taking him because of his contract situation back home, the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (OHL) scooped him up in the Import Draft this summer. He's yet to play for the team though. But, more on that later.

His four goals led all players at last year's Super Series - the annual six-game tournament pitting a team of Russian junior level all-stars in two games each against the QMJHL, OHL and CHL. He followed that up with three assists and many head turning plays at the World Junior Championships last winter.

More recently, just a week before heading back over to North America, he scored his first hat trick as a professional (for Metallurg Novokuznetsk in the KHL).  His hot streak continued when he came out in game one of the Super Series and scored two goals, plus picked up an assist. Since then, he's added another goal, an assist and scored in the shootout.

With the help of Team Russia's translator we spoke with Kitsyn this afternoon as he gets ready for tonight's final game of the 2010 Super Series...

MM: You're obviously having a strong tournament. Did you come into things with a little extra confidence after your performance in the series last year?

Super Series - OHL Recap with Tyler Toffoli

Prospects, prospects, prospects! They're everywhere to be seen in the Subway Super Series - both recently selected and soon to be drafted players.

The annual tournament began back in 2003 and features a team of Russian junior level all stars traveling throughout Canada to play two games each against the QMJHL, OHL and WHL. The event also serves as an evaluation for the management team assigned to prepare Canada's roster for the upcoming World Junior Championships.

Last night, the middle portion of the series - two games vs. the OHL - concluded with another win for the host country. After picking up a 4-0 victory on Thursday, they capped things off with a 2-1 shootout win last night. The sweep runs their record to a perfect 16-0 vs. the Russians all-time.

Prior to becoming NHL players, Drew Doughty and Wayne Simmonds had represented the OHL in the Super Series.  This year, that responsibility fell to Ottawa 67's forward Tyler Toffoli, the Kings second round selection at this past June's NHL Entry Draft.

On the other side of the ice was Russia's Maxim Kitsyn, another 2010 Kings draft pick.

Last week we posted interviews with Kings prospects Nic Deslauriers and JF Bérubé, who represented the QMJHL in the opening two games. 

Now, let's see what Toffoli has to say about the OHL's pair of games versus Russia...

MM:  This was your second time playing in the tournament.  Last year you had two goals in two games and you picked up an assist in the game last Thursday.  Aside from the statistics, how was this year different for you and how would you rate your performance versus last year?

Super Series Game 3 - Notes on Toffoli and Kitsyn

After sweeping the opening two games against the QMJHL earlier this week, Team Russia dropped its first contest versus the OHL all-stars by a score of 4-0 earlier tonight.

This continued the trend of the last seven years. Entering the game, teams from the OHL had beaten the visiting Russians 14 out of 14 times, outscoring them 66-24 in the process.

For those unfamiliar, the Subway Super Series is a annual six-game tournament that takes a team of Russian junior level all stars on a trip throughout Canada, where they play two games each against the QMJHL, OHL and WHL. The event also serves as an evaluation for the roster Canada assembles prior to the World Junior Championships.

In previous years, players with Kings ties to participate in the series include Drew Doughty, Brayden Schenn, Jonathan Bernier, Wayne Simmonds and Thomas Hickey.

This year, they have a total of six prospects playing, led by Russia's Maxim Kitsyn - who led his team with four goals during last year's series and was off to a red hot start again this year.  In Monday's opening game vs. the QMJHL (where he faced fellow prospects Nic Deslauriers and JF Bérubé) he had two goals and an assist.

Super Series Game 2 Preview w/ JF Berube

The Subway Super Series is part international spectacle - highlighted by the play of All-Star teams from the CHL and Russian junior leagues - and part evaluation tournament for Team Canada's World Junior Championship roster.

Game one of the six-game series took place Tuesday night, with Russia winning 5-4. Things will resume later today with the final game against the QMJHL, then things move on to the OHL on Thursday. They'll conclude with a two game series vs. the WHL next week.

As reported previously, a total of six Kings prospects will be competing in this series. Defenseman Nic Deslauriers (drafted in the third round, 2009) and goaltender JF Berube (fourth round, 2009) are part of the Quebec team.  While, forward Maxim Kitsyn (sixth round, 2010) is skating for Russia.

In the opening game Kitsyn had two goals, one assist and finished with a plus-2 rating.  Deslauriers had a goal and was plus-one.

Deslauriers filed a game report with us yesterday.  Now, we're back with comments from Berube, who played the second half of the first game - stopping 14 of the 16 shots he faced.

MM:  Game one was your first experience in the Super Series.  Overall, how did you enjoy it and was it what you thought it would be?

Super Series Game 1 Report w/ Nic Deslauriers

The road to this winter's World Junior Championships continues, as the Subway Super Series is now underway.

For the past seven years Russia has sent over a team of junior level all-stars to play a six-game series against the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). It's a pretty straight forward tournament, with two games each against the QMJHL, OHL and WHL.

Besides the international aspect of the event, it also serves as a key component to Team Canada's evaluation process for their final roster that will be assembled prior to the World Junior Championships in late December.

As reported previously, several Kings prospects will be competing in this series over the next two weeks - including three players in the opening pair of games.  Defenseman Nic Deslauriers (drafted in the third round, 2009) and goaltender JF Berube (fourth round, 2009) are part of the Quebec team.  While, forward Maxim Kitsyn (sixth round, 2010) is skating for Russia.

Overall, the CHL had won 36 of 42 games since it began in 2003, including a clean sweep last fall.  More specifically, entering play yesterday the QMJHL had a record of 9-5 against the visiting Russians.

In game one last night, Team Russia prevailed 5-4.  Their goaltender, Dmitry Shikin, made 36 saves including 16 in the third period.

Deslauriers was kind enough to check in with MayorsManor this morning and filed the following game report...

Kings Prospects - the new Subway Five

When the rosters were announced this week for the upcoming Subway Super Series, you could say the Kings went a perfect 5-0 with their top junior prospects (sorry Robbie Czarnik fans).

For those unfamiliar with the format, over the past seven years Russia has sent over an All-Star team to play two games each against similar teams from the three junior leagues that make up the CHL. Outside of the World Junior Championships, this has become the premier junior hockey tournament of the year.

Nearly every major (young) star in the NHL with a Canadian junior hockey background has previously participated - from Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and Steven Stamkos upfront to Dion Phaneuf and Brent Seabrook on the blueline.

To further illustrate the talent that's been included over the years, almost every player Dean Lombardi (as GM of the Kings) has selected from the CHL in the first three rounds of the NHL Draft either already have played or are about to play in the tournament. That list includes names like Drew Doughty, Brayden Schenn, Jonathan Bernier, Wayne Simmonds and Thomas Hickey.

This year, the five Kings draft picks selected to play are:

The other Subway Series

No, we're not talking New York baseball.

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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