The Anaheim Ducks Rookie Face-off 2019 is just one more weekend away and I am very excited to be coming all the way from downunder (no not that one, the other one) to be attending it.

This week the Ducks released the team rosters for all six teams participating in the tournament and being a Ducks fan first and foremost I set my eyes over who would be representing the home team.

Due to College-bound prospects being ineligible to attend because of NCAA regulations, the Ducks have had to fill out some spots with both amateur tryouts and professional tryouts. Simon Benoit was one such tryout last Summer….then Fall and then.. the rest his history still being made. So who could be potentially be the next Simon Benoit for the Ducks this year? Let us take a look.

#77 – Johno May – RW

May actually saw one game with the Gulls last year against the Barracuda, going scoreless but I guess the club liked what they saw of the now twenty five year-old. Last year was his first season turning pro after spending the previous four at the American International College in Springield, MA. He had 30 points in 36 games as a freshman but production totals dramatically stagnated in the years after, he finished his tenure with career totals of 60 points in 143 games. Last season as a rookie in the ECHL he finished with 42 points in 51 games while suiting up for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. He has size (6’5″, 205lbs) but given the extent of depth at forward already for San Diego – I cannot see him getting much of a look for the Gulls this season.

#88 – Chase Wouters – C

One of two undrafted players from the Saskatoon Blades to be invited to suit-up for the Ducks at the rookie showcase, one has to assume that the Anaheim brass must have been scouting the Blades heavily in the hopes of landing Kirby Dach at the draft. The nineteen year old captained the Blades to a second round exit in last years WHL playoffs, contributing 6 points in 10 games while netting a subpar 39 points in 68 games during his third full regular season in the WHL. He was the 92nd ranked Norther American skater for the 2018 NHL entry draft and based on highlights he seems like an atypical Bob Murray project, hard working, average sized forward with a hard shot and a nose for the net but who is also defensively responsible.

#75 – Dawson Davidson – D

Of all the players in this article I feel that Davidson has the best bet of repeating the Benoit story from last season. For one – Davidson was also an invite to the post-draft development in camp in July; much like Benoit was last year. For the other, he had very impressive numbers for the Blades last year – to the tune of 75 points in 68 games as a defenceman, tied for first in the league among blue-liners. Yes he did that as a 20 year old which clouds the numbers a bit, but it gives you an idea of his offensive poise and potential. He appears to be committed to the University of Alberta for the upcoming season but – much like former 7th round pick Tyler Soy who eventually followed the same path – he may be vying for one last chance at a contract before deciding his future. Initial draft profiles from 2016 lauded his skating ability but cautioned his being reluctant to get physical both in front of the net and along the boards, preferring to defend with his stick. With the departure of several Power Play weapons over this past summer, the timing is ripe for Davidson to potentially score an AHL deal with the Gulls – who could potentially use his talents on the second power play unit.

#74 – Zach Hayes – D

Hayes, like Davidson; is another familiar name. He also attended the Ducks development camp in July but is a year younger and had less impressive offensive numbers last season. In his third full year in the WHL he had 27 points in 68 games, setting career highs in assists (24) and points (27) which is likely why the Ducks brass tendered the invite – he may be a late bloomer. Coincidentally Hayes was given an opportunity to succeed during his draft season when several veterans on his team were traded away, including recent Ducks acquisition Brendan Guhle. He is generally regarded as more of a shutdown defenceman and uses his size (6’3″, 212lbs) to his advantage to clear out would-be opposing scorers. He was the Assistant Captain on a Raiders team that won the WHL title in 7 games against the Vancouver Giants but came last in the Memorial Cup, losing all three of their games.

#83 – Scott Moldenhauer – D

At twenty five years old Moldenhauer is the oldest player invited to the Rookie Faceoff but he is no stranger to the Ducks system. The former Western Michigan Captain saw 14 games with the Gulls last season as injury cover both at the start of the season as well as a brief stint after the NHL trade deadline (when Anaheim dealt most of their defensive depth and the Gulls saw some brief but sporadic injuries occur to their main roster). He had one point during that span and put up ten points in 26 games with Tulsa in the ECHL while contributing 4 points in 20 games in the postseason for the Oilers. He was signed to a one year deal with the Gulls last season along with fellow former collegiate players Chris Forney and Terrance Amarosa.

Amarosa signed with the rival Stockton Heat and I am not entirely sure where Forney has ended up. First and foremost Moldenhauer is a defense first kind of bottom pairing defensemen, I don’t anticipate he will get a spot on the Gulls but could – like last year – fill in as injury cover as an ECHL call-up when injuries hit.

I will do post game write-ups for each game for this tournament as I will be attending in person, feel free to say Hi! I will also be playing in the Anaheim Calling Podcast Classic on Saturday the 7th at 1pm at the same facility as the Rookie FaceOff. Come see a New Zealand born hockey player who hasnt played Ice in four years attempt to .. play!