ChirpEd- Prospects to Watch at the World Junior Summer Showcase SensChirp

Editor’s Note- The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team currently operating in the National Hockey League. They began play in the 1992-93 season and have amassed a record of 923-878-115-152. They are owned by Eugene Melnyk, a Barbadian man that is not so popular with Sens fans these days. He is ruining the aforementioned Senators hockey club and is probably responsible for delays with the LRT and that dreadful Chateau Laurier design. Okay, so now we’re caught up.

After nearly two weeks of silence and close to 6,000 comments on a post about the Zack Smith trade, we have finally been rescued by our dear old friend SensProspects. If you waste any of your day on Twitter, you’ve likely come across the fantastic work of SensProspects. Seriously, he’s holding that platform together right now. SensProspects does an incredible job keeping followers up to date on every prospect in the organization. And luckily for us, he’s brought a couple exclusive interviews with prospects who are playing this year’s World Junior Summer Showcase.

You can follow SensProspects on Twitter here and subscribe to his YouTube channel here. Over to you, Mr. Prospects.

WRITTEN BY- SensProspects

The 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase (WJSS) kicked off on Friday in Plymouth, Michigan. The week-long camp features 11 games between Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA. Countries use it as an opportunity to evaluate players in practices and games ahead of the World Junior Championship that takes place later in the year. Team USA and Canada invite enough players to form 2 teams (~35-40 skaters), while Finland and Sweden bring a few extra players per position (~20-22 skaters).

Taking place in the dog days of summer, the tournament doesn’t get anything close to WJC-level spotlight but it’s a great display of prospect talent nonetheless. Many Sens fans will remember when Brady Tkachuk was at the centre of a Canada/USA line brawl as time expired at last year’s WJSS.

This summer Ottawa has 6 prospects suiting up:

USA: Luke Loheit, Shane Pinto, Jon Gruden

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Canada: Jonny Tychonick, Jacob Bernard-Docker

Finland: Lassi Thomson

Gruden and JBD both took part last year, but this is the first camp for 2018 draftees Tychonick and Loheit, and 2019 draftees Thomson and Pinto.

Both Tychnoick and Loheit missed significant time last season due to injury/illness, and it’s not a stretch to say they were both long shots to be invited. Digging deeper though, there are some obvious links for the two players.

Team USA’s head coach Scott Sandelin also happens to be the coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth – where Loheit will play next season. Sandelin has been UMD’s head coach for almost two decades and no doubt played a part in recruiting Loheit to his team. Tychonick lined up alongside Bernard-Docker last season on the University of North Dakota blueline and has a history with Hockey Canada, most recently suiting up for the U18 WJC team in 2017.

I caught up with Loheit and Tychonick a few weeks ago during Sens Dev Camp and got their thoughts on being named to the WJSS, how they’re feeling post-recovery, and a handful of other topics. You can listen to those interviews, or read through transcripts below.

On his recovery from mono that sidelined him for a few weeks early last season

I’m feeling really good. I think that knocked me out for a good couple months and I was feeling kinda weak, but my training up there (with BCHL Penticton) really helped me. I got back into good shape and got home in March. Unfortunately we lost early in the playoffs, but it was probably good for me to get back home and see my trainer and get back on track. I feel really good right now coming into camp.

On being named to the Team USA’s roster for the WJSS

It was pretty cool. Growing up, I never made one of the national development camps in the summer, so it was pretty cool to get recognized for it – hard work is paying off. But definitely got to go there and showcase myself and hopefully I can make the team.

On playing with guys at development camp who will be rivals next season when Loheit suits up for the University of Minnesota-Duluth

Building friendships is a big thing. Obviously on the ice and playing against each other is another thing. But when we’re on the ice together with the Sens, it think it’s more of a friendly exchange. When we’re playing against each other, whether it’s against North Dakota or with I guess other people, I think it’s more competition. Here it’s more friendly talk – and it’s good to get to know the guys.

On former high school teammate Bobby Brink

I grew up with him. I started playing with him when I was about 14 or 15. He’s always been that way. He’s been a super skilled guy. He’s going to bring a lot to the table. He thinks the game really fast and really well. He’s an NHL mind in an 18 or 17 year old body. It’s pretty cool. It was pretty special for him. It was good to see that he got picked and they got a good one, the Flyers.

On how he would describe himself as a player

I think I bring a lot of physicality and grit to the table. I’m a power forward that’s first on the forecheck and can really assert myself physically, but is also able to finish when I get the chance. Hopefully I can show that here and in the future.

On being named the Team Canada’s roster for the WJSS

(It feels) unbelievable. I mean, to be honest, I didn’t really expect it. I was kind of just focusing on working out through the summer, getting stronger and faster. I was at dinner with my uncle and my brother and I got a weird number from Saskatchewan and I was like “Oh, I wonder what this was?” And sure enough it was Hockey Canada – I was kind of shocked. But I mean it’s a great opportunity and I’m going to be as ready as I can for it.

On attending his second development camp with the Senators

(I feel) way more comfortable. I’m being myself. It’s one more year of experience, one more year of confidence, playing at a higher level and coming in and knowing I can play – even more so than I did last year. And just knowing more guys makes it a lot better. Talking to lots of guys, it’ll make you feel comfortable. Just being yourself is the most important thing and as long as I’m myself, I know that’ll contribute to the ice.

On future teammate Shane Pinto

We haven’t had our six weeks of training in summer school yet, but that’s coming up. So I hadn’t actually met him yet, but I called him after the draft to congratulate him. He’s unbelievable. He went 32, which is super high. We need those players at North Dakota. It shows how high our program is and the players that we bring in. So I’m super proud of him and he’s been a good guy so far, we’ve hung out a lot. We went to the driving range yesterday and went for dinner. So just getting to know him, because he’s going to be part of our family going forward.

On his recovery from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for almost 2 months last season.

(Feeling) 200%. It was a good timing injury if you want to say that, just before Christmas break. I was able to recover for two and a half weeks over Christmas break. To be honest, I think the injury was a blessing in disguise. You don’t want to be out for that long. But when I was able to watch games, analyze games, and just be like “man, I can really play at this level”. And I came back with a lot of confidence. I don’t know why or how it worked. I just did. And I came back with a lot of confidence that really helped me for my second-half season push.

On the program at the University of North Dakota that is set to roster 3 Sens prospects next season

I don’t really know what I can say about the facilities that hasn’t already been said. I mean, they’re unbelievable – go check them out yourself. I’ll give anybody a room tour any time. It’s our second home for sure. It’s our home at the rink. It’s unbelievable.

The fan base, the community, the students, they all care about us. They’re all passionate about us and they all support us until the very end. This year we didn’t have a year we wanted, but I know the fans still have our back in the community, and we’re better for next year.

And the coaching staff is unbelievable. I know we had a little bit of a change in our coaching this year – after the season. But that doesn’t stop us from moving forward. We wish him the best of luck, Matt Shaw, moving forward. We’ve got a job to do, we got a job to make the tournament. That’s our number one focus is making that tournament and going as far as we can.

I know the coaches will have our best interests the whole way. They run an excellent program – I couldn’t say enough about the two coaches that I work with. I don’t know the new one coming in quite yet, but I will. I bet he’s just as awesome if he was hired by Brad Berry. They’re definitely looking out for us and I know they’ll have a tremendous impact on everybody’s hockey career.

On how he would describe himself as a player

I think the biggest word that I use to describe me as a player is outgoing. I have kind of a loud personality, but I can control it as well. I know what work needs to be done. I know what I have to do to get better.

I love jumping up, being that outgoing player, being loud, communicating on the ice, telling players what play to make or trying to guide them to see what’s open, being that quarterback on the ice. I love jumping up in the play and helping out defensively as well. That’s a big thing for me is working on the defensive game – and just getting stronger and making the right play and being a lot more consistent. That’ll come with age and this consistency as well. I mean, that’s a big thing that I’ve been working on. And I feel it’s coming along really well.

At the 2019 WJSS tournament, Gruden/Pinto/Loheit are on the same team (USA Blue) and they played a couple games over the weekend. They’ve all found their way on to the scoresheet – Gruden with a goal and assist, Pinto with a goal, and Loheit with an assist. Lassi Thomson was on the receiving end of a 7-1 loss against his fellow Sens prospects, but he still made the highlight reels. Interestingly, it seems that JBD and Tychonick will be on separate Canadian teams.

Sens fans can keep track of the tournament throughout the week by following the #WJSS hashtag on twitter. The final 3 days will be broadcast on TSN and the NHL network which will provide a closer look at all 6 prospects:

Wednesday July 31 (CAN vs FIN & USA vs SWE)

Friday Aug 2 (SWE vs CAN & FIN vs USA)

Saturday Aug 3 (SWE vs FIN & CAN vs USA)

Thanks again to the Senators communications team who facilitated these interviews. Both players were gracious with their time and a pleasure to speak with. Tychonick seems like the kinda guy who can chat for hours. And of course, thanks so much to Chirp for having me back! See you in the comments.