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**Rich** · 08-24-2015, 05:10 PM

Knights Draft and Preseason Review

Hello Kelowna fans. Welcome to season 25, and welcome to this review of the Knights' draft and preseason results. To begin with, weâ€™re going to be taking a look at each player in the Knightsâ€™ most recent draft class. Next, weâ€™ll run through preseason, and take a short look at each of Kelownaâ€™s preseason games. This will mostly cover scoring in the games, and anything else I feel helps to tell the story of the game. Lastly, Iâ€™ll be picking out my top performers of the preseason for Kelowna. I will try to keep these to a minimum, otherwise Iâ€™d end up shouting out my entire team.

Draft Class

9th Overall - Christoffer BjÃ¶rnsson - Goalie

Having traded their first round pick during season 24, Kelowna looked to add an additional pick and move up in the early rounds. The Knights ended up trading defenseman, Matt Veenstra, to Prince George, moving them up to the first pick of the second round and adding an additional fifth round pick. With the first pick in the second round, the Knights addressed their most glaring need, goaltender. They took the best available goalie in the draft, Christoffer BjÃ¶rnsson. The 6â€™5â€ Czech is a hybrid style goalie, and will likely be the Knightsâ€™ starter for the next two seasons.

BjÃ¶rnssonâ€™s greatest asset between the pipes is his outstanding ability to react to shots. He has a natural talent for recognizing when a shot is coming, and reacting appropriately. This reaction time was on display as BjÃ¶rnsson posted a save percentage of 0.891 during the Prospect Showcase. He also shows excellent speed with both his glove and blocker when challenged up high.

As you might expect from a player of his size, BjÃ¶rnsson is not the most agile of goal tenders. Conversely, despite his physical size, he doesnâ€™t play as big in the net as you might expect, instead relying on his quick reactions to make saves.

If Christoffer continues to develop at the rate he had prior to the draft, and addresses his deficiencies in his training, he should remain one of the top goaltenders of the draft class. He may even be able to be considered among the top goaltenders in the league by the end of the season.

21st Overall - Mainio MÃ¤kinen - Left Wing

Midway through the third round, Kelowna had their second pick in the draft. With a goalie now on the roster, they would look to add some depth to an already strong group of forwards. Mainio MÃ¤kinen was not a top tier forward prospect, but was still on the radars of quite a few teams. He is a slightly undersized forward, but not so much as to be a concern. The major attraction for Mainio is his balanced offensive skill set.

He entered the draft physically prepared to take on the rigors of the SMJHL. Possessing the required strength and fitness level to compete at this level immediately. In addition, he is an excellent skater, showing good speed and a willingness to carry the puck on offense. Hey may not blow you away with his puck handling, but that is something that can be developed as the season goes on.The ability to shoot the puck is where MÃ¤kinen shines. He showed excellent puck velocity and placement with his shots prior to the draft. This propensity for finding the back of the net is clearly the reason Kelowna drafted him.

Like a many other skilled forwards, Mainio tends to avoid the physical game. This isnâ€™t a major area of concern, since this is not what he was drafted for. He will, however, be expected to improve his contribution on defense if he wants to fit into the Kelowna system.

At this stage, MÃ¤kinen is likely to be a third line forward, with potential to play on the second line by the end of the season. If his development goes the way Kelowna expects, he could also see time on the power play unit.

37th Overall - Niall Brannan - Center

Next, the Knights made another pick to help their forward depth. The Irishman, Niall Brannan is a play making center that could potentially take Vilhjalmssonâ€™s place in the event that he gets called up next season. Brannan was a bit of an unknown element prior to the draft, but since arriving in Kelowna, he has been improving at a steady clip. He came to the team with a solid base of skills on which to build.

His physical attributes are all sufficient to play at the SMJHL level. He is competent with the puck on his stick, and he is willing to get back to help out on defense. His ability to win face offs, and his passing are the areas where he stands out. With where his skill level is at right now, he should be able to step into the third line on day one and win more face offs than he loses. With the puck on his stick, he is able to make smart passes, putting his line mates in good position to score.

Niallâ€™s shooting leaves a bit to be desired. At this stage, he relies too heavily on his passing on offense. It is definitely something he will need to work on if he wants to fill a larger role in the future. In addition to his shooting, he also lacks a physical presence on the ice. He wonâ€™t be out there making a lot of hits, but given his style of play, this isnâ€™t much of a problem.

Brannan will fill the third line center position. It is very unlikely that he will move up from the third line, given that the Knights have two strong center prospects returning from last season.

40th Overall - Alphonse Oduya - Right Wing

Still filling out their third and fourth lines, the Knights selected Alphonse Oduya next. A big bodied Swedish forward, Oduya is a grinding two-way forward that can play at either wing position. Another low profile depth pick that the Knights hope will continue to improve steadily over the season. Oduya comes in with a well-balanced skill set, and adds some physical presence that the Knights appear to be somewhat lacking this season.

On offense, he tends to prefer to carry the puck on his stick. He has good speed for a player of his size, and will catch some defenders off guard when carrying the puck into the zone. His puck handling is decent, but will need to develop or turnovers could be a problem for him. The puck comes off of his stick quickly when he shoots, but his accuracy is inconsistent.

His only major weakness is his lack of physical strength, which is a bit of a surprise given his size. Physical defensemen will be able to push him off the puck if he isnâ€™t able to skate by them or stick handle through them.

Oduya will probably be a third or fourth line wing. He has the talent to play third line, but Kelownaâ€™s talent and depth at forward could push him to the fourth line, depending on how the lines shake out during the regular season.

44th Overall - Carl Matson - Goalie

Still needing a backup goaltender, Kelowna picked up Carl Matson to play behind BjÃ¶rnsson. Hailing from British Columbia, Matson is a stand-up style goalie, with decent size, standing 6â€™2â€. Matson joins the team without any great expectations. With the Knights selecting a goaltender with their first pick of the draft, it is clear that Matson will be playing the backup role, and is not likely to see a lot of starts.

His play style is similar to BjÃ¶rnsson. He has excellent reaction time and hand speed. He makes good use of his quickness when taking on shooters. His other major asset is his ability to play big in the net. He uses good positioning to make himself large when challenging shooters.

While he can make the first save, he has a penchant for giving up rebounds. Matson is able to get his pads down to make stops, but more often than not, he is unable to control the puck and will give the opposition rebound opportunities.

Matson can be a solid goaltending prospect if he applies himself. At this point, it seems as though he will simply be Kelownaâ€™s backup.

53rd Overall - Feta Fingers - Left Wing

With their last pick, Kelowna added one final wing to their forward group. Feta Fingers, the Greek playmaking wing will help the Knights by filling out their fourth forward line.

Another depth player who doesnâ€™t appear to have much potential, Fingers joins Kelowna as a forward who slightly favors defensive play. With the puck, Fingers is most adept at holding the puck and carrying it into the zone. His speed and his puck handling make him well suited for this. He also has decent passing ability, and can find open teammates when breaking out.

His main deficiency is his shooting. As a playmaker, he looks to pass first, so he doesnâ€™t always shoot when itâ€™s his best option. The velocity of his shots is also a bit questionable, as is his ability to put the puck on target. In addition, he is undersized, and despite being strong for his size, he avoids physical contact and prefers to not initiate hits.

Unless Feta Fingers makes some changes to his routine, and starts to show some improvement, he will probably be relegated to the fourth line for the foreseeable future.

Preseason Games

Game 1 - Falcons

DET vs KEL Knights

In their first preseason game, Kelowna was visited by the always tough Detroit Falcons. Both teams won their respective conference last season, so this could be a matchup to watch during the regular season. On this particular night, Detroit would come out on top. Michael Burch scored two for the Falcons, both on the power play. Elvis Libra and Ross Burke each added a goal as well. For the Knights, West Kendall prospect, Maria Maximova scored on her only shot of the night. Dr. Timeturner Whooves scored the lone goal of the second period for Kelowna. In the end, the Knights gave the Falcons too many opportunities on the power play, and werenâ€™t able to convert on their own.

Game 2 - raiders

HAL vs KEL Knights

Next, Kelowna welcomed the new expansion team, the Halifax Raiders into Prospera Place. Less than 20 seconds into the game, Maximova, the resident goon, gave Ignant Ogorodnikov a beating to welcome him into the league. Rookie Conall Macleod scored early in the contest to give Halifax a lead. Kelowna would come back with a power play goal by Maximova, and an even strength goal by Dominik Fleet. This would be all the scoring the game would see. Both goaltenders had good save percentages on the night, but the volume of shots Halifaxâ€™s Broadway faced was just too great.

Game 3 - Knights

KEL vs STL Scarecrows

In game three, Kelowna traveled to St Louis to face the always dangerous Scarecrows. This game saw a lot of scoring on both ends of the ice. St Louis took the lead in the game with goals by Robb Wind, Dave Mang, John Matthews, John Wick, and Winston Windsor. For the Knights, Whooves scored two, while Randy Randleman, Ivan Koroviev, and Jonathan Lundberg each added one. Two of these came in the third period, forcing overtime. In overtime, neither team would be able to put the game away, so the game would be decided in a shootout.

In the shootout, Whooves scored first for the Knights, but Ryan King would even it up. Nick Leier would pick up the winner, after Lundbergâ€™s attempt was saved by Sergei Kozar.

Game 4 - :impact: MTL vs KEL Knights

Back at home, Kelowna faced off against the Montreal Impact. Montreal scored at a steady clip of one goal per period. Jordan Mack, Lord Pretty Flacko, and Michael Gerrard each had a goal for the Impact. Kelowna, on the other hand, scored seven goals. Two in both the first and second periods, and three in the third. Alphonse Oduya, Hugh Johnson, and Niall Brannan each had a goal. Randy Randleman and Stacker Pentecost had two goals apiece. All said and done it was a tough night for both Montreal goaltenders. Robert Andersson started the game, but was pulled less than two minutes into the second period after letting in four goals on seven shots. Earnest Ciarelli stepped in, but he only managed to stop 11 of the 14 shots he faced.

Game 5 - Knights

KEL vs HAL raiders

For their fifth game of preseason, Kelowna traveled to Halifax to take on the Raiders for the second time. This would not be Kelownaâ€™s night. They only managed to get 12 shots on net over the course of the game. Halifax goaltender, Brett Broadway, was up to the challenge, and didnâ€™t let a single shot get by him. Carter Rosston, Ignant Ogorodnikov, and Conall Macleod each scored for the Raiders, giving them a 3-0 victory over the Knights.

Game 6 - Knights

KEL vs MTL :impact:

Still on the road, Kelowna visited Montreal for their second meeting of the preseason. For the second straight game, the Knights struggled to get shots on net. They had just 16 total shots in this game. Penalties were the problem this time, as the Knights gave the Impact eight power play opportunities. Hugh Johnson scored Kelownaâ€™s lone goal in the second period. Evandrus Jesster, Jack Reacher, and Lord Pretty Flacko each scored for Montreal, giving them a decisive 3-1 victory over Kelowna.

Game 7 - Knights

KEL vs DET Falcons

In their third consecutive road game, Kelowna found themselves in Detroit. After two poor games, the Knightsâ€™ shots were back on target. They put a total of 31 shots on Detroit goaltender Austin Lemieux. Ivar Ogorodnikov, Mainio Makinen, and Maria Maximova each had a goal, while Tony Flow buried two of his own. For the Falcons, McLaren Nasher and Michael Burch scored a goal each. Kelowna left this game feeling much better about their performance than the previous two games. Final score was 5-2 for the Knights.

Game 8 - Scarecrows

STL vs KEL Knights

For their eighth game of preseason, Kelowna returned home to take on the St Louis Scarecrows. This would be another case of too many Kelowna penalties. The Scarecrows had 10 power play attempts, while Kelowna had none. This disparity held Kelowna to just 12 total shots. Carl Matson would replace Christoffer BjÃ¶rnsson in net for Kelowna after St Louis scored their fourth goal early in the third period. Inigo Cook, John Matthews, Nick Leier, Ryan King, and The Carl Mountain all had one goal each for the Scarecrows. Whooves and Randleman each scored one for Kelowna, making the final score 5-2 for St Louis.

Game 9 - Mammoths

COL vs KEL Knights

With just two games remaining in preseason, Colorado came to Kelowna for the first meeting between these two teams. The game would be a closely contested one, with Kelowna outshooting Colorado 22 to 17. The Mammoths scored twice, one coming off the stick of Karl Jenkins, the other from Potato Chips. Kelownaâ€™s three goals were scored by Jonathan Lundberg, Niall Brannan, and Alphonse Oduya. It was a pretty good night for Kelowna goaltender Christoffer BjÃ¶rnsson, who let in only let in two goals on 17 shots.

Game 10 - Knights

KEL vs HAL raiders

In their final game of the preseason, the Knights traveled back to Halifax in what would be the third meeting between these teams. Excellent goaltending kept Kelowna in this game as the Raiders had a significant advantage in shot totals. Tomas Kuma, Petr Kolesnikovs, and Ignant Ogorodnikov each had a goal for Halifax during regulation. For Kelowna, Maria Maximova, Ivan Koroviev, and Jonathan Lundberg each had a goal. The third period would end without a deciding goal and this game saw overtime. After an uneventful overtime, the game went to a shootout.

In the shootout, Dr. Timeturner Whooves scored first for the Knights. Ignant Ogorodnikov scored for Halifax, bringing them back even. Kelownaâ€™s next shooter, Maximova, would score, but Halifaxâ€™s Carter Rosston would not be able to answer. Knights win, 4-3.

Preseason Top Performers

It may just be the preseason, but weâ€™re going to look at some of the outstanding performers for the Knights anyway.

First, and least surprising, Randy Randleman. The Knightsâ€™ captain had four goals and five assists during preseason. These totals were good enough for first on the team in goals, and tied for first on the team in total points. In addition, he led all forwards on the team in minutes played, averaging just over 22 minutes per game. His strong leadership on the ice keeps him out there in all phases of the game, be it even strength, on the power play, or on the penalty kill. Iâ€™d expect lead the team in these categories by the end of the regular season as well.

Next, the Russian wing, Ivan Koroviev. Koro, as many of his teammates call him, lead the team in assists with seven. He also tied Randleman for the most total points on the team, with nine. In addition, he also finished preseason with a +/- rating of +3, showing continued dedication to improving his defensive play. Kelowna tried a lot of different line combinations throughout preseason, but where ever Koroviev winds up in the regular season, he will very likely be among the leaders on this team in assists.

Lastly, I want to recognize the entire third line. Most recently consisting of the veteran, Tony Flow, and rookies Niall Brannan and Alphonse Oduya. This group gave the other teams problems all throughout the preseason. Despite being probably the most physical line on the team, they kept their penalty minutes to a minimum, scored a solid number of goals, and, most importantly, didnâ€™t have many scored against them. This line accounted for six goals in total. On top of that, each of them ended preseason with a +/- of +5. Tony Flow was tied for third in hits on the team, despite being in the bottom half for minutes played. It is unclear whether this line will persist into the regular season, but regardless, these three played very well together in preseason, and I think they deserved some recognition for it.

I realize that this was probably not very interesting if youâ€™re not a Knight, but if you took the time to read it, thank you!

GCool · 08-24-2015, 05:32 PM

Good insights! You're right, it wasn't all that interesting since I'm not on the Knights, but it was worth reading through to get to know the team. :D

deknegt · 08-24-2015, 05:33 PM

My face when people realize we didn't had a -5000 draft and actually have one of (if not) the deepest rosters in the SMJHL!

[Image: 113589-ronaldo-thumbs-up-gif-Imgur-1syS.gif]

[Image: 113589-ronaldo-thumbs-up-gif-Imgur-1syS.gif]

ArGarBarGar · 08-24-2015, 05:39 PM

Quote:Originally posted by deknegt@Aug 24 2015, 04:33 PM
My face when people realize we didn't had a -5000 draft and actually have one of (if not) the deepest rosters in the SMJHL!

I'd say the Knights have probably a top-8 team in terms of depth.

Alonzo Garbanzo Final Tallies (Among Defensemen):
2nd in Goals (208), All-Time Assists Leader (765)*, All-Time Points Leader (973), 3rd in Hits (2587), All-Time Blocked Shots Leader (1882)*
*All-Time Leader Among All Skaters
Player Profile | Update Thread
[Image: IeEV7Iv.png]

deknegt · 08-24-2015, 05:40 PM

Quote:Originally posted by ArGarBarGar@Aug 24 2015, 10:39 PM

I'd say the Knights have probably a top-8 team in terms of depth.

You neutral bastard you! Cheers

Ballerstorm · 08-24-2015, 05:48 PM

An amazing article, as always from you Lundy

lil · 08-24-2015, 05:58 PM

Nicely done! Knights

Alucard · 08-24-2015, 06:26 PM

Savage article. Cheers

Jedi · 08-24-2015, 09:09 PM

Rich earning that bread

Alucard,Apr 14 2016, 03:33 PM Wrote:May the harvest be with you, young spud.

enigmatic,Aug 26 2016, 10:05 AM Wrote:Jedi could have 1 TPE and still improve any team

First ever Norwegian IIHF Goal!!

Code:
2. Team Norway , Jackson Rodgers-Tanaka 1 (Isabella Esparza-Osvaldson, Aleksander Andrezjeck) at 5:50

Special Thanks to Count Chocula for the Hugo G sig <3

vbottas17 · 08-24-2015, 09:11 PM

Nice write up rich!

Kelowna got some gems as usual Smile

GCool · 08-24-2015, 10:51 PM

Quote:Originally posted by deknegt+Aug 24 2015, 03:33 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1' id='QUOTE-WRAP'><tr><td>QUOTE (deknegt @ Aug 24 2015, 03:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>My face when people realize we didn't had a -5000 draft and actually have one of (if not) the deepest rosters in the SMJHL!

[/b]

Well THIS is different than what I read the first time you replied.

<!--QuoteBegin-ArGarBarGar@Aug 24 2015, 03:39 PM

I'd say the Knights have probably a top-8 team in terms of depth.[/quote]

Top 8 in dearth, more like.

RehnX · 08-24-2015, 11:42 PM

What are you talking about our draft was terrible.

enigmatic · 08-25-2015, 12:05 AM

Quote:Originally posted by RehnX@Aug 24 2015, 11:42 PM
What are you talking about our draft was terrible.

yeah that guy Niall Brannan was a total waste of a pick. Fire Kel and Jedi.

That third line going so well is such a nice bonus for us... oh wait... it has Niall Brannan.

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