Winnipeg Jets Prospects Impress at USA Hockey Camp
We talked about their performance halfway through the camp, and the reviews continued to pour in for a trio of Winnipeg Jets draft picks after the conclusion of USA Hockey’s National Junior Evaluation Camp on the weekend.
Kyle Connor, the Jets first selection in this year’s draft, had two assists in five appearances during the camp’s exhibition schedule but nhl.com draftnik Mike Morreale came away impressed with Connor’s performance.
Damn, that Kyle Connor (WPG, U of Mich) is going to be a special hockey player
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) August 8, 2015
Other people in attendance appear to have came away impressed with Connor, as they did with the Jets other first round pick this year Jack Roslovic, who had three goals and two assists in six games during the camp.
Is there any way Jack Roslovic doesn't make the US #WJC2016 team? He simply makes everyone better. When paired with Matthews, unstoppable.
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) August 2, 2015
In my write up on Roslovic earlier this summer, I noted one possible concern from scouts that Roslovic’s success last season may have been in part to playing with highly touted prospects Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews. But Ellis’ tweet certainly offers a different view point on him as a player. While it’s early to be thinking this, him making the American team for this year’s World Juniors would be awesome to see and not hard to imagine, given his chemistry with Matthews and Tkachuk and his performance in Lake Placid won’t harm him.
Foley was impressive as well. We told a little bit about him in our previous write up on the camp, but he’s another guy who had an impressive camp with three goals in four games. I’m not sure where Foley, who will be playing Division I hockey in Providence next year, slots in among the rest of the American forward group, but he’s another guy who drew rave reviews.
Erik Foley with a quick release from far out ties it at two. He's been arguably the biggest riser for USA this last week. Typical Winnipeg.
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) August 5, 2015
I love the ‘Typical Winnipeg’ comment. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the rest of the Winnipeg Jets organization are already starting to get a good reputation for drafting. And the early, early indications of this latest draft seem like they have added even more exciting pieces to their organization.
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