Jets are golden in goal
NCAA netminder Phillips among many bright young prospects
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/11/2014 (3965 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There was no buzz or murmur from the crowd at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh some two years ago when the Winnipeg Jets called out the name Jamie Phillips at the 2012 NHL Draft.
There had been 189 players selected before the Jets used their last pick to nab Phillips — a goaltender who had just split a season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Powell River Kings of the BCHL — including Jacob Trouba, Lukas Sutter, Scott Kosmachuk, Connor Hellebuyck and Ryan Olsen.
In a business where drafting teenagers can be a bit of a mug’s game, plucking a goaltender in the last round while chairs are being folded up, executives are double-checking their flight schedules and the arena cleaning crew is working the aisles really puts the ‘long’ in long shot.
Funny thing about all that…
Phillips, now 21, is the hottest goaltender in the NCAA and has led his Michigan Tech Huskies to the No. 1 ranking in the U.S. — a first for the school, which began the season unranked, since 1976.
The Huskies are 10-0 overall, 8-0 in conference play and are the only remaining undefeated Division I hockey team in the country. And they can thank Phillips for backstopping that tremendous start. He is 10-0, has posted two shutouts and sports a sparkling 1.20 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.
Asked recently by the Hamilton Spectator — he is from nearby Caledonia, Ont. — which of those numbers makes his chest swell with pride the most, Phillips said:
“I honestly have no idea. I haven’t looked at my stats.”
Pressed further, Phillips admitted he did take a look back in October. And then, in the kind of answer that will have Jets brass beaming, added: “If we’re getting wins, that’s what people notice most.”
Phillips was in Winnipeg for the Jets Development Camp this summer, but was lost as fans and the media focused on hotshot goaltending prospects Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie. Still, with the numbers he is now posting at Michigan Tech the Jets’ prospect pool in goal — also including Jason Kasdorf of RPI and Jussi Olkinuora of the Ontario Reign — now features five players 24 or younger.
And puck stoppers are like pitchers — an organization can never have enough of them.
ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait
DOWN ON THE FARM
The affiliates
St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
Record: 4-8-4-1; 13 pts; last in Atlantic Division; 13th in Eastern Conference (heading into Monday’s action).
Ontario Reign (ECHL/shared with Los Angeles Kings)
Record: 7-4-0-2, 16 points; 4th in Pacific Division, 4th in Western Conference.
IceCaps
A look at some of the Jets prospects in Newfoundland:
Connor Hellebuyck, G: He’s been a bit erratic, but is settling in now in his first year as a pro. Sports a 4-4 record with a .909 save percentage and kicked out 40 shots in a 2-1 OT loss to Hamilton.
Eric O’Dell, C: Has nine points (4G, 5A) in 14 games and seems stuck right now in the organization. He’ll never crack the Jets’ Top 6, but plays that role in St. John’s. Did prove to be a useful player in his 30 games with the big club last year.
Scott Kosmachuk, RW: He had huge numbers in junior last year, but is still adapting to the pro game. Big-time shot has yielded just two goals and two assists so far for the IceCaps.
Ben Chiarot, D: Was close to making the Jets out of training camp and is still pushing. He’s the best D-man in St. John’s who has the size — 6-3, 222 — and the skill set to be an NHLer.
J.C. Lipon, RW/LW: The classic bottom-six shift-disturber, Lipon leads the IceCaps in penalty minutes and can buzz around the ice. But there’s little room for him with the Jets right now.
Carl Klingberg, RW/LW: Can show flashes and then disappear for stretches. His numbers so far — three goals, six assists — hardly scream out for a call up to the Jets.
Patrice Cormier, C: He plays big, is good in the face-off circle and can score a bit (has three goals and five assists in 11 games). His looks from the Jets have been limited.
Brenden Kichton, D: He’s got an offensive flair; still hears criticisms about his skating.
Chase Balisy, F: Originally drafted by Nashville, Balisy never signed with the Preds and after a career at Western Michigan was signed to an AHL deal by the Jets. He sat out the first three games of the season, but is now tied for the team lead in scoring (5G, 8A).
Checking in on the kids
An update on how Jets draft picks have started off the 2014-15 season:
2014 CLASS
NAMERound/overallPos.Team
Nikolaj Ehlers1/9LWHalifax (QMJHL)
The Danish Dynamo got off to a tepid start upon his return to junior, but has since been lighting it up, with nine goals and 15 assists in 16 games. One of his best games came recently with GM Kevin Cheveldayoff in the house
Jack Glover3/69DU of Minn.
Dressed for five of the Gophers’ 10 games to date; has picked up two assists.
Chase De Leo4/99CPortland (WHL)
Off to a solid start with the Winterhawks, leading the club with 12 goals and 26 points in 21 games; likely on the radar screen for the Americans at the world junior championship (WJC).
Nelson Nogier4/101DSaskatoon (WHL)
Now in his third full season with his hometown Blades, Nogier is the prototypical defensive defenceman.
C.J. Franklin5/129LWMinn. State (WCHA)
In his first year with the Mavericks, Franklin has eight points (2G, 6A) in his first 10 games as a freshman.
Pavel Kraskovsky6/164CLokomotiv (KHL)
Had two goals and an assist in Russia’s win over the WHL last week in Brandon. At 6-4 and a centre, fills both the size and positional need the Jets covet.
Matt Ustaski7/192LWU of Wis.
Big dude at 6-6, 220; has appeared in all six Badgers games this season as a freshman, picking up one goal.
Other notables
D Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders: Expected to play for Canada again, although the defensive corps looks to be deep, even with Aaron Ekblad with the Florida Panthers.
C Nic Petan, Portland Winterhawks: Will represent Canada again at the WJC. Took a nasty shot in a game earlier this season, but is still filling the net (21 points; 4G, 17A) in 16 games.
G Eric Comrie, Tri-City Americans: Suited up for the WHL in the Subway Super Series against the Russians and is 12-6 with a .922 save percentage and 2.30 goals-against average with Tri-City.
C Jimmy Lodge, Saginaw Spirit: A point-per-game player with the Spirit (10G, 8A), Lodge is drawing rave reviews for his attention to detail and his two-way game.
C Andrew Copp, University of Michigan: Had three goals and a helper in the Wolverines’ two-game sweep of American University on the weekend. Has netted seven points in nine games so far this season.
G Jason Kasdorf, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Missed most of last year with a shoulder injury; has a 2.31 GAA and .922 save percentage in 11 starts this season.
RW Axel Blomqvist, Victoria Royals: The big Swede (6-6, 212) is starting to heat up again. Scored twice in a weekend win over the Vancouver Giants and has nine goals and nine assists in 17 games.
— compiled by Ed Tait
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