Moose practising patience with young guns

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This article was published 09/12/2017 (2918 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mason Appleton is making it look easy, lighting up the American Hockey League in his first pro season.

He would be the exception, not the rule. And a pair of other promising young rookies seem to be taking the more traditional route this season, one filled with both ups and downs, as they learn to navigate the waters.

Michael Spacek, 20, and Jansen Harkins, 20, may not be taking the AHL by storm in the same fashion as Appleton, who is among the league’s scoring leaders with eight goals and 13 assists through 24 games. But that doesn’t make them any less valuable or important to the organization’s future, Manitoba Moose head coach Pascal Vincent said.

“Everybody’s different. How you’re going to adjust to the pro schedule is different. Some guys, it may seem like it looks like it’s going to take more time to adjust to the speed, to the compete level and the style of play that is played at the American League or NHL level. But really, it’s a process that is different for every single player,” Vincent said Friday.

His Moose return to action this afternoon at Bell MTS Place, looking for a franchise-tying 10th straight victory. Puck drops at 2 p.m. against the Milwaukee Admirals.

Spacek has played in 18 games with the Moose this season, scoring three goals and adding five assists. He battled an injury earlier in the year that cost him a few games.

Harkins has dressed for 19 games, with two goals and three assists so far. He’s missed a couple because of injury, and a couple others where he was a healthy scratch.

“Our job is to play those guys and develop those guys. And that’s as important to us as much as winning hockey games, as we know, in the long term. They’re a big part of our organization. For those two, we’re going to try and play them as much as we can, but play them in a position where they can succeed,” Vincent said.

Spacek and Harkins have usually been paired together on the fourth line in an attempt to get them some easier matchups. They’ve typically been with a more veteran forward like Brody Sutter, Cam Maclise or Francis Beauvillier.

“Building that confidence is really important to us as well. We’re really careful. Those two young players are really good, and we want to make sure we develop them the proper way,” Vincent said.

Spacek is coming off a couple huge years with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, and said the adjustment has been as expected.

“Everyone here is faster, stronger,” Spacek said. “We are trying to play pretty simple. Just make the first pass, shoot the puck.”

Harkins, the son of former NHLer Todd Harkins, had four big years with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL and credited some of the veteran leadership on the Moose with helping make his transition a smooth one.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming in. I think first-year pro is pretty tough. I don’t think anyone just breezes through. I knew there was going to be some ups and downs. Obviously, we have a pretty great team. You can’t really ask for much more than to win a lot, and just to be a part of it is pretty fun right now,” Harkins said.

Like Spacek, he said the speed and size of the players has been the most noticeable difference.

“You have to react fast and quick. Everyone is in the right spot all of the time. I think in junior, you can take a shift off and most of the time it’s not really going to hurt you. But here, you gotta be ready every shift,” Harkins said. “You really gotta earn your spot — nothing’s given to you. Even the older guys here, they work hard every day, some of the best players in the league. I don’t think anyone takes anything for granted.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca