Awaiting official confirmation, The Pipeline Show has learned that plans are in motion that would see the annual Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament played in Edmonton.
The Ivan Hlinka tournament, held every August, is the unofficial beginning to the new hockey season. The scouting community flocks to the event as it's the first tournament of the year featuring players eligible for the next NHL Draft the following June.
More on this developing story after the jump.
-
On just about every show of TPS from September to June we introduce our audience to another player that is eligible for the next NHL Draft. This past year we had the pleasure of speaking with over 80 such players.
Over the course of a season I regularly get approached at Edmonton Oil Kings games by NHL scouts. Some are regular listeners to the show who have mentioned TPS to the rest of their team's sc outing staff.
Primarily it's the Draft Spotlight segment that the scouts talk to us about. We're talking to the same players that they want to know more about and often the interview we do with a specific player gets talked about. I've been asked to supply audio to teams and I've been asked in advance by clubs to ask a question of a player that they know we have coming on the show.
With that in mind, and considering today is NHL Draft Day, I thought some fans might find it handy to have a complete listing of our 2015 Draft Spotlight Segments.
If this is your first time experiencing the show, we hope this gives you an idea of what we do and that you'll be back for more on a weekly basis!
-
The second chapter in the Draft Blog written by Red Deer Rebels forward Grayson Pawlenchuk arrived this weekend. If you missed the first part of his series, you can find that HERE.
The Rebels have been one of the most heavily scouted clubs in the WHL this season with multiple players on the radar for 2015. The team has made moves this season with next year in mind, the year they host the Memorial Cup. Yet the club didn't take away from the current success they are enjoying and remain well positioned for a competitive playoff drive.
After the jump, the second entry to his draft blog written by forward Grayson Pawlenchuk.
-
The second blog entry from Prince Albert Raiders forward Matteo Gennaro arrive in my inbox this week. If you missed the first chapter, it can be found HERE.
The
St. Albert product has eclipsed his stats in all categories from a year
ago and is currently focused on helping the Raiders in their quest to
chase down a playoff spot.
After the jump, the 2nd entry from Matteo Gennaro...
-
Defenceman Connor Hobbs is back on WHL ice after sitting out for almost three months waiting for a trade. Hobbs began the year as a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers but knew early in the season that it wasn't a fit for him so asked to be moved. That trade didn't happen until the days leading up to the January 10th WHL trade deadline when he was sent east to the Regina Pats.
When Hobbs joined us on The Pipeline Show right before Christmas, he was still sitting by his phone waiting for the call. He'd temporarily joined the SJHL's Nipawin Hawks but his heart was in the WHL. We spoke about his reasons for wanting out of Medicine Hat and his concerns of what the layoff would mean to his draft stock.
If you missed our 2015 Draft Spotlight segment with Hobbs on December 20th, we have it for you after the jump.
-
Another forward of note from the USHL for the 2015 NHL Draft is Erik Foley of the Cedar Rapids Roughriders. The Massachusetts native is a long way from home right now but enjoying a fine season at the top of the USHL standings.
Foley's year began in the Czech Republic representing his country at the scouting showcase that is the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament. His play there and in Cedar Rapids has earned him a top-60 ranking from NHL Central Scouting on their mid-term list.
We were happy to have Foley on The Pipeline Show in early December where we got to know more of his personality and background. The well spoken Foley is headed to Providence College next season to join the Friars which is just one of the things we talked about.
If you missed Foley's appearance on TPS, no worries, we have it for you after the jump.
-
He helped USA capture another gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge and currently leads the Waterloo Black Hawks in scoring with 23 goals and 42 points through 32 games. If you're looking for a power forward with an offensive touch, don't look past Brock Boeser.
Boeser, (pronounced Bess-er), is a Minnesota native in his first full season in the USHL. After playing 8 games with Sioux City last year, Boeser resurfaced with Waterloo this season and, despite the team's last place standing, the soon-to-be 18-year-old has impressed.
We featured Boeser during our 2015 Draft Spotlight segment on December 13th, during the World Junior A Challenge. At that time we discussed the tournament, getting the chance to represent his country, his uncertain NCAA future, his WHL option and more.
You can hear that interview after the jump.
-
The second chapter in the 2015 draft blog from Drayton Valley Thunder defenceman Luke Orysiuk is now available.
The Edmonton product sent us the first chapter of his draft series in late November, you can read that here in case you missed it the first time around. Since then, Orysiuk has only appeared in 9 AJHL games due to injury a factor in why he was left off of NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term ranking.
After the jump, the next installment of the draft blog from Luke Orysiuk.
-
Another 2015 Draft eligible player has agreed to blog with us this year and it's out privilege to present to you his first entry.
Joining Red Deer Rebel's Grayson Pawlenchuk, Matteo Gennaro of the Prince Albert Raiders and Luke Orysiuk from the AJHL's Drayton Valley Thunder is defenceman Matt Spencer. The 6'2, 200 lb blueliner plays for the OHL's Peterborough Petes.
After the jump, the first chapter in the draft season blog written by Matt Spencer.
-
One of the top defencemen available in the Class of 2015 made an appearance on TPS recently. Peterborough Pete's rearguard Matthew Spencer, or Matt as he prefers, was featured in our Draft Spotlight segment in November.
The 3rd overall pick by the Pete's in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, Spencer is now in the middle of his second OHL campaign. After a 15-point rookie season, the Guelph native is closing in on setting new career highs already this year.
If you missed Matt's appearance on the show, we have it for you after the jump.
