Chatsworth native Kozun stole the show
Writer’s Note: This article was supposed to run on the site last night but I had a computer issue. So while I write today’s story on the developmental camp, please enjoy this story about Friday’s first day:
There were many pleasant surprises on the first day of the three-day weekend of practices and scrimmages highlighting the 2009 Los Angeles Kings Developmental Camp at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo on Friday.
These included: a raucous and dedicated fan base of more than 200 attendees (on an early Friday morning in summer); a spectacular goal scored by local product Brandon Kozun during a spirited scrimmage; some nice passing by this year’s first round choice Brayden Schenn; and a coaching staff impressed by the spirited scrimmage and practice sessions.
“I’m very impressed by the intensity level of the guys out here during that scrimmage,” Kings head coach Terry Murray stated after the first day of practices ended. “There was a lot of implementation of what we’ve been talking about… our style of play, and I thought they held their own.” Murray also established a baseline for what the camp means for him and his staff.
“It’s a real opportunity for me to evaluate these players,” Murray admitted, “and to be able to see how they are progressing in terms of shooting the puck, handling it, getting teammates involved, and how they support each other within our system. And so far, I like what I see out there.”
There were several players who caught everyone’s attention during a scrimmage between the nearly 50 players involved in the camp, split into two squads. The team dressed in black practice jerseys, who took part in the early on-ice session, defeated the team wearing white practice jerseys by a 5-1 score. The game consisted of two 25-minute halves with a running clock, and penalties resulting in a ‘moving penalty shot’ (see definition in NOTES below) instead of a power play.
Bud Holloway, who split time between Ontario and Manchester last season, had a goal and an assist for the Black team. His assist came on the first goal, scored by defenseman Andrew Campbell against Jonathan Bernier in the first period.
Then later in the period, the young man most of the crowd came to see, Schenn, showed a brief glimpse of why he was selected fifth overall in the recent completed NHL Draft. On a delayed penalty, Schenn gathered the puck along the right side at the blue line, curled and paused, then delivered a perfect to Tyler Maxwell, who’s shot across the slot area was re-directed past Bernier by Justin Azevedo for a 2-0 advantage at intermission.
“I saw the trailers coming and just tried to the puck in a good spot to create the scoring chance” Schenn said, “and I see myself as a playmaker type – that’s where I think I can be most effective.”
“This is the way we want to see our young players play out there,” Murray mentioned about Schenn. “He has the right attitude, the grit, the determination, and he showed great awareness just a few days into his first pro camp.”
In the second half of the scrimmage, a turnover by defenseman Colten Teubert (who otherwise looked very solid) led to the most spectacular goal of the day. Picking up the loose puck at the blue line, Kozun carried the puck in along the left side and beat goaltender Martin Jones with a back-handed shot that snuck in just under the crossbar on the short side. For a guy who grew up idolizing former Kings netminders Kelly Hrudey, Kozun's shot was a type of shot that is tough for any goaltender to defend against.
“I came off the wing and faked a shot with my shoulder which caused him to move a little,” Kozun commented, “and then I just went upstairs with it. My line did a good job of forechecking and that led to the scoring chance.”
Kozun, who moved from the Chatsworth area to Calgary when he was 10, was thrilled at getting the chance to play for a team he rooted for as a young kid, and described the thrill of being drafted by the Kings in the sixth round just a cou0le of week s ago.
“For a while I thought, ‘maybe this isn’t going to happen’ and I turned off my computer,” Kozun sheepishly admitted. “But then my agent called a little while later and told me that the Kings selected me, and it was quite a thrilling thing.”
The team in white finally broke through on the scoreboard as Dwight King, a 6-3, 218 pound earth mover who scored 25 goals and totaled 60 points for Lethbridge in the WHL last season, put the puck in the net past J.F. Berube. King was one of the more active players for his side, using his side to shield defenders and providing a solid forecheck to create other scoring opportunities.
“I was able to make some room along the boards,” King told me afterwards, “and I just kept battling to get the puck… I think the biggest thing for me today was getting out there and showing my skills while also trying to improve on being more consistent within the system. I feel like I made some progress today, but I have a lot more work to do, but it was good to be out there competing.”
Then Holloway scored three and a half minutes later to put the lead back to three goals. Following a penalty, Ben Schutron scored on a ‘power play penalty shot’ to finish the scoring for the scrimmage.
As for the practice sessions, they featured the usual breakout play and odd-man rush drills found at most practices. For defenseman Thomas Hickey, it was a chance to see how far his skills had developed from one year ago.
“I feel healthy and I don’t use my health last year as an excuse for being sent down, but I feel like the extra year between juniors and then the end at the AL was good for my development in the long run.
NOTES: During these scrimmages, instead of a two-minute power play opportunity as happens during regular games, the puck is placed at the offensive blue line, and an offensive player then takes possession and skates in on net for a penalty shot. If he scores, then the goal counts and a face-off takes place at center ice. If not, play continues immediately, as the other players trail behind when the whistle blows… the club announced yesterday that each of the trophies handed out by the league as end-of-season awards will be on display during the Hockey Fest, scheduled at LA Live between August 28-30. There was also the announcement on Thursday that there will be an all-day street hockey festival. Interested teams, either recreational or experienced, should click here to download the form to enter the tournament – there is a guarantee of at least three games played during the day… Kings television analyst Jim Fox was spotted on crutches, having recently had what he described as a “minor clean-out process” on his hip. We wish Jim a speedy recovery… several veterans are in town working out at the facility, which pleased Murray very much: “It’s great that a lot of the guys stuck around this summer and are working out together. I think that will further develop a cohesiveness within the team, and I think it’s a really good sign for what’s ahead of us.” Among those who popped out from the training room to watch some of the practic sessions included Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick. Murray also spoke about the acquisitions of Ryan Smyth via trade and Rob Scuderi via free agency. On Smyth: “He’s had great success in his career, and that’s been predicated on his ability to play in traffic an go to the net, he’s really good at attacking the net… and obviously his leadership and attitude will be a great fit in the room.” On Scuderi: “He plays the game as positionally sound as anyone… he has improved every year he has been in the league, and it’s no surprise with his intelligence that they (Pittsburgh) used him against the other team’s best line in games. Both of these guys played big minutes in big games in their careers, and they will do the same here.” And on the departure of Kyle Quincey in the Smyth trade: “…we’ll miss Quincey, no question, but I think that’s where Jack (Johnson) has a chance to continue to play well like he did at the end of last season and I think between him and Scuderi we’ll be in good shape on the blue line. I’m excited to see our play on the blue line this year.”… I’ll be at both today and tomorrow’s sessions, and will file reports a few hours after the sessions end each day…
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