This weekend, Seattle-area fans will get an opportunity to see once-and-future Kraken players compete in American Hockey League games with the brand-new Coachella Valley Firebirds franchise. If this past weekend is our barometer, get ready for goals and victories.
The Firebirds are practicing at Kraken Community Iceplex throughout the month (workouts are open to the public) while construction of their brand-new arena and training center nears completion. They will travel as needed for a full and busy AHL game schedule this month. They opened their inaugural season on the road, notching two wins Sunday and Monday against the Calgary Wranglers at the Saddledome where the parent club Calgary Flames play. The Wranglers moved from Stockton, CA, during the offseason.
Sunday’s game featured five different goal scorers for coach Dan Bylsma’s squad: Cole Lind, Andrew Poturalski, Michal Kempnynewly appointed captain Max McCormick and Jesper Froden. Lind, who played 23 games (two goals, six assists) with the Kraken last season, scored the first-ever Firebirds goal with the primary assist going to 2021 second-round draft choice and defenseman. Ryker Evans making his professional review. Lind also scored the eventual game-winner in the third period to put Coachella Valley up, 6-3, providing enough cushion when Calgary scored two late third-period goals.
Lind was at it again Monday night, scoring his second game-winner in as many nights in a 3-1 Coachella Valley win. Froden, who received lots of ice time during Kraken preseason games, notched his second goal of the year and 22-year-old center Ville Pettman recorded his first North American professional goal after four seasons playing in Finland’s top pro league. Joey Daccord logged both wins in goal, stopping 24 of 25 shots on goal Monday.
Lind (3G, 3A) sits atop the AHL scoring list after the first weekend and Froden (2G, 2A) is top 10 himself. Poturalski, named alternate captain along with defenseman Gustav Olofssonadded an assist Sunday to get a start on defending his AHL regular-season scoring title last season (28G, 73A).
The Firebirds, tied for first place with San Jose in the AHL Pacific Division, play “home” games this weekend against instant-rival Abbotsford Canucks Friday and Sunday. The Friday game is a 3 pm private event for specially invited guests. Sunday’s game will be played at Climate Pledge Arena with a family-friendly 6 pm puck drop and ticket pricing. Fans can visit Ticketmaster to purchase tickets.
Here’s the scoop on the other two Firebirds home games this month: The third game is Oct. 28 against Calgary at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. Ticket information is available here. The Seattle-based homestand ends with an Oct. 29 matchup with Calgary (3 pm start) at Kraken Community Iceplex for randomly selected Kraken season ticket members.
Lighting Up the Juniors Circuit
Every other Tuesday, look for in-depth coverage of the Kraken’s top prospects and developing pros. There are plenty of success stories to do. For this week, here’s an encouraging sample of future NHL potential among the draft choices selected this past July:
- 2022 second-rounder and forward David Goyette has notched six goals and six assists in seven games for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. Sudbury is 3-3-1 and Goyette is second among all OHL scorers in both goals and overall points.
- Fellow second-round choice Janie Nyman has scored four goals and added two assists in eight games Ilves Tampere of Finland’s top pro league, SM-Liga. Countryman and goalie Niklas Kokko is playing well in the second-tier pro league, Mestis, sporting a 3-1 record with a .930 save percentage.
- Defenseman Ty Nelson, a third-round pick this summer, impressed coaches and fans alike during Kraken training camp with both his on-ice work and off-ice leadership among prospects. Nelson has also notched three goals and four assists in six games with the OHL North Bay Battalion (4-2-0). His Battalion teammate, a 6-foot-3, 201-pound center Kyle Jacksona Kraken seventh-round pick, has scored five goals and added four assists in the same half-dozen games.
- Tucker Robertson (fourth round) is another 2022 selection lighting it up in the OHL. In seven games, he has logged 10 points (3G, 7A) for the 4-2-1 Peterborough Petes.
- Amid all the OHL scoring, let’s not overlook the 2021 fifth-rounder Jacob Melanson‘s production with Acadie-Bathurst of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He’s bagged seven goals (third in the ‘Q’) in his first eight games, along with three assists and 15 minutes in penalties.
.