Rossignol looking for a spot...

For the Daily Townsman...

Rossignol looks to make impression

by Jeff Bromley

As Kootenay Ice training camp came to a close Labour Day Monday Adam Rossignol wasn’t exactly sure where he was on the depth chart but you can bet he knows exactly where he wants to be come September 25; on the blueline when the annual role call of the 2010-11 edition of the Kootenay Ice takes place.

If his play during training camp along with his experience last season with the Junior B Aldergrove Kodiaks of the PIJHL is any indication, Rossignol could have the inside track. “My plan was that I came up here and I want to play here this year,” said the 6-foot 175-pound forward who won’t turn 17 until October 16. “If I keep working hard I think I might be able to do that.”

Drafted in the 7th round (147th overall) in 2008 Rossignol impressed at last year’s camp as a 16-year-old but couldn’t stick. The smooth-skating forward did stick with the Junior B Kodiaks and flourished, finishing second in club scoring with 17 goals and 32 assists, good for 49 points and 15th overall league-wide. He also chipped in another 3 goals and 11 helpers as the Kodiaks captured the PIJHL title and represented the league at the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship, eventually won by the KIJHL’s Revelstoke Grizzlies. With the Ice returning 19 veterans and likely 11 forwards, only two spots are up for grabs for Rossignol and six other forwards who made the 31-man roster that will head into the club’s exhibition season, Rossignol agrees that his junior experience will only help the cause. “I played major midget my first year (as a 15-year-old) and then I went to Junior B last year and noticed there’s a big difference playing against 20-year-olds,” he said. “The jump from that to the WHL, the speed; the guys will be bigger and it’ll be a lot faster but I think I can adjust to it.”

With likely two forwards, just one defenseman and a goaltender rounding out the compliment of positions available for the 2010-11 season, fellow 16-year-old Mike Simpson of Surrey as well as Jeff Hubic out of Regina impressed enough to stick with the club for the exhibition season that begins Friday in Kennewick, Washington. Ice Director of Scouting Garnet Kazuik agreed the aforementioned 16-year-olds along with Rossignol made an impression but with the 12 new faces vying for about four spots, the competition is far from over. “It’s a fair assessment but we’re going to treat them all equally,” Kazuik said of the remaining players. “Rossignol had a successful season with the Kodiaks, winning the league and going to Cyclone Cup and he got to play with older, stronger guys. Does he have an advantage? Sure, but he’s going to be treated the same as the others in the competition to earn that spot.”

“We’ve spoken all of the top prospects and basically there’s four 93’s and two 94’s (forwards that will move on with us and same with the defense, we’ve got three guys fighting for one spot,” said Kazuik. “The competition has begun and they’re well aware of the process to move on. It’s going to be an exciting process.”

Rookies Impress – If there was a knock against the thick roster coming back for the 2010 Kootenay Ice it might be scoring or at least, with the likes of Dustin Sylvester graduating, where would it come from? That question is still looking for an answer as the club broke training camp on Labour Day but if you were looking for some scoring, the club’s 1995 Draft class was eager to please. At the club’s annual training camp wind up Blue-White Game for charity, won by the White squad 5-3 four of the goals came from 15-year-olds. Canmore’s Luke Philp, selected in the 3rd round in April’s Bantam Draft (59th overall), notched two goals for Team White while Sam Reinhart, the club’s 1st round pick (15th overall), also got two goals for Team Blue. “There’s no doubt at the start of the game today, the 95’s really played well and hopefully that’s a glimpse of what fans will see in the future.”

“The 1995-born players were absolutely outstanding,” offered Kazuik of this year’s draft class. “As a scouting staff we are excited about the future, as we are every year, but having said that, it’s a free camp for them. It’s really easy for them to come in here. There’s zero pressure and they can come and just play and do what they do best. Each one we’ve talked with them and they’ve got to come next year with the mindset to make the hockey club.”