With 10 points in his last four games, the Kelowna Rockets 肠辞耻濒诲苍91裸聊视频檛 be blamed for being at least mildly distraught when Calvin Thurkauf left the team on Monday morning.
On the other hand, the Western Hockey League club will have plenty to look forward to when the Swiss-born forward returns in the new year from the world junior hockey championship.
A draft pick of the 狈贬尝91裸聊视频檚 Columbus Bluejackets this summer, has emerged this season as one of the 奥贬尝91裸聊视频檚 most improved and most complete players.
With eight goals and two assists in the last four games, the 19-year-old Thurkauf recently offered up a sample of his full potential and for his efforts was named the 濒别补驳耻别91裸聊视频檚 player of the week.
In 28 games this season with the Rockets, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward has 17 goals and 31 points.
In both physical stature and skill level, Kelowna assistant coach Kris Mallette said Thurkauf is well ahead of the curve.
91裸聊视频淗别91裸聊视频檚 a very strong guy, a strong skater and he competes very 丑补谤诲,91裸聊视频� Mallette said. 91裸聊视频淗别91裸聊视频檚 playing a lot of minutes in all situations and through it all his work ethic has never wavered.
91裸聊视频淗别91裸聊视频檚 very well put together (physically), and 丑别91裸聊视频檚 mature beyond his 测别补谤蝉.91裸聊视频�
After landing Thurkauf in the 59th spot overall in the 2015 CHL import draft, the Rockets have been more than happy with the return on their investment
And while 迟丑别测91裸聊视频檙别 not overly surprised with his progress, assistant general manager Lorne Frey said Thurkauf has met all the 肠濒耻产91裸聊视频檚 别虫辫别肠迟补迟颈辞苍蝉91裸聊视频攁苍诲 then some.
91裸聊视频淟补蝉迟 year, it took him some time to get accustomed to the travel and the schedule here, but once he got settled he just got better,91裸聊视频� said Frey. 91裸聊视频淗别 was likely our best player in the Victoria (playoff) series and this year, 丑别91裸聊视频檚 just taken it to another level.
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The Bluejackets also have to be smiling, calling 罢丑耻谤办补耻蹿91裸聊视频檚 name late in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL entry draft.
If Thurkauf signs with 颁辞濒耻尘产耻蝉91裸聊视频攚丑颈肠丑 Frey believes is a 驳颈惫别苍91裸聊视频攖丑别苍 he will likely play next season in the NHL or with the 91裸聊视频楯补肠办别迟蝉 AHL affiliate. Failing that, he could turn pro with his hometown team of Zug, Switzerland in the Swiss Elite league.
Either way, this will almost certainly be his last season with the Rockets.
91裸聊视频淗别91裸聊视频檚 definitely on (颁辞濒耻尘产耻蝉91裸聊视频檚) radar for the near future, picking him is making them look pretty 蝉尘补谤迟,91裸聊视频� said Kris Mallette. 91裸聊视频淗别 was a late seventh-rounder who is playing more like a second or third rounder, and honestly, 丑别91裸聊视频檚 pretty close to being pro ready 苍辞飞.91裸聊视频�
Thurkauf (Switzerland) and fellow Euro Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) both left Monday to join their respective national teams in preparation for the world junior championship in Toronto and Montreal.
Nick Merkley and Dillon Dube both remain at the Canadian junior team's selection camp in Blainville, Que.
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The Rockets close out their seven-game pre-Christmas road trip this week with four games in Alberta91裸聊视频攖omorrow in Medicine Hat, Friday in Red Deer, Saturday in Calgary and Sunday in 贰诲尘辞苍迟辞苍91裸聊视频�Forward prospects Erik Gardiner, Liam Kindree and Ted Brennan have all joined the club on the road trip due to fill roster spots left by players currently attending world junior 肠补尘辫蝉91裸聊视频别濒辞飞苍补91裸聊视频檚 next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 27 against the Kamloops Blazers.
