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NAHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Preview: As They Arrive in Blaine, Veterans Look to Lead Knights to New Heights

September 19, 2018 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights News Release


The Knights opened their regular season this past weekend with a pair of contests against the Johnstown Tomahawks. Neither game went the way the team wanted, but the experience each game provided will serve the team well moving forward.

According to eliteprospects.com, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's roster is the youngest the NAHL when considering the average age of their players. Of the 25 that make up their team, six made their junior hockey debut last weekend. Another six have played in 20 games or less, meaning all would be "rookies," by NHL standards. In stark contrast, the other half of the roster has combined to play a staggering 947 games in junior hockey. Many of these veterans nearly tasted Robertson Cup glory and few months ago. They're eager to not only go back, but to bring their young teammates with them.

"You want to be a leader," said defenseman Luke Robinson. "You want to fill the leadership role. It's definitely an adjustment period. There's some younger players with us this year. I can relate to what they're going through. In practice if they have a bad pass or if they're nervous going into a drill, I can kind of just talk to them and say 'Hey, I was in the same situation and I was nervous doing that also. Just work through it and it'll work out. There's a reason you're here-you're talented enough to be here.'"

Robinson was third on the blue line last year, picking up a goal and 16 points in his first full season with the Knights.

"I want to be some one they can look to. I want to make sure that when I'm on the ice, I'm doing the right things so they pick up on that and realize how to be successful at this league, or how to work your way up the lineup, you have to be doing these things. Working out, stretching, warming up, taking shots after practice, things like that. I want to be that leader, someone they can look up to, just being a good example."

Robinson is joined by fellow right-hander Shay Donovan on the blue line, whose resume includes 105 games played in the NAHL.

"Yea I plan on it," said Donovan on stepping into the role of a leader. "I plan on setting a tone early on, leading the young guys, showing them how you prepare for the season, how you handle yourself in the weight room, on the ice, however that may be. The older you get, the more games you have played and the more that becomes important."

Lincoln Hatten is a 2000-born forward with more than just a powerful build. In his first season, the forward would join fellow rookies in becoming a catalyst for last year's postseason run. The Texas-native scored a goal in the semi-finals against the eventual Robertson Cup Champion Shreveport Mudbugs.

"We just have to stay focused throughout the season," said Hatten. "The grind never stops. You're going, going, and going, but I think when we got to the Robertson Cup last year, we kind of took our eye off the prize a bit. We sat back that first game we were there and they brought it to us. We just gotta keep our foot on the gas pedal, keep moving forward, keep doing what we're doing and get there. I think this year, being there last year, all the vets have thoughts in their heads about going back, things to differently so we help ensure that we can get it done."

As far as the advice he offers to those following in his footsteps, Hatten refers them to his coach's message for guidance.

"I tell them to listen to TK on the ice," he said. "He just keeps repeating to stay mentally tough. It's a mental sport. If you let a kid get in your head, like if you're on the boards as a winger you can't the puck out, and if you let that start affecting you, you're not going to get the job done. Just staying mentally strong, just working hard every shift, making sure you get the fine details-making sure you get every little thing done right, that's how you become successful."

On a similar note, Robinson stressed that harnessing adrenaline and the mental aspect of the game is crucial to a fast start.

"Honestly, I think it's feeling those nerves and use that to your advantage on your first shift," said Robinson. "Just feel nervous, go out and move your legs, get a hit, get a shot on goal, just kamikaze it. Just know there's a reason you're here, you should be confident in that, and go play your game."

"I think the biggest thing, looking around the division, not knowing what everyone else has coming back, but I'd say experience is going to be our biggest asset," said Donovan. "Just having four guys who are veterans back, that makes a huge difference in bringing the young guys along. It helps everyone grow up really fast. Just heading into games, everyone is so much more experienced. I think we have a lot of skill as well, especially from our draft picks. We added some size and skill, some guys who can really skate with it. I think something that we're really going to have to work on a bit is the physical aspect of the game. It's something hopefully us older guys can show the younger guys. TK always stresses clearing the front of the net, being tough in our own end, getting pucks up-we have some really good forwards to go along with it."

"I'm excited to see what we have in store," said Hatten. "Practices have been great, high-tempo, a lot of body, and just a lot of grit down in the corners. We've put a lot of hard work in."

"I'm gonna bring the same style, focus more on scoring goals this year, and getting in a few opponents' heads," said Gabe Temple, the team's newest captain. "I just want to help lead the team back to the Robertson Cup playoffs and hopefully win this year,"

KNIGHTS BLAINE ROSTER:

Forwards:

#9 Zak Currie, RHF

#10 Beck Moore, LHF

#11 Jake Fuss, LHF

#15 Lincoln Hatten, RHF

#16 Sacha Guillemain, RHF

#17 Anthony Starzi, RHF

#19 Jason Stachelbeck, RHF

#22 Gabe Temple, RHF

#23 Mathew Kahra, LHF

#24 Tyler Nielsen, RHF

#25 Brett Postula, LHF

#26 Jacob Badal, LHF

#28 Jeffrey Bertrand, RHF

#29 Will Otwell, RHF

Defensemen:

#2 Greg Japchen, LHD

#4 Davis Pennington, LHD

#8 Blake Krkyska, LHD

#12 Evan Orr, LHD

#14 Joey Verkerke, RHD

#20 Shay Donovan, RHD

#21 Jordan Strand, RHD

#27 Luke Robinson, RHD

Goalies:

#1 Samuel Vyletelka

#35 Zach Stejskal

Notes:

"I think our speed," said Donvan of what he felt is his team's most impressive skillset. "To make this team-I think everyone skates really well. I think as a d-corps we skate really well, and that'll help transition the play up to the forwards. If we can play fast in transition, we should be the fastest team in our division. I think that'd really help us and that's something that TK and Whitey really look for."

"Our ability to transition," Robinson agreed. "Being able to join the rush, to make it instead of a 3-on-2, a 4-on-2 and just have the confidence that we can even get back if we have a turnover and cover for d. We have guys who are very good skaters on the blue line. If we can beat that first forechecker as a defenseman and move it to an open guy, head-man the puck, we can hopefully join the rush."

The Knights most experienced tender from last year is also one of their youngest, as Alaskan standout Jeff Bertrand returns in 2018-19. The future Nittany Lion cut his teeth in the NAHL in the best possible way, playing in a handful of regular season games before joining the roster for the entirety of the 2018 playoffs. The big right-handed shot scored his first goal with the Knights against the then-named Philadelphia Rebels en route to the Knights sweep of one of their arch rivals last postseason. This year, Bertrand scored the Knights first goal of the season on their first shot in their home opener Friday.

Jacob Badal is one of the few players younger than Bertrand on the Knights roster this season. He scored his first goal of junior hockey on Saturday night against Johnstown on a sharp-angle snipe.

Three graduates of the Knights EHL roster combined for a goal on Friday. Anthony Starzi and Jake Fuss fed Tyler Nielsen for his first goal of the season.

Zach Stejskal, the Knights most recent first-round pick, comes to the team following a year in the USHL with the Central Illinois Flying Aces. From the moment he steps on the ice, Stejskal can't be missed. The hulking netminder stands at 6-5 but moved with the quickness of a smaller goalie at Knights main camp. The team is excited about the Minnesota-native's arrival.

"He just has a great mentality in net. It's the type of mentality you need in net to say 'Screw this I'm not getting scored on' type of mentality. He's super calm-no freak outs-he's always supportive of his guys, and he's got some really good experience to go along with that."

The Knights will take on the Topeka Pilots for the first time in each teams' history when the pair meet today at 1:00 pm CDT. The game will be broadcast on www.hockeytv.com.

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