Game On Magazine - April 2017 Game on Preview Edition | Page 66

WHL champion Seattle
Thunderbirds star power-
forward Keegan Kolesar from
the Columbus Blue Jackets.
We caught up to Glass
and Kolesar this summer
skating with Jon Cara and
the Professional Group at The
RINK in Winnipeg. The group
was quite impressive – Glass,
Kolesar, Leipsic, Portage
Terriers’ Cody Thompson
and Nick Doyle, Spokane’s
Hayden Ostir, Penticton
Vees’ Jackson Keane,
Jamestown College player
Garrett Browning (ACHA),
Portland’s Colton Veloso,
Winterhawks this season
and hopes to play for Team
Canada at the World Junior
Championship.
“I really had a lot of fun at
the draft,” said Glass, who
signed an NHL entry level
contract with the Golden
Knights, the same day Leipsic
signed in July. “I was a really
good experience for me
and my family and it was
something I’d really been
looking forward to. Just being
there and being able to walk
up on stage was awesome.
“Obviously, as an 18-year-
old, it’s going to be pretty
hard to make the NHL, right
“I’m part of the first team on the ice
for a brand new franchise. That’s
exciting. We’re the first professional
team in Las Vegas and that’s going to
be fun, too”
Boston Prep player Tyler
Campbell, The Rink midget
player Marcus Sekundiak,
Binghamton Senators forward
Jack Rodewald (AHL), Allen
Americans defenseman
Travis Brown (ECHL), Colgate
University’s Tyler Penner,
Wichita Thunder forward
Justin Hamonic (ECHL),
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
defenseman Madison Bowey
(AHL), Indy Fuel player
Patrick D’Amico (E CHL),
Victoria goalie Dylan Myskiw
and RHA Nationals midget
goalie Matt Thiessen.
Playing with that group all
summer set up Glass, Kolesar
and Leipsic for an important
fall training camp schedule.
Especially Glass, who expects
to be back with the Portland
now. I don’t think I’m in
the right body-frame yet. I
think I’m still growing (he’s
6-foot-2, 180 pounds) so I’m
just going to take it one step
at a time. Sure, as an 18-year-
old, if I’m ready, I’ll still play
of course, but another year
of junior wouldn’t hurt. And
I’ve obviously been looking
forward to the World Juniors
and being part of the World
Juniors is something that’s
always been important to me.”
“I didn’t really expect to
end up in Las Vegas, but
when I was left unprotected
in the expansion draft, I
certainly knew something
could happen,” Eakin said. “At
first, when I was taken, I was
a little disappointed because I
thought we had a good, young
developing team that was
building something in Dallas
and I wanted to be part of it,
but after a while, it started to
feel great. I was going to be
part of a new team and for
my career, it will be a great
opportunity.
“I’m part of the first
team on the ice for a brand
new franchise. That’s exciting.
We’re the first professional
team in Las Vegas and that’s
going to be fun, too. I talked
to Kelly (assistant GM
McCrimmon) and he told me
to be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Leipsic will get
one of the best opportunities
of his young professional
career.
Originally selected in
the third round of the NHL
Entry Draft by the Nashville
Predators, he was traded to
Toronto in the deal that sent
Cody Franson to the Preds.
In the meantime, Eakin
is one of those new Golden
Knights who will be expected
to step in and lead the team in
its inaugural season.
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Cody Glass
Last year, his third with the
Toronto Marlies of the AHL,
Leipsic had 51 points in 49
regular season games and four
goals and five points in 11
playoff games. At 23, he was
expected to make the Leafs
this season, but was gobbled
up by the Knights in the
expansion draft. After three
years as a pro, he appeared
in only six NHL games in
Toronto but had a goal and
two assists.
“He’s worked hard this
summer and looked really
good,” said The Rink’s Cara.
“He’s ready to play at the NHL
level.”
Playing with an expansion
team in Las Vegas will be
good for the careers of all five
Manitoba players currently on
the Golden Knights roster.
“Vegas was one of the top
teams I wanted to be on,” said
Glass. “Especially them getting
me at No. 6 was unbelievable.
It’s also a lot easier to get
cheaper flights for my dad and
my family so that’s a bonus.
“I know, after rookie camp,
it was obvious that this
organization was nothing but
class. I’m just excited to one
day be part of it.” ❍