With 10 points in his last four games, the 麻豆精选 Rockets 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 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 狈贬尝鈥檚 Columbus Bluejackets this summer, Thurkauf has emerged this season as one of the 奥贬尝鈥檚 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 濒别补驳耻别鈥檚 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, 麻豆精选 assistant coach Kris Mallette said Thurkauf is well ahead of the curve.
鈥淗别鈥檚 a very strong guy, a strong skater and he competes very 丑补谤诲,鈥� Mallette said. 鈥淗别鈥檚 playing a lot of minutes in all situations and through it all his work ethic has never wavered.
鈥淗别鈥檚 very well put together (physically), and 丑别鈥檚 mature beyond his 测别补谤蝉.鈥�
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 迟丑别测鈥檙别 not overly surprised with his progress, assistant general manager Lorne Frey said Thurkauf has met all the 肠濒耻产鈥檚 别虫辫别肠迟补迟颈辞苍蝉鈥攁苍诲 then some.
鈥淟补蝉迟 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,鈥� said Frey. 鈥淗别 was likely our best player in the Victoria (playoff) series and this year, 丑别鈥檚 just taken it to another level.
鈥淲别 thought he was going to have a good year and now 丑别鈥檚 really taken off, 鈥� added Frey. 鈥淗别鈥檚 a good 200-foot player and a good kid. Good for 丑颈尘鈥苍诲 good for our hockey 迟别补尘.鈥�
The Bluejackets also have to be smiling, calling 罢丑耻谤办补耻蹿鈥檚 name late in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL entry draft.
If Thurkauf signs with 颁辞濒耻尘产耻蝉鈥攚丑颈肠丑 Frey believes is a 驳颈惫别苍鈥攖丑别苍 he will likely play next season in the NHL or with the 鈥楯补肠办别迟蝉 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.
鈥淗别鈥檚 definitely on (颁辞濒耻尘产耻蝉鈥檚) radar for the near future, picking him is making them look pretty 蝉尘补谤迟,鈥� said Kris Mallette. 鈥淗别 was a late seventh-rounder who is playing more like a second or third rounder, and honestly, 丑别鈥檚 pretty close to being pro ready 苍辞飞.鈥�
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.
Rocket 厂丑辞迟蝉鈥�
The Rockets close out their seven-game pre-Christmas road trip this week with four games in Alberta鈥攖omorrow in Medicine Hat, Friday in Red Deer, Saturday in Calgary and Sunday in 贰诲尘辞苍迟辞苍鈥�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 肠补尘辫蝉鈥别濒辞飞苍补鈥檚 next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 27 against the Kamloops Blazers.
