After spending a week in Arlington, Virginia, Washington Capitals prospects finished 2017 Development Camp with an intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday, pitting some of the organization’s best young players against each other.
Team Red was led by Shane Gersich, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Connor Hobbs while Team White featured 2016 first-round pick Lucas Johansen.
General manager Brian MacLellan called Gersich the “best player at camp.”
“I think he did a great job at rookie camp,” MacLellan said. “He is one of our best players, if not the best player at camp. Really happy about the way he has progressed and where we picked him. I think Ross Mahoney did a great job with that pick.”
The prospects were split in two teams, playing two running 25-minute periods. Each of the four goalies had a chance to be in net, and with ten minutes remaining in the second half, the teams switched to four-on-four. Team Red won 5-2.
Six minutes and 36 seconds into the first, 2016 fourth-round pick (#117 overall) Damien Riat knocked home a rebound off a Connor Hobbs shot, scoring on goaltender Michael Lackey. The Swiss center currently plays for Geneve-Servette of the National League A (NLA).
Sheldon Rempal would later backhand a rebound off a Shane Gersich shot with 4:10 remaining in the first. It originally seemed like goaltender Collin Delia caught Gersich’s wrist shot in his glove, but Rempal was in the right place at the right time and popped the puck in the net. Rempal is an undrafted free agent, who currently plays for Clarkson University. That would end the scoring in the first period.
Forward Tim McGauley would extend Team Red’s lead to 3-0 win, completing a nice tic-tac-toe passing play. McGauley, who spent last season with the Caps’ ECHL affiliated South Carolina Stingrays, signed a three-year entry-level contract in 2015 as an undrafted free agent.
After a turnover in front of the net, defenseman Connor Hobbs sent a bullet top shelf past goaltender Collin Delia. Riat and Tanner Jeannot would tally the assists. Hobbs was drafted by the Caps in 2015 and spent last season with the WHL’s Regina Pats.
Team Red finished their scoring, after 2016 third-round pick Garrett Pilon scored with 12 minutes remaining. Pilon collected a shot from Jonas Siegenthaler and scored on a rebound from the crease. Pilon spent last season with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
We captured Pilon’s goal in a photo.
Team White finally got on board with six minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the game. After a nice play by Team White to keep the puck in their zone, 2013 sixth round draft pick Brian Pinho caught the puck in front of the net and backhanded it past goaltender Adam Carlson. Pinho is entering his senior year at Providence College. He won a national championship during the 2014-15 season.
The final goal of the scrimmage was scored by Team White defenseman Colby Williams with just over a minute remaining. Williams found himself wide open after a pass by Kristian Marthinsen and backhanded the puck through Carlson’s five-hole. Williams turned pro last season, scoring four goals for the Hershey Bears last season.
The cup was filled with Hershey Kisses.
Photos of the scrimmage are below by RMNB photographers Cara Bahniuk and Amanda Bowen.
Below photos by Cara Bahniuk.
Back Row (L to R): Reid Cashman (Hershey Bears Assistant Coach), Olie Kolzig, Collin Delia, Ryan Murphy (Hershey Bears Assistant Coach), Beck Malenstyn, Lucas Johansen, Mattias Goransson, Hampus Gustafsson, Kristian Marthinsen, Mark Simpson, Garrett Pilon, Tobias Geisser, Jimmy DeVito, Chase Priskie, Sheldon Rempal, Tim McGauley, Adam Carlson, Shane Gersich, Benton Maass, Troy Mann (Hershey Bears Head Coach), Mack Shields, Unknown, Connor Hobbs. Front Row (L to R): Colby Williams, Stephen Collins, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Kevin Elgestal, Kristofers Bindulis, Sebastian Walfridsson, Dmitriy Zaitsev, Mason Mitchell, Tanner Jeannot, Tyler Anderson, Damien Riat, Jonas Siegenthaler, Steven Spinner, Brian Pinho, Michael Lackey
Below photos by Amanda Bowen.
Collin Delia and Lucas Johansen
Chase Priskie and Steven Spinner
Headline Photo: Cara Bahniuk
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