VGK Development Camp: Notes + Standouts

Camp just finished up so I figured I would post a quick recap. To start us off, here was the full camp roster:

Forwards: Braeden Bowman, Jakub Brabanec, Mathieu Cataford, Trevor Connelly, Jakub Demek, Will Dineen, Tyson Gross, Jordan Gustafson, Ben Hemmerling, Mikael Huchette, Jett Jones, Tyler Kopff, Jacob Mathieu, Connor Milburn, Simon Pinard, Matyas Sapovaliv, Garrett Schifsky, Harrison Scott, Shane Smith, Sloan Stanick, Jack Stockfish, Trent Swick, Kai Uchacz, Zach Urdahl, Lucas Van Vliet
 

Defensemen: Cade Alami, Artur Cholach, Noah De La Durantaye, Noah Ellis, Joe Fleming, Lukas Gustafsson, Mazden Leslie, Samuel Mayer, Alex Pineau, John Prokop, Christoffer Sedoff, Jozef Viliam Kmec, Abram Wiebe, Austin Zemlak
 

Goaltenders: Marko Bilic, Carl Lindbom, Lennart Neisse, Jesper Vikman, Cameron Whitehead

Notable 23-24 seasons from some players on this list:

 
Mathieu Cataford: 65 GP for the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 40-52—92 points, he also played four games for the HSK and notched two assists.  

 
Ben Hemmerling: 65 GP for the Everett Silvertips (WHL) 30-61—91 points.

 
Trevor Connelly: 52 GP for the Tri-City Storm (USHL) 31-47—78 points.

 
Matyas Sapovaliv: 54 GP for the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) 19-43—62 points.

 
Trent Swick: 63 GP for the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 25-37—62 points.

 
Carl Lindbom: 26 GP in the SHL, 2.12 GAA, .911 SV%, 17 wins.

 
Cameron Whitehead: 35GP in the NCAA, 2.62 GAA, .917 SV%, 17 wins.

 
Thanks to SinBin for sharing a good recap article about camp, here are the cliffs notes:

 
– Trevor Connelly was very impressive, only played in one scrimmage but looked comfortable/composed with the puck.

• Carl Lindbom showed well in both scrimmages. His plan is to play in North America this year.

• Mathieu Cataford had some standout moments, he scored a goal and created chances for his teammates. Looked behind the play at times but there is certainly room from him to grow.

• Matyas Sapovaliv wasn’t very noticeable in the first scrimmage but stood out in the second, couldn’t make his way onto the scoresheet but his strength has improved since the last camp.

• Lukas Van Vliet (2024 fourth round draft pick) made some impressive plays, had some moments where the game seemed too fast for him, but looked right at home in front of the net.

• Other standouts: Jack Stockfish played with physicality in the first scrimmage, scored a goal and generated chances. Sloan Stanick scored a goal in the second scrimmage and looked dangerous on nearly every shift. Viliam Kmec and Mikael Huchette were big playmakers, looked like two of the most explosively offensive players on the ice. Lennart Neisse, 17 y/o German goalie, had an excellent game and kept out several grade A chances.