Four LA Kings’ Prospects Invited to World Junior Camps
- Updated: December 8, 2017
The 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship tournament, hosted by the city of Buffalo, New York, is just around the corner and coming in hot and heavy, with the opening day being on December 26th. So most of the competing World Junior National Team’s have recently publically revealed who they have invited to participate on their preliminary rosters for training camp. Four prospects of the Los Angeles Kings’ were honored to have been selected for the chance to compete for one of the 23 man roster spots for their respected countries, and get a shot at winning the prestigious World Junior Gold Medal. The four players are;
COLE HULTS – TEAM USA
Born in Stoughton, WI and then drafted by Kings 134th overall of the 2017 NHL entry draft, the 6 foot 1, 190 pound, left-shooting defenseman has been impressive while playing in his first season (and freshman year) in the Big-10 with Penn State, (becoming the first-ever Penn State hockey player to do so), where he has registered 12 points in 17 games, with a plus-9 so far. Known for his hard work ethic and good offensive instincts, Hults is a good puck mover that can break out of his defensive zone with his excellent passing skills.
MICHAEL “MIKEY” ANDERSON – TEAM USA
(photo credit to Duluth News Tribune)
Born in Roseville, MN, and drafted by the Kings 103rd overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft, the 6 foot, 196 pounds, left-shooting defenseman, has been playing in his first year in the NCAA, with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Best known for being a “stay at home” type defenseman, but with a booming slap shot/one-timer from the point, Anderson loves to play physical and rough, especially along the boards, but still has the potential to be able to play all aspects of the game from the power-play to the penalty kill, and has strong passing skills and vision on the ice.
(Photo credit Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)
JACOB MOVERARE – TEAM SWEDEN
(photo credit to… ME!)
Now in his second season, but first as an alternate Captain with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads, the 6 foot 2, 198 pounds, left-shooting defenseman was born in Ostersund, Sweden, and drafted by the Kings 112th overall at the 2016 NHL entry draft. Moverare had an excellent North American debut season last year by helping the Steelheads go all the way to the OHL J. Ross Robertson Cup Final against the Erie Otters, coming so close to advancing to the 2017 Memorial Cup Final, (aka, the Stanley Cup of junior hockey). Known for being a poor skater, especially when skating backward or laterally, Moverare (pronounced MOVE-AH-RAR- EE), has a hunger to improve and it shows in the leaps he has made with his skating skills in just one full year. Born with the natural instincts from his high hockey IQ, Moverare makes up for his skating weaknesses with his intelligent play and defensive coverage, as he is hardly ever caught out of position. Plus he has strong puck control skills as well. During his rookie year, he achieved 32 points and an astonishing plus-21 in 63 games, plus another 7 points in 20 OHL playoff games, Moverare is already looking to double his stats so far this season, with already having 20 points in 27 games for Mississauga. This is also his second year in a row where he was selected to participate in the Swedish Junior National Team training/selection camp, but he was heartbreakingly cut from the team last year, a day before the tournament began, and while his parents were still in the air after hopping on the plane from Sweden to go see their son play at the World Juniors. As I mentioned, this kid has a hunger to improve, plus with all the top-level junior hockey he experienced last season with that long playoff run, I believe the powers that be for Sweden will not deny him a roster spot again this year, once they see how more rounded and valuable his game has improved and become.
KALE CLAGUE – TEAM CANADA
(photo credit to the Brandon Wheat Kings)
Born in Lloydminster, Alberta, and drafted by the Kings 51st overall at the 2016 NHL entry draft, this 6 foot, 180 pound, (and say it all with me!) left-shooting defenseman, is currently playing in his 5th season with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, and having a monster of a year by scoring 42 points, and registering a plus-28 in only 26 games! Yes, 26 games! Clague has also already gained experience playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship Tournament by earning a roster spot for the 2017 tournament and achieving 6 points and a plus-6 in 7 games for his country. A veteran at the junior level, Clague is expected to be an important member of the leadership group for Team Canada in this tournament, so unless he gets injured, Clague should be a shoo-in to make the 23 player roster. Besides strong leadership and experience, Clague is also a fantastic skater, with excellent top end speed, and has very good stick handling skills, and can play successfully as a two-way defender. He can easily make the transitional jump from offense to defense and has made some improvements in his lower body strength and balance.
(Photo credit to Dobber Prospects)
On behalf of CaliSports News, we would like to say congratulations to all four of these talented LA Kings’ prospects for being invited to the preliminary rosters of their respected nations, and best of luck earning a roster spot for the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo! No matter what country that you, or we are a part of and cheer for, all four of you are Kings’ family, and all of us here in the Kingdom will be watching you all play very closely, as we hope to catch a glimpse of what may be in store for our beloved LA Kings in the near future!
GO KINGS GO!!!
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