Simmer’s Kraken 9
1) The first of two matches between the Kraken and Canucks rookies took place on Saturday night in Everett. Game two of the set unfolded Sunday afternoon at Kraken Community Iceplex.
In Game-1 at Angels of the Wind Arena, the Kraken youngsters beat the Canucks kids by scoring four unanswered goals in the 3rd period to erase a 3-1 deficit. Eduard Sale, Berkly Catton, Nathan Villeneuve, and Ville Ottavainen (empty netter) all scored in the final stanza in the 5-3 win.
On Sunday, Vancouver avenged the loss by holding on to a 3-2 victory. 2022 Vancouver 1st-rounder Jonathan Lekkerimaki was among the goal scorers while 2021 5th-rounder Aku Koskenvuo was sterling in net.
The Seattle prospects have one more day of camp with practices on Tuesday.
2) The same two organizations open up the preseason schedule for the big clubs as well on September 21st at Climate Pledge Arena. That’s three days after the Kraken open up training camp on the 18th at KCI.
3) It wasn’t earth-shattering, but the Kraken made a trade back on September 4th. Talk about slipping through the cracks. Seattle acquired forward Jon-Randall Avon from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Tucker Robertson. To use baseball terminology, these guys would both be considered “organizational players” at this point. They’re bottom-6 American Leaguers.
4) The 2025 US Hockey Hall of Fame induction class was announced last week. League photographer Bruce Bennett, Calder Trophy and Stanley Cup winner Scott Gomez, Team USA women’s star Tara Mounsey, long-time NHL forward Zach Parise and recently retired net-front magician Joe Pavelski will be enshrined on December 10th.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and/or interviewing all of the aforementioned along the way. I’ve run into Bennett at rinks countless times. One memory stands out. At the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Carolina a large group of us played a media game at the big rink two days before the main event. Bennett showed up for fun, took photos of all of us, posted them, and gave us cool action shots for free. An act of generosity and kindness.
“Gomer” and I used to make smart-alec remarks to one another on and off the air when I did a handful of games at ice level on MSG-TV for the New York Rangers around that same time period. He’d make fun of my clothes, I’d make fun of his hair, etc.
It’s a great group. The ceremony will be held in St. Paul, Minnesota.
5) Here’s three Kraken preseason player profiles you’ll likely want to check out. Vince Dunn, Jared McCann, and Matty Beniers.
6) Seattle Kraken Trivia Time! — The Kraken club has its best head-to-head winning percentage against which NHL team? (answer at the end of this list)
7) The Kraken open up their regular season schedule with two games at home before embarking on a six-game road trip. The Anaheim Ducks under new coach Joel Quenneville are in Seattle on October 9th with recently acquired forward Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights in town two nights later.
Marner spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is coming off a career-high 102 point season. (That’s him next to Dunn in the photo.)
8) You know college hockey is cranking up when the polls start coming out. It just so happens that the USA Hockey NCAA Division I college hockey polls start up again Tuesday. The preseason women’s poll will be revealed first followed by the men’s on September 29.
Once things get under way, the men’s rankings come out every Monday and the women’s on Tuesdays. I usually tweet both on the day they’re released on twitter/X — @simmerpuck.
9) The Professional Women’s Hockey League (WPHL) gets fired up in Seattle this winter. The 30-game schedule commences at some point in December. Stay tuned here for deets, features and interviews.
TRIVIA ANSWER: The Kraken’s best head-to-head record after four seasons is against the Buffalo Sabres. Seattle is 7-and-1 against the Sabres, for a win percentage of .875.
By the way, the Kraken are 6-and-2 against the Islanders and Penguins.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken’s Catton Bulks Up For A Gig
