Prospects Reflect on Development Camp Following Black & White Scrimmage

Friday's Black and White scrimmage may have ended with a 5-4 win for Team White, but the end result wasn't the primary focus as players left the Ice Den for the final time this week.

Instead, Arizona Coyotes top prospects were saying their goodbyes to teammates new and old - all of whom are now friends.

Development camp participants put a show on for Coyotes fans at the sold-out Ice Den in Scottsdale on Friday afternoon, trading jabs in a back-and-forth contest that was ultimately decided in a shootout. Fans had the opportunity to see much-heralded prospects such as Josh Doan (2021, 37th overall), Logan Cooley (2022, 3rd overall), Conor Geekie (2022, 11th overall), Maveric Lamoureux (2022, 29th overall), Michael Hrabal (2023, 38th overall), and Jonathan Castagna (2023, 70th overall), among others.

They did not disappoint, either. Sam Lipkin (2021, 223rd overall) finished with one goal and one assist, while Miko Matikka (2022, 67th overall) chipped in one goal and two assists.

Micah Miller (Tucson Roadrunners, 2022-23), Aku Räty (2019, 151st overall), Julian Lutz (2022, 43rd overall), Castagna, and Doan also scored in Friday's exhibition contest.

Cooley, Matikka, and Noel Nordh (2023, 72nd overall) each scored in the shootout.

"It's always fun to be here, and it's great to see some progress from last year," said Matikka, who will attend the University of Denver this upcoming season. "There are a lot of great coaches here, and a lot of knowledge. I just try to absorb as much as I can, and just ask questions for everything.

"It was a long week, it was hard days, but I feel like I took a lot from it, and I'll be better for it."

Friday's scrimmage also offered Coyotes fans the opportunity to see Lamoureux in person for the first time, as he did not participate on ice last year while recovering from an injury.

The 6-foot-7 defenseman worked tirelessly to recover last fall, and recorded 19 points in 35 games as an alternate captain for the QMJHL's Dummondville Voltigeurs in 2022-23.

The weeklong camp was a payoff for the 19-year-old, who was excited to play in Friday's scrimmage.

"I was watching all of last year, so just finally skating with the guys, just playing today feels amazing," Lamoureux said. "It's so fun."

Defenseman Maksymilian Szuber (2022, 163rd overall) was also participating in his second camp, and echoed his teammate's sentiments. The 20-year-old is still acclimating to North American hockey, as he has played the last two seasons with EHC München in Germany's top league, logging 10 points in 46 games last season.

He said it was nice to show up to camp with an understanding of how things would go, and enjoyed the week with both old and new friends. Friday's game was especially meaningful in front of Coyotes fans, who have packed the Ice Den each of the last two years.

"I had a lot of fun every day, and we improved every day," Szuber said. "This day was so cool, the scrimmage, especially with all of the fans."

He also said working with all of the coaches on learning what to improve will go long way, especially as he continues to work his style of play into the smaller North American rink.

"The coaches told me what I have to work on, and I appreciate that," Szuber said. "Now the hard work starts."

All of the prospects agreed the experience -- which included volunteer events in the community and an Arizona Diamondbacks game on Thursday night -- was one they won't soon forget. They'll each go their respective ways in the 2023-24 season as they pursue their ultimate goal of reaching the NHL, but no matter what happens, they'll have friendships and bonds for life.

That's something more priceless than anything Friday's box score can possibly show.

"I made such good friendships here," Lamoureux said. "Meeting new people, making new friends, it's such a great experience to be here."