Rookie watch: Boeser gives Canucks a lethal shot

Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser was perfecting his shot at Burnsville High School in Minnesota long before he proved his mettle in the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting event at the 2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
"I worked on my shot a lot at the training center across the parking lot from the Burnsville Ice Center, as well as in my driveway," said Boeser, a Burnsville native. "It was a big part of my training regimen."

The training center, a space rented by Burnsville High School and owned by the city, was Boeser's home away from home during his two high school seasons (2012-14). The facility has shooting cages on synthetic ice, a weight room and a roller hockey rink where players went after high school practice to work on their game.
"I think you have to put a lot of effort into your shot; you need to have the hockey sense of areas to go and I feel coaches can definitely help with that," Boeser said. "I think the hockey sense needs to take over at some point, whether you need to get into the right areas or knowing when to shoot or hold the puck for a second to try to fake the goalie out."
Boeser's work paid off when he finished first among eight players competing in the timed accuracy shooting event, during which shooters had to hit five LED targets in the net that lit up at random as quickly as possible. Boeser won after hitting all five targets in 11.136 seconds, beating New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle (11.626).
Burnsville high school coach Janne Kivihalme recalls the first time he saw Boeser.
"When he came to us from bantams, the first thing that impressed me was his overall maturity, and he already had that elite shot," Kivihalme said. "As he progressed to the United States Hockey League, to the University of North Dakota and then the professional level, that shot has gotten better. He still possesses that same accuracy and velocity, but the other thing I've noticed is he's been able to change the angle on his shot so that has made it harder on goalies to know where the puck is going.
"Brock was an elite shooter then, and a very coachable kid."

Kivihalme watched Boeser first win the accuracy shooting event at the skills competition, then become the second rookie to be named MVP of the NHL All-Star Game, following Hockey Hall of Fame center Mario Lemieux in 1985.
"It was fun to watch," Kivihalme said. "I think the whole city of Burnsville, the high school and the community, is very proud of Brock and what he's accomplished. We're extremely excited that he's having so much success in the NHL. Hopefully he'll continue to have that success; we know he will."
Boeser (6-foot-1, 191 pounds), No. 27 in NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, was selected No. 23 by the Canucks. New York Islanders rookie center Mathew Barzal, No. 11 on the final North American list for 2015, was chosen No. 16.
Many consider Boeser and Barzal the frontrunners for the 2018 Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. Boeser was the only rookie, however, to play in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game.
"It's obviously a huge honor (to be in the Calder Trophy discussion) because there are so many rookies who can win that award who are great players," Boeser said. "It's hard not to pay attention what [Barzal] does because he's a tremendous player, so it's pretty cool to see him have that success."
Boeser had 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 32 games at North Dakota, and when his college season ended he signed with the Canucks. He finished the season with five points (four goals, one assist) in nine games with the Canucks.

"That experience last year was huge; just getting to see how [Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin], Bo Horvat, work even though we were out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs," Boeser said. "It showed me what I needed to do in the offseason to come into Vancouver and make the team. That experience gave me confidence going into training camp."
Boeser is second among NHL rookies with 46 points and first with 25 goals while averaging 17:11 in ice time in 49 games. He leads the Canucks with 147 shots on a goal and a 17.0 shooting percentage. Barzal, named NHL Rookie of the Month for January, leads rookies in assists (37) and points (53).
"The guys in the room are happy for [Boeser] and that he helps us win," Canucks coach Travis Green said. "The way a rookie acts also is a big part of how a veteran will treat the young guy, and Brock's been very humble about his success. That's extremely important."