The Utah Mammoth were back to work on Wednesday with a practice. More on the team’s training camp is below!
Injury Updates
Defenseman Maveric Lamoureux was injured in the Mammoth’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings. Head coach André Tourigny gave an update on Wednesday.
“Might take a little bit but we don’t have an update yet,” Tourigny said. “He will have more exams, but we can assume he will miss some time.”
Michael Carcone was missing from Wednesday’s practice; however, it isn’t expected to be a long term injury.
“He’s banged up a little bit, just day to day,” Tourigny shared. “He should be a couple more days, but we’re not talking weeks.”
Roster Cuts
This week, Utah has made a series of roster cuts which has reduced the training camp roster down to 37 players.
On Tuesday, Utah assigned the following players to the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL):
Owen Allard, Sam Lipkin, Julian Lutz, Miko Matikka, Noel Nordh, Sammy Walker, Gregor Biber, Brandon Holt, Cal Thomas, and Jesper Vikman. The team also returned three players to their respective junior teams: Reko Alanko (Seattle, WHL), Max Pšenička (Portland, WHL), and Florent Houle (Sherbrooke, QMJHL).
Wednesday morning Utah assigned two more players to the Roadrunners, Vadim Moroz and Austin Poganski. The Mammoth also put three additional players on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to Tucson: Cam Hebig, Montana Onyebuchi, and Jaxson Stauber. Following Wednesday’s practice, the team announced that Kevin Rooney was assigned to the Roadrunners as well.
Making a Strong Impression
A name that has been brought up multiple times this training camp? Forward Yegor Borikov. He’s played in both preseason games and Tourigny discussed what he’s shown so far.
“He’s doing a really good job,” Tourigny said of Borikov. “He has that poise, and a swagger, and he’s doing a really good job. We’re really happy about his play. Really good.”
In his first preseason game this year, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar had a strong performance. Tourigny has liked what Weegar has brought on the ice and in the locker room.
“Might have been the best player on the ice,” Tourigny said of Weegar’s performance in Tuesday’s game. “He’s in top shape. I think he’s moving with conviction, is assertive, making a lot of good plays. He always plays with a lot of passion, a lot of intensity, but he has a swagger or confidence right now. He’s really assertive in everything he does, and he’s doing it with a lot of urgency. Really like his presence as a human, as a leader, and as a player right now.”
Superstitions or Routine?
Goaltender Sebastian Cossa was asked about his pregame rituals and how he prepares for games. Unlike some goaltenders, Cossa isn’t too superstitious.
“I’m pretty loose actually,” Cossa said about himself. “I think you kind of hear the goalie stereotypes of guys are pretty locked in. I do get pretty dialed in, but I think I’m pretty loose and I play sewer ball with the guys and other than that, do some visualization stuff, some breathing stuff like that before the game for me. But other than that, just get my body prepared, and mind as well.”
He may have his pregame routine down, but Cossa has learned a few things from his partner Karel Vejmelka.
“It’s been good,” Cossa said of his time with goaltender Karel Vejmelka. “Continuing to get to know him. I think he does a really good job (going) away from the rink and trying to get away from hockey a little bit, which its maybe showing how he’s been able to compete at that high level for that long. Obviously 64 games last year, really impressive. He works really hard on and off the ice and just kind of trying to take some things from him.”
Learning from Foote
When the Mammoth brought in Adam Foote as an assistant coach, they were ready for him to bring his championship pedigree and strong coaching abilities.
“He was a hell of a player,” Simashev said of Adam Foote. “He’s a teacher. He’s really calm, and we have a lot of meetings. Even the guys have told me, on the bench he’s really quiet and sometimes will talk to the guys. He feels like a coach for sure, but he’s really close with us. He (had) a great career and it’s really, really exciting to work with him.”
New Teammates
Before this year centers Logan Cooley and Vincent Trocheck would train together in the offseason before parting ways. Now that they’re on the same team, Trocheck is still adjusting.
“It’s a little weird honestly,” Trocheck said of playing with Logan Cooley on the same team. “We haven’t been on the ice a whole bunch together. I feel like we’re in separate groups for the games. But when we are out there, it’s definitely a little weird that we’re actually on a team together in the NHL. Every time we’re on the ice, typically we’re going separate ways at the end of the summer. But I’m starting to get used to it a little bit more. But it’s obviously a lot of fun.”
