Thursday, August 30, 2007

The Calgary-D.C. Connection

Last month we learned that Caps' prospect Keith Seabrook is headed to Calgary to join Karl Alzner on the WHL Hitmen's blueline. Now another Capitals/Hitmen tie seems all but assured as Jeff Schultz's little brother (I say little because he's both younger and "only" 6'2" - of course he's also only 17-years-old) Ian will likely make the team this fall and play for the team for which big brother played for four years.

The Calgary-Washington connection has been pretty strong over the years, as the WHL (and Calgary in particular) has been a favorite spot for GM George McPhee to find prospects. In addition to the elder Schultz, Alzner and now Seabrook, Caps prospects over the past seven years who played in Calgary include Matt Pettinger, Kris Beech, Stephen Peat and Owen Fussey (all but Peat were drafted by Washington).

Of course, with all of those fish coming from the same pond, Caps fans likely won't soon forget one Calgary Hitmen product that McPhee didn't draft when he had the chance to back in '03 - Ryan Getzlaf, the one that got away.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well this comment is either going to appear a few times or finally work...sorry for the first time commenter mistakes....

Japers -
There is another recent Washington Capitals/Calgary Hitmen connection...Dean Evason was on the coaching staff with Kisio for one season before joining the Caps and Blaine Forsythe, video coach, worked for the Hitmen. And Stana played some games for the Hitmen.

The Hitmen are going to be interesting to watch this season, they just acquired Calgary native, Colorado draft pick, TJ Galiardi, who played at Dartmouth last season.

And for anyone that may care for an Owen Fussey update, I was just reading this morning that he re-signed with Columbia (ECHL) but will be attending Manitoba's (AHL) camp.

JP said...

Great stuff, sk84fun (and flawlessly posted!).

CapsChick said...

I would say great minds think alike but since you posted this about ten minutes before I did I'll just say that my slightly great mind thinks like your excessively great mind.

I did forget about Peat, though. Aw, Peeeeeaaaaat.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't feel too bad. Marc-Andre Fleury was drafted 1st overall and he has only one more point than Fehr. ;-)