Hurricanes players return from NHL camps with great experiences

By Lethbridge Herald on September 27, 2023.

Herald FILE photo Lethbridge Hurricanes goalie Harrison Meneghin makes a point blank save off of the Red Deer RebelsÕKai Uchacz during Western Hockey League action at the Enmax Centre in this November 2022 file photo. Meneghin experienced rookie camp with the Minnesota Wild earlier this month.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes now have  our key players back in the line-up for the rest of the season after being returned from NHL Camps

Defenceman Joe Arntsen was returned to the Canes for his overage season by the New York Rangers during their training camp roster trim on Sunday.

Arntsen attended the Rangers development camp in the summer before going to rookie camp and eventually getting his feet wet in main camp.

‘“It was obviously a really cool experience, (with the) first time going and sticking around for a main camp, and getting to see the NHL guys … (and) how they go about their everyday life at the rink,” said Arntsen.

“So it was obviously a super cool experience and I’m excited to be back here now.”

He spoke with former Cane and current New York Ranger Jake Leschyshyn at camp and saw what he did on the ice and picked up on things that he and other  players do on a daily basis that he could implement into his own game coming back to Lethbridge.

“Obviously there’s some pressure when you go down there and obviously the first couple of  skates there’s some nerves,” said Arntsen.

“But I thought as the week went on I got better, and settled in and kind of played my game.”

Arntsen noticed how well puck protection is and how well players hold on to the puck.

“They never just give it away for free or dump it in,” said Arntsen.

“They’re so good at holding the puck and finding and making plays.”

Arntsen also  participated in a rookie camp with the Carolina Hurricanes last year.

Chase Pauls was at Los Angeles Kings camp where he got as far as the 2023 Rookie Faceoff tournament and a memorable moment for him as he scored a goal in the second game of the event.

“It was a great experience,” said Pauls.

“I learned a lot from a lot of guys.  The coaches were great (and) helped me out a lot. I think I have a lot of confidence too to bring back to junior for the rest of the year. So just looking to build off that.”

Pauls learned how quick you have to be in order to be a professional hockey player.

“Which I can help with, with all these other guys because the game is much faster down there obviously with the bigger guys,” said Pauls.

“So they take away your time and space more. Also a little bit different systems. So just learning that and now got to adjust back to systems here.”

Pauls’ hope is to play his way into a contract by the end of the season.

Goalie Harrison Meneghin participated in rookie camp and at  the Tom Kurvers Prospect  Showcase tournament  earlier this month where he played against the Chicago Blackhawks before he was sent down.

“So I played against Chicago and the game went pretty good.,” said Meneghin.

“We won. But, yeah, the shots (were) a little bit different for sure.”

What Meneghin took out of the experience was seeing how the older goalies prepare for games and on non-gamedays and how they work on their habits.

“So that was probably the biggest takeaway for me and also just kind of seeing how even just the AHL guys carry themselves every day at the rink,” said Meneghin.

Meneghin was initially invited to the Wild’s development camp in the summer .Noah Chadwick was sent back to Lethbridge on Tuesday from Toronto Maple Leafs camp.

“Yeah, it was unbelievable,” said Chadwick.

“I mean (I) learned a lot what it was like to be a pro and how those guys prepare and recover and everything in between. So, yeah, I mean all positives on my end.”

Chadwick said it’s good to like play to that pace and adjust a little bit.

“There’s definitely a couple of things you have to adjust, you know, little things in your game,” he said.

“ So I noticed that. I think (there were) tons of great development staff there and coaches and I think they really helped with just specific defensemen aspects. So, you know, couldn’t be happier with a couple new tools coming back.”

He was drafted by the Leafs 185th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Chadwick thought it was pretty special to dress up for warm ups for a game against Ottawa last week.