Post by Asbjørn Nygård on Oct 14, 2021 14:19:54 GMT -5
UNLIKELY HERO ON OPENING NIGHT
by Asbjørn Nygård
Hök Skrik Sports
October 14, 2021
Rickard Rakell wasn’t supposed to play for the St. Roch Hawks in their season opening match against the Tampa Bay Thunder.
That was apparent hours earlier when he was still on the ice with Phil Kessel, Alex Edler and Viktor Soderstrom doing extra work, while the rest of his teammates — all in the lineup against the Thunder — had already exited the Kettle Arena ice.
At 4 p.m. or perhaps a few minutes before, his world — at least on this particular day — dramatically changed. His cell phone rang. Hawks head coach Doug Weight was on the line.
"He said I might be playing," Rakell said. "Somebody was sick, so we weren’t sure. He just told me to prepare to play. I guess, just kind of did the best I could."
While his words were spoken in the humblest of manners, the play from St. Roch’s longest tenured forward spoke in loud volumes. Rakell took the gift horse that was Opportunity and rode it as if he were the star of a classic Western movie.
In what would be a rousing, energetic night against the Thunder, Rakell provided the biggest jolt to a Hawks team few outside the organization expect much from in 2021-22. All the while, a hopeful, if not skeptical, announced crowd of 16,260 looked on in appreciation.
Had a new star rode into town? Well, it isn’t right to label someone a star after one DHL game this season. Who knows what Rakell will eventually become this season? But scoring on your first night in the lineup, winning multiple puck battles and helping a rejuvenated power play in your team’s opening week is pretty heady stuff.
Was there anything more he could have done?
"I guess maybe he could have got a Gordie Howe hat trick," Weight said. "That would be the only thing."
Through the final days of training camp, Rakell had skated with Dylan Cozens and Phil Kessel on the Hawks taxi squad. As late as Wednesday's morning skate it had appeared that the veteran would not be in the lineup.
A coach’s plan can also change on a dime. Nathan MacKinnon, who has become the face of the Hawks franchise, was slated to play. An illness not related to COVID-19 had hung around him for a few days. Once it was clear that he couldn’t go, Weight rang Rakell, who was headed for the restroom.
"I was just about to go and then I got a call," Rakell said, smiling. "I was like, 'I guess I’ll answer it.'"
From there, Rakell hit the ice first to lead the Hawks in the warm-up skate. And then he would have the night of his dreams.
Off an Adam Fox point shot on the power play Rakell got a stick on the puck to redirect it past Thunder goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Immediately, Rakell thrust his right arm into the air and was met in the corner by Fox and Samuel Girard. Except, the possibility of it being waved off surfaced as referees Brad Meier and Francois St. Laurent met to discuss if a whistle was blown due to the lost sight of the puck. A video review determined it as the culmination of a continuous play in which the result was unaffected by the whistle.
By then, Rakell had made his way back to the St. Roch bench where a larger group of teammates hooted and hollered as they joyously shook him around.
"It was a great charge," Weight said. "And then I thought our whole bench was going to be suspended when they were going to call it back. It’s one thing to get a goal called back. It’s another one when it’s your 28-year-old veteran who got called in at 4 o’clock. I literally was like, 'Oh no, we’re not going to have enough guys to finish the game. Because they were incensed.
"And, thankfully, good on the referees and good on the guys back in the situation room. That’s why we have video replay. They went and quickly reviewed that and got it right. That’s why those protocols are in place. But, yeah, the guys were fired up."
"I think his style of play and his game will be able to translate," teammate Nikolaj Ehlers said. "You get small, skilled fast guys. You got guys that play gritty. There’s different styles all over. So, I think the way he plays, he’s not afraid to get in there and just play his game.
"I think that’s another thing as a young player. You know sometimes when you get here, you get a little nervous and then you kind of get away from your game. And then it goes the other way. I thought he did a great job. Stepping in late too, not knowing you’re going to play until later on and they kind of throw you in there. Special night for him. It was nice to see him get his first one and first two points."
Rakell said: "Yeah, I kind of got to score two goals, I guess. Celebrated twice anyway. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. When they announced the goal, I was pretty fired up."
There was the belief that Rakell might get a look with the Hawks from the outset if he had a good camp. After all, this is a player the Hawks traded to get in 2018 and have retained for the past four seasons despite having been on the trade block most of that time.
"This guy is not afraid to get inside," Weight said. "He is not afraid to go to the net. And he’s got a heavy, heavy shot. This isn’t a 175-pound, 18-year-old kid that needs to grow. He’s already 200-plus and extremely strong.
"And he’s been all business. Every day. All business. … He’s come in with one thing in his head, that he’s going to make the hockey team. And, hey, he had a great first game and his journey continues."
When asked if his performance will keep him in the lineup when the Hawks travel to Portland in Matchup #2, Weight said, "I think it’s pretty hard to take him out." The coach would add, "We like to make it a group decision. But my vote will be a hard no on that one."
It is tempting to think about the kind of player Rakell will become, the impact he might have on the Hawks this future seasons. Maybe even this season. But it is also good to just savor this one night, this one that will be forever memorable.
In the stands were his grandfather Åke Rakell and his brother, Robin. Tickets had been purchased for them to come out to St. Roch, but then Rickard canceled them when it seemed as if he wouldn’t play. He’d happily have to order them back up.
"Couldn’t have dreamed it any better to be honest obviously with the big goal," Rakell said. "Yeah, it was definitely one I’ll never forget."
-30-
Hök Skrik Sports
October 14, 2021
Rickard Rakell wasn’t supposed to play for the St. Roch Hawks in their season opening match against the Tampa Bay Thunder.
That was apparent hours earlier when he was still on the ice with Phil Kessel, Alex Edler and Viktor Soderstrom doing extra work, while the rest of his teammates — all in the lineup against the Thunder — had already exited the Kettle Arena ice.
At 4 p.m. or perhaps a few minutes before, his world — at least on this particular day — dramatically changed. His cell phone rang. Hawks head coach Doug Weight was on the line.
"He said I might be playing," Rakell said. "Somebody was sick, so we weren’t sure. He just told me to prepare to play. I guess, just kind of did the best I could."
While his words were spoken in the humblest of manners, the play from St. Roch’s longest tenured forward spoke in loud volumes. Rakell took the gift horse that was Opportunity and rode it as if he were the star of a classic Western movie.
In what would be a rousing, energetic night against the Thunder, Rakell provided the biggest jolt to a Hawks team few outside the organization expect much from in 2021-22. All the while, a hopeful, if not skeptical, announced crowd of 16,260 looked on in appreciation.
Had a new star rode into town? Well, it isn’t right to label someone a star after one DHL game this season. Who knows what Rakell will eventually become this season? But scoring on your first night in the lineup, winning multiple puck battles and helping a rejuvenated power play in your team’s opening week is pretty heady stuff.
Was there anything more he could have done?
"I guess maybe he could have got a Gordie Howe hat trick," Weight said. "That would be the only thing."
Through the final days of training camp, Rakell had skated with Dylan Cozens and Phil Kessel on the Hawks taxi squad. As late as Wednesday's morning skate it had appeared that the veteran would not be in the lineup.
A coach’s plan can also change on a dime. Nathan MacKinnon, who has become the face of the Hawks franchise, was slated to play. An illness not related to COVID-19 had hung around him for a few days. Once it was clear that he couldn’t go, Weight rang Rakell, who was headed for the restroom.
"I was just about to go and then I got a call," Rakell said, smiling. "I was like, 'I guess I’ll answer it.'"
From there, Rakell hit the ice first to lead the Hawks in the warm-up skate. And then he would have the night of his dreams.
Off an Adam Fox point shot on the power play Rakell got a stick on the puck to redirect it past Thunder goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Immediately, Rakell thrust his right arm into the air and was met in the corner by Fox and Samuel Girard. Except, the possibility of it being waved off surfaced as referees Brad Meier and Francois St. Laurent met to discuss if a whistle was blown due to the lost sight of the puck. A video review determined it as the culmination of a continuous play in which the result was unaffected by the whistle.
By then, Rakell had made his way back to the St. Roch bench where a larger group of teammates hooted and hollered as they joyously shook him around.
"It was a great charge," Weight said. "And then I thought our whole bench was going to be suspended when they were going to call it back. It’s one thing to get a goal called back. It’s another one when it’s your 28-year-old veteran who got called in at 4 o’clock. I literally was like, 'Oh no, we’re not going to have enough guys to finish the game. Because they were incensed.
"And, thankfully, good on the referees and good on the guys back in the situation room. That’s why we have video replay. They went and quickly reviewed that and got it right. That’s why those protocols are in place. But, yeah, the guys were fired up."
"I think his style of play and his game will be able to translate," teammate Nikolaj Ehlers said. "You get small, skilled fast guys. You got guys that play gritty. There’s different styles all over. So, I think the way he plays, he’s not afraid to get in there and just play his game.
"I think that’s another thing as a young player. You know sometimes when you get here, you get a little nervous and then you kind of get away from your game. And then it goes the other way. I thought he did a great job. Stepping in late too, not knowing you’re going to play until later on and they kind of throw you in there. Special night for him. It was nice to see him get his first one and first two points."
Rakell said: "Yeah, I kind of got to score two goals, I guess. Celebrated twice anyway. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. When they announced the goal, I was pretty fired up."
There was the belief that Rakell might get a look with the Hawks from the outset if he had a good camp. After all, this is a player the Hawks traded to get in 2018 and have retained for the past four seasons despite having been on the trade block most of that time.
"This guy is not afraid to get inside," Weight said. "He is not afraid to go to the net. And he’s got a heavy, heavy shot. This isn’t a 175-pound, 18-year-old kid that needs to grow. He’s already 200-plus and extremely strong.
"And he’s been all business. Every day. All business. … He’s come in with one thing in his head, that he’s going to make the hockey team. And, hey, he had a great first game and his journey continues."
When asked if his performance will keep him in the lineup when the Hawks travel to Portland in Matchup #2, Weight said, "I think it’s pretty hard to take him out." The coach would add, "We like to make it a group decision. But my vote will be a hard no on that one."
It is tempting to think about the kind of player Rakell will become, the impact he might have on the Hawks this future seasons. Maybe even this season. But it is also good to just savor this one night, this one that will be forever memorable.
In the stands were his grandfather Åke Rakell and his brother, Robin. Tickets had been purchased for them to come out to St. Roch, but then Rickard canceled them when it seemed as if he wouldn’t play. He’d happily have to order them back up.
"Couldn’t have dreamed it any better to be honest obviously with the big goal," Rakell said. "Yeah, it was definitely one I’ll never forget."
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