With 10 points in his last four games, the 91大黄鸭 Rockets couldn鈥檛 be blamed for being at least mildly distraught when Calvin Thurkauf left the team on Monday morning.
On the other hand, the Western Hockey League club will have plenty to look forward to when the Swiss-born forward returns in the new year from the world junior hockey championship.
A draft pick of the NHL鈥檚 Columbus Bluejackets this summer, Thurkauf has emerged this season as one of the WHL鈥檚 most improved and most complete players.
With eight goals and two assists in the last four games, the 19-year-old Thurkauf recently offered up a sample of his full potential and for his efforts was named the league鈥檚 player of the week.
In 28 games this season with the Rockets, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward has 17 goals and 31 points.
In both physical stature and skill level, 91大黄鸭 assistant coach Kris Mallette said Thurkauf is ahead of the curve.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a very strong guy, a strong skater and he competes very hard,鈥� Mallette said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 playing a lot of minutes in all situations and through it all his work ethic has never wavered.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very well put together (physically), and he鈥檚 mature beyond his years.鈥�
After landing Thurkauf in the 59th spot overall in the 2015 CHL import draft, the Rockets have been more than happy with the return on their investment
And while they鈥檙e not overly surprised with his progress, assistant general manager Lorne Frey said Thurkauf has met all the club鈥檚 expectations鈥攁nd then some.
鈥淟ast year, it took him some time to get accustomed to the travel and the schedule here, but once he got settled he just got better,鈥� said Frey.
鈥淗e was likely our best player in the Victoria (playoff) series and this year, he鈥檚 just taken it to another level.
鈥淲e thought he was going to have a good year and now he鈥檚 really taken off,鈥� added Frey.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a good 200-foot player and a good kid. Good for him鈥nd good for our hockey team.鈥�
The Bluejackets also have to be smiling, calling Thurkauf鈥檚 name late in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL entry draft.
If Thurkauf signs with Columbus鈥攚hich Frey believes is a given鈥攖hen he will likely play next season in the NHL or with the 鈥楯ackets AHL affiliate.
Failing that, he could turn pro with his hometown team of Zug, Switzerland in the Swiss Elite league.
Either way, this will almost certainly be his last season with the Rockets.
鈥淗e鈥檚 definitely on (Columbus鈥檚) radar for the near future, picking him is making them look pretty smart,鈥� said Kris Mallette.
鈥淗e was a late seventh-rounder who is playing more like a second or third rounder, and honestly, he鈥檚 pretty close to being pro ready now.鈥�
Thurkauf (Switzerland) and fellow Euro Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) both left Monday to join their respective national teams in preparation for the world junior championship in Toronto and Montreal.
Rocket Shots鈥�
The Rockets close out their seven-game pre-Christmas road trip this weekend with three games in Alberta鈥擣riday in Red Deer, Saturday in Calgary and Sunday in Edmonton鈥�
Forward prospects Erik Gardiner, Liam Kindree and Ted Brennan have all joined the club on the road trip to fill roster spots left by players currently attending world junior camps鈥�
On Tuesday, Nick Merkley was released from the Canadian junior team鈥檚 camp in Blainville, QC.鈥�
91大黄鸭鈥檚 next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 27 against the Kamloops Blazers.
