The Kraken Community Iceplex crowd, which included Fiddler’s onetime NHL forward father, Vernon, watched the tight-knit affair remain in doubt until the final seconds as the Kraken prospects nearly converted with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker. They voiced their appreciation for the action once the final horn sounded, after which Kraken Season Ticket Members got to meet some prospects at a postgame autograph session.
As for Goyette, who led the entire OHL in scoring with 117 points two seasons ago, his debut AHL campaign proved trying at times with six goals and 12 assists in 54 contests.
That from a player who’d scored 41 and 40 goals, respectively, in his final two OHL seasons and 33 prior to that, just ahead of the Kraken drafting him. The Kraken drafted Goyette as a centerman but converted him to right wing to maximize his scoring potential.
“I worked on my defensive game a lot,” Goyette said of his debut AHL season. “I think I improved a lot as well and that I showed that here these first two games.”
Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal, who ran the Kraken Rookie Camp these past several days, agreed Goyette showed something.
“I thought he played two really good games for us,” Laxdal said. “So, obviously, he’s going to feel good about himself going forward.”
And getting players feeling good and confident in their abilities heading into regular Kraken Training Camp this Thursday was a main goal of the past week’s sessions. Laxdal said players such as Goyette, with lofty goal totals in junior hockey, often face plenty of adjustment their first pro season.
“You really have to be careful when you look at the stats of junior players because they are playing anywhere from 28 to 35 minutes and some coaches are running these kids out there 40 minutes a night,” Laxdal said. “So, they’re getting every power play, every offensive situation and extra ice time. So, their numbers are actually inflated a little bit.
“But there obviously is a skillset there that you want to build on. And for these young players to be able to survive at the next level – even if they’re surviving in the American Hockey League – you have to build a foundation of being able to play a 200-foot game. It’s like you build a house, right? You can’t just build four walls and a roof unless you have a foundation.”
And in this case, Laxdal added, the foundation for Goyette will include: “Having great stick position. Competing on pucks. Competing in all three zones on the ice. Just being able to survive in that environment.
“And he’s not the only guy,” Laxdal said. “All of these young players coming in – (incoming AHL rookie) Carson Rehkopf, he’s kind of going into that phase that Goyette went into his first year. And that’s part of the process. These kids are sometimes going to take two years, three years, maybe four years before they build the house right.”
For Goyette’s former Sudbury teammate Villeneuve, 19, who still has one year of junior hockey to go before he’s old enough for AHL eligibility, the games here didn’t hurt his rising stock. Villeneuve spent the early part of his OHL career known for his fists and fiery play, but also demonstrated a scoring touch that got the Kraken interested enough to draft him in the second round, 63rd overall in 2024.
While the fiery play has continued, Villeneuve scored 11 additional goals last season to finish with 36 and upped his point count by 20 for a total of 70.
“Obviously, it’s hard because I’m a nosy player,” the 6-foot, 200-pounder said of balancing his physical play with his need to stay on the ice. “I mean, I won’t turn down a fight, but at the same time I’ve got to know when to fight and I think I’ve done a really good job.”
Villeneuve trimmed some body fat this summer with an altered diet of fewer carbohydrates and more protein. And he’s seen firsthand some of the changes former teammate Goyette has put into his pro repertoire.
“Obviously, he’s a very offensive guy,” Villeneuve said. “And he’s sneaky tough. He fought a couple of big guys in our league, and he won those fights. So, he does have a lot of grit to his game, and he wants to use it. That’s the kind of thing he’s working on and using more often.”
Using it to not only survive as a pro, but hopefully thrive the way he did as a junior player and legitimate offensive threat in the two weekend games. Goyette said it felt “great” to get a goal Sunday, but also to show in both contests that he can play a team-oriented game when not on the scoresheet.
“I think I’m happy with my game,” Goyette said. “Every time you go on the ice, you are trying to showcase yourself, show them what kind of player you are. So, I think I did a good job and it’s going to propel me to leave here for the main (training) camp.”
