News Clips 12-15-17 FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: there when I was 15, though, and that’s when you start to get a little older, but I had a great experience growing up with all my friends, watching the December 14, 2017 NHL.” By: Jon Rosen Kempe, Iafallo Visit NHL Offices; Kehler Iafallo, from just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., regularly Scouting Reports; LA Kings Weekly Preview came down to New York to visit his cousins, who lived on Long Island. Tomorrow will be the first It was a quiet Thursday for the Kings, who held an time he’s ever set foot in Madison Square Garden, off-ice workout but didn’t practice one day after however, and it’s an experience he’s greatly looking they skated at Lasker Rink in Central Park. forward to. While much of the team had the afternoon off, At the NHL Store, he modeled the Kings Christmas Adrian Kempe and Alex Iafallo visited the NHL sweaters and a festive beanie. Asked what his offices in Midtown Manhattan, where they met with favorite team jersey was – other than the Kings, of Commissioner Gary Bettman. It was the first time course – he said that he loved the old red and black Kempe had spoken with Commissioner Sabres jerseys from the Dominik Hasek era, as well Bettman since being welcomed to the podium after as some of the more established sweaters. being selected with the 29th pick at the 2014 NHL Draft. “I like the classics, the original six. Those logos are awesome,” he said. “And their colors are sweet, too.” The duo also took a tour of the facility, joined the NHL Network for a quick hit and spoke with the Several scouting reports on 19-year-old, 6-foot-4 social, digital and content teams of NHL.com and goaltender Cole Kehler (rhymes with Taylor), NHL International. signed by the Kings to an entry-level contract late last week. Virtually every single desk at the NHL offices is adorned with team paraphernalia: Kehler has proven to be a late bloomer and has emerged as a highly regarded goaltending prospect with the Portland Winterhawks over the past two And, if you look hard enough, you can even spot seasons. This year, he’s 18-6-1 with a 2.14 goals- some items that didn’t quite make it to retail: against average, a .931 save percentage and two shutouts for the first place club. The past two days have been the first two days First, a scouting report from a source with expert Kempe has ever spent in New York. “Pretty big,” knowledge of the Winterhawks: he said. “It’s a good experience. Nice to get a couple days here. Heard good things about it.” “Big goalie, but moves well. No wasted motion, very much positional vs. reaction. Square to the A native of Kramfors in north-central Sweden, shooter with good rebound control. Cool, calm Kempe says he’s more of a big city type. He did demeanor, very focused. Off the ice, great kid, not say, though, that the level of interest in the NHL can your prototypical ‘weird’ goalie. Very grounded.” be quite high in the more remote areas of Sweden. Second, from a source within the LA Kings “Yeah, it’s probably even more up north because organization: there are a lot of good NHL players that are from up there,” he said. “Growing up, all my friends played “Huge tender. Having a breakout season. Incredible hockey, so I think actually the NHL thing was even stats. Was vetted by top amateur staff – huge bigger up north than it was in Stockholm. I moved upside. Exceptional patience in net. Some Martin Jones traits at the same age. Fits our age distribution recapping his three-day stay in a Detroit hotel room nicely. Huge referral from [Portland coach, former with Alex Curry, Alex Faust sharing his game-day Pittsburgh coach and Los Angeles assistant coach] routine and preparation, Carrlyn Bathe examining Mike Johnston. Excellent character. Great young how game-used equipment gets from the ice into the project for Bill and Dusty. Their track record is hands of Kings fans, and much more. impeccable.” After his signing, the CBC caught up with Jason December 14, 2017 Pilkington, the president of the Altona Minor By: Jon Rosen Hockey Association, where Kehler cut his teeth. This And That: Kyle Clifford, Jordan Subban, That’s not literal, but worth noting in a hockey blog. Matt Johnson, Video Kehler’s drive and talent was clear to those Good afternoon from Midtown Manhattan, Insiders. in his home community, about 95 kilometres There are several notes and bits to pass along that southwest of Winnipeg, Pilkington said. weren’t originally posted at the time because of other reporting and broadcasting commitments, but “As I watched him as he was growing up, he just so they go in the Official LAKI Book, here they seemed like one of those kids that was are: always working hard, trying to get better and really wanted to pursue that next level KYLE CLIFFORD HAS BEEN hockey for himself,” he said. ACTIVATED. You know this, because you saw him play 9:22 against New Jersey two nights ago. “It’s not an easy road to even make it out of (Or, you saw him play 5:38 through two periods and a minor hockey system into a junior, let thought, “You know? I’ve probably had enough of alone the WHL and an NHL contract.” this game.”) “It was definitely good to be back, but … it’s not one we’re particularly proud of and I Winter life in rural communities often think this group just needs to have better starts and revolves around the rink, with kids and play that full 60,” he said Tuesday night. “We can’t parents gathering to play or support each get off to the starts we had.” Clifford has three goals other, Pilkington said. But it will mean even and seven points in 12 career regular season and more to kids in Altona to know that an NHL playoff games against the Rangers, whom the Kings player has skated on that ice too. face Friday. Even though there’s a lot of Winnipeg Jets JORDAN SUBBAN IS NOT YET support, Pilkington said given Kehler’s AVAILABLE. Ontario has returned home after a 3- connection to Altona, he wouldn’t be 2-0 road trip through Tucson and the two Texas surprised if Kings jerseys start showing up teams but will still be without Jordan Subban, at the rink. acquired in the Nic Dowd trade, for the immediate future. (He has not yet played for the Reign.) Via “I could see some Kings fans showing up in correspondence with the team, Subban is out with the next few years for sure,” he said with a an upper-body injury, which had been sustained laugh. while he was playing for the Utica Comets. The team was aware of the injury when it traded for Kehler attended development camp with the him, and it was likely related to one particular Winnipeg Jets this past summer. incident. A brand new LA Kings Weekly debuts at 10:00 There’s no firm timetable on his return, but a team p.m. tonight on FOX Sports West. Topics include a source indicated that it should be roughly two more holiday version of Him vs. Me, starring Kurtis weeks before he gets going again. Nothing I’ve MacDermid and Jonny Brodzinski, Torrey Mitchell heard has given the indication that it’s anything from TSN Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead particularly serious. and TSN Feature Producer Matt Cade about the former Los Angeles enforcer. In their road trip finale last night, Ontario defeated Texas, 4-2, on a game-winning power play goal from Kevin Gravel with 9:02 remaining. Matt Moulson assisted on all four Reign goals and now has seven assists and a plus-three rating in three games since joining the club. Michael Amadio had a goal and an assist and now has three goals and six points over a personal three-game point streak. A HARROWING STORY ABOUT FORMER KINGS FORWARD MATT JOHNSON. One of the more sobering stories this season is this work FROM LAKINGS.COM December 14, 2017 LA Kings will Host Firefighter Appreciation Night In addition, a portion of the proceeds from that night's event will benefit local fire victims. "Our community has really come together during this tough time and we feel it is very important to help those who have suffered tremendous loss due to these devastating fires," said Kings President and Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. "At the same time it is imperative we do our best to say 'thank you' to those who battled, and continue to battle, these fires so tirelessly." The Kings will host Firefighter Appreciation Night at STAPLES Center on Saturday, January 6, as part of the Kings-Nashville Predators game. Before and during the game, local firefighters will be recognized and honored for their service to our community. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from that night's event, including the Kings Care Foundation's 50-50 raffle and silent auction, will benefit local fire victims as well as the LAFD Foundation. Fans can purchase a special ticket donation package by visiting LAKings.com/firerelief. Any tickets purchased through these donation packages will be matched by the LA Kings for Los Angeles Area Firefighters. For donors wishing not to use their tickets the Kings will also donate those to Los Angeles Area Firefighters.