Toronto Maple Leafs prospects are heading to Traverse City, Michigan, for the annual prospects tournament. A tournament they have now been a part of since 2019.
The Toronto Maple Leafs prospects will face off against prospects from the Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Dallas Stars.
Last year, the St. Louis Blues were part of the tournament, and it led to a five-team format with a weird schedule. Only two of the five teams (Leafs and Red Wings) played in four games, while the other three teams played three games.
The Leafs will open the tournament on Thursday, September 14th, against the Blue Jackets.
Then, they will play the Stars on Friday, September 15th, before finishing up the tournament with a game against the Red Wings on Sunday, September 17th.
Todd Crocker, voice of the Toronto Marlies, has on-line play-by-play via torontomapleleafs.com. Leafs assistant general manager Shane Doan will be with the prospects this week in Traverse City.
This tournament is a clear sign that NHL training camp is close, and the NHL regular season is right around the corner.
The Traverse City tournament is a great way to see how the Leafs prospects are doing before they head back to junior or the AHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Tournament Roster
The Leafs prospects roster has 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders.
Here is a look at the entire roster headed to Traverse City, Mich.
Forwards:
Matthew Knies – 20 – Left Wing – 6’3, 209 Lbs
Roni Hirvonen – 21 – Center – 5’9, 172 Lbs
Fraser Minten – 19 – Center – 6’2, 192 Lbs
Ty Voit – 20 – Right Wing, 5’10, 161 Lbs
Easton Cowan – 18 – Center – 5’10, 170 Lbs
Tyler Weiss – 23 – Left Wing – 5’10, 154 Lbs
Robert Mastrosimone – 22 – Left Wing – 5’10, 170 Lbs
Braeden Kressler – 20 – Center – 5’9, 174 Lbs
Ryan Tverberg – 21 – Right Wing – 6’0, 190 Lbs
Max Ellis – 23 – Right Wing – 5’9, 172 Lbs
Jacob Frasca – 20 – Center – 6’4, 216 Lbs
Brandon Lisowsky – 19 – Left Wing – 5’9, 181 Lbs
Dmitry Ovchinnikov – 21 – Center/Right Wing – 5’11, 163 Lbs
Tyson Greenway – 20 – Right Wing – 6’1, 201 Lbs
Defensemen:
Topi Niemela – 21 – RHD – 5’11, 170 Lbs
Mazden Leslie – 18 – RHD – 6’1, 181 Lbs
Noah Chadwick – 18 – LHD – 6’4, 187 Lbs
Spencer Sova – 19 – LHD – 6’1, 185 Lbs
Nolan Dillingham – 21 – RHD – 6’1, 201 Lbs
Tommy Miller – 24 – RHD – 6’2, 194 Lbs
William Villeneuve – 21 – RHD – 6’2, 183 Lbs
Jonny Tychonick – 23 – LHD – 6’0, 172 Lbs
Mikko Kokkonen – 22 – LHD – 6’0, 201 Lbs
Goaltenders:
Luke Cavallin – 22 – 6’2, 196 Lbs
Dennis Hildeby – 22 – 6’6, 234 Lbs
Vyacheslav Peksa – 21 – 6’3, 179 Lbs
Jacob Frasca, Tyson Greenway, Mazden Leslie, and Spencer Sova are all camp invitees. Luke Cavallin, Nolan Dillingham, Robert Mastrosimone, Tommy Miller, Jonny Tychonick, and Tyler Weiss are all signed to AHL contracts.
Toronto Marlies head coach Jon Gruden will be Toronto’s head coach at Traverse City. His support staff are Michael Dyck, Eric Wellwood, Hannu Toivonen, and Troy Paquette from the Marlies. Harry Mahesh, most recently an assistant with the BCHL’s Powell River Kings, will also be on the staff.