The NHL season fired up this week with seven North Shore natives making opening day rosters, ready to start the long quest for the greatest trophy in sports.
Alexander Kerfoot made his NHL debut Thursday, picking up an assist and a +2 rating in 12 minutes of ice time during a 4-2 win for the Colorado Avalanche over the New York Rangers. Kerfoot, captain of Harvard’s NCAA hockey team last season, signed with the Avalanche as a free agent this summer. The Avalanche will come to Vancouver to play the Canucks Jan. 30 and Feb. 20.
Goaltender Martin Jones, who earned a ring as a backup in Los Angeles and almost got a second as a starter in 2016, is back between the pipes as the No. 1 net minder in San Jose. The Sharks will visit Vancouver twice, once on Dec. 15 and again on March 17.
In Buffalo Sam Reinhart, entering his third season in the league, has moved from right wing back to his natural position as a centre. Reinhart has recorded 40 goals and 50 assists for 90 points in his first 168 games in the league. The Sabres will make one trip to Vancouver, taking on the Canucks Jan. 25.
In Toronto 23-year-old defenceman Morgan Rielly has cemented himself as a cornerstone of the franchise, one of three players named assistant captain for the season (the Leafs don’t have a captain for the second year in a row). Rielly has scored 120 points in 313 career regular season NHL games, and excelled for the Leafs in the playoffs last year, picking up five points in six games. The Leafs will play the Canucks in Vancouver Dec. 2.
Colton Sissons is back in Nashville after playing a starring role in the team’s trip to the Stanley Cup finals last year. Sissons saw limited play in 58 regular season games with the Predators in the 2016-17 season, but exploded for 12 points, including two game-winning goals, and a +7 rating in 22 playoff games. The Preds will be in Vancouver Dec. 13 and again on March 2.
Jordan Weal should be a mainstay in the lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers this year after scoring 12 points in 23 games at the end of last season. The 25-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Flyers this summer. Philadelphia will play in Vancouver Dec. 7.
Griffin Reinhart, Sam’s older brother, cracked the opening day roster with the brand new expansion franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights. The 23-year-old has played in 37 career NHL games, last suiting up for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015-16 season. The Golden Knights will visit Vancouver Nov. 16 and April 3.
