Ducks Training Camp Notebook: Rookies Relish Preseason Experience
Sep 26, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. – When the lights shone brightest, the Anaheim Ducks fighting for spots in the National Hockey League brought their best.
Powered by a third period goal-scoring spree, the Ducks downed the San Jose Sharks 6-3 in their preseason opener tonight at Honda Center. Kodie Curran, Alexander Volkov and Troy Terry led the way, each recording a goal and assist in the win. Goaltenders Lukas Dostal (13 saves) and Olle Eriksson Ek (11 saves) combined for the victory.
"Yeah it was unbelievable,” Dostal said. “The fans were amazing. Guys were so supporting. I mean, great experience. So happy that we won and, yeah, just amazing feeling.”
A total of 14 former Gulls helped take down San Jose, with Curran’s outburst leading the way. Center Bo Groulx (1-0=1) also chipped in, recording his first preseason goal in the win.
The bigger stage, with brighter lights and marquee players like Tomas Hertl and Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the lineup for San Jose, could raise the nerves for a young prospect making his preseason debut. But the ultimate goal – fighting for a chance to break camp with the Ducks – helped them focus on the task at hand.
“That's really cool,” Bryce Kindopp said. “You take the opening faceoff and you see those guys out there. It's one of those things you got to turn off. You're out there for a reason; you're trying to make your case and show the management and coaches you can play. It's really cool; it makes you realize how close you are. On the ice, it's all business.
Kindopp rose from the ECHL to San Diego last year, where he formed a formidable rookie line with Alex Limoges and Groulx. Anaheim head coach Dallas Eakins reunited the trio for the preseason opener, tapping them to start the game. The comfort level helped ease the transition from training camp scrimmages to preseason hockey.
“I love playing with those two guys,” he said. “We're good buddies off the ice, so it helps a lot. It took us a little bit to kind of find our chemistry again, but those two guys are easy to play with. They're always in the right spots, and they work super hard. They're really fun to play with, and it was exciting to play with them out there.”
Dostal couldn’t hide his excitement following the win. The rookie netminder, who spent most of the 2020-21 season with the Gulls, flashed a smile as he spoke about his preseason debut.
“It was more like I wasn't stressed because I'm not usually stressed before the games, but I was more curious,” he said. “How was it going to be cause obviously I never played in a NHL game or any preseason. So this was kind of my first shot. So I was just like curious how the hockey's going to be. But it went well and I was really pumped. Just like so excited and this is so nice.”