The recent Kraken 1st-round NHL Draft picks chatted with the media on Monday at Kraken Community Iceplex after taking part in medicals and fitness testing on day one of development camp.
This is the 2nd time around for 2024 8th-overall pick Berkly Catton, who captained the Spokane Chiefs to the Western Hockey League finals this past spring.
“I think it’s more like competing with yourself, especially for the returning guys, you get your scores from last year and even the year before for some guys,” Catton said. “I think you’re just trying to improve those, it’s kind of a good look. I thought I did pretty well today, got a little stronger, so that’s always good.”
Catton was full of smiles after having a chance to decompress following an extra long hockey season. After attending Kraken camp last fall and playing in an NHL preseason game, he returned to junior hockey in Spokane, played in the World Junior Championship for Canada in Ottawa over the holidays, finished the regular season and then fell one series win short of reaching the Memorial Cup.
When it was all over, he won the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Sportsman of the Year Award for his overall play and his sportsmanship.
He finished the regular season 3rd in WHL scoring with 109 points while picking up just 30 penalty minutes. Apparently he’s a really nice kid.
“I didn’t realize I didn’t have that many penalties until the end of the year,” he said. “It was cool, I got to go down to Toronto to get that award and see everyone. Having a little award ceremony was a lot of fun.”
Catton feels that those who preceded him as Kraken 1st-round centermen are pretty nice guys as well. He referred to Matty Beniers (2021) and Shane Wright (2022) and how he hopes to follow in their footsteps.
“They play the right way, 200-feet, and they’re just really reliable, you can throw them out there at any point of the game,” he said. “That shows a lot and that’s the point that I want to get to, with how reliable they are. Obviously they’re both great humans too. When I came in, especially at camp last year, Shane, how nice he was to me, and really made it a lot easier for me. They’re two role models I look up to.”
Catton and his fellow NHL prospects hit the ice for the first time at development camp on Tuesday. Thursday’s scrimmage at KCI is open to the public.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Select A Duo Of Big D-Men
Of interest on our Vancouver site:
— Canucks Add A Goalie And A Center
