3rd round steals: Madden & Lockwood

Energetic, tenacious, and speedy. Forwards William Lockwood and Tyler Madden are intriguing parts of the Canucks prospect pool.

Both had strong seasons in the NCAA with Lockwood taking big strides in the second half, while Madden propelled a fantastic first half of the season into an appearance with Team USA at the World Juniors.
The pair of third-round picks will head back to college this season but they will be players to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
Let's take a look at the season that was for them.

Tyler Madden

When the Canucks selected Madden with the 68th overall selection at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, there wasn't much known about what kind of offensive output Madden would have with Northeastern. There was an opportunity in front of him as the Huskies were going through a transition period and he just had to take advantage of it. And he sure did.
He slotted in as their first line centre from the start of the year and didn't relinquish that role for the entire season. In 36 NCAA games this past season, Madden scored 12 goals and 16 assists. That point total was good for seventh most points by a freshman in collegiate hockey.
Madden hit the ground running to start last season and was a surprise invite to Team USA's World Juniors evaluation camp this past December. But he felt that the opportunity that he was afforded with Northeastern was a big part of why he got that invite.
"Playing that top role really gave me the opportunity to show what I can do and that I could play that role," said Madden following the on-ice sessions on Wednesday. "It for sure helped me get to the World Juniors."
Madden scored three goals and one assist in seven games for the States as they went on to win a silver medal. He was all over the ice and noticeable in every game.
The right-handed centre will head back to Northeastern and jump right back into that first line centre spot again this season. But this time he will be joined by 2019 7th round pick Aidan McDonough on the Huskies for the upcoming season.
Canucks fans will be keeping a close eye on Northeastern again this season.

William Lockwood

Despite being only 21 years old, Lockwood is one of the veterans of development camp.
After battling injuries over the past few years, Lockwood was able to play 36 games for Michigan University this past season and posted new NCAA career highs in goals (16), assists (15), and points (31).
He finished first in goals and was second to only Quinn Hughes in assists. He was also one of only two players in the top 10 of scoring to have a plus rating on the season (+8).
The 5'11" and 175 lbs winger seems to never run out of energy when out on the ice, but there was a noticeable shift in his game as the season went along. Rather than constantly challenging opponents in frays, Lockwood would anticipate where the puck would be and then pounce on it when it came to him. It allowed him to pot a few goals in close that just weren't there in the past. That adjustment to his game allowed him to be a leader for the Wolverines after his regular centre, Josh Norris, was lost to injury for the season.
This upcoming season, Lockwood will be the 100th captain in the history of Michigan Wolverines hockey.

Development Camp Notes

• The Canucks grabbed Latvian goaltender Arturs Silovs with the 156th overall selection this past weekend and it appears that he will be making the leap to the OHL next season. Earlier this morning, the CHL Import Draft occurred with the Barrie Colts selecting the 11th overall selection. Earlier this week, the Colts moved goaltender Kai Edmonds to the Mississauga Steelheads, so there is a spot there for Silovs to get a lot of minutes.
• The full WHL schedule was released yesterday and there will be one game that Canucks fans in the Vancouver area will want to circle on their calendar. Canucks prospects Jett Woo and Carson Focht will make their way to the Langley Events Centre on February 21st after playing in Victoria on the 19th. It should be a great game in Langley with both the Giants and Hitmen looking to go deep in the WHL playoffs.
• Goaltender Matthew Thiessen will head to the University of Maine this upcoming season after playing in the USHL this past season. He played seven games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints posting a 3.01 GAA and. 889 SV%.