Friesen, Tourigny, and Kniazev take different routes to Development Camp

WINNIPEG -One of the most excited players to be at Winnipeg Jets Development Camp has to be Winnipegger Evan Friesen.

The 18-year-old forward has had an eventful last couple of months to say the least. First, he went to the Western Hockey League final with the Winnipeg ICE and came within a few wins of going to the Memorial Cup in Kamloops.

"Obviously it was a great season for us, not the turn out we wanted. We had a great group of guys," said Friesen after today's on-ice session.

"We came together as one, found a way to make it that far but obviously not the end we wanted."

Friesen didn't have a lot of time to think about coming up short in the WHL Playoffs, as a month later he was flying to Europe to represent Canada at the World Junior Ball Hockey Championships in Czechia. Canada didn't lose a game, earning the gold medal with a 10-3 win over Slovakia in the championship. Friesen ended up with a couple assists in the win.

"That was a great experience. It's the first time I've been to Europe," said Friesen.

"I'll cherish everything that happened there. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Obviously, we got the gold, and we had a good time there, it was fun."

While he was in Czechia, he got two phone calls. One was from his dad and then another came from his agent. His dad told him something was in the works and his agent delivered the great news that he had been invited to Jets Development Camp.

"I couldn't have been happier. I'm a hometown kid. It's a great feeling," said Friesen.

"I grew up watching the Jets, couldn't be happier."

TOURIGNY RIDING WAVE OF EMOTIONS

Another free agent invitee to Development Camp is Shawinigan Cataractes defenceman Jordan Tourigny. The 18-year-old made the trip with family and friends to Nashville last week for the NHL Draft. Unfortunately for him, he did not hear his name over the two days.

"I was pretty confident. I didn't know where or which round," said Tourigny.

"I was sitting there, and I saw the rounds go in front of me in the stands it was pretty hard. I stayed calm in my room. There is maybe a reason why it happened. It just brought me to a different mindset."

It wasn't long after the draft ended that Tourigny got some great news.

"Right after the draft, I just wanted to go back to my hotel. But my agent grabbed me and said, 'the Winnipeg Jets want to talk to you'," explained Tourigny.

"One person came from the stands to talk to me and that was something I could hold onto - there's a team that wants me to be at their camp."

In the blink of an eye, Tourigny went from disappointment to celebrating with his family and friends in Music City.

"All my disappointment went down when I heard that the Jets wanted me to come here, I was really happy," said Tourigny.

"I heard the Jets had a great organization, the fans are good, the city's good so just being here in camp, it's awesome."

CRAZY TRAVEL STORY

The Jets recently traded for defenceman Artemi Kniazev who came over from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Leon Gawanke.

That trade led to a pretty crazy 24-hour period for the 22-year-old Russian. He was on his way to the Sharks Development Camp when he got the news after landing in California.

"Just landed in San Francisco. One of the Sharks assistant GM's told me I had been traded," said Kniazev.

"So, I called Zinger (Jets assistant general manager Craig Heisinger), he told me that I was flying out the next morning."

Kniazev said after he got the news he just went to his hotel, got a workout in, went to bed and then got up early to fly out to Winnipeg. He also received some good information from former Jets about his newest team and city.

"I just spoke with Evgeny Svechnikov. He said it's a good organization, very nice people here," said Kniazev.

"Also, Alex Burmistrov. He was here a long time ago. He texted me saying 'I can help you with anything in the city.'"