With the start of the 2024-25 CCHL season just around the corner, here is an inside look at how the Georgetown Millers look as camps open.
Forwards
Potential Lines (LW-C-RW)
1. Blake Coleman-Dylan Larkin-Trevor Moore
The Millers are expected to have a lot of offense on the top line, with Larkin’s point-per-game production combined with newcomer Moore’s 31 goals and Coleman’s 30 goals. All of them are at least respectable defensively as well and should hold up when matched against other top lines.
2. Jared McCann- Evgeni Malkin- Nick Bjugstad
Malkin is a big upgrade over JT Compher as the 2nd line Center, while McCann comes off a 29 goal season and Bjugstad’s 45 point season was the 2nd best of his career. Bjugstad is the defensive conscience on the line but he’s also expected to contribute offensively.
3. Dylan Guenther-Marco Rossi-Yanni Gourde
Gourde may have the biggest responsibility of any Millers forward as the veteran anchor of this line with 2 of the Miller’s brightest young stars. Guenther will also see power play time, something that Rossi won’t have the luxury of with Larkin and Malkin in front of him.
4. Logan O'Connor-Casey Cizikas-Andrew Copp
Cizikas is the newest addition to the roster, and he’ll center the checking line and lead the penalty kill. O’Connor is coming off a career best offensive season but an injury-riddled one as well, and Ridley Greig is on hand to fill-in as needed, Copp was last year’s 3rd line Center and will play up the lineup as needed if injuries strike the top 3 lines.
Reserves
The aforementioned Greig is the 13th forward and could play a good amount depending on injuries and performance. Jasperi Kotkaniemi is the wild-card, restricted to just C duty and unlikely to get above the 4th line when he does play. Andreas Athanasiou put up good number for the Millers last season, but injuries and new additions put him at the bottom of the forward depth chart.
Defensemen
1. Shea Theodore-Sean Walker
Theodore has battled injuries but when in the lineup is a nearly ppg player and PP quarterback. Walker is a strong 2-way defender who’ll get first crack at pairing with Theodore.
2. Jake McCabe- K’Andre Miller
Dubbed “The Altman Pairing” for those who know their 70’s movies, this is the Millers shutdown line. Both have the offensive skill to put up some respectable counting stats as well.
3. Mario Ferraro-Shane Gostisbehere
An old-fashioned offense-defense duo, “Ghost” should put up good numbers and the hope is Ferraro can cover for Ghost’s occasional defensive lapses.
Reserves
Jake Walman has a booming shot and is solid defensively, and Scott Mayfield is an old-school shutdown type. Either could start for a lot of teams. With only Theodore an injury concern ice-time will be hard to come by. If the forwards get hit by a lot of injuries don’t be surprised to see a 7 man D unit. Zachary Jones is a deep depth option, whose shot will likely come next season. Jayden Struble is destined for the minors.
Goalies
1. Stuart Skinner
Skinner is the uncontested starter, and the team can live with his occasional slumps with a solid backup in Dostal. Assuming good health and relative consistency, expect Skinner to be in net a minimum of 60 games this upcoming season.
2. Lukas Dostal
Dostal is a riser among young goalies and should ably back-up Skinner this season and perhaps position himself for a larger role in a season or 2.
Reserves
Jake Allen is a veteran warhorse who backed up Skinner down the stretch last year, but finds himself in a battle to be the 3rd net minder with new addition Vitek Vanecek. Neither are a threat to unseat Dostal as the backup, and only injuries would see them getting game time.
