Tucker Robertson, a Seattle Kraken forward prospect, scored two goals in nine seconds, setting a franchise record for the Peterborough Petes (OHL).
Robertson, 19, added an assist in the Petes’ 8-2 rout over Hamilton.
The two goals nine seconds apart isn’t completely uncommon in hockey — the NHL record for fastest two goals scored by the same skater is four seconds — but it is rare. While no records for the OHL exist in the public domain — or any of the Canadian Hockey League, for that matter — goals scored nine seconds or less apart by the same skater has happened only 47 times since 1930.
The fourth-round pick of the Kraken in 2022 is coming off a 81-point season in 2021-22 and is on a 75-point pace this season, with Robertson owning 15 goals and 19 assists through 31 games.
While productive in the Ontario Hockey League for the past two seasons, Robertson has a complicated prospect profile. Presumably hampered by the OHL not playing a full season in the year before his draft eligibility in 2020-21, Robertson wasn’t taken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
He blossomed into a point-per-game player in 2021-22, though, prompting the Kraken to take him 123rd overall this past summer as an overage player.
Lauded for his strong defensive instincts at the junior level, some evaluators aren’t confident it will translate to the pro level, while others are believers in that, as well as his burgeoning offensive game.
The 2003-born prospect is eligible to join Coachella Valley in 2023-24 if the Kraken were to sign him, as he’ll be 20 years old next season.
Coachella Valley Firebirds win home opener
The long-awaited opening of Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., yielded an exciting “home opener” for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, as the Kraken’s AHL affiliate dispatched the Tucson Roadrunners, 4-3, on Sunday.
Cameron Hughes scored the arena’s first ever goal on the power play, 11:11 into the game. It was only Hughes’ second of the season. The 26-year-old forward also contributed two assists in Acrisure’s debut.
Noteworthy: Defense prospect Ryker Evans tallied an assist in the contest, his sixth assist in his last five games. Seattle’s second-round pick in 2021 is starting to make strides in production in the AHL. His six-game point streak was snapped Tuesday in Coachella Valley’s 3-2 loss against Tucson.
World Juniors pre-tournament starting up
The World Junior Championship, which begins on Dec. 26 in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, has commenced it’s pre-tournament phase. Here’s how the Kraken and local connections are faring so far.
Wright, Zellweger taking on major roles with Canada
Shane Wright, the Kraken’s top pick in 2022, was announced as Team Canada’s captain for the tournament on Sunday. He celebrated the news by potting a pair of goals and chipping in an assist in the team’s pre-season tilt with Switzerland on Monday.
Additionally, Olen Zellweger, a star for the Everett Silvertips and an Anaheim Ducks prospect, is quarterbacking Canada’s top power play and scored a goal with that unit.
Jani Nyman and Finland fall to US
Jani Nyman, a second-round pick for the Kraken in 2022, played on Finland’s third line for their exhibition versus the U.S. on Monday. Finland lost the game 5-2. Sound Of Hockey’s Curtis Isacke broke down every one of Nyman’s shifts:
Noteworthy: Kraken goaltender Niklas Kokko was not suited up for the game. One of three goalies taken by Finland to the tournament, we’ll see if the second-round pick in 2022 gets any ice time or earns the starting nod for Finland.
Stay hot, David Goyette
A four-assist outing against Oshawa brought Kraken prospect David Goyette’s point total to 14 in his last five games. He’s been very efficient, too, scoring on 30 percent of his shots over that period.
Kyle Jackson keeps streaking
Kraken forward prospect Kyle Jackson extended his point streak to 12 games over the weekend with three goals and three assists in three contests. Jackson, 20, has been one of Seattle’s most productive prospects in the system, with 29 points in his last 20 games and 10 points in his last five games.