Returning Winterhawk Profile: #11 Adam De Champlain

(Editors Note: In the countdown to the Winterhawks season opener on September 19th, I will be looking, individually, at each returning player who looks to be on the opening night roster).

Next up (in numerical fashion): #11 Adam De Champlain:

Born: 2/15/1994
Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Position: Center
How Acquired: 10th Round (200th Overall) Bantam Draft Pick in 2009

Stats:
-2012/13: 60 Games Played, 8 Goals, 10 Assists, 18 Points, +11, 177 Penalty Minutes.
              Playoffs: 21 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, 33 PIMs
-2013/14: 43 GP, 6 G, 4 A, 10 Pts, -4, 94 PIMs
              Playoffs: 21 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 Pts, 20 PIMs

NHL Drafted: Free Agent.

Analysis:
-De Champlain did not sign with the Hawks until January of 2012 and came on as a 17 year old later that year. He has shown flashes of speed, grit and tenacity, 3 things every coach loves. This is evidenced by the "A" he was wearing on his sweater during this preseason and why he is being kept as an over-age this season, despite only having played 103 WHL regular season games. Part of this was due to a late regular season injury he suffered that put him out until the start of the post season.De Champlain is an agitator that sometimes takes things over the line as agitators do. He has moments where he looks like a play-maker, but for the most part has not shown much offensive ability. A guy like this is valuable though as he knows his role and plays all out, all the time. He also irritates the other team into taking stupid penalties which is useful, especially considering the Hawks had the #1 ranked (27.5%) power play last season. He was also a second unit penalty killer last year and will move up to the top unit with Dominic Turgeon this season.

Outlook:
-I kind of think we have not seen all of De Champlain's abilities. He has game breaking speed and plays with a tenacity unmatched on the team. If he had the chance at more ice time, I think there's a good chance he would be a 20 goal scorer. But having the type of talent the Hawks do at Forward, means De Champlain will probably be slotted in on the 3rd line and as a top penalty killer. At least at the start of the season, he may see some time on the second power play unit as well. He must be a good locker room guy as most teams do not carry 20 year olds that are not in the top 6. New Coach Jamie Kompon may not give him the same amount of leeway as Johnston did though, so anymore over the top antics, may not be tolerated as much if they hurt the team. An invite was not extended this season to any training camps, as it was last year from the Vancouver Canucks, so Adam's got a long way to go before earning a pro contract in his last season in the WHL.

De Champlain up to his normal antics, irritating the entire Seattle bench and earning a power play.

Previous Returning Winterhawk Profiles:

Previous Returning Winterhawk Profiles: Brendan Burke, Anton Cederholm, Ethan Price. Josh Hanson, Paul Bittner, Chase De Leo