NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale’s notebook article about the 3rd day of the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, MI features 2 topics of Red Wings-related note.
Morreale spoke with Red Wings prospect and Michigan State University goaltender Trey Augustine about his status as the incumbent starter going into his second World Junior Championship experience this December in Ottawa…
Augustine won all four starts with a 1.75 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in helping the United States to a gold medal at the 2024 WJC in Sweden. He made 19 saves, including several in the final minutes of a 3-2 win against Finland in the semifinal round, and 24 saves in a 6-2 win in the gold-medal game against Sweden.
“I think having that experience helps,” Augustine said. “It’s going to be my third World Juniors so I kind of feel like I’ve been through it all. It’s knowing how I have to prepare, then seeing a team jell like we did last year. I think that’s the most important thing, trying to get every guy on the same page, locked in together and build that brotherhood from the ground up.”
The 19-year-old earned team MVP, Outstanding Rookie, second-team All-Big 10 and All-Freshman Team honors in his first season at Michigan State in 2023-24. He ranked fourth in the Big 10 and 15th in the NCAA with a .918 save percentage and fifth in the Big 10 with a 2.96 GAA.
Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 41) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Augustine is one of five goalies on the United States roster invited to the Summer Showcase. He’s expected to make the team and will be joined by two other goalies after final cuts are made in December.
“We’re here to go win and it obviously starts now and we’re going to keep building,” he said. “Every guy is going to work on their game throughout the first half of season and then we’re going to get back together and December, have a great camp when we go there, and then go win a gold medal.”
And Morreale spoke with Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, who helped U.S. National Team coach David Carle by heading behind the bench to assist the coaching staff for two games on Monday afternoon:
“I did the same as last year, but this was my first time behind the bench, so I’ve upgraded,” Lalonde said. “Any time USA asks me to do anything, I’ll always say yes. I have a little more of a personal relationship with David Carle, but also assistant coach Steve Miller, too. I was with Steve five years at the University of Denver, and I recruited David … we brought David to Denver. He was an assistant, and I gave him his first job as an assistant with me in Green Bay (of the United States Hockey League).
“I enjoy spending time with the kids, but also just seeing their process. Any time you can find opportunities to grow in the summer, you do it, and this is an opportunity for me.”
