The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects defeated the Dallas Stars‘ prospects 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center.
Prospect goaltender Trey Augustine gave up 3 goals, but also stopped 26 shots and 8 shootout shooters en route to the victory, so the Free Press’s Helene St. James profiles the first-year pro this morning:
The 21-year-old from South Lyon is entering his first full season of pro hockey, and this tournament is a good warm-up for the opening of the Wings’ main training camp, which runs Sept. 17-20.
“There’s nothing like playing games definitely for younger guys including myself coming in here,” Augustine said. “It’s really exciting. It’s a new chapter of my life now and I’m just really excited to be a professional hockey player. I’m really excited to be part of this organization.”
Augustine told St. James that he’s ready to prepare to play in Grand Rapids this upcoming season, knowing at least something about the city and team after spending a chunk of last spring with the Griffins:
“It was awesome,” Augustine said. “It’s really just getting comfortable like being around the rink now knowing the setup, knowing where things are, knowing who people are. Definitely make it easier if I end up there in a couple days.”
Augustine is in for a huge adjustment, from playing far more games to no longer having a life structured around classes.
“It’s going to be the first time I ever play a season where there’s a lot more games and there’s practice,” Augustine said. “I’m just seeing how I can manage that and just keep improving each year and see where that goes. Everyone’s a little bit better, pass a little cleaner, shots a little harder, a little more precise. So, really just have to be on top of your game all the time.”
Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson is in charge of the Red Wings’ bench during the prospect tournament, and Watson told St. James that Augustine and Michal Postava should provide the Griffins with rock-solid goaltending:
“Just look what Michal did,” Watson said. “I mean, he came in kind of unknown to me for sure, and he was outstanding for us all year long. Just continued to get better. And I think Trey has that same opportunity. He will get better and continue to get better. He’s good now, don’t get me wrong, but he will continue to get better, and I think that’s exciting for everybody in the organization.”
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