What a difference a year can make.
Last year, Ty Meunier was on the sidelines as a spectator during Prince Albert Raiders training camp. This year, Meunier has put himself in position to possibly make the opening night roster as a 16-year-old.
Meunier missed all of training camp and preseason in 2023 after undergoing surgery for an appendectomy just days prior to camp opening.
Meunier says he has enjoyed his experience in his first full training camp.
“I was pretty bummed out last year that I couldn’t play. I was really ready to get after it this year. I was excited. This was my first up camp participating so I really want to show myself and be with the guys (and) meet everyone. It was for sure a big difference (from last year) and I had lots of fun.”
Meunier was selected by the Raiders with the seventh overall selection in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. The pick used on Meunier originally belonged to the Kelowna Rockets, but Prince Albert acquired it from the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Nolan Allan trade back in November 2022.
2008-born players from the 2023 draft are eligible to make the jump into the WHL as full-time players. Entering camp with a shot at becoming a full-time WHL player, Meunier says he put in the work in the summer and is hoping he can make the jump.
“It’s always tons of pressure, but I believe in myself and I had a good summer off-season training and I think I’m ready. I worked on my strength being a winger. Just on the walls is huge with big d-men coming down on me. Other big forwards and in the corners and stuff like that. My strength is a big one then I was just working on my skills on the ice.”
Meunier was the third first round selection by the Raiders in 2023. Prince Albert selected defenceman Daxon Rudolph first overall and grabbed centremen Riley Boychuk with the second overall selection.
Boychuk and Rudolph played together with the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) U18 Prep program last season. Rudolph registered 22 goals and 37 assists in 28 games. Boychuk scored 16 goals and added 46 assists in 27 games.
Meunier spent last season with the St. Albert Raiders in the Alberta Elite Hockey League scoring 27 goals and adding 26 helpers while skating in 35 regular season games.
Despite the fact they played on different teams last season, Meunier says the trio have gotten close.
“Daxon (Rudolph) and Riley (Boychuk) are both unbelievable players. We’ve built good chemistry together. We’re all great kids and we really have learned where each other are on the ice and stuff like that.”
During a media availability after the Green-White game on Monday, Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Meunier showed well, but will need to keep playing at a high level during the preseason to make the final opening night roster with the Raiders.
“His hands (I liked) and he showed me a lot of intensity. He was battling for pucks, put guys up against the wall. He commanded the ice, not only with the skating but with his hands and his shot. That’s a multi-dimensional player that you look for all the time. You look for those added layers. Ty did a great job, there’s a lot of combinations and facets to his game. I thought he’s gotten better and now the test is on against other teams so hopefully that continues.”
The Raiders open up the preseason on Wednesday night when they welcome the Saskatoon Blades to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
