Norwin Panocha’s first impression of Prince Albert has been nothing but positive.
The 19-year-old defenceman from Beyreuth, Germany has been in Prince Albert for just about a week ahead of Prince Albert Raiders training camp opening on Friday.
“It’s really awesome.” Panocha says. “I got to meet a lot of new people, got to meet the team today, and really awesome people all around. My billet mom, coaches, everybody, the people around here. I was helping with the hockey school last week, and everybody was really, really awesome. The town looks pretty cool too and the rink is awesome.”
Panocha was selected 26th overall by the Raiders in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. It was the second time he had been selected in the Import Draft as he was taken 32nd overall by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2023.
In 52 games for Chicoutimi, Panocha registered 15 assists, 28 penalty minutes and a minus-five rating. He added one assist in eight playoff games.
Panocha says the transition to the North American game was quite difficult.
“It was pretty hard to be honest, like there was much more competition going on. It’s way harder, way faster, way more skillful. So I had a good year, lots of learning, and I think I can take that and transition it now to the new league.”
Panocha will be one of two import players on the roster this season, joining 20-year-old Polish forward Krzysztof Macias.
Matej Kubiesa, who was the Raiders second import player last season, is not in training camp with the club and is listed by Elite Prospects with HC Ocelari Trinec U20 back in Czechia.
Panocha is an NHL prospect as he was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He has not signed an entry level contract.
Panocha was brought in to be a veteran player for a Raider blue line that could feature several younger players including 2023 first overall pick Daxon Rudolph.
“We think we’ve got good depth on our d-corps right now,” Raider general manager Curtis Hunt said in an interview after the Import Draft in July. “We believe we’ve got some young players who can come in and push for spots that need some support and we think Norwin can help that process as well as hopefully advance his career as he chases his NHL opportunity.”
In the same interview, Hunt says he envisions Panocha as someone who is able to play anywhere the coaching staff sees fit.
“We had an opportunity to talk to the Buffalo Sabres developmental group about him, the type of player he is, the type of person he is, and we think he’ll be a good fit,” Hunt said. “We know he can play up and down throughout our lineup. We know he’s a very good skating player. He’s got a big long reach and a good stick.”
Panocha is the fourth German player to be selected by Prince Albert in the CHL Import Draft since it was implemented in 1992.
The other German players to hear their names called by the Raiders are Maximillian Brandl (64th overall, 2007), Leon Draisaitl (2nd overall, 2012) and Dominik Bokk (9th overall, 2017).
Panocha says he was excited when he heard the news that he was selected by Prince Albert.
“I was pretty happy to get a new team, get a new opportunity. Of course, Leon Draisaitl was here so it’s got to be a good spot. So that was pretty sick, (I’m) really happy to come here.”
Having met some teammates as players arrived earlier this week, Panocha says the first impression with all of them has been phenomenal.
“They’re all awesome. First day when my billet brother Luke (Moroz) and Hilty (Max Hildebrand) arrive, we went golfing right away (at Cooke). Getting integrated pretty quickly and I met the guys today (Monday). So far, everybody is really awesome and I’m glad to get to know them even more during the season.”
Cooke Municipal wasn’t particularly kind to Panocha’s scorecard, but he says he still enjoyed the round and the company.
“It was my first time golfing (ever) so the first couple of shots were pretty awful, like really bad but after it was all right. I hit the ball and it went kind of straight so I was pretty happy.”
Intersquad games at Raider training camp begin at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday morning with Team Pachal facing Team Guhle. The Green vs White game is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday.
-with files from Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
sports@paherald.sk.ca
