EL SEGUNDO -- The Los Angeles Kings held a practice in preparation for the 2026 Rookie Faceoff today at Toyota Sports Performance Center.
The Rookie Faceoff is an annual event held every year before the start of the season for some of the top prospects on certain teams, and one of many such events held throughout the NHL. This year's Rookie Faceoff takes place from Sep. 12-15 in San Jose, and will feature the Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche and Utah Mammoth. Although many of the players involved will not play in the NHL this season, these events still unofficially kick off the 2026-27 campaign.
"There's definitely a feeling of, 'We're really representing the organization out of the gates to start the year,'" said Ontario Reign head coach Andrew Lord, who will lead the Rookie Faceoff team. "Yes, it's a rookie tournament … but we're representing the team."
The Kings' roster is highlighted by a handful of players, including 2025 first-round pick Henry Brzustewicz, 2025 second-round pick Vojtech Cihar, and top goalie prospects Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky. While playing together as a team, each individual player is also looking to stand out and prove themselves to the front office and the coaching staff.
"You can't worry too much about that," Slukynsky said. "Just focus on yourself and doing what you can do and controlling what you can control. Obviously, we're all competing with each other, but it's good that we push each other and we support each other and help each other get better, but everybody wants to play and compete. So it's been good and it's fun to compete with all these guys."
#year #start
The Rookie Faceoff is an annual event held every year before the start of the season for some of the top prospects on certain teams, and one of many such events held throughout the NHL. This year's Rookie Faceoff takes place from Sep. 12-15 in San Jose, and will feature the Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche and Utah Mammoth. Although many of the players involved will not play in the NHL this season, these events still unofficially kick off the 2026-27 campaign.
"There's definitely a feeling of, 'We're really representing the organization out of the gates to start the year,'" said Ontario Reign head coach Andrew Lord, who will lead the Rookie Faceoff team. "Yes, it's a rookie tournament … but we're representing the team."
The Kings' roster is highlighted by a handful of players, including 2025 first-round pick Henry Brzustewicz, 2025 second-round pick Vojtech Cihar, and top goalie prospects Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky. While playing together as a team, each individual player is also looking to stand out and prove themselves to the front office and the coaching staff.
"You can't worry too much about that," Slukynsky said. "Just focus on yourself and doing what you can do and controlling what you can control. Obviously, we're all competing with each other, but it's good that we push each other and we support each other and help each other get better, but everybody wants to play and compete. So it's been good and it's fun to compete with all these guys."
#year #start
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