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Blackfish: Canucks prospects begin preseason action, Riley Patterson traded, and more
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Dave Hall
Sep 2, 2025, 12:02 EDTUpdated: Sep 2, 2025, 12:22 EDT
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Welcome back to the Blackfish Prospect Report.
It’s early September, and you all know what that means…
*insert cliche “hockey season is here” quote*
The Vancouver Canucks season is so close, in fact, that we have hockey game action to discuss today, including CHL/KHL preseason and a significant trade.
Let’s dive right in.

CHL: Patterson on the move, Chiarot shines, Dervin delivers

The big news item of the week came out of the OHL, where Riley Patterson finally forced the trade we’ve been anticipating. Patterson opted out of the Barrie Colts’ training camp, holding out in the hopes of being traded before the season begins.
Although the Colts have been a competitive playoff team since he arrived in 2023-25, the now 19-year-old has struggled to see consistent top-line/PP1 minutes despite being Barrie’s most productive player since debuting in 2023–24.
The tactic worked. Barrie dealt him to the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for a package of mid-round draft picks. While it’s a positive move for his deployment and development, the move has raised some eyebrows among the team’s fan base.
Just weeks ago, it was announced that Niagara is expected to bid for the 2027 Memorial Cup. Giving up five future picks for what could be a one-year rental puts an interesting twist on that potential.
Instead, the move likely signals that the IceDogs are pushing their chips in after making the playoffs for the first time in six years last spring.
Patterson has yet to suit up in preseason action.
Meanwhile, Gabe Chiarot wasted no time making his presence felt. Skating on Brampton’s top line in his exhibition debut, the sixth-round Canucks pick racked up four points (2G, 2A), fired four shots, added six penalty minutes, finished plus-4 and even wore an “A” as an alternate captain.
While he may not play top-line minutes when the season commences, he should enjoy a solid uptick in deployment after some key departures in the Brampton Steelheads’ system.
In Kingston, Kieren Dervin also kicked things off in style, scoring a shorthanded game-winning goal in Frontenacs’ 2–1 victory over the Ottawa 67’s.
Unfortunately, neither Kingston’s nor Brampton’s preseason games were televised so that we couldn’t get a live look at either performance in real time.
We did, however, catch Aleksei Medvedev, who made his preseason debut as the London Knights’ new starting netminder.
It was a rocky opening period — three goals on nine shots — but he settled in and finished with 28 saves in a 6–5 comeback win over the Sarnia Sting. London never led until the final minute, but Medvedev kept them alive with some key stops.
All in all, it was a typical preseason debut: some shaky goals, some poor defensive structure, but also some big saves and an eventual victory.
In the Western League, teams have yet to play in preseason matches, although they are scheduled to begin this week.
In Edmonton, Parker Alcos and his Team White won the Bob McGill Cup in their intrasquad game. Not that it means anything, but bragging rights never hurt.
In Seattle, first-rounder Braeden Cootes has been a notable absentee. While no official reason has been given, there’s a good chance he’s gearing up for his first prospect showcase and training camp as an NHL draftee and a player who does, in theory, stand an opportunity to make the Vancouver Canucks.
He was injured late in the World Junior Summer Showcase in early August, but we haven’t been given any indication that it could have anything to do with his absence.

Around the world: Sansonnens with Switzerland, Safonov steady in Russia

Basile Sansonnens suited up for Team Switzerland at the Five Nations tournament in Czechia, skating on the second defensive pair in all three games. He’s a lock to make Switzerland’s World Junior roster this winter, so this was his final chance to wear his country’s colours before the main tournament in late December.
While on international duty, he missed his team’s (Lausanne) opening games in the Champions League, both of which were losses. He will rejoin the team this week and get his first chance to suit up in two Champions League games before Lausanne heads back to the Swiss league to open up their 2025-26 season on September 9th.
Over in Russia, Ilya Safonov has been a fixture in Bars Kazan’s preseason slate, playing all seven games while rotating between the first and third lines.
One thing that has stood out in his game has been his work around the net.
His lone goal came from sheer determination at the crease, and that’s where he does his best work. He skates well for his size, shows decent vision, and should open the KHL season on September 6th in a third-line role.

NCAA: Romani heading outdoors

The NCAA dropped major news this week with the announcement of a massive outdoor event at Beaver Stadium — home of the Penn State football team — on January 31st.
The double-header will feature the Penn State women against Robert Morris, and the men’s team hosting Michigan State.
That means Canucks prospect Anthony Romani, who committed to Michigan State this summer, will be skating in front of what could be over 100,000 fans for what will be the biggest game of his, and all involved, young careers.
The team announced that he will wear number 21 in his freshman year, which begins on November 7th/8th for a weekend doubleheader against Gavin McKenna and Penn State.
Full NCAA prospect jersey numbers:
  • Anthony Romani, Michigan State University – #21
  • Wilson Bjorck, Colorado College – #26
  • Matthew Lansing, Quinnipiac University – #26
  • Aiden Celebrini, Boston University – #22
  • Daimon Gardner, St. Cloud University – #81
  • Matthew Perkins, Northeastern University – #51
That concludes this week’s report. Every week that passes, we inch closer to more game action, which should come with broadcast options.
Folks, the hockey season is nearly here.

PRESENTED BY WHISTLER GOLF CLUB

This article is a presentation of the Arnold Palmer designed Whistler Golf Club.  Spring preparations are underway with opening day on May 9th.  Whistler Golf Club is now accepting online bookings for the entire 2025 season, so no need to wait to get those times locked in.  If you have a group of 12 or more, get those times on hold now as prime times are filling up fast.  For more information, head to https://www.whistlergolf.com/

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