Moose star Appleton of junior coach’s eye

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This article was published 17/04/2018 (2198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mason Appleton had the raw, physical tools to be a successful pro but who could have known the forward would be a first-team AHL all-star and a member of the league’s all-rookie team?

Well, count Jim Hulton as one of those who came to expect the unexpected.

Hulton, who was Appleton’s coach with the Tri-City Storm during the 2014-15 United States Hockey League season, wasn’t immediately impressed with the Green Bay, Wis., product, who came to his team as an unpolished 18-year-old in the fall of 2014.

But Appleton’s progress soon made Hulton a believer.

“He was a very, very smart kid — mature beyond his years,” Hulton said earlier this week from Charlottetown, where he is the general manager and head coach of the QMJHL’s Islanders. “He was adept defensively as well as offensively, which is kind of weird at the junior level. Usually the top guys are offensive players who have to learn the defensive side. He was ahead of the curve.”

Appleton got a big push from assistant coach J.B. Bittner, who also served as the Storm’s head scout.

“He was a huge advocate of Mason’s — so he painted a picture of what we were getting,” said Hulton.

“His IQ, his compete level and his upside. He was a big believer of him right from the beginning and Mason certainly didn’t fail any of those expectations.”

By the time the post-season rolled around, Appleton’s preparation astounded the Tri-City coaching stafff.

“He had a real hockey mind, you could tell that when we started preparing for the playoffs,” said Hulton. “You’re playing the same team back-to-back and preparation and focus is a lot sharper than it was before.

“He had a lot of recall at the time. We were going to play Omaha, and he had almost a photographic memory, he could remember the details of games above and beyond what other guys do. At that time I thought, this kid’s a pretty bright hockey player.”

Appleton would go on to play two seasons at Michigan State before turning pro. But his rapid ascension has probably surprised even the Winnipeg Jets, who chose him in the sixth round (168th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Manitoba Moose head coach Pascal Vincent believes Appleton’s knowledge and off-ice preparation has been a big part of his transition to the AHL. The winger led Manitoba in scoring with 66 points, including 22 goals, during the regular season.

“We have meetings with our players, one-on-one meetings, and when you talk about what needs to be done on the ice, he understands exactly,” said Vincent, whose club opens a best-of-five first-round playoff series with the Grand Rapids Griffins Saturday afternoon at Bell MTS Place.

“Let’s put it this way: when we talk with him and show him what he’s doing right or what he’s doing wrong, he knows before we tell him, because he’s been studying his game, studying how we’ve been playing.”

As you might expect, Appleton has put in extensive prep work prior to facing the Griffins.

“Yeah, we talked over each player, we’ve talked over each line,” the 22-year-old said following Wednesday’s practice at Bell MTS Iceplex.

“We know their systems inside and out, so when the puck drops Saturday it’s just time to play hockey and everything’s second nature.”

As a member of Manitoba’s top line with linemates Patrice Cormier and Nic Petan, Appleton expects to see a lot of Grand Rapids’ shut-down D pairing of Dylan McIlrath, a 6-4, 235-pounder, and 6-3, 221-pound Brian Lashoff.

“I assume so, excited for that challenge,” said Appleton.

“They’ve got a good shut-down pair, lots of good D over there.”

NOTEWORTHY: the Moose have signed left-winger Skyler McKenzie to an amateur tryout agreement. The 20-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., was Winnipeg’s seventh-round (198th overall) pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

The 5-9, 165-pounder scored 47 goals and registered 87 points in 72 regular-season games with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks. In 12 post-season games, McKenzie added three goals and eight points.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14