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2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida

By Ben Huffman

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Ryan Suzuki poses for a portrait after being selected twenty-eighth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Ryan Suzuki poses for a portrait after being selected twenty-eighth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images) /
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Southeast Rookie Showcase
TAMPA, FL – APRIL 6: Domenick Fensore #23 of the Boston University Terriers skates against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first period during game one of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Frozen Four Championship Semifinal at the Amaile Arena on April 6, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. The Golden Gophers won 6-2. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

The Hurricanes’ strength is on the blue line

Each member of the seven-player defensive group got their chance to shine during the Southeast Rookie Showcase. While the team’s two best defensive prospects didn’t participate, it allowed many others to impress. Domenick Fensore and Anttoni Honka were the standouts. Despite being listed at 5’7″, Fensore was in the middle of everything the Canes did in all three zones, occupying so much space for a player of his size. He quarterbacked the first power play unit, scoring the opening goal of the showcase for the team on Friday. Honka saw some time on the power play, and while he didn’t find the scoresheet during the showcase, he was solid with the puck and was excellent on the backend. Griffin Mendel scored the only other goal for the defense, a short-handed tally during Saturday’s win over Tampa Bay.

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