Rookie camp is right around the corner and the Golden Knights released their roster for both camp and the Rookie Faceoff Tournament in Arizona. The roster includes 14 forwards, 10 defensemen, and three goalies. Of the 27 players, all but six are property of either the Golden or Silver Knights.
Four forwards and two defensemen make up the group of six non-roster invitees. Here’s a bit more on each of them.
Daniel D’Amato
Right Wing – Erie Otters (OHL)
A 20-year old winger, D’Amato has shown the ability to put up points in his first two seasons in the OHL. He scored 18 goals in 63 games in 2019-20 after tallying just four in his first season. Like most players the Golden Knights focus on, he’s a 200-foot player with good speed and plays in all situations. D’Amato says his coaches compared his style of play to Anthony Duclair because of their speed, size, and scoring ability.
Jacob Gaucher
Center – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Gaucher is a giant right-handed centerman standing 6’4″ and weighing in at over 200 pounds at the age of 20. He’s spent the last four seasons in the QMJHL with the Val-d’Or Foreurs, serving as an alternate captain each of the past two seasons. His numbers were trending upwards with 24 and 38 points in 2018-19 and 19-20, but he took a step back in the 20-21 shortened season scoring just 11 points in 36 games. He was able to pick up the pace in the playoffs scoring two goals and adding five assists in 12 games in their run to the QMJHL Final where they won nine straight games before bowing out to Victoriaville. He was leaned on defensively as a key penalty killer and in tough defensive spots against the opposition’s top players. Gaucher also won the Marcel-Robert Trophy as the QMJHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year. Scouting reports show him as a high-IQ player that does more away from the puck than he does on it.
