Logan Cooley, center, takes a faceoff against Josh Doan, right, during the Black & White Scrimmage at the Ice Den Scottsdale. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley (left) skates around Michael Lombardi during a training session at the 2023 Coyotes Development Camp. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Michael Hagens skates with the puck during a training session at the 2023 Coyotes Development Camp. Fans and players have a enjoyed a break from the record-breaking heat. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Melker Thelinlooks up the ice during warmups before the Black & White Scrimmage. Thelin was drafted in the fifth round by the Coyotes at 134th overall. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
From left, Matthew Morden, Logan Cooley, Maveric Lamoureux, Sam Lipkin, Miko Matikka and Michael Hrabal stand for the National Anthem before the Black & White Scrimmage. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Jonathan Castagna (right) skates with the puck while being defended by Cal Thomas. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Maveric Lamoureux, left, skates up the ice with Josh Doan, who signed a three-year entry level contract with the Coyotes in March. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Michael Kesselring stops to look for a pass during the Black & White Scrimmage. Kesselring was acquired by the Coyotes in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers at the 2023 trade deadline. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Maveric Lamoureux, front, battles for a loose puck with Ilya Fedotov. They were two of 46 players named to the camp roster. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Sam Lipkin, front, celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the Black & White Scrimmage. Lipkin was drafted in the seventh round by the Arizona Coyotes with the 223rd overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Josh Doan, second from right, celebrates with teammates Aku Raty and Elliot Ekefjard after scoring a goal during the Black & White Scrimmage. Doan was a second round pick by the Coyotes as the 37th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Goalie prospect Rasmus Korhonen, right, makes a save against Ilya Fedotov in the shootout during the Black & White Scrimmage. Korhonen was drafted in the fourth round by the Arizona Coyotes with the 122nd overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
Arizona Coyotes players salute fans after the Black & White Scrimmage at the Ice Den Scottsdale. (Photo by Joey Plishka/Cronkite News)
SCOTTSDALE – While the outside temperature hit triple digits, competition for a new hockey season was heating up inside the doors of the Ice Den Scottsdale.
The Arizona Coyotes held their 2023 Prospect Development Camp from July 3-7. Coyotes prospects and draft picks spent the week in training sessions and wrapped it up with a scrimmage.
Forty-six players were named to the camp roster, headlined by former first round picks Dylan Guether, Logan Cooley, Conor Geekie and Maveric Lamoureux.
“A lot of new faces, getting used to that … and definitely as hot as I remember,” Geekie said with a smile. “Hoping it would cool off, but no, it’s great here.”
Guenther put up six goals and 15 points in 33 games last season with the Coyotes, while Cooley dominated the NCAA, netting 22 goals and 60 points in 39 games for the University of Minnesota and finishing as a finalist for the Hobey Baker award.
Geekie follows his older brother, Morgan, as he looks to begin playing in the NHL. Morgan was a depth piece to the Seattle Kraken and their run into the second round of the playoffs this past spring.
Many analysts believe the future of the Coyotes on the ice looks promising as they possess a wealth of young talent despite the uncertainty of the organization’s future.