‘His breakaway goal was insane!’ Demidov impresses at Canadiens rookie camp

Many curious onlookers turned up at the CN Sports Complex on Thursday to watch Ivan Demidov take his first steps at the Montreal Canadiens’ rookie camp.

The organization’s star player did not disappoint.

Demidov made some nice plays and particularly impressed the crowd with a superb breakaway goal against goaltender Arseni Radkov.

The 19-year-old Russian carried the puck several times and looked ready to take a backhand shot before opting instead to slide the puck between Radkov’s pads.

“With most players, you know what they’re going to try, you know their tendencies, but in his case, he reads what’s happening in front of him and reacts,” said goaltender Jacob Fowler. “He’s a special player and an even better person off the ice. His level of talent is one of the highest I’ve seen. But he also works very hard. It’s great to see how well he’s doing already, and he’s only going to get better.”

Demidov spent part of Thursday’s practice alongside Oliver Kapanen and Florian Xhekaj. Xhekaj’s eyes lit up when asked about Demidov.

“He’s very talented, and his breakaway goal was insane! It’s really special,” said Xhekaj. “I just want to create space for him and send him the puck.”

Unfortunately, the Canadiens did not make Demidov available to the many members of the media in attendance. He will not be appearing in front of the cameras on Friday either. The same goes for the club’s other top prospect participating in the rookie camp, defenceman David Reinbacher.

In other news, the Canadiens announced that forward Hayden Paupanekis will not be participating in the rookie camp after all due to mononucleosis. The Habs selected Paupanekis in the third round, 69th overall, in the most recent NHL draft.

Fowler ready for the pros, Xhekaj gains weight

Fowler is preparing for his first full season in the professional ranks. He got a big taste of it last spring with the Laval Rocket, playing 11 games, including eight in the playoffs.

The 20-year-old American hopes that this baptism by fire will help him in his summer preparation.

“It’s all about your habits, and I think I picked up some good ones during the playoffs,” Fowler said. “It’s a cliché, but you realise a lot of things that can make a difference, and you want to keep those good habits, no matter what the score is or what stage of the game it is.”

Fowler added that he hopes his summer training will prepare him to survive the more demanding schedule of the American Hockey League or the NHL, and, on a technical level, he continues to look for ways to simplify things in front of his net.

“I don’t need to move in all directions and take myself out of the game,” noted the winner of the Mike Richter Trophy, awarded annually to the top goaltender in the NCAA. “I need to focus on what I can control, stay calm in front of the net and give myself the best chance to make saves.”

For his part, Xhekaj had a good first season with the Rocket last winter, earning praise from his teammates and coaches. He scored 24 goals and added 11 assists in 69 games, then added a goal and two assists in 13 playoff games. Xhekaj also protected his teammates with his physical play, racking up 175 penalty minutes during the regular season.

Aware that he needed to continue developing his imposing frame, Xhekaj said he went from 205 to 220 pounds over the summer.

“It’s all thanks to my mother’s cooking!” he joked.

Xhekaj admitted that he hopes to join his older brother, Arber, with the Canadiens as soon as possible. And why not by earning a spot during main camp?

“I try to prove myself every day,” he said. “Even if there’s no room on the roster, it’s up to me to show that I can play at this level and be a good option if a call-up is needed.”

In the meantime, Xhekaj admits that he would love the opportunity to play in a preseason game with his brother.

“We’ve never played together on the same team. It would be special,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 11, 2025.