Red Wings Rookie Tourney: Who Are These Guys?

The Detroit Red Wings recently invited six free agents to participate in the NHL Rookie Tournament, scheduled to take place at the Belfor Training Center. The four-team event will feature teams from Columbus, Dallas, and Pittsburgh, with the tournament kicking off on September 12.

First up is Haeden Ellis, a 19-year-old right-winger who stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs 191 pounds. Ellis played for USA Hockey’s national team program and in the USHL before joining the OHL Kitchener Rangers. He is set to play college hockey at Northeastern. Ellis made headlines last season when he helped Kitchener beat Carter Bear’s Everett Silvertips to win the Memorial Cup.

Despite the odds being heavily against him, Ellis remains optimistic about his new Red Wings teammates, noting that having NHL names on the Memorial Cup roster is indeed special.

Cooper Dennis, another 19-year-old right-winger, will be a teammate of Red Wings draftee Adam Levac. Dennis stands at 5-foot-6 and weighs 153 pounds, with the Red Wings' prospect committing to Michigan’s Wolverines. The other three rookies are Carter Hicks, a 18-year-old right-winger from OHL Brampton Steelheads standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 183 pounds.

Hicks is committed to the Connecticut Huskies. Next is defensemen Brady Ness, a 20-year-old from the WHL Moose Jaw Warriors. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, Ness is known for his leadership abilities. Cornell commit Michael Dec, 19, will play center/right-winger for the Erie Otters and Noah Laschon, an 18-year-old defenseman from Pittsburgh who will be suited up for the Penguins, plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U AAA team. All six rookies will don Red Wings jerseys for the upcoming tournament.