In what will likely serve as another chip on his shoulder, Sammy Fagemo has been left off the list of players invited to next month’s AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose. More on that in a moment, though.
Defenseman Brandt Clarke will be the lone Ontario Reign representative at the league’s annual All-Star Weekend.
Despite being up with the Kings currently, Clarke will be able to take in all the festivities — both the Skills Competition on Sun., Feb 4 and the Game on Mon., Feb. 5 — as LA is actually scheduled to be off from Feb. 1 – 10.
At the time of his recall to the NHL last week, our article noted:
On Tuesday, the 20-year-old blueliner was named AHL Rookie of the Month. In December, he posted two goals and 12 assists. On the season, he has 32 points (7G, 25A) in 30 games with the Ontario Reign. He leads all defensemen in the American League in points and is tied for second among all skaters.
Originally selected eighth overall at the 2021 Draft, the right shot blueliner made his NHL debut last season, playing nine games with the Kings before ultimately ending up back in the OHL where he destroyed the competition. In just 31 games, Clarke recorded 61 points in 31 games after returning from earning a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.
Since then, he’s played in one game for the Kings thus far on their current six-game road trip.
Clarke’s older brother, Graeme, was also selected as an All-Star. He’s a forward in the New Jersey Devils organization. Per AHL PR, they will become just the second pair of brothers to skate in the same AHL All-Star Classic after Peter and Chris Ferraro in 1997 and 2003.
As for Fagemo, he’s been one of the hottest players in all of hockey since being reacquired on waivers by Kings GM Rob Blake.
Even before his two goals in San Jose last night, the 23-year-old winger was already up to fourth in goals among all AHL players. He’s produced five goals in his last two games. Overall, his 18 goals are just two back of the league leader and Fagemo has played 11 fewer games.
It’s not just goals, though. Fagemo has only been held without a point in just four of the 22 games he’s played with the Reign this season.
In speaking with coach Marco Sturm on Saturday night, he offered the following when asked if he was seeing a different player this season, compared to Fagemo last year:
“I think so, I really think so,” said the former NHL player, turned coach. “Since he’s come back, he’s been awesome. I really like [his play]. It’s not easy for him being back here either. He’s still hoping for a chance [at the NHL], but he’s definitely been a way bigger threat than he was last year.”
Fagemo believes the consistent results he’s experiencing this season are a direct byproduct of the work he put in during the offseason.
“I’m just having a lot of fun right now, and I think that’s really important,” he began. “I think that was my biggest thing to work on during the summer; to get more consistent and be mentally strong. I’m really happy that it’s been going good so far.”
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Lead photo via Daniel Stopani
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