The Denver Pioneers forward signed his entry-level deal the day of prospect camp and has had plenty of eyes on him the last week.
There were many names that took the ice last year for Utah Hockey Club in prospect camp in Arizona.
There were some fresh faces that took the ice this year, beginning with Denver Pioneers forward Miko Matikka.
After starting his career with the USHL's Waterloo Blackhawks, Matikka made the jump to the NCAA this past season, getting to play with current Minnesota Wild draft pick Zeev Buium.
Together, they were part of a freshman class that tore up the NCHC; while Buium captured high marks with a prestigious Hobey Baker Award nomination, Matikka became the ninth DU rookie to score 20 goals in a season.
He was named a unanimous choice to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, leading up to him winning a national championship with the Pioneers this past spring.
Matikka didn't get to showcase his scoring ability Friday (Daniil But took care of that), but showed flashes of his physicality and hard-nosed play in several sequences.
The two-way forward will likely start in the AHL with Tucson this season, but it would not be a surprise if Bill Armstrong gives him a couple of chances with the big boys to give him some experience.