The Washington Capitals’ top pick in the 2021 draft was Vincent Iorio, a defenseman for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. He is one of three players in this 2021 draft class at this year’s Rookie Camp.
Iorio has spent the last three seasons with the Wheat Kings and in his last campaign he recorded 12 points in 21 games. He hopes to attend the Caps main training camp which starts later this week.
The great mobile defender strives to improve and listen to feedback from coaches at rookie camp. There is “nothing better than being here right now,” he said in an interview on Sunday.
A short highlight of Iorio from Rookie Camp on Saturday (# 28 in white) pic.twitter.com/kPwmr3aG4M
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“Obviously the pace is a lot faster here so they really want me to adjust to it well and I think I’ve done a good job so far with that,” said Iorio. “First and foremost as a defenseman, when you get the puck up high you don’t have as much time as you usually think, so dusting the puck, really eliminating those extra sticks is going to be really important. for me and really takes away time and space from forwards, especially if I’m lucky enough to play in the main camp.
Iorio says there’s one Capitals star player in particular he’s trying to learn and be like.
“Obviously, I’m emulating my game after John Carlson,” said Iorio. “From what I’ve heard he’s a great guy, he’s a great person, so I hope I get a chance to chat with him. I’m just going to be a little shocked to see guys like Ovechkin, Oshie, and Kuznetsov, so that will be really good.
Team Canada hosted a National Junior Summer Showcase in early August and Iorio joined other prospects from Caps Hendrix Lapierre and Garin Bjorklund.
“It was another very difficult camp,” remarked Iorio. “We were expected to do a lot of things and I think that’s why Hockey Canada is Hockey Canada. You play to represent your home country and the patch on the front of your jersey, so for me that was really taking it all. I learned a lot even from the guys who were there, from the coaching staff there too. All of these pieces that I take from different people are what will help me develop for the future.
Iorio knows that to take the next step he still has work to do.
“Lower body strength is something I really needed to work on and still have to work on,” Iorio said. I need to work on everything but really break down some things and make sure I stay low throughout my shifts and make sure I maintain the perfect amount of efficiency when I skate.
Title photo: Elizabeth Kong / RMNB