Hockey Prophets

Big Things On The Horizon For Kailer Yamamoto

August 6, 2016 by Zachary DeVine

Fans of the WHL and, in particular, the Spokane Chiefs, recognize the name Yamamoto. Keanu Yamamoto has been a mainstay with the Chiefs for the past three seasons, and his younger brother, Kailer Yamamoto recently finished his second season in Spokane and is about to burst onto the national—and international—hockey scene. Kailer led all scorers for the Chiefs last season with 19 goals and 52 assists, but he still looks to his older brother for guidance.

“It’s been unbelievable [playing with Keanu]. I’ve learned so much from him since my first year. Just keep taking notes from him. He’s been a great player, great role model, so I look forward to keep playing with him.”

Kailer has also been making an impression as one of the more talented 2017 draft-eligible skaters in the world. He has played internationally for the USA in the past (he scored seven goals and six assists in just seven games at the recent Under-18 World Championships) and has spent some time with the US National Team Development Program, but he needed a couple of days to adjust after arriving at the junior evaluation camp. There has been a discernible increase in the pace and quality of his play over the course of camp.

“I think getting the jitters out, but I also think we played more of a structured game,” said Yamamoto. “We had a morning skate, we really didn’t have a morning skate yesterday, but we had one today. We worked on a bit of structure in the neutral zone today, and it helped us [in the game] today. Getting the puck in deep, instead of just turning it over and shooting more that helped us.”

While Yamamoto is a trusted offensive threat for the Chiefs, coming to the NJEC and playing with an entire squad of speed and skill has been an experience. He has been skating mostly with a pair of first-round draft picks and USA Hockey NTDP top line forwards in center Clayton Keller and left wing Kieffer Bellows.

“It’s unbelievable. Whenever you can play with players like that it’s something special. Keller, he is an unbelievable player, he can find you anywhere on the ice. Bellows if you find him in the high slot he’ll put it in the back of the net. It’s always special to play with those guys, and I’m looking forward to hopefully doing it again."

Yamamoto has impressed Keller, the seventh-overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, during their time together on Team USA. The two played at the Under-18 World Junior Championship, where team USA won gold this past spring. They are now reunited and skating regularly on the same line at the NJEC.

Yamamoto “plays bigger than he actually is. He plays like he is 6-2 but he is probably 5’9,” Keller said. “Yeah, he is a special player. He’s not the biggest guy, like me, but he is good in corners, and he is small and shifty, and he can pass the puck in and shoot it. He played with us at Worlds, and I have seen what he can do there. He can dominate games and I’ve seen the numbers he can put up, and I think he will be a top-10 pick next year if he has a good year. He is a great player to play with.”

Yamamoto is also quick to point out the help he has received along the way. When asked who he enjoyed skating with, Yamamoto was quick with an answer.

“Adam Helewka. He’s a great player. He’s really smart he has some good hands. If I pass to him, I’d say nine times out of ten it's going to the back of the net. It’s always good to have a teammate that can score like that. He makes me a better player.”

Helewka, 20, had spent his entire WHL career with the Chiefs before being traded to the Red Deer Rebels in the middle of the 2015-2016 season. Helewka started the season in AHL, but Yamamoto noted the impact Helewka made when he returned to Spokane.

“It was good. The first ten games was a little tough getting the guys just on track. Once Helewka came back, we had a couple of games we struggled. After that we started to pick up the pace and just playing good as a team. Once he was traded, it [was] a blow to the team as he was one of our leaders. We struggled for a couple games but after that, we just started battling for it.”

When asked what Helewka brought back with him specifically that helped the Chiefs, Yamamoto pointed to the mindset of the rugged winger.

“Just bring in a pro mentality. [Helewka] came back and he was not messing around. All the guys they’re a little loose in the locker room. When he was in the locker room, it was a pro mentality. It was good to see that and show the guys how it is to be a pro.”

Heading into the 2016-17 campaign, many regard Yamamoto to be a first-round prospect despite his listed 5’8, 153-pound frame. Throughout camp, he has exhibited the speed, agility and downright shiftiness on the ice that smaller players need in the professional ranks. The offensive skill is undoubtedly present. Yamamoto has already played two full seasons in the WHL, registering 128 points in 125 games, before his draft year. He has represented the USA at the U17, U18 and the Hlinka tournaments, and produced above a point per game in international play. As a smaller player, lean mass and sharp mind are the keys to Yamamoto’s success.

“I think just getting mentally and physically stronger. I definitely need to gain some weight. But I think also mentally when you get deep in a season, just got to stay focused and keep playing,” Yamamoto said of his action items ahead of the 2017 draft. “I think I can work on all things to get better, but those two are things are big for me right now.”

Yamamoto is hoping for big things this coming season.

“I think we’re going to have a good team [in Spokane] this year. We’re going to be young, but we have a lot of talent coming in, I think it’s going to be good. A lot of the older guys, we’re going to have to step up, but I think the younger guys are definitely going to contribute this year. I think we’ll have a good year.”