CANUCKS CAMP OPENS TUESDAY

Vancouver Canucks Prospects Development Camp opens tomorrow at GM Place in Canada’s 2010 Olympic City.

36 players are expected to be at the camp which, according to Canucks blog The White Towel, begins on Tuesday with off-ice conditioning and goes to on-ice work on Wednesday and Thursday. The group will hike the Grouse Grind on Friday, scrimmage on Saturday and conclude with a three-on-three tournament on Sunday.

One prospect who will not attend the camp – on Canucks managements blessing - is the highly touted forward Cody Hodgson who will stay in Toronto to continue his training. Several top end players will attend, however.

From The Province:

Forward prospects include last year's first round pick (22nd overall) Jordan Schroeder and the Canucks' 2009 second rounder (53rd overall) Anton Rodin. On defence, notable attendees include Vancouver Giants' outstanding D-man Kevin Connauton, last season's fifth-rounder (143rd overall) Peter Andersson, 2008's second round pick Yann Sauve 41st (overall) and this year's top pick, Patrick McNally (115th overall).

In goal, Swedish free agent signing Eddie Lack will also attend.

Sauve, a four year member of the Saint John Sea Dogs, was drafted by Vancouver with the 41st overall selection of the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft. In his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League career, Sauve has 20 goals and 82 assists in 251 regular season games. In the post-season, he has six goals and 14 assists in 39 games.

Last season, the Rigaud, Quebec native recorded seven goals and 29 helpers in 61 regular season appearances. En route to a six game series loss in the President’s Cup Final, the now-overage defenseman registered five markers and 10 assists.

Sauve signed a contract with Pacific coast club a few weeks ago. He is eligible to return to Saint John for one more season but most predict him to play with the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose in 2010-11.

Manitoba based reporter Ken Wiebe lists Sauve ti make the Moose roster next season in his latest blog post on The Brawl.

Steven Anthony, a seventh round pick of the Canucks in 2009, could also attend the camp. In three seasons with Saint John, the Halifax native has 45 goals and 63 assists in the regular season and playoffs combined.