Monday, July 11, 2011

Development Camp Updates

CANUCKS CAMP CLOSES
Vancouver Canucks Development Camp ended today with the annual ‘Grouse Grind.’

According to the Canucks website, “as has been the case the past few years, the prospects were put into groups of five or six. Whichever group collectively got to the top of the Grind first would be crowned the winner.”

“The players that do it for the first time really can’t appreciate it how difficult it is,” says Canucks Director of Player Development Dave Gagner. “They’re told by the other guys, but until you’ve done it…it’s quite an experience for them.”

Sea Dogs forward Steven Anthony along with former goaltender Karel St. Laurent both took part in the camp.

KINGS CAMP OPENS
Los Angeles Kings Development Camp opened today and features Sea Dogs defenseman Pierre Durepos who is attending as a free agent invitee.

It is a quick camp as it began today Group A practicing, a game, and the Group B practicing. It all wraps up tomorrow with Group B practicing first, followed by a game, and then Group A hitting the ice. Fun stuff.

According to the Kings website, today’s scrimmage ended in a 3-3 tie.

WILD CAMP BEGINS TOMORROW
Minnesota Wild Development Camp begins tomorrow and runs until July 17. Sea Dogs forward Zack Phillips will be taking part in the camp.

“Under the direction of Aeros Head Coach John Torchetti and the Wild's Director of Player Development Brad Bombardir, the group will spend three days on the ice practicing, before the pair of scrimmages on Saturday and Sunday,” states the Wild website.

There will be scrimmages on both Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17.

PENS CAMP OPENS TOMORROW
Pittsburgh Penguins Development Camp begins tomorrow and it will have plenty of Sea Dogs content.

Defensemen Alex Grant and Simon Despres along with forward Nick Petersen will all be taking part. Grant and Petersen both played professional hockey last season while Despres dominated the QMJHL back in likely his final year of junior.

According to the Pens website, “in addition to the on-ice portion of camp, the group of rookies and prospects participating in development camp will take part in medical and fitness testing, workouts, meetings and seminars at CONSOL Energy Center.”

The first on-ice practice is tomorrow from 2 - 4 pm local time at the CONSOL Energy Center.

PANTHERS CAMP
Florida Panthers Development Camp opens tomorrow at 9 am local time at the Saveology.com Iceplex. According to the Panthers website, “two additional on-ice sessions will be held at the Saveology.com Iceplex on Thursday, July 14 at 9 a.m. and Friday, July 15 at 9 a.m.”

Highlighting the camp will be the Panthers top pick in this year’s draft, Jonathan Huberdeau. Also attending will be Connor Brickley, a college player who the Sea Dogs own rights to.

“There won’t be much body contract, but there will be a lot of skating, shooting and passing,’’ assistant general manager Mike Santos said to the Miami Herald. “We have a plan in place and part of that is to draft well. We have brought in 23 players in the past two drafts. Now we have to develop these young guys. We have 13 picks in the top three rounds of the past two drafts. That’s two drafts worth of players in the top three rounds. We have as good a group of prospects as anyone. The excitement now turns into developing them.’’


DEVILS CAMP OPENS
New Jersey Devils Rookie Camp began today and featured defenseman Eric Gelinas.

The New Jersey Star-Ledger reports that Gelinas was on Team White for today’s scrimmage. He was stopped in the shootout.

In their mid-summer update on the top prospects in the New Jersey Devils organization, In Lou We Trust named Gelinas their sixth best prospect.

Got to show his skills off in the Memorial Cup and will join the organization this year. Will it be at Albany thought? With the number of defensemen already at Albany will there be time for him? Or is he someone who might be moved in a trade?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The Detroit Red Wings website had on article on Tomas Jurco on Sunday, discussing his YouTube moves among other things.

“You can see right away that Tomas’ skill level is off the chart,” said Curt Fraser, Grand Rapids Griffins coach and this week’s camp instructor. “He’s obviously a great addition to the organization and should be a very good Red Wing down the road.”

Here is Jurco speaking:



Red Wings Development Camp runs until July 14 in Traverse City.

TRICK SHOTS
Via Russian Machine Never Breaks, Stanislav Galiev and Dmitry Orlov doing some trick shots at Washington Capitals Development Camp.



Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

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