SUMMER CAMP BEGINS TODAY

Hockey Canada’s world junior summer evaluation camp kicked off today in St. John’s, Newfoundland. At the camp are two Saint John Sea Dogs defencemen in Simon Despres and Nathan Beaulieu.

The players arrived at the St. John’s airport yesterday and began workout sessions today.

According to Nike Training’s Twitter page, the players took part in “SPARQ Protocol Drills.” Since Nike is insane, they live steamed the event on their Facebook page.

Beaulieu and Despres will be competing on Team Red along with fellow Quebec Major Junior Hockey League players Brandon Gormley, Charles-Olivier Roussel, and Jean-Francois Berube. On Team White, QMJHL players include Olivier Roy, Nicolas Deslauriers, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, Sean Couturier, and Louis Leblanc.

The first practice for the two Sea Dogs defenders is tonight at Mile One Centre. Coverage of this event is unreal, with Hockey Canada set to broadcast all practices on FastHockey.com for free.

There will be two intersquad games, with the first taking place on Friday and the second on Saturday. Both games can be watched via webcast for a fee of $6.99.

This camp will help Hockey Canada and the coaching staff assemble Canada’s roster for the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo and Niagara, N.Y.