Senators announce rookie camp roster
The Ottawa Senators announced their 21-man roster for the team's upcoming rookie tournament in Kitchener, ON next week. The tournament's going to include the Sens' prospects as well as those from the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and the lineup includes players acquired through draft, trade, and free agency signings.
Here's the roster:
Goaltenders: Shane Connelly (Wisconsin - WCHA), Robin Lehner (Frolunda Jr. - Sweden)
Defencemen: Paul Baier (Portland - AHL), Collin Bowman (Kelowna - WHL), Erik Karlsson (Frolunda HC, Boras HC - Sweden), Geoff Kinrade (Michigan Tech - WCHA, Norfolk - AHL, Tampa Bay - NHL), Mat Robinson (Las Vegas - ECHL, Alaska-Anchorage - WCHA), Craig Schira (Vancouver - WHL), Kyle Wharton (Johnstown - ECHL, Syracuse - AHL)
Forwards: Erik Condra (Notre Dame - CCHA), Keegan Dansereau (Swift Current - WHL), Kaspars Daugavins (Binghamton - AHL, Mississauga - OHL), Jordan Hale (Brandon - WHL), Michael Hoffman (Drummondville - QMJHL), Casey Lee (U. of Saskatchewan - CWUAA), Matt Lowry (Brandon - WHL), Jim O’Brien (Seattle - WHL, Binghamton - AHL), Brett Parnham (Oshawa - OHL, Rochester - AHL), Peter Regin (Binghamton - AHL, Ottawa - NHL), Zack Smith (Binghamton - AHL, Ottawa - NHL), Brandon Svendsen (Idaho - ECHL, Bowling Green - CCHA)
(Read more... )
You might notice some familiar names on there. Big ones include Lehner, who was drafted this past year, Karlsson, who's going to get every chance to make the NHL this year, O'Brien, who's going into his first year as a full-time pro, and Regin and Zach Smith, both of whom saw a bit of time in Ottawa last season. Behind the bench for Ottawa will be newly hired Binghamton head coach Don Nachbaur.
Although the tournaments don't usually get much in the way of media coverage, they're usually pretty fun to follow. It's nice getting a sneak peak at some of the future Senators players, especially this year with a couple of them having good chances to make the NHL. It's a little disappointing to see that 2009 first-round pick Jared Cowen is apparently still healing from his knee injury and thus out of the lineup, but he'll have plenty of time. Also curious why Patrick Wiercioch was left off, but there's probably a good reason.
Anyone going to be at any of the games? It's be great to get some info on the goings-on in Kitchener, if you're heading out there.