Kyle Ross Practicing with AHL Team...

[Bran]

Kyle left this morning for Milwaukee. He's going to be practicing with the Admirals of the AHL. Hasn't signed anything, but looks like a pretty solid start on the road to the NHL!

[nivek_wahs]

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=1c751ee3-9149-45f0-951e-4ef146446c0c

Ross signs pro tryout
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Kyle Ross is taking his shot.

The Regina Pats' centre has come to terms on a professional tryout agreement with the NHL's Nashville Predators. Ross agreed to the deal on Monday and was immediately assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

"Their biggest thing for bringing him out there is they want to see if he can play the pro game," said a source with intimate knowledge of the negotiations, who spoke to the Leader-Post on the condition of anonymity. "Nashville has already stated that they want him to go to their rookie camp and to their main camp (next fall). But that all kind of depends on how he's going to perform when he's out there."

Milwaukee opens the first round of the playoffs on Friday night against the host Chicago Wolves. The Admirals finished third in the West Division with a record of 41-25-4-10.

It remains to be seen if Ross will get into a game with Milwaukee -- it likely hinges on injuries -- but he will practise with the team for the entire week heading into the playoffs.

"He's going into a pretty good opportunity," noted the source. "He'll be training with these guys. He'll know what he has to be next year when it comes to camp."

Ross was named the Pats' MVP this season after recording 20 goals and 48 assists for 68 points in 71 games. However, his best qualities are typically identified as being more intangible, with particular emphasis on character, leadership and work ethic.

"We obviously wouldn't be bringing him in if we didn't think he had a chance to play," offered Predators scout Glen Sanders, who also scouts for the Pats out of Trail, B.C. "We really like how hard he works. He has been a leader in Regina for a long time. He's just a heart-and-soul kind of guy."

Having watched Ross for four years in the WHL, Sanders believes he has earned a chance to try his hand at the pro level. If it doesn't work out, he's expected to join the university ranks, with the U of Regina Cougars being a front-runner for his services.

"He has to go down there and impress the (Admirals') coaches and see where he fits in the organization," Sanders added. "We've all liked him (as a scouting staff) to a point where we said, 'Let's give him a chance.' He's such a good kid that everybody hopes he can step up and make it to the next level because there's no stopping him if he can just keep competing hard."

Ross, 20, played his final WHL game on Friday when the Pats were swept from the second round of the playoffs by the Medicine Hat Tigers.

When reached Monday night in Milwaukee, Ross said he's looking forward to getting a taste of the pro experience.

"I was really excited to get a call," said the Regina native, who's represented by Thunder Creek Sports Management in Saskatoon. "It will be fun to see what it's like. Junior is one thing but this is the next step. I'm just going to practise hard and hopefully I get a chance to go to camp in the fall."

Pats centre Garrett Festerling, another graduating free agent, leaves today to join the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League. Like Ross, he's on a tryout contract, meaning there's no guarantee he will play any games.




© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007