Shortys
08-23-2007, 08:59 AM
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Blades gear up for camp
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Training camp doesn't open until next week, but the Saskatoon Blades have already made some cuts.
They've ditched rookie camp so they can get right down to business. Of the 74 players expected to hit the ice Aug. 30 in Martensville, 17 are returnees.
"Because of our depth, it's going to be one of the most competitive camps we've had," coach-GM Lorne Molleken said Wednesday. "We have 16- and 17-year-olds who have been on our list for two or three years and they deserve an opportunity."
In lieu of rookie camp, the Blades invited their top prospects to an evaluation camp at Schroh Arena in May.
"Having 80 kids in rookie camp was just too much and it was too long," said assistant GM Jarrod Brodsky, "We decided to go after certain kids that we really wanted here."
Players will be divided into four teams with scrimmages running Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Molleken plans to trim the roster to about 26 after Saturday morning's sessions. He expects to have at least "10 guys pushing for jobs."
North Vancouver defenceman Stefan Elliott, Kelowna forward Curtis Hamilton and Surrey goaltender Adam Morrison are among the 1991-born players who have a shot at cracking the Blades' roster this season.
Forwards Chris Durand and Michael Kaye -- both off-season acquisitions -- are the only 20-year-olds invited to camp. Molleken said he doesn't expect to add a third overager until after Oct. 11. That's the deadline for Western Hockey League teams to declare their three overage players.
"There's not an overabundance of 20-year-olds out there, compared to last year," said Molleken. "We're just going to have to sit and wait until teams sort through what's available. Some players are away at (NHL) camps and teams won't know whether they're getting them back. I think we'll be waiting to see what comes available Oct. 11."
BLADE BITS: Because the Blades plan to be down to 26 players by Sept. 1, the traditional intrasquad game has also been axed . . . Finnish D Jyri Niemi and Slovakian F Robert Brandis are scheduled to arrive in Saskatoon late Sunday . . . The Blades' first exhibition action is Sept. 7 in Prince Albert. The following night, the Regina Pats visit Credit Union Centre. The exhibition schedule also includes a Sept. 14 clash between the Blades and Raiders in Lloydminster.
cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Blades gear up for camp
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Training camp doesn't open until next week, but the Saskatoon Blades have already made some cuts.
They've ditched rookie camp so they can get right down to business. Of the 74 players expected to hit the ice Aug. 30 in Martensville, 17 are returnees.
"Because of our depth, it's going to be one of the most competitive camps we've had," coach-GM Lorne Molleken said Wednesday. "We have 16- and 17-year-olds who have been on our list for two or three years and they deserve an opportunity."
In lieu of rookie camp, the Blades invited their top prospects to an evaluation camp at Schroh Arena in May.
"Having 80 kids in rookie camp was just too much and it was too long," said assistant GM Jarrod Brodsky, "We decided to go after certain kids that we really wanted here."
Players will be divided into four teams with scrimmages running Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Molleken plans to trim the roster to about 26 after Saturday morning's sessions. He expects to have at least "10 guys pushing for jobs."
North Vancouver defenceman Stefan Elliott, Kelowna forward Curtis Hamilton and Surrey goaltender Adam Morrison are among the 1991-born players who have a shot at cracking the Blades' roster this season.
Forwards Chris Durand and Michael Kaye -- both off-season acquisitions -- are the only 20-year-olds invited to camp. Molleken said he doesn't expect to add a third overager until after Oct. 11. That's the deadline for Western Hockey League teams to declare their three overage players.
"There's not an overabundance of 20-year-olds out there, compared to last year," said Molleken. "We're just going to have to sit and wait until teams sort through what's available. Some players are away at (NHL) camps and teams won't know whether they're getting them back. I think we'll be waiting to see what comes available Oct. 11."
BLADE BITS: Because the Blades plan to be down to 26 players by Sept. 1, the traditional intrasquad game has also been axed . . . Finnish D Jyri Niemi and Slovakian F Robert Brandis are scheduled to arrive in Saskatoon late Sunday . . . The Blades' first exhibition action is Sept. 7 in Prince Albert. The following night, the Regina Pats visit Credit Union Centre. The exhibition schedule also includes a Sept. 14 clash between the Blades and Raiders in Lloydminster.
cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007