Penguins Announce Rookie Camp Dates And Attendees
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jul 13, 11:30 AM | Hype this story!
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced the dates and attendees for their annual rookie camp. Below is the press release from their web site.
The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins will hold a prospect conditioning camp July 20-26 at Mellon Arena and the Iceoplex at Southpointe. Among those players scheduled to attend are Eric Tangradi and the Penguins’ first-round selection in the recent NHL Entry Draft, Simon Despres.
The group of rookies and prospects will be in Pittsburgh taking part in on-ice practice and scrimmage sessions at Southpointe, undergoing medical and fitness testing at the UPMC Sports Medicine complex on the South Side, and attending meetings and seminars at Mellon Arena. The instructors will be Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Todd Reirden, Penguins assistant to the GM Tom Fitzgerald, Robert Morris University head coach Derek Schooley and Penguins strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar.
Tangradi, a former second-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, was acquired in the trade that also brought Chris Kunitz from Anaheim. The left winger finished eighth in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 38 goals and 88 points in 55 games for Belleville Bulls in 2008-09. He added eight goals and 21 points in 16 playoff games before being sidelined with a hand injury.
Depres, a defenseman who was the Penguins’ first round pick (30th overall), leads the members of the 2009 draft class who are scheduled to attend. Also at the camp will be Ben Hanowski (Round 3, 63rd overall), Nicholas Petersen (Round 4, 121st overall), Alex Velischek (Round 5, 123rd overall) and Andy Bathgate (Round 5, 151st overall).
Other prospects in the Penguins’ system scheduled to be in Pittsburgh include; forwards Luca Caputi, Joey Haddad, Dustin Jeffrey, Nick Johnson, Nathan Longpre, Nathan Moon, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Zack Sill, Keven Veilleux and Joe Vitale; defensemen Robert Bortuzzo, Lane Caffaro, Nicholas D’Agostino, Jonathan D’Aversa, Alex Grant, Carl Sneep, Brian Strait and Denny Urban; and goaltenders Patrick Killeen and Brad Thiessen.
A complete camp schedule will be released in the near future.
Comments
Nathan
Jul 13, 01:03 PM
Is Jesse or anyone else going to be there?
Dabich
Jul 13, 01:08 PM
And you will be there, no?
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 13, 01:37 PM
I’m planning on attending at least once, though it will depend on an ability to get off of work and to convince my fiance to go with me. But I’m no prospect analyst, and my report(s) will be very basic in nature.
Nathan
Jul 13, 01:57 PM
Any information is cool. I’m excited to hear about a lot of these kids.
doug
Jul 13, 01:57 PM
@matt lol good luck with the lady
ohh and hey i know its just a formality now,but what is the word on pesonen?
has he decided to leave and to whom
i really wish he’d stick out one more year two way contract
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 13, 02:31 PM
@Nathan, I’ll do what I can!
@Doug, I guess convince was the wrong word on my part. She loves hockey and especially loves attending camps. Where problems could arise is within her schedule. It will depend on which days camp is open to the public.
As for Pesonen, I believe his first choice was and is to remain with the Penguins. But he also wants a shot to play in the NHL. I suspect he is seeking a team that offers a more likely track to the NHL. If he doesn’t find a good fit, don’t be surprised to see him return as a late offseason signing.
TIM
Jul 13, 03:16 PM
Matt I am so jealous! Any info will be greatly appreciated on this board. PS did you see the Devils are bringing back Lamaire? BOOOO. As Mike calls him, he is a ruiner of hockey.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jul 13, 04:25 PM
“Lou the Devil” brings back “Lamaire the Ruinaire.” :)
DaBich
Jul 13, 08:53 PM
Haha Matt, Rhiana will go, if I have to convince her ;)
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