World Juniors Development Camp
I love how it's the end of July, the middle of summer, and Canadians can still get excited about a junior hockey team that won't even play until December.
There are only two draft-eligible players at the evaluation camp, and they seem making the best impression.
John Tavares is still the second youngest player, even though this is his third camp. Apparently he's been putting on quite a show and has impressed new head coach Benoit Groulx in the early stages of this year's 5-day camp in Ottawa. I've become quite fond of him over the past year, and it's been especially heightened over the past week or so, and with all this talk of Victor Hedman possibly stealing the no. 1 overall pick in the 2009 entry draft. Someone needs to tell JT that he can't sit back like he did last year.
Also making a splash at camp is the youngest player this year, Nazem Kadri, who had a goal and an assist in yesterday's first intrasquad game, which his Team Red won 4-1. (The lone Team White goal was scored by John Tavares on a modified penalty shot.) To be honest I haven't heard much of this kid, with the exception of his play during the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup (20GP-9-17-26 in the OHL playoffs, his Kitchener Rangers lost to the Spokane Chiefs in the Memorial Cup final.) He's a smallish forward who can play all three positions and has the ability to put up some good numbers.
I've been watching a LOT of WJC games lately, and, God, am I excited for this holiday season.
P.S. Oh yea, our defence looks good. Luke Schenn and Drew Doughty are both able to come back and play for us this year, provided they're not staples in the NHL in five months. Alex Pietrangelo is also at the camp.
Notes: 10 players from last year's gold medal winning team are eligible to play again- you can take Steven Stamkos right off that list though, I'm pretty sure.
There are only two draft-eligible players at the evaluation camp, and they seem making the best impression.
John Tavares is still the second youngest player, even though this is his third camp. Apparently he's been putting on quite a show and has impressed new head coach Benoit Groulx in the early stages of this year's 5-day camp in Ottawa. I've become quite fond of him over the past year, and it's been especially heightened over the past week or so, and with all this talk of Victor Hedman possibly stealing the no. 1 overall pick in the 2009 entry draft. Someone needs to tell JT that he can't sit back like he did last year.
Also making a splash at camp is the youngest player this year, Nazem Kadri, who had a goal and an assist in yesterday's first intrasquad game, which his Team Red won 4-1. (The lone Team White goal was scored by John Tavares on a modified penalty shot.) To be honest I haven't heard much of this kid, with the exception of his play during the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup (20GP-9-17-26 in the OHL playoffs, his Kitchener Rangers lost to the Spokane Chiefs in the Memorial Cup final.) He's a smallish forward who can play all three positions and has the ability to put up some good numbers.
I've been watching a LOT of WJC games lately, and, God, am I excited for this holiday season.
P.S. Oh yea, our defence looks good. Luke Schenn and Drew Doughty are both able to come back and play for us this year, provided they're not staples in the NHL in five months. Alex Pietrangelo is also at the camp.
Notes: 10 players from last year's gold medal winning team are eligible to play again- you can take Steven Stamkos right off that list though, I'm pretty sure.