We got a bunch of notes about various New York Ranger prospects to pass along from the various CHL training camps as they get underway this week. The QMJHL teams have about a full week under their belts, the WHL teams started their camps on Thursday and the OHL teams will get underway during this upcoming week.But first we want to start with hopefully stopping what is some not so official information. The good folks at RedWingCentral.com do a great job covering the Traverse City Tournament but the roster that is posted up there is not the official one.
The Ranger still have not released and nowhere on the Rangers website are you seeing it. The Rangers have been very good at posting prospect information in the last couple of years and even their own website says:
Look for a complete Traverse City roster here on newyorkrangers.com in the days leading up to the tournament.
The reason we are saying this is because the roster that is making the rounds is listing players like Trevor Glass as ATO when they are actually under contract. As soon as the Rangers post the official roster we will break it down for you.
The picture you are seeing at the top is 2009 5th round pick Roman Horak who has reported to the Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL and has begun training. The Bruins selected Horak in the annual CHL Import Draft after the Rangers had selected him in the Entry Draft.
Horak is a 6' 190lb center who shoots lefthanded; very little is known about the young man from Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic. What we do know is that Horak's early arrival speaks volumes about his desire to become an NHL player.
For those of you who do not know about Chilliwack then here is a bit of background for you; Glen Sather is one of the part owners of the Bruins. The Bruins are coached by former NHLers Marc Habscheid and Bob Rouse.
Horak saw action on Friday in an inter squad game notching an assist in his first game. We hope to have a scouting report on him next week.
Free Agent signee defenseman Sam Klassen has reported to the Saskatoon Blades and with thanks to Dan Ukrainetz the team manager of media will be doing an interview with us on Saturday.Klassen is 20 so he can either play for the Rangers (or minor league teams Hartford and Charlotte) or come back to the Blades for another season. Klassen is 6'2 203 according to the Blades.
Klassen's younger brother Woody is trying to earn a spot on the Blade roster and like his older brother is also a defenseman. Woody is 2 years younger and scored a goal in Team White's 10-5 win over Team Blue.
Jon Keen the voice of the Swift Current Broncos as well as the blog "Keen's Korner" reports that 2008 4th round pick Dale Weise is working out with his former team to help get ready for his 2nd Ranger's camp.
Weise who forced his way onto the Hartford Wolfpack roster with his hard work last year is looking to improve on his 11-12-23 season. Keep an eye on Weise as it appears he got the message about showing up for the Ranger camp in good shape.
According to Steve Ewen44 of the Dub Hub; Traverse City invitee Craig Cunningham showed that he too got the message about conditioning as he finished 3rd in the annual Vancouver Giant veteran class run of what is called the Grouse Grind. From what we have learned this is a 1.8 mile run that goes up a steep elevation of 2880 ft.
The winning time was 36 minutes which makes Cunningham's efforts all the more impressive. Ranger fans are going to love that these kids are taking what John Tortorella is saying about those who work hard to heart.
Moving east to the QMJHL; 2009 3rd round pick Ryan Bourque and his Quebec Remparts open up their exhibition season with a game on Saturday evening against the Rimouski Oceanic. We will try to get a game report as we expect Bourque to play.
Also on Saturday, 2008 5th round pick Chris Doyle starts his final season with the Prince Edward Island Rocket as the Rocket take on the Halifax Mooseheads in their exhibition game opener. We will pass along information on that game as well.
Finally Dale Hunter coach of 2008 First Round Pick Michael Del Zotto thinks that Del Zotto deserves a chance to make Team Canada's 2010 World Under 20 team. The more you read this article the more we think you will see why it will not be a bad thing if Del Zotto returns back to the Knights.
Read it here first, Del Zotto if he spends the season with Dale Hunter and stays healthy will follow in the foot steps of his pal Marc Staal and make the direct jump to the Rangers. We think Del Zotto will win the CHL award for Best Defenseman this season.
(Roman Horak courtesy of the Chilliwack Bruins, Sam Klassen courtesy of the Saskatoon Blades)
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