As previously announced, the Kings are getting ready to hold their annual summer development camp at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, CA – with sessions open to the public on July 11 and 12. Most of the players are scheduled to arrive on the 8th.
Last year 40 players were in camp, including five goalies.
So, who’s coming this year?
While the full roster is expected to be announced shortly, here are some confirmed participants, four of the tryout players and a few miscellaneous notes.
Confirmed Draft Picks
JF Berube – 2009 fourth round, Montreal (QMJHL)
Nic Deslauriers – 2009 third round, Gatineau (QMJHL)
Derek Forbort – 2010 first round pick, North Dakota (NCAA)
Kevin Gravel – 2010 fifth round pick, St Cloud State (NCAA)
Brandon Kozun – 2009 sixth round pick, Calgary (WHL)
Michael Mersch – 2011 fourth round pick, Wisconsin (NCAA)
Tyler Toffoli – 2010 second round pick, Ottawa (OHL)
Michael Schumacher – 2011 seventh round pick, Sweden
Jordan Weal – 2010 third round pick, Regina (WHL)
Invited Guests
Each year a number of guys are invited to attend camp on a tryout basis. So far, the following players have accepted and are scheduled to be in camp:
Pierre Durepos – defenseman, Saint John Sea Dogs
Bio: 6-foot-1, 175 lbs, 19 years old, Shediac, NB
2010-11 stats: 30 points (3g, 27a) in 68 regular season games
Note: His team just won the Memorial Cup
Michael Kantor – right wing, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Bio: 6-foot, 198 lbs, 19 years old, Lake Forest, IL
2010-11 stats: 20 points (11g, 9a) in 52 regular season games
Notes: Was traded to the Greyhounds from Saginaw Spirit in January 2010 (for Brandon Archibald). Participated in the Columbus Blue Jacket’s prospect training camp prior to the 2010-2011 season.
Colin Miller – defenseman, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Bio: 6-foot-1, 173 lbs, 19 years old, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
2010-11 stats: 22 points (3g, 19a) in 66 regular season games
Note:Was signed by the Soo as a a free agent last summer and for the 2011 NHL Draft was was ranked 148th by NHL Central Scouting (N. American skaters). He went undrafted.
Saverio ‘Sammy’ Posa – defenseman, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Bio: 5-foot-10, 171 lbs, 19 years old, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
2010-11 stats: 13 points (2g, 11a) in 59 regular season games
Note: Favorite athlete is Ilya Kovalchuk. Also, his father played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Other Roster Notes
* All 2011 draft picks are believed to have been invited and will be attending. This includes goalie Christopher Gibson and Nick Shore.
* Maxim Kitsyn is not expected to be there there. He returned to Russia following the Memorial Cup and is getting ready to begin training camp soon with his KHL team (their season begins earlier than the NHL).
* I’ll have interviews up later today with Durepos, Gravel, Mersch, Schumacher (all the way from Sweden!), Toffoli, Weal…and perhaps a few others.
UPDATE I: now posted – Berube interview (link), Toffoli interview (link) and Weal interview (link)…more to follow.
UPDATE II: the full roster and skate times have been posted here
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RELATED ARTICLES:
Camp 2010 – Interview with Jordan Weal
Camp 2010 – Interview with Branon Kozun
Interview with 2011 OHL Scoring Champion Tyler Toffoli
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