Training Camp News

With training camps in practically all leagues now underway. I wanted to update you some of the early headlines among teams at different training camps.

Dallas Stars Training Camp

One of the biggest things that new Dallas Stars Head Coach Marc Crawford is wanting to change in the Stars system is making the defensemen produce more on offense as the team in recent years has been below par in recent years when it comes down offensive output from the defense and it proved costly last year with all the injuries especially to players like Brendan Morrow and Brad Richards last year as they had a hard time producing much offense.

Perhaps the player to watch the most is Trevor Daley as been a big disappoint when it comes down to producing points as that's what's his main role was spouse to be when he entered the NHL.

Also with Sergei Zubov leaving over the offseason, one of the big replacements a lot of people thought would be Ivan Vishnevskiy has been a bit of a disappointment since turning pro. He felt uneasy being in an Dallas Stars uniform, a good example was at the recent Traverse City Prospects Tournament where he's been inconsistent.

However, if they is anything to be exicted about, he seemed to have a break through year despite only scoring 6 goals and 13 assists in 67 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) and looked good in a brief 3 game stay with the Stars. If he do well in the practices and look good in the preseason games, he may finally have what it takes to start being in the NHL full time or for longer chunks of the season, and start being more reliable as a penitential long time replacement for Zubov.

Also, a big thing that the Marc Crawford is working on is faceoffs where the team was ranked 26th overall in the NHL, again some of this was because of the injury problems. However, I don't care what kind of team you have, either a NHL Team or an Adult I League team at your local ice rink, faceoffs are as fundamental as bread to a sandwich. If you look

Tonight is the 1st of the preseason games to be played at the AAC against the Tampa Bay Lighting and as for the roster the team is using, it's going to be a mix of both veterans and prospects looking to make the team this year.

Unfortunately, it won't be on TV or the new Radio Home of the Dallas Stars Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket, in fact just one game will be on the radio and none of them will be televised, so unless your planning to go to any of the games, your pretty much out of luck until the Regular Season opener against Nashville next month.

Here's a look at the roster the team will use tonight.

Forwards: Mike Modano, Brad Richards, Loui Eriksson, James Neal, Steve Ott, Jamie Been, Brian Sutherby, Colton Sceviour, Aaron Gagon, Warren Peters, Luke Gazdic, Tomas Vincour

Defensemen: Phillip Larsen, Matt Niskanen, Mark Fistric, Jeff Woywitka, Trevor Ludwig, Karlis Skarstins

Goalies: Marty Turco, Karlis Skarstins

Current Laredo Buck invited to Calgary Flames Training Camp

Rookie Goaltender for the Laredo Bucks Dan Spence was recently invited to the main camp for the Calgary Flames at the Pentgrowth Saddledome. He had a very impressive career in both the Ontario and Western Hockey Leagues winning 106 games and recording 13 shutouts in 4 years of playing junior hockey. Part of it was with the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) so the Flames got a good look at the goaltender.

He will most likely play with the Laredo Bucks this season but he could have a shot at potentially making the NHL Real soon and could be rising through the ranks very quickly.

Last year, he played with the OHL Sarnia Sting with 29-16-6 record in 54 games during the regular season before leaving for Calgary where he went 4-2 with a 1.98 GAA in his short time with the Hitmen as the team eventually got to the WHL Championship series before losing to the Kelowna Rockets in 6 games.

Also included in the story is some info about a former Laredo Buck named Darryl Smith who was named the CHL Rookie of the Year with the Atlanta Thrashers in Duluth, Georgia. He recently impressed with the Thrashers by picking up 3 points in 4 games he played in Traverse City, Michigan. In addition to being called CHL Rookie of the year, he was able to get a brief stay with the Houston Aeros while they were dealing with injuries midway through the season.

Here's a story on the Central Hockey League website: www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/news/index.html?article_id=3655