NHL Rookie Showdown Offers Preview of Potential B-Sens Young Guns.
BELLEVILLE - Senators’ rookies will equate themselves with one more practice at the Bell Sensplex on Thursday morning (Sept. 6), before making the nearly two-hour jaunt east, preparing for the 2018 edition of the annual event is set for Sept. 7 to 9 in Laval.
Please see the schedule below for details.
All games to take place at Place Bell in Laval
Friday, September 7th: Montreal vs. Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 8th: Ottawa vs. Toronto, 3 p.m. Sunday, September 9th: Montreal vs. Toronto, 3 p.m.
This weekend’s three-team rookie tournament will provide Belleville hockey fans with their first glimpse of head coach Troy Mann along with incoming rookies.
The Senators will be coached by recently appointed bench boss Troy Mann. Mann will be joined by new assistant coach Ryan Murphy, second-year assistant Paul Boutilier, Ottawa Senators' player development coach Shean Donovan and video coach Tyler May.
Eleven members of Belleville’s inaugural season roster will attend the rookie tournament: Filip Gustavsson, Macoy Erkamps, Christian Jaros, Maxime Lajoie, Filip Chlapik, Alex Formenton, Parker Kelly, Boston Leier, Ryan Scarfo, Andrew Sturtz, and Colin White.
AHL-contracted forwards Boston Leier and Ryan Scarfo both saw time in Belleville following the conclusion of their collegiate careers a season ago. Now both are guaranteed to suit up in the Friendly City this coming fall.
Boston Leier made the most of his amateur try-out agreement, scoring four goals and adding two assists in eight games with Belleville. He also earned an AHL contract in the process.
Ryan Scarfo signed to an AHL contract out of Union College for the 2018-19 season. He appeared in Belleville’s final 13 games of the season on an ATO, showing off his speed and scoring 4 points.
Drake Batherson and Aaron Luchuk are poised to turn pro with Belleville, following impressive junior careers. Filip Gustavsson, Macoy Erkamps, Christian Jaros, Maxime Lajoie and Andrew Sturtz, are all expected to return to the friendly city for the upcoming campaign.
Logan Brown could be a solid addition to Belleville's lineup, if he is unable to make Ottawa's opening roster out of training camp.
Belleville’s leading scorer from a-year-ago Filip Chlapik and Colin White who was named the team’s rookie of the year will follow in Brown’s footsteps and push for spots in the nation's capital.
For the full rookie tournament roster, please see the list below:
Goaltenders: Filip Gustavsson (Luleå – SHL, Belleville – AHL), Jordan Hollett (Medicine Hat – WHL), Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton – QMJHL).
Defencemen: Jonathan Aspirot (Moncton – QMJHL), Charles-Edouard D’Astous (Rimouski – QMJHL), Macoy Erkamps (Brampton – ECHL, Belleville – AHL), Christian Jaros (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL), Maxime Lajoie (Brampton – ECHL, Belleville – AHL), Brady Lyle (North Bay – OHL, Owen Sound – OHL), Nicolas Mattinen (Flint – OHL, Hamilton – OHL), Chase Stewart (Rimouski – QMJHL), Christian Wolanin (North Dakota – NCHC, Ottawa – NHL).
Forwards: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton – QMJHL, Blainville-Boisbriand – QMJHL), Logan Brown (Windsor – OHL, Kitchener – OHL, Ottawa – NHL), Luka Burzan (Moose Jaw – WHL, Brandon – WHL), Filip Chlapik (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL), Alex Formenton (London – OHL, Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL), Parker Kelly (Prince Albert – WHL, Belleville – AHL), Boston Leier (Acadia – AUS, Belleville – AHL), Aaron Luchuk (Windsor – OHL, Barrie – OHL), Robert Lynch (Drummondville – QMJHL), Gregor MacLeod (Charlottetown – QMJHL, Quebec – QMJHL), Ryan Scarfo (Union – ECAC, Belleville – AHL), Jordan Stallard (Prince Albert – WHL), Andrew Sturtz (Penn State – Big-10, Belleville – AHL), Brady Tkachuk (Boston University – H-East), Colin White (Belleville – AHL, Ottawa – NHL).
Top prospects Christian Jaros, Christian Wolanin, Logan Brown, Filip Chlapik, Alex Formenton and Colin White all saw action at the NHL-level a season ago in Ottawa.
All eyes will be on the highly-touted Brady Tkachuk and fellow first-rounders Logan Brown and Colin White. At the same time, it should be noted that there are many other prospects who could add some much-needed depth to Belleville's roster while continuing to hone their craft at the American Hockey Level.
