Penguins Open AHL Training Camp At Toyota Sportsplex

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - While the Pittsburgh Penguins continue their preseason slate, their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hit the ice for training camp this weekend, beginning Saturday morning with five goaltenders and 13 skaters.

The number of bodies continues to grow, with 27 guys skating in some capacity Sunday, and more on the way for the beginning of the week.

The current count heading into Monday, barring any cuts from AHL Penguins camp, is up to 39 players not including five that are were placed on waivers by the NHL club announced Sunday afternoon.

Day 1

The opening on-ice portion of AHL Penguins training camp began at 10am Saturday and ran until noon - with a slight break to clean the ice surface in the middle of the two-hour session.

The first half of the practice saw the participants doing some 2-on-2 cycle/puck protection drills in the corners, some passing and zone entry drills and some set plays to initiate a shot from the top of the circle before the shooter would backcheck and attempt to break up an opposing breakout of the zone.

Goalies Taylor Gauthier and Tommy Nappier handled duties in the first half of the practice, while tryout goalies Tye Austin, Ryan Bednard and Mario Culina took the ice when the team returned for the second half of the practice.

The second half of practice ended with about 20-30 minutes of vigorous skating as the skaters broke into three groups and took turns skating laps while new assistant coach Sheldon Brookbank had a stopwatch out - presumably meaning the players had a certain amount of time to complete the laps they were skating.

Day 2

Sunday's skate was similar in structure - a roughly two-hour session with a quick break about halfway through for an ice cleaning - but different in that some basic 5-on-5 forecheck and systems work was executed in the second half of practice which wrapped up with a little bit of a mini scrimmage between Team Black (B) and Team White (W).

Some line combos I jotted down during said scrimmage:

B: Ty Glover - Max Johnson - Lukas Svejkovsky W: Cedric Deruisseaux - Matthew Quercia - Sean Josling B: Daniel D'Amico - Felix Pare - Chad Yetman W: Nick Fea - Justin Addamo - Tyler Rockwell

B: Jon Lizotte - Mitch Reinke W: Josh Maniscalco - Adam Smith B: Chris Ortiz - Louis Roehl W: Clay Hanus - David Drake

WBS Training Camp Roster

Pittsburgh placed goaltender Dustin Tokarski, defenseman Xavier Ouellet and forwards Drake Caggiula, Alex Nylander and Radim Zohorna on waivers Sunday, with Zohorna listed as one of the Pens' 13 forwards on the NHL club's game roster for Monday's preseason finale against Detroit.

All five would able to be assigned to the AHL if they clear Monday afternoon.

The Pens also sent 12 waiver exempt players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday, with the AHL Pens' training camp shifting to two separate sessions beginning Monday in what will be a much more crowded training camp roster.

Goalies (6): Tye Austin (T), Ryan Bednard (ECHL), Mario Culina (ECHL), Taylor Gauthier, Filip Lindberg and Tommy Nappier (AHL)

Defense (11): David Drake (ECHL), Clay Hanus (AHL), Jon Lizotte (AHL), Josh Maniscalco (AHL), Chris Ortiz (AHL), Mitch Reinke (AHL), Louis Roehl (ECHL), Tyler Rockwell (T), Adam Smith (ECHL) Jack St. Ivany and Colin Swoyer

Forwards (22): Justin Addamo (ECHL), Corey Andonovski, Raivis Ansons, Daniel D'Amico (T) Cedric Desruisseaux (ECHL), Jamie Devane (AHL), Nick Fea (T), Jordan Frasca, Ty Glover, Filip Hallander, Sam Houde (AHL), Max Johnson (ECHL), Sean Josling (ECHL), Brooklyn Kalmikov (AHL), Nathan Legare, Drew O'Connor, Kyle Olson (AHL), Felix Pare (ECHL), Valtteri Puustinen, Matthew Quercia (ECHL), Lukas Svejkovsky and Chad Yetman (T)

T = tryout ECHL = ECHL contract with Wheeling AHL = AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Injury Report

Forwards Brooklyn Kalmikov, Samuel Houde and Felix Pare all sported red no-contact jerseys at practice Sunday; all three weren't present on-ice Saturday.

Kalmikov skated prior to the 10am start of practice and left the ice surface shortly after practice began.

Houde participated in the first half of practice Sunday, but didn't return for the final hour of the roughly two-hour session.

Pare was a participant throughout the practice Sunday.

Incoming rookie forward Jordan Frasca was seen watching the team's practice Sunday sporting a boot - a lower body injury that has him off the ice currently.