The Nashville Predators will have many of their top prospects in town this week when they officially open their 2009 Developmental Camp on Tuesday, July 7 at Centennial Sportsplex with fitness testing. The camp continues through Sunday, July 12 with the first of three on-ice sessions coming at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8.

Six former Admirals will be in attendance at the camp including forwards Ian McKenzie, Mark Santorelli, and Nick Spaling and defenseman Jon Blum, Teemu Laakso, and Russ Sinkewich.

The purpose of the camp is to educate and direct players in their pro development and conditioning programs, and the week’s events will be presided over by the Predators coaching staff. Strength and Conditioning Coach David Good will lead the scheduled training regimen, which includes a variety of dry-land activities and workouts, on-ice fundamentals work, off-ice testing and team-building activities. The players will also receive instruction on training principles such as sport-specific power and strength enhancement, flexibility and off-ice conditioning.

Coaches and members of the Predators’ player development/scouting staff will be assisted by Admirals head coach Lane Lambert and assistant coach Brad Lauer as well as Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL affiliate) coach Chuck Weber. Martin Gelinas, Nashville’s new Director of Player Development, is also scheduled to aid in the week’s activities.

In addition to 17 Predators picks from 2005-08 and several free-agent signees or invites, the camp will feature a number of Nashville’s selections from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including first-round selection Ryan Ellis (11th overall).

 

Forwards Height Weight Shoots Place of Birth Birthdate 2008-09 Team
Ryan Flynn 6-2 214 R St. Paul, Minn. 3/22/88 U. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Blake Geoffrion 6-1 191 L Plantation, Fla. 2/3/88 U. of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Jani Lajunen 6-1 174 L Helsinki, Finland 6/16/90 Espoo (Finland)/Espoo Jr. (Fin-Jr.)
Ian McKenzie 6-5 223 R Weyburn, Sask. 5/23/87 Milwaukee (AHL)/Cincinnati (ECHL)
Ben Ryan 5-11 190 R Detroit, Mich. 10/16/88 U. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Mark Santorelli 6-1 191 R Burnaby, B.C. 8/6/88 Milwaukee (AHL)/Cincinnati (ECHL)
Nick Spaling 6-1 187 L Palmerston, Ont. 9/19/88 Milwaukee (AHL)
Taylor Stefishen 5-11 170 R North Vancouver, B.C. 8/15/90 Ohio State University (CCHA)
Ryan Thang 5-11 190 R Chicago, Ill. 5/11/87 U. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Casey Wellman 6-0 174 R Brentwood, Calif. 10/18/87 Umass-Amherst (H-East)
Colin Wilson 6-1 213 L Greenwich, Conn. 10/20/89 Boston University (H-East)

 

Defense Height Weight Shoots Place of Birth Birthdate 2008-09 Team
Jonathon Blum 6-1 177 R Long Beach, Calif. 1/30/89 Vancouver (WHL)
Jeffrey Foss 6-2 208 R Fargo, N.D. 12/12/88 R.P.I. (ECAC)
Roman Josi 6-1 185 L Bern, Switzerland 6/1/90 Bern (Switzerland)
Teemu Laakso 6-1 201 R Tuusula, Finland 8/27/87 Milwaukee (AHL)
Russ Sinkewich 6-3 214 R Westlake, Ohio 9/21/85 Bowling Green (CCHA)/Milwaukee (AHL)/
Lake Erie (AHL)/Johnstown (ECHL)

 

GOALTENDER Height Weight Catches Place of Birth Birthdate 2008-09 Team
Atte Engren 6-1 194 L Rauma, Finland 2/19/88 TPS Turku (Finland)/K-Vantaa (Finland-2)/
TPS Turku-Jr. (Fin.-Jr.)
Anders Lindback 6-6 198 L Gavle, Sweden 5/3/88 Brynas (Sweden)/Brynas Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Chet Pickard 6-2 210 L Moncton, N.B. 11/29/89 Tri-City (WHL)
Jeremy Smith 6-0 168 L Dearborn, Mich. 4/13/89 Niagara (OHL)/Plymouth (OHL)