Several Former RedHawks Open NHL Training Camp
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Sept. 16, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio - After several former Miami University hockey players returned to Oxford in late August for Miami's inaugural Pro Camp to help get in shape for the upcoming NHL season, the time has come for the them to put that hard work over the summer to use.
Eleven Miami Hockey alumni will hit the ice for NHL training camp Friday, as all 30 National Hockey League teams open camp. Of the 11 RedHawks beginning NHL training camp, three will be making their first appearance while the most veteran of the group enters his 14th NHL season.
Leading the list of RedHawks at NHL training camps is defenseman Dan Boyle ('98), who starts his fourth season with the San Jose Sharks. The two-time All-American at Miami started his career with the Florida Panthers in 1998-99 and earned a full roster spot in 2000-01, before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2004. Joining Boyle at Sharks camp is former Miami captain Tommy Wingels ('11), who made his NHL debut last year after leaving Miami as a junior. The forward appeared in five games for San Jose while spending most of the year with the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate in Worcester.
Another set of former Miami players who will be at the same camp are defenseman Alec Martinez ('09) and goaltender Jeff Zatkoff ('09), who will both take part in Los Angeles Kings camp. Martinez, an All-American at Miami in his final year before turning pro (2008), made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season but earned a full roster spot last year, playing in 60 games. Zatkoff also left Miami after his junior year in 2008 and has spent the last two years playing full-time for the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL.
Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist and 2008 All-American Ryan Jones ('08) opens camp with the Edmonton Oilers, as he begins his second full season with the Oilers. The forward played in 81 games for Edmonton last year. He spent most of his first two years in the NHL with the Nashville Predators before being picked up by the Oilers late in the 2009-10 season. Another NHL veteran opening camp is defenseman Andy Greene ('06) with the New Jersey Devils. The two-time All-American at Miami enters his sixth NHL season in 2011-12, all with New Jersey, as he played in every game for the Devils last year.
Justin Mercier ('09) begins his third training camp with the Colorado Avalanche this year. The forward made his NHL debut in 2009-10, playing in nine games for the Avs, but has spent most of his professional career with Colorado's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. Forward Jarod Palmer ('10) enters his second NHL training camp, both with the Minnesota Wild, after signing as a free agent following his Miami career. He spent last year with the Wild's AHL affiliate in Houston.
The three RedHawks making their NHL training camp debut are forwards Carter Camper ('11), Pat Cannone ('11) and Andy Miele ('11), all three of which signed as free agents this past April. Camper, a two-time All-American at Miami, begins his first full professional season at Boston Bruins camp after joining their AHL affiliate in Providence at the end of last year. Cannone will be at Ottawa Senators camp, also playing for their AHL affiliate in Binghamton at the end of the 2010-11 season. Miele, who was Miami's first Hobey Baker Award winner, makes his NHL camp debut with the Phoenix Coyotes after joining the team late last year.
Three coaches in the NHL also have Miami ties. Former assistant coach Jeff Blashill begins his first season as an assistant for the Detroit Red Wings, former RedHawk Kevyn Adams (`96), who won a Stanley Cup as a player with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, enters his first season as assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres and Mitch Korn, a former assistant coach at Miami, is entering his 14th season as goaltending coach for Nashville.
The NHL regular season begins Oct. 6.
--MURedHawks.com--
