The NHL rookie camp and showcase are underway. Top and new stars are representing their clubs with attendance in Vegas, while prospects travel to cities to compete in games.
For Columbus, this year is a little different. No longer will the Jackets participate in Traverse City, Michigan for the games there. Rookie games will now be at the Prospect Challenge at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, NY.
The Jackets get all Eastern Conference matchups, including the Buffalo Sabres (host); Ottawa Senators; and Boston Bruins from the Atlantic Division. As Metro rivals, they will see the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils.
The players going up for the games are as follows:
Head Coach - Trent Vogelhuber
Forwards
37 RW Cameron Butler; undrafted ELC 41 C Hunter McKown; undrafted ELC 45 RW Gavin Brindley; 2023 Draft 53 Luca Pinelli; 2023 Draft 65 Luca Del Bel Belluz; 2022 Draft 66 James Malatesta; 2021 Draft 76 Mael Lavigne 77 Jack Van Volson 88 Tyler Peddle; 2023 Draft 92 Pano Fimis 93 Max McCue; undrafted ELC 94 Sam Alfano 97 Nicolas Sima
Defense
5 Denton Mateychuk; 2022 Draft 50 Nick DeAngelis 54 Luca Marrelli; 2024 Draft 57 Charlie Elick; 2024 Draft 74 Corson Ceulemans; 2021 Draft 96 Conor Walton 98 Nolan Collins
Goalies
31 Nolan Lalonde; undrafted ELC 35 Evan Gardner; 2024 Draft 70 Jacob Oster
The games begin Friday night and end Monday afternoon at the KeyBank Rink. The Jackets will only battle the Atlantic teams. There will be daily practices at New Wave Energy Rink.
Fri Sept 13 v Buffalo
Sat Sept 14 v Boston
Mon Sept 16 v Ottawa
Important Dates Have Been Shared
Training Camp Opens Sept 18 including medical and fitness testing 1st Preseason Game Sept 23 in Buffalo 1st Regular Season Game is Oct 10 at Minnesota 1st Home Game is Oct 15 v Florida Holiday Roster Freeze is Dec 20-27 NHL 4 Nations Tournament is Feb 10-21 Trade Deadline is Mar 7 @ 3pm Final Regular Season is Apr 17 2025 Playoffs Apr 19 Last Cup Final Game Jun 23
Johnny Hockey and Matthew Gaudreau Laid To Rest
The brothers’ memorial service was held on Monday. Sean Monahan, Kevin Hayes, and Andrew Mangipanie were three of his pallbearers. Widow Meredith announced she is nine weeks pregnant with the couples’ third child.
Pearl Jam honored Gaudreau at their Philadelphia show over the weekend.
Denver Broncos LB Alex Singelton wore his jersey before their NFL game.
The WWE and Canadian wrestler, former NXT, Intercontinental, and Tag Champion Sami Zayn wore a Gaudreau jersey in the ring with Brett Hart on WWE RAW. NHL and WWE commentator Jackie Redmond also delivered a heartfelt message from the memorial outside Saddledome and a Johnny chant broke out.
Oubitraries
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog
https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ
Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K
https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season
https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss
https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)
https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)
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