Chirps from Center Ice

Hey, is this thing on?

After a nice long summer I hoped would never end, it’s apparently time to get back into the blog and put it to use again.

Coal Street on Thursday published their initial training camp roster, so I figured I would pop in here and offer some thoughts.

First things first, I expect them to compete again this season. Pittsburgh is getting older, so with that and realizing that they need bodies on the farm for the next generation, it all starts here.

Now, are they a Cup contending team? Hardly. Do I expect them to compete for the top two spots? It’s a reasonable expectation here in late September. Things, as you know and if you have followed this blog for the however any years I have been running it for, always change with trades, call ups and injuries.

That said, let’s get into the group.

Guys You Know

Raivis Ansons, Isaac Belliveau, Scooter Brickey, Mathieu De St. Phalle, Taylor Gauthier, Sam Houde, Justin Lee and Logan Pietila are all guys you should be familiar with.

I would expect, out of this group, to have Belliveau, De St. Phalle and Houde to stick for the duration. Ansons is a tweener, Gauthier is a guy that will probably end up in Wheeling because there are too many better goaltenders in the pipeline which have already clogged things up (a good thing) Pietila could get an extended look, but I think Wheeling is in his short term future.

Tryouts

Jaxon Castor, Filip Forsmark, Keeghan Howdeshell, David Jankowski, Matt Koopman, Jordan Martel, Zachary Massicotte, Chris Ortiz, Matt Quercia, Luke Richardson and Jared Westcott.

Sickos remember Castor, Martel and Quercia. Ortiz was with the organization a few years ago and bounced around. Forsmark, Jankowski, Koopman, Martel, and Westcott have Wheeling ties.

Howdeshell had 10-12-22 in 67 games with Worcester of the ECHL last season but was a -20. Massicotte has a Wheeling contract. Richardson has a Greenville ECHL contract.

Rest of the Group

Jack Beck, Atley Calvert, Kyle Jackson, Gabe Klassen, Mats Lindgren, Bennett MacArthur and Phip (not Philip) Waugh

These guys were all signed at some point by Coal Street during late Spring or early Summer.

Out of the group, Klassen captained the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL last year and had 106 points in a breakout year. He had 60+ points the last two seasons prior with Portland. He could be a diamond in the rough type guy to keep an eye on depending on how well he transitions from juniors to pro.

All in all, no real surprises. There will be more cuts coming from Pittsburgh which will undoubtedly elbow a lot of these guys out.

Potpourri

Coal Street announced a new third jersey Thursday as well.

I think they look nice.

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AHLTV was folded into FloHockey. It’s a price increase but gets you ECHL so you can watch the Nailers, SPHL, other hockey leagues and gives you access to everything Flo has to offer. The Penguins will be offering a code or a link to season ticket holders, so you won’t have to pay, I am told that there is more to come on that front.

Apparently, and this is something I am seeing for the first time, the preseason games will (or should be) broadcast on Flo. The first one is the Pens traveling to Allentown on Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see if it actually airs on there.

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Preseason games start next week. Like I have in years past I won’t be recapping them individually, but will likely summarize them all at the end of next week. Also, the home opener falls on my last camping trip of the season (these things are planned months, if not years in advance) so don’t fret when you don’t see the big tall guy filling the seat at center ice on opening weekend, I am out camping on my last trip.

Everything else, (Weekend Previews, etc.) are on track as usual.

Getting closer, I guess. Wish I can jump in my pool (which is still open by the way)

Talk to you again real soon, and Let’s Go Pens!