June 26, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With the conclusion of the 2017 NHL Draft on Saturday, this week marked the beginning of NHL Development Camps and over the next few weeks 15 current or former Penn State men's hockey players will lace up their skates with NHL franchises.
Returning players Chase Berger, Erik Autio, Nate Sucese, Peyton Jones, Nikita Pavlychev, Brett Murray, Andrew Sturtz and Denis Smirnov along with incoming freshmen Evan Barratt, Cole Hults and Alex Limoges and former players Zach Saar, Vince Pedrie, Eamon McAdam and Kenny Brooks will all be donning NHL colors this summer.
Pedrie who signed with the New York Rangers in March following the conclusion of his sophomore campaign and Saar who inked a deal with the Anaheim Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate the San Diego Gulls will each report to their respective camps this week. McAdam who signed with the New York Islanders following the 2015-16 season will partake in their camp this week while Brooks, a 2016 graduate, will participate in the inaugural Vegas Golden Knights' camp, set to begin later this week.
After being drafted this past weekend Smirnov, Barratt and Hults will join their respective franchises the Avalanche, Blackhawks and Kings while Sucese will head to Nashville and Jones will travel to San Jose. Limoges will join Saar and skate at the Ducks camp from June 28 through July 1.
Both Murray, who was drafted by Buffalo in 2016, and Autio will take place in the Sabres camp the second week of July. Pavlychev, Berger and Sturtz round out the group as all three will head to Pittsburgh for the Penguins camp on Wednesday June 28 - Saturday July 1.
NITTANY LIONS AT NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
RETURNING PLAYERS | ||
Chase Berger (St. Louis, Mo.) | Andrew Sturtz (Buffalo, N.Y.) | Nikita Pavlychev (Yaroslavl, Russia)* |
Pittsburgh Penguins | Pittsburgh Penguins | Pittsburgh Penguins |
June 28 - July 1 Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.) Nashville Predators June 26 - July 1 Brett Murray (Bolton, Ont.)* Buffalo Sabres July 7 - 11 | June 28 - July 1 Denis Smirnov (Moscow, Russia)* Colorado Avalanche June 26 - 29 Erik Autio (Espoo, Finland) Buffalo Sabres July 7 - 11 | June 28 - July 1 Peyton Jones (Langhorne, Pa.) San Jose Sharks July 2 - 8 |
INCOMING FRESHMEN | ||
Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.)* | Cole Hults (Stouhgton, Wis.)* | Alex Limoges (Winchester, Va.) |
Chicago Blackhawks | LA Kings | Anaheim Ducks |
July 15 - TBA | June 27 - 30 | June 28 - July 2 |
FORMER PLAYERS | ||
Vince Pedrie (Rochester, Minn.) | Zach Saar (Richland, Mich.) | Eamon McAdam (Perkasie, Pa.) |
New York Rangers | Anaheim Ducks | New York Islanders June 26 - July 1 |
June 25 - 30 Kenny Brooks (Las Vegas, Nev.) Vegas Golden Knights June 27 - July 1 | June 28 - July 2 |
This marks the most Nittany Lions ever to be invited to NHL Development Camps surpassing the eight invitees of last summer.
NCAA student-athletes participating in NHL development camps do not have their eligibility affected. The camps give team draft picks and free agent invitees the chance to experience an NHL camp with team staff on and off the ice.
* - Indicates player drafted by franchise