Rookie Camp

[Molson Muscle]

I was just wondering if there had been any information regarding a Storm rookie camp. In years past it is usually this coming weekend, but i have not heard or seen anything.

[hockeyvoyage]

The scrimmage is at U of G SAt. from 1:30 to 3:20. Info and rosters are on Tony's Blog today.

[StormFire]

I will be going, I will let you all know what the results were and especially how the rookies played in camp. I am really going to have my eyes on the Storm's first 3 prospects Scott Kosmachuk, Brock McGinn and especially Matthew Finn who could be a top Dman in the OHL one day.

[marcusd777]

My thoughts on the scrimmage (which ended 5-1 for team red):

Biggest impression: Jeff Dinallo stuck out to me. He was gritty, knew where to be on the ice, scored a couple goals (and another nice one in the shootout at the end).
2010 picks: Kosmachuck and Finn were both good, but the play of the game was Kosmo blowing around Finn and scoring team white's only goal. McGinn was okay, made some good plays, some shakey - definitely not ready yet, IMO. Maybe someone can correct me on this, but I don't think Marc Williams allowed any goals? Zach Leslie was maybe the best D on a less than impressive team white blueline. Justin Auger might have looked better with someone to work with, as it was he had a couple chances. Gaetz... well, I hope he had plenty of padding on his butt, because he needed it a few times.
2009 picks: I already mentioned Dinallo. Nichol and Horvat were alright - nothing too noticeable, but maybe that's a good thing. Poliziani made some smart plays, and read the play better as the game went on.
Free agents:I liked Cremasco, he got involved in the play, handled the puck well, seemed to have a good head for the game. Sonnenburg should get a closer look for what he could bring the team this year, he was physical and added a couple points.

[StormFire]

Was also their. I was really impressed by the way Finn played. Finn played really well, he joined the rush a few times, made some really nice passes, broke up a few odd man rushes and is a really big kid and skates really well. The only thing I think he needs to do if he wants to become a better player is to get more physical and throw more hits. He made a few hits but he could of had alot more so the scouting report we got earlier is true. Finn needs to hit more if he wants to be a successful OHL player. Kosmachuck as was mentioned earlier was great. Even before he scored the beatiful goal when he got past Finn he made some really nice plays and made some good shifty playes that good of resulted in some good scoring chances. He is a really strong kid and a good player and I agree every report that he is going to be a pure goal scorer in the OHL someday. Garrett Sparks was a bit shaky in net. He made some nice saves at the start of the game but he gave up 2 goals he should of had. Brock McGinn let a slap shot go that beat Sparks in the 5 hole, he should of easily made that save, and Riley Sonnenburg made a good move on Sparks on a 1 on 1 and Sparks could of made the save but got beat 5 hole for the second time but again he played well and had his bumps and bruises in the game.
And Yes. Free agent Alex Cremasco. I know this guy is a Guelph native. Never seen him play before. For a kid who is 5'4 5'5 in height. He played quite well. He scored once, he made a few really nice plays and looked good for a tiny player. He should get his chance in training camp and we will see what happens.
So I also have lots of other news to share with you guys. I talked to Storm Owner and President today Rick Hoyle in the first period of the game. I asked him a few questions. The first question is if Finn and the other rookies are going to make an impact right away. He said its early and really hopes so. The second question I asked him was a no brainer and an answer we all wanted to know. I asked him now that Kyle Palmieri has gotten introuble is he going to be coming to Guelph. Hoyle said the same thing we have been hearing forever. He said nothing has changed and we hope he comes hear, its Kyles choice, nothing is new and we aren't going to know but we hope he does. So nothing new on that front.
I also talked to Storm Blogger Tony Saxon today and I asked him a few questions. The first question I asked was out of all the rookies who is going to be on the Storm next season. He said out of everyone he thinks that Horvat, Sparks, Finn and Kosmachuck will all be on the roster next season, he said that Mac Nichol and Brock Mcginn are still a year away. Thridly I asked him if he thinks that Storm are going to win the OHL championship next year. He said it is going to be tight and their are other good teams in the league as well. You never know what will happen even though they are going to have 80% of the roster back. And Lastly I asked him out of Menard,McNaughton,Sandlak and Mitchell which one of those players are going to get traded. Tony said he thinks 2 of those players are going to get traded, they all have great value and great futures ahead of them and they can all become great scoring forwards so why wouldn't other teams want to make a run at the. All I have to say is that you do not trade Mitchell or Sandlak, McNaughton can go in a trade for a scoring forward and Menard can go because he didn't really impress last year. So all interesting stuff and answers I would say, still don't know why the Storm can't get Palmieri hear sooner rather then later, He is very likely getting kicked out of school because the States are very stricked with mistakes like what Palmieri did.

[hockeyvoyage]

thank you for the info guys. Very much appreciated.

[stormchaser]

Glad to see Stormfire back on the job. Liked his questions to Hoyle. Would have liked to have seen an answer to what happens to Brooks if the team flounders in the first half like last year.

[Storm Watching]

Was in Oshawa today for the U17 games....

Finn - played okay, had a good first period with a couple of big hits. Thought his play tailed off in the third though, he tried to get involved in the rush a couple of times and pinched a time or two and got caught up ice.

Leslie - bad game, too many turnovers in his own end.

Kosmachuk - Kid's gonna be a player. Scored a goal and was one of the better players on his team, played more physical than I thought he would too.

Prout - Couple of decent shifts, otherwise non-existent.

Auger - Reminds me of a kid who goes through a quick growth spurt and takes time to fill into his body. Tall skinny kid who looked awkward and more than a step off the play for most of the game. He's a project.

Going back tomorrow.

[hockeyvoyage]

thanks for the up date. Much appreciated.

[marcusd777]

SW, thanks for that. I'll be looking forward to an update on today!
From what I saw at rookie camp, I can agree with you on Kosmo. He's going to be fun to watch!

[Storm Watching]

Only saw the one game tonight, I was too tired to stay after being on the golf course all day in this stinking heat!

Kosmachuk - Again one of the better players on his team in the game. Got the primary assist on two of his team's 3 goals. If he doesn't get stuck in a 4th line roll this season he's got a chance to have a decent season pts wise.

Prout - Got burned badly on a couple of rushes but otherwise looked decent.

Might go back again tomorrow or Sat.

[Storm Watching]

Didn't make it down Friday or Saturday. Heard that Finn, Auger, and Leslie lost to team orange and Curcuruto in the 1 vs 2 game.

Jason Brooks was reportedly there Friday, hopefully he had a pen and some contracts for Finn and Kosmachuk with him.