Senators Open Training Camp

The Mississauga Senators opened the 5th edition of their pre-season training camp today. The Senators offer a week long training camp with both on-ice and off-ice instruction as part of each player's registration. The on-ice training focuses on skill development and is being led by instructor TJ Manastersk, former Mississauga Senator alumni and current coach in the NCAA. TJ also played in the NCAA with Oswego State. The photo on the right has TJ checking out the players during training camp early on Monday morning.

The camp offers 2 hours of on-ice skills and drills and 2 hours of off-ice training each day. For most teams the start of training camp signifies the start of the 2010 - 2011 season, with regular season games a month away.

The training camp allows the coaches from each team to sit in the stands and evaluate the players on the team, while TJ runs the players through the drills. The players love training camp especially those who are returning Senators players, since it gives them the opportunity to see old teammates, meet new teammates and hit the ice. Pictured at left is a player from the Minor Atom team who is enjoying his first ever training camp.

At right, Tim Manastersky explains to the Minor Peewee and Peewee teams how he wants them to execute the next drill in the off-ice training.

Former Senator Scott Wedgewood Drafted by the New Jersey Devils

For the first time in five years, the Devils have drafted a goaltender. With their second pick of 2010, Jersey's Team selected Scott Wedgewood of Plymouth (OHL) in the third round, 84th overall, a Mississauga Senator alumni.

Wedgewood was ranked 19th out of 30 North American goalies. He served as a backup for Plymouth this season, going 5-9-0 with a 3.26 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 18 OHL games. He appeared in four playoff games, going 1-0-1 with a 2.57 GAA and a .956 save percentage. Wedgewood caught the eye of scouts and general managers alike with a 71-save performance in a 3-2 overtime loss to Windsor during the playoffs.

In 2008, Wedgewood caught the eye of former coach and NHL netminder Greg Stefan at an OHL goalie camp, so the Whalers snagged him in the seventh round of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection draft. Plymouth goalie coach Stan Matwijiw needed to work on some of the finer points of Wedgewood’s game, including how to react properly and how to be in the right position, according to Vellucci.
“Goaltenders, from a scouting standpoint, can be a slippery slope sometimes,” said Nashville Predators’ Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty, whose club drafted former Plymouth goalie Jeremy Smith in 2007. “They develop a different way (than skaters), and it can take them longer. There are some guys in their draft year that haven’t played as much, but when they do and gain that exposure they go up from there.”

Whalers’ head coach Mike Vellucci is optimistic about Wedgewood getting more time in the crease. “Hackett is our number one right now, but being a 17-year-old goalie Wedge gives us a lot more options,” admitted Vellucci.

The 6-1, 192-lb. netminder hails from Etobicoke, Ontario.

OHL Draft Sees Two Senators Drafted

The 2010 edition of the OHL draft saw a couple of Mississauga Senators reach the next level.

The Barrie Colts selected Jonathan Laser in the 9th round. The rugged defensemen led the Mississauga Senators Minor Midget defense in goals, assists, points, plus/minus and penalty minutes.

Also selected from the Senators was another defensemen, Matteo Condotta. Matteo was selected by the Plymouth Whalers in the 15th round.