Avalanche Rookie Camp Report

by Joe Dunman on Sep 9, 2007 6:18 PM MDT in NHL News

Without Mile High Hockey's awesome members, I would be completely up a creek, so to speak. This blog is as much a community effort as it is my own personal soap box, and that's exactly what I intended.

To that point, MHH members lowayne and thedoctor have posted their accounts of the action at the ongoing Avalanche Rookie Camp. I can't be there myself, being stuck 2000 miles away at the moment, so I rely on guys/gals like them to fill in the blanks for me. And they've really come through!

Be sure to read their initial impressions from the camp in this detailed diary post (and in the comments). Good stuff.

According to them, the real standouts have been TJ "The T Stands For Tiny" Hensick, Chris Stewart and d-man Kyle Cumiskey.

Cumiskey has already had a taste of NHL action, having played in nine games last season, and it appears he is ready to make the jump to the big league. He's playing his ass off in rookie camp. For evidence, lowayne submits the following video:

I'm tickled pink that he's taken the time to post something so valuable to all of us as Avalanche fans---especially those of us (including me) who don't have the luxury of actually attending camp. Thanks a ton!

For more on the Rookie Camp happenings (or "campenings", as I like to call them), check out this Denver Post article about Chris Stewart. And don't miss this photo of Mitch Love (who looks like he's 40 years old) totally wrecking Brandon Straub. Ha!

Also, MHH member Jori over at AvsProspects has been a posting machine lately, and her links and reports from Rookie Camp are worth checking out as well.

Anyone else with insights from the camp, please chime in. Consider yourselves official Mile High Hockey field reporters.

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Comments

glad to help...

I really hope this site takes off -- there's not really a great central Avs fan blog/community place, and I think this could be it.

on an unrelated note, I saw from your link that Jori's camp notes, um...noted that Stewart looked weak defensively that first day -- and I agree. He was cherry picking a lot in the neutral zone and gliding in his own zone. Still, if anyone should have been looking to score, it was him. I was glad to see Jori say Stewart was much better defensively today (while still netting 2).

I'm looking for him to make the roster this year at some point and push Svatos, Brunette, and Wolski while learning more defensive responsibility. He's big, fast, and he has great hands. He just made scoring look so easy, kind of like Hejduk does.

by thedoctor on Sep 9, 2007 9:03 PM MDT reply actions

Re: glad to help

I think Marek Svatos is in serious danger of losing his job this season. And I also think the combination of Jaroslav Hlinka/Chris Stewart/TJ Hensick could spell the end for Mr. Svatos if he doesn't seriously up his game---NOW.

Again, thanks so much for your contributions!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 10, 2007 4:51 AM MDT up reply actions