For a while there, I thought we were going to hit the holiday weekend without the Avalanche training camp rosters, but they have been released. 59 players in total, more than half (30) will be attending the rookie camp that starts on Wednesday.

There's one surprise, too: the addition of forward Shawn Bates. Bates spent last season in Finland after 10 seasons with the Islanders and Bruins. It probably will surprise none of you to learn that Bates is an alum of the Avs minor league farm team, Boston University. Bates is listed as being invited to camp on a professional tryout contract. In addition, three players (all defensemen) have been invited on an amateur tryout: Matt Clarke, Patrick Cusack and Samuel Finn. Finn and Cusack were teammates with Lewiston of the QMJHL last year while Clarke played with the London Knights of the OHL.

Show of hands...how many plan to attend? Anyone who goes is encouraged to submit a fanpost with their thoughts; you need to keep us non-locals in the loop!