Coaches Emphasize Precision

With assistant coaches Norm Bazin and Joe Bonnett running practice Monday, the speed was cranked up a notch. Colorado College players spent most of the 90-minute practice split into separate groups: the forwards worked with Bazin and the seven-man defensive unit worked with Bonnett. No special teams work as of yet.

Among the forwards’ focal points were precision passing and toughness. One drill was devoted to taking hits along the glass while protecting the puck.

On the defensive end of things, senior Jack Hillen and junior Jake Gannon took charge, setting a hard-working pace in footwork drills.

Alternate captain Jimmy Kilpatrick (hip) and reserve sophomore Dan Quilico (ankle) watched practice from the bench.

Coach Scott Owens and athletic director Ken Ralph observed practice.

***
Both members of the St. Louis Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, last season, Peter Sejna and Mike Stuart remain on the free agent list. Although I never saw Sejna play for CC, I can’t imagine that many predicted he would be on the outside looking in at 27 years old. See Sejna’s career numbers here. Sejna won the 2003 Hobey Baker Award.

In reference to his bad-luck injury, former CC goaltender Curtis McElhinney says he is still adjusting to the NHL.

Recent CC grad Matt Zaba was released from New York Rangers training camp and will report to Hartford (AHL). Defenseman Brian Salcido will report to Portland (AHL).

Also, Thrashers win 4-3 in OT with two goals from Joey Crabb, one from Brett Sterling and an assist from Colin Stuart. Crabb, one of 13 players reassigned from training camp, will return to Chicago (AHL).

Tiger Tracks

I don’t usually get reader feedback, but every time I’ve written about Colorado College hockey alumni, I always get a ton of emails. So I hope “Tiger Tracks” will keep you informed once a week with current stats or news on CC’s professional hockey players.

—

September marks the start of NHL training camps, which means that hockey season is just around the corner. Several CC alums who played in the American Hockey League last year have a chance to crack NHL rosters this year, including Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling, who both graduated in 2005.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Sertich will not play for the Stars rookie team in an eight-team round-robin tournament, which starts Friday in Traverse City, Mich. Instead, he will be preparing to challenge for a spot on the Stars’ roster starting Sept. 14. The only other Minnesota-native forward on the Stars training camp roster? Former CC left wing Toby Petersen (1996-2000), who played briefly with Sertich on the Iowa Stars (AHL) last season before he was called up to the Edmonton Oilers. Petersen became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and the Stars signed him to a one-year, two-way contract in July.

Some are calling Sterling a lock to make the Atlanta Thrashers’ roster after he ran away with the AHL scoring title and Rookie of the Year honors last year. Sterling racked up 97 points (55 goals, 42 assists) in 77 games with the Chicago Wolves. Sterling will be joined by fellow CC alums, classmate Joey Crabb and Colin Stuart (2000-04), when camp starts Sept. 14.

Former CC goaltender Curtis McElhinney (2001-05) will be battling for a back-up position on the Calgary Flames after emerging as a starter for Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (AHL) last season and posting a 2.13 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage along with a 35-17-1 record and seven shutouts.

That’s all for today. If you want to know more about a former Tiger, leave me a comment or drop an email to kate.crandall@gazette.com, and I’ll do what I can to track him down!