Non-stop

When practice wrapped at 10:30 Tuesday night, Colorado College junior Cody Lampl had some words for the players stretching around him.

“That was awesome,” he said, exhaling and prompting nods from the rest of the team.

Coach Scott Owens had 16 skaters and three goaltenders dripping with sweat after the high-intensity workout.

For the first time, the Tigers were organized into lines, which I’ll put below. But I wouldn’t place too much significance on them, considering that forwards Andreas Vlassopoulos, Chad Rau, and Tyler Johnson were not at practice. Defensemen Jake Gannon and Ryan Lowery also did not show.

Until October 6, the date of CC’s season-opening exhibition against Calgary and the first official day of practice, players are not required to attend the thrice-weekly workouts. Usually, the only reasons the players will miss practice is for an academic purpose or for medically mandated rest.

Those who did attend participated in offensively minded drills, including the “three-goal” drill, in which one goal is placed at center ice and two are placed in the corners. The team is divided into two and the drill promotes offensive creativity and vision. If one net is clogged, players who go to the open space are often rewarded with breakaway and 2-on-1 situations. Some of the highlights of the three-goal drill were freshman goaltender Richard Bachman, who continues to impress with his saves, and sophomore wing Mike Testwuide, who said his left knee (partial tear of the medial collateral ligament) is healed, looked quicker to the puck than last year.

Testwuide said he focused on increasing his leg strength and speed in the off-season. When I asked Testwuide if he was planning on being involved more in cycling the puck than just sitting in front of the net, he assured me, “No, no, I’ll be there.”

[in no particular order]
Red McCulloch–Thauwald–Testwuide
White Sweatt–Walsky (not enough players to complete line)
Gold Overman–McMillin–Lampl
Blue DeBoer–Schultz–Patrosso

Defensemen: Wysopal, Fredheim, Hillen, Connelly, Prosser
Goalies: O’Connell, O’Brien, Bachman
***
Assigned to Manchester (AHL) Tuesday night, former Tiger Richard Petiot will not return to the Centennial State when the the Kings play the Avalanche in a 7 p.m. preseason tilt.

Straub To Report To Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)

Former Colorado College defenseman Brandon Straub learned Sunday afternoon that he will be sent to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, the Lake Erie Monsters (Cleveland, Ohio).

Once the Avalanche returned from the Burgundy and White scrimmage, held at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, a cut list was posted. Straub estimated he was among “four or five” defensemen, one goaltender and “a bunch” of forwards who did not make the Avalanche roster for Monday’s exhibition game at Phoenix, he said.

In his meeting with the Avalanche coaching staff, Straub received positive feedback about his performance during four days of rookie camp, two days of training camp and the scrimmage, in which he had two assists.

“They said they were happy with me, especially because I came out of nowhere as an undrafted free agent,” Straub said. “They thought I was a pleasant surprise.”

Straub’s report was consistent with coach Joel Quenneville’s comments after the game.

“He got our attention in rookie camp,” Quenneville said. “I thought that he’s done a nice job here. Not everybody had that opportunity to come to training camp . . . I didn’t know that much about him but he showed his versatility and he was being active in the game.”

Although he was disappointed that he didn’t make the roster, Straub made a point to stress the positive.

“About a month ago, I didn’t have a camp to go to,” Straub said. “Now, I have a week off and I can go in there with an edge, having gained experience here.”

During Sunday’s scrimmage, Straub was mostly paired with John-Michael Liles, who was also his partner throughout the two-day training camp.

“I thought he did great,” Liles said. “There’s a reason why he’s here.”

Liles said he had to remind Straub not to apologize for mistakes.

“He’s very humble,” Liles said. “I told him, ‘Don’t worry about it.’”

Straub said being paired with Liles helped ease his nerves.

“I could ask him for pointers,” Straub said. “He was really helpful and told me about their systems and where to be on face-offs and stuff like that. . . . With some guys, you’re on edge and afraid to make mistakes. With him, it’s the opposite. He encouraged me to take chances. As long as I was working hard out there, he was happy.”

A contract still hasn’t materialized and the organization can continue to evaluate Straub until the end of the month, per the terms of Straub’s amateur tryout contract.

Straub said he will spend the week in Colorado Springs, training, skating and lifting. Tigers strength coach Mark Stephenson, who was in attendance Sunday, is directing Straub’s lifting program.

When he reflected on the experience of taking the ice at Cadet Ice Arena in an Avalanche uniform, Straub called it “one of the most fun times I’ve ever had playing hockey.”

“I could do it in my hometown and next to NHL players and I was right there playing well and contributing,” he said. “It was very exciting.”

***

Former CC defensemen Richard Petiot and Tom Preissing are among 39 players and 13 defensemen left in the Los Angeles Kings’ training camp. Preissing scored a goal for the Kings in Saturday’s preseason game against the Ducks. The Kings play the Avalanche at Pepsi Center at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.

This writer called former CC defenseman Mark Stuart a “virtual lock” to make the Boston Bruins’ final roster.

Former CC forward Aaron Slattengren signed on for another season with the Augusta Lynx (ECHL). Lynx training camp begins October 5 and former CC right wing James Brannigan will be bidding for a roster spot.

CC recruit David Civitarese (Calgary, AB), who is slated to join the Tigers in 2008, scored his first goal of the season Saturday.