Tuesday's #WBSPens AHL Camp Update

Christiaan Minella (left) and Reid McNeill (right) warming up before Group One's practice earlier today.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had one last practice at The Ice Rink at Coal Street earlier this afternoon before their first preseason game tomorrow night in Brighton, NY against the Rochester Americans.

The WBS Pens training camp roster was split into two groups (see below). Group one practiced first, followed by a scrimmage between Group One and Two and Group Two finished off the day with a practice of their own.

Both practice sessions were similar with the usual drills and some emphasis on board play in the corners and behind the net in the offensive and defensive zones.

Group One (Team White) practiced for about an hour starting at 10 a.m. and when they left the ice Group Two (Team Black)  came out for the scrimmage and Team White followed shortly after.

The scrimmage was one 25 minute period and although it went scoreless, there was no lack of physical play. Pierre-Luc Letourneau Leblond dished out some hits in the corners and another notable hit was C.J. Severyn's finishing a check on Scott Harrington.  

Local tryout forward Patrick McGrath (Shavertown, PA) had a nice chance for Team Black early in the scrimmage and Black carried the play through most of the first half of the scrimmage. 

Team White pressured late and nearly scored on Eric Hartzell, who played 10 minutes to start in net for Team White and finished on Team Black. Hartzell was impressive in the scrimmage, and all three goalies (Andy Chiodo and Jeff DesLauriers) were good in the shootout.

In the shootout, 16 shooters came in on the goaltenders and only three - Nick Drazenovic (Black), Brian Gibbons (White) and Philip Samuelsson (Black) - were able to score. Samuelsson netted the winner in the 8th round and after Anton Zlobin was yelled at for trying to take a shot for Team White, Carter Rowney was stopped by Hartzell and Team Black celebrated the scrimmage win. 

I wouldn't expect a lot of the big name players on NHL deals to be in tomorrow night's lineup for the Penguins. Last year in the AHL Pens first preseason game at the MCC Centre in Brighton, the Penguins played more of the guys on AHL deals and tryouts, with a few older players. Usually, the home team plays their fan favorites and more well known players to draw in the hometown fans.

Group One

G (2) - Eric Hartzell, Andy Chiodo

D (5) - Reid McNeill, Clark Seymour, Alex Velischek, Nick D'Agostino, Mike Ratchuk

F (11) - Mike Carman, Brian Gibbons, Christiaan Minella, Carter Rowney, Cody Sylvester, Paul Thompson, Dominik Uher, Bobby Farnham, Jack MacLellan, C.J. Severyn, Anton Zlobin (red jersey)

Group Two

G (2) - Jeff DesLauriers, Eric Hartzell

D (5) - Philip Samuelsson, Scott Harrington, Brendan Mikkelson, Barry Goers, Peter Merth

F (10) - Jayson Megna, Nick Drazenovic, Tom Kostopoulos, Adam Payerl, Patrick McGrath, Chaz Johnson, Denver Manderson, Kyle Fletcher, Piere-Luc Letorneau Leblond, Scott Zurevinski, Anton Zlobin (red jersey)

Not on Ice

G - Peter Mannino

D - Dustin Stevenson (lower body)

Recently Re-assigned
D - Harrison Ruopp
F - Tom Kuhnhackl