|
Seth DeWitt
Adirondack Phantoms
July 7
While it was sunny and 90 degrees outside of the
Virtua Center in Voorhees, the only thing on the
mind of fans in Southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania
was Flyers/Phantoms hockey.
For the second day in a row, fans filled the SkateZone
with the orange and black. Fans were raving over
the chance to see players such as forwards Ben Holmstrom,
Eric Wellwood and Zac Rinaldo along with Erik Gustafsson
who spent time last season with the Flyers. In addition,
for some, it was their first look at the newly acquired,
Brayden Schenn and first round draft pick, Sean
Couturier.
The first session got underway around 9 am with
the 12 defensemen being first on the ice. Adirondack
Phantoms Assistant Coach Riley Cote along with Derian
Hatcher, Ian Laparierre, Jeff Reese and Joel Bouchard
ran the group again through a series of drills (D-to-D
passing, puck control, breakouts, one-timers and
boxing-out forwards in front of the net).
Around 10:45 am, the 23 forwards hit the ice, being
put through some of the same drills.
The atmosphere inside the building was electric
and much of the talk around me was how different
the 2011 Prospect camp is from in years past. I
found out that when the Flyers asked Ian Laparierre
to take over the event, Laparierre agreed to only
if he could change the camp’s structure.
Instead of the players being run through scrimmages
every day and being evaluated based upon their fitness
testing, Laparierre and the rest of the staff are
teaching these individuals the tools to be of how
to be successful.
Friday, July 8, the camp shifts to Stone Harbor,
NJ for the annual Trial on the Isle. The daylong
event includes a 10 AM mini-triathlon competition
that includes a bike ride from the corner of 96th
Street and 2nd Avenue to the Yacht Club beginning
at 10 a.m. Following the bike ride, they will take
off in a paddleboat obstacle course at Snug Harbor
Basin (89th and Sunset Ave). The last stretch of
the race includes a run from 87th Street, over the
dunes to the finish line at 96th Street.
When speaking with forward Zac Rinaldo about how
he is going to defeat Mike Testwuide, the reigning
champion of Trial on the Isle, he stated, “I’m
going to fly on the bike. I am just going to rip
through the bike. I am not going into the water.
That is one thing I won’t do. Too many horseflies,
too many weird creatures.”
The event is followed by a Hooked on Hockey youth
clinic, an autograph session and a charity softball
game at 4 p.m.
Make sure to continue following the Adirondack
Phantoms on Facebook at ADKHockey and on Twitter
at PhantomsHockey for continued updates, photos
and player videos from the 2011 Flyers Prospect
Camp.
Secure your seats for the 2011-12 season with a
full season ticket package. Phantoms Season Ticket
Holders have access to exclusive benefits. Opening
night is Saturday, October 8. Call 518-480-3355
or visit phantomshockey.com for more information.
|
