Rookie development camp rosters
Team Red (Coach – Chris Hartsburg)
Goaltenders
30 – Cosimo Lazzarino (2013, 9th round)
31 – Devin Williams (Veteran)
Defensemen
2 – T.J. Fergus (2013, 8th round)
4 – Nathan Kohler (2012, 14th round)
6 – Owen Headrick (2013, 14th round)
7 – Teilen Celentano (Free agent, 1996)
14 – Jesse Saban (2013, 2nd round)
15 Nathan Kwiecinski (2013, 9th round)
OR – Spencer Abraham (Veteran)
OR – Kyle Allan (2011, 15th round)
OR – Troy Donnay (Veteran)
BL – Justin Felker (Veteran – not expected to skate)
Left wings
18 – Patrick Fellows (2013, 7th round)
20 – Nolan Dunn (Free agent, 1996)
9R – Stephen Harper (Veteran)
24R – Dane Fox (Veteran)
Centers
10 – Matthew Baker (2013, 11th round)
11 – Connor McDavid (Veteran – not expected to skate)
17 – Trent Fox (2013, 5th round)
19 – Trayvon Henry (2013, 15th round)
23R – Connor Crisp (Veteran)
12R – Jordan Dunin (2011, 7th round)
Right wings
5 – Cameron Etherington (Free agent, 1996)
8 – Alexander Row (Free agent, 1996)
16 – Hayden Hodgson (Veteran)
21 – Jeff St. Pierre (Free agent, 1996)
22R – Nick Betz (Veteran)

Key: OR – Orange, BL – Blue, R – Red

Team Gold (Coach – Vince Laise)
Goaltenders
32 – Daniel Dekoning (2012, 8th round)
33 – Jason Rhynold (Free agent, 1996)
Defense
2 – Darren Raddysh (Veteran)
3 – Gregory Allan (2011, 6th round)
4 – Travis Dermott (2012, 9th round)
9 – Matthew Bell (Free agent, 1996)
10 – Anton Bura (1996, free agent)
14 – Cole Mayo (2013, 3rd round)
W – Jimmy McDowell (Veteran)
W – Patrick Murphy (2011, 5th round)
W – Adam Pelech (Veteran – not skating, wrist surgery)
W – Travis Wood (Veteran – also listed at left wing)
Left wings
6 – Brady Allen (Free agent, 1996)
12 – Sean Kohler (2013, 6th round)
15 – Kyle Pettit (Veteran)
Centers
7 – Bryan Sienerth (2012, 13th round – Millcreek Township native)
8 – Frank Pucci (2013, 12th round)
11 – Quentin Maksimovich (2012, 11th round)
17 – Dylan Strome (2013, 1st round)
19 – Blake Jones (2011, 14th round)
22 – Joel Wigle (Veteran – not expected to skate)
23 – Luke Cairns (Veteran)
Right wings
5 – Jack Scanlan (2013, 13th round)
16 – Thomas Lattavo (2012, 6th round)
18 – Brett Dykstra (Free agent, 1996)
20 – Tommy Horn (Free agent, 1996)
21 – Connor Brown (Veteran)
24 – Justin Maiolino (2011, 13th round)
Key: W – White

Here’s the latest speculation surrounding at least one of the newest members of Erie Otters coach Kris Knoblauch‘s staff … Chris Hartsburg, son of former NHL defenseman and current Columbus Blue Jackets associate coach Craig Hartsburg. The younger Hartsburg spent this season as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.
No official confirmation from the Otters. The staff will be announced at tonight’s welcome reception for first-round pick Dylan Strome at Erie Insurance Arena.

- Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters D Adam Pelech underwent surgery Tuesday to remove pins from his surgically repaired wrist, managing partner/GM Sherry Bassin confirmed today.
Bassin said Pelech will be ready for training camp in late August. He also will be able to train at some point this summer. “It’s just a question of healing,” Bassin said.
Pelech has undergone three surgeries on that wrist since fracturing it early in the 2011-12 OHL season – the first to repair the break in the fall of 2011, the second in May 2012 to remove a screw inserted during the first procedure.
In other news, Bassin said the roster for this weekend’s rookie development camp at Mercyhurst Ice Center will be finalized today. He expects 25-28 players with 1996 and 1997 birth years to participate in the camp. Yet Bassin remained tight-lipped on who he has hired to join coach Kris Knoblauch‘s staff. The staff will be unveiled Thursday night during a welcome reception for first-round pick Dylan Strome at Erie Insurance Arena.
Bassin previously has said he could hire two full-time assistants and a part-time goaltending coach.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters will hold a “Welcome to Erie” reception for 2013 1st-round pick Dylan Strome Thursday night at Erie Insurance Arena. Sherry Bassin, managing partner and general manager, said he has agreed to terms with Strome and 2nd-round pick Jesse Saban. Bassin said Strome should sign in time for this weekend’s rookie development camp at Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Yet Strome won’t be the only guests of honor. Apparently, new members of Kris Knoblauch‘s coaching staff will be introduced at the gathering. No word yet on who they are …
In other news, Bassin continues to rave about D Travis Dermott, a 9th-round pick in 2012, who was the the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s rookie of the year with Newmarket.
Meanwhile, veteran forwards Jake Evans (knee) and Connor Crisp (muscle pull in side) are close to 100 percent healthy, while Joel Wigle continues to recover from sore shoulders that bothered him late in the season.
Defense prospect Riley Robertson (3rd round in 2012) will attend the camp but won’t skate because he’s recovering from a shoulder injury that nagged him all season.
“He’s pretty well 100 percent healthy,” Bassin said of Robertson. “We’re just being cautious. This isn’t a time to get somebody reinjured.”

- Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid captured the gold medal Sunday, as Canada defeated the four-time defending champion United States 3-2 in the title game of the IIHF U18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia. McDavid didn’t record a point for the second straight game, but he still led all players with eight goals and 14 points in seven games and tied for the lead with six assists. He was named the most valuable player and best forward.
McDavid set Canadian records for goals and points in the tournament. Meanwhile, Canada won gold for the first time since 2008.

The Erie Otters will hold a rookie development camp May 3-5 at Mercyhurst Ice Center. The sessions are free and open to the public. The camp roster hasn’t been finalized yet.

Friday, May 3
10-11:20am – Practice (Team Red)
11:30am-1pm – Practice (Team Gold)

Saturday, May 4
11:30am-1pm – Scrimmage (Red vs. Gold; 1996 & 1997-born players only)
1:10-2:30pm – Practice (1993, 1994 and 1995-born players only)
3:30-5pm – Scrimmage (Red vs. Gold; 1996 and 1997-born players only)
5:10-6:30pm – Practice (1993, 1994 and 1995-born players only)
Note: The team will hold dry-land testing May 3 from 2:30-4:30pm at Mercyhurst Athletic Center and Sunday, May 5 from 9-10:30am at Presque Isle Park (if there’s good weather) and MAC (if there’s inclement weather).

The Mercyhurst men’s hockey team will open the 2013-14 season by playing in the prestigious Ice Breaker Tournament for the first time. The 17-year-old event, which will be held Oct. 11-12 at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, also will include Clarkson and New Hampshire and the host Gophers. The four teams in the field have reached a combined 89 NCAA Division I tournaments. Minnesota and New Hampshire made the national playoffs this past season.

The Erie Otters are raising ticket prices by an average of $1.50 per ticket for the 2013-14 OHL season because of increased costs for managing what will be the club’s first season in a newly renovated Erie Insurance Arena, said Jamie Cieszynski, assistant director of operations.
Single-game tickets for premium seats (formerly called platinum seats) will increase to $16 in advance and $19 on game days from $14.50 and $16.50, respectively, this past season. Reserved seats (formerly gold seats) will move to $14 in advance and $17 on game days, compared to $12.50 and $14.50.
Platinum seating will include sections 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20 and the first two rows along the glass on the north and south sides of the arena under the current configuration, although names and numbers for sections and rows will change next season. Reserved seating will consist of all other sections and rows.
The organization has improved the format for student tickets, as well as added special ticket pricing for senior citizens, to offset the overall increase in ticket prices. The $10 kids ticket, which covered children ages 3-12, has been changed to a $10 student ticket for children ages 5-18. All seating areas are available to students. Adults 65 and over will enjoy a discount from the normal single-game ticket prices. Premium seats will cost $14 in advance and $17 on game days. Reserved seats will cost $12 in advance and $15 on game days.
Season-ticket holders also face a price increase. Premium and reserved seats for adults will cost $476 and $425, respectively, compared to $425 and $375 this past season. Senior citizens can purchase their season tickets for $425 (premium seating) and $374 (reserved seating). However, the first 97 fans to pay for season tickets in full will secure their seats for the 2012-13 season’s prices. Other fans that pay for their seats in full by May 1 will receive a $25 discount per seat. Season tickets for students will remain at $306.
The Otters will enter next season off two of the worst years in franchise history, in which they posted a combined 29-92-7-8 record and missed the playoffs both times.

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid was held without a point for the first time in six games at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia. Yet the Canadians still beat Finland 3-1 in the semifinals today to earn a spot in Sunday’s gold-medal game against the United States, which beat Russia 4-3 in the other semifinal.
Canada will play for the U18 title for the first time since winning in 2008. McDavid, who had hat tricks in his previous two games, still leads all players with eight goals and 14 points. He’s tied for the lead with six assists. He already has set Canadian records for goals and points in this tournament.

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid’s second straight hat trick led Canada to a 6-0 quarterfinal win Thursday in the IIHF U18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia. Canada (5-0) moves into today’s semifinal matchup against Finland, with the United States and Russia in the other semifinal. Meanwhile, McDavid added to his tournament-leading totals of eight goals, six assists and 14 points after netting a hat trick in a 6-0 win against Sweden in the final preliminary-round game Tuesday. He already has set Canadian records for goals and points in this tournament with as many as two goals left to play.