There’s added local flavor on the ice in Helsinki, Finland today at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Erie native Keith Kaval is officiating today’s game between host Finland and Slovakia. Former Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus is on Slovakia’s roster, but he’s scratched for this game. He has an 0-2 record, 3.00 goals-against average and .875 save percentage in two games in the tournament.
Former Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly, a forward with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, is playing for Canada. He has a goal and three points in seven games.
UPDATE: Kaval will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to officiate in the tournament’s medal round.

Three former Erie Otters – David Broll, Jaroslav Janus and Greg McKegg – have a chance to win an American Hockey League championship.
The Norfolk Admirals and Toronto Marlies begin the best-of-seven Turner Cup finals today at 7:30 p.m. at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. Janus has a 3-1-0 record, 1.69 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and one shutout in four playoff games with Norfolk this spring. He helped the Admirals finish the regular season with 28 straight wins, the longest streak in North American professional hockey history.
McKegg joined the Marlies earlier this week after leading the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights to the Memorial Cup final.
Broll, who spent the past season and a half with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, also plays for the Marlies. He has no points in one playoff game. Current Otters winger Sondre Olden is no longer with the Marlies. He reportedly was released from an amateur tryout contract in April.
Game 2 is set for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in Norfolk. The series heads to Toronto for Game 3 (Thursday, 7 p.m.), Game 4 (June 9, 3 p.m.) and Game 5 (June 10, 3 p.m.). Norfolk hosts Game 6 (June 13, 7:15 p.m.) and Game 7 (June 15, 7:30 p.m.).

The deals needed to be done.

GM Sherry Bassin needed to trade Greg McKegg, Brett Cook and Derek Holden in order t officially begin rebuilding the Erie Otters. None will be in the OHL next season.

It’s too early to know if third-year forward Dane Fox and second-year defenseman Troy Donnay will develop into the players that will help turn the Otters into contenders in the next couple of seasons. But the first step is done.

Fox is a proven young player who has averaged nearly a point per game in London (13 goals, 32 points in 34 games) this season. He arrives in Erie as the team’s leading scorer. Now he has to evolve into a frontline scorer on a team that will rely heavily on youth (Stephen Harper, Connor Brown, etc.) to produce offensively.

At 6 feet 7 inches and 183 pounds, Donnay should grow into an imposing presence with what should be decidedly greater ice time with the Otters. He has only 48 games of OHL experience to date.

But here’s the problem I have with the two deals the Otters made Thursday – Tyson Teichmann. What happens in goal?

Bassin traded 18-year-old defenseman Brady Austin to Belleville in August to acquire Teichmann. He was supposed to be in the future in net along with fellow 18-year-old Chris Festarini. They were entrenched enough to make overage goaltender Ramis Sadikov expendable – the same Sadikov who last season set a franchise record with 36 wins and nearly led the Otters past Windsor in the first round of the playoffs despite having a torn groin.

Festarini was traded to Niagara in October. Now Teichmann is in London. So barring an unforeseen deal, Sadikov is the team’s No. 1 goaltender for the rest of the season. Interest in Sadikov from other teams has waned. “We spent the better part of a month talking to some teams about Ramis,” said Dave Brown, Otters assistant manager of hockey operations.

But teams aren’t interested in a goaltender that fills precious OA and Import spots on a roster. Besides, 16-year-old backup Devin Williams has 18 minutes of OHL experience. That makes me think Bassin will dangle players like forwards Mike Cazzola and Sondre Olden in front of fellow GMs in hopes of landing a young goaltender to back up Sadikov this season and lead the way in net next season.

Either that, or Bassin heads a familiar route – the CHL Import Draft – for another Sadikov or Jaroslav Janus. Either way, the Otters need a proven goaltender next season to make this rebuild work. As Bassin always says, goaltending is 75 percent of the game. Unless you don’t have one, then it’s 100 percent. And right now, the Otters don’t have one.

- Victor Fernandes

ESTERO, FL – Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Greg Poss announced today that goaltender Jaroslav Janus has been recalled and assigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League.

Janus returns to Norfolk for his third stint, although has not appeared in any games with the Admirals this season.  The 21-year-old has seen action in 20 games with the Everblades this season, posting an 8-10-0 record with a 2.98 goals against average.

Janus, a 6^th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009, began the 2009-10 campaign by seeing action in 13 games with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League where he posted a record of 7-4-2 with a 2.81 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.  The Presov, Slovakia native finished out the year playing in 13 games with the Admirals where he was 7-6-0 with a 2.07 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

- From Florida Everblades news release

ESTERO, FL –  Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Greg Poss announced Monday that goaltender Jaroslav Janus, a former Erie Otter, and forward Alex Hutchings have been assigned to the club from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League.

Janus joins the Everblades after opening the 2010-11 season with the Admirals although did not appear in any games.  The 21-year-old made his professional debut with Norfolk last season after wrapping up a three-year junior career.

Janus, a 6^th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009, began the 2009-10 campaign by seeing action in 13 games with the Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, where he posted a record of 7-4-2 with a 2.81 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.  The Presov, Slovakia native finished out the year playing in 13 games with the Admirals where he was 7-6-0 with a 2.07 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

Hutchings joins the Everblades after making his pro debut on October 9 with the Admirals at Binghamton.  The 19-year-old joined the pro ranks this season after finishing up a four-year junior career with the Barrie Colts of the OHL.  Last season the Burlington, Ontario, native posted 81 points (47g, 34a) and 58 penalty minutes in 68 games with the Colts. Hutchings, a 4^th round draft pick by the Lightning in 2009, notched 208 points (111g, 97a) and 190 PIM in 229 career games with Barrie.

- From Florida Everblades news release

BRAMPTON, Ontario – The Ramis Sadikov era began in grand style for the Erie Otters.

Sadikov, a second-year goaltender and full-time starter for the first time, stopped 46-of-47 shots in a 5-1 season-opening win against Brampton in front of 2,967 at Powerade Centre on Friday night.

Sadikov fell 1 minutes, 38 seconds short of recording his first Ontario Hockey League shutout. Rookie Dylan Blujus, a Buffalo native, scored on the power play to end Sadikov’s shutout bid.

Until that goal, Sadikov was unbeatable, especially in the first period. He stopped all 17 shots – 10 more than his Battalion counterpart Jacob Riley faced in the period. The Otters were outshot 47-29.

Sadikov kept the Otters (1-0-0-0) in contention. Early in the second, the penalty kill snapped the scoreless tie, as Mike Cazzola turned Shawn Szydlowski’s pass into a short-handed goal at the 1:45 mark.

The Otters broke the game open midway through the second, as Mitch Gaulton and Anthony Luciani scored 39 seconds apart for a 3-0 lead. Brett Appio’s goal 2:26 into the third extended the lead for 4-0.

David Broll’s goal with 16 seconds left, the Otters’ second power-play goal of the game, capped the scoring in Erie’s first regulation win in Brampton (0-1-0-0) since Nov. 16, 2003.

Broll led the Otters with a goal and two assists, the first three-point outing of his OHL career. Szydlowski (two assists) and Cazzola (goal, assist) had two points apiece.

But opening night belonged to Sadikov, who began this season with 25 games of OHL experience. He spent most of his rookie year backing up former Otters Jaroslav Janus and Adam Courchaine. He set a career high for saves, topping his 42-save effort in an overtime loss to Owen Sound on Nov. 22, 2009.

SUMMARY

Otters 5, Battalion 1

Erie  0  3  2  —  5

Brampton  0  0  1  —  1

1^st Period — 1. None. Penalties — Appio (E) slashing, 8:21; O’Neil (B) slashing, 8:21; Cook (E) 4-min. roughing, 19:51; Jones (B) roughing, 19:51.

2^nd Period — 1. Erie, Mike Cazzola 1 (Szydlowski), 1:45 (sh). 2. Erie, Mitch Gaulton 1 (Broll, Szydlowski), 11:21 (pp). 3. Erie Anthony Luciani 1 (Cazzola, Pelech), 12:00. Penalties — Tankeev (E) hooking, 4:31; Lane (B) cross checking, 9:58; Szydlowski (E) slashing, 15:11.

3^rd Period — 4. Erie, Brett Appio 1 (Marchese, Broll), 2:26. 5. Brampton, Dylan Blujus (unassisted), 18:22 (pp). 6. Erie, David Broll 1 (Grant), 19:44 (pp). Penalties — Abraham (B) holding, 11:02; Appio (E) elbowing, 16:27; Wind (B) roughing, 16:27; Cook (E) high sticking, 17:14; Brampton, bench minor, 18:53; Lane (B) charging, 18:53; Paton (E) 5-min. fighting, 18:53; Lane (B) 5-min. fighting, 18:53.

Shots on goal — Erie, 7-11-11—29; Brampton, 17-13-17—47.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-0-0-0 (47 shots, 46 saves); Brampton, Jacob Riley 0-1-0-0 (20 shots, 16 saves), Dennis Saikkonen (9 shots, 8 saves).

Power plays — Erie (2-3), Brampton (1-4).

Referees — Darren Price, Chris Carnegie. Linesmen — Frank Rocca, Rick Janco.

Attendance — 2,967.

Three stars

* Ramis Sadikov, Otters (46 saves) ** Mike Cazzola, Otters (goal, assist) *** Dylan Blujus, Battalion (first OHL goal)

Greg McKegg (Contributed/Toronto Maple Leafs)

Erie Otters forward Greg McKegg and former teammates Justin Hodgman and Michael Liambas are among 63 players heading to the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ training camp, which begins Friday in Toronto. McKegg and Liambas concluded play in the Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament on Tuesday with a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Otters forward Shawn Szydlowski played for the Senators. But he didn’t receive an invitation to the NHL club’s main camp, which includes former Otters defenseman Chris Campoli.

At the NHL Prospects Tournament at Center Ice Arena in Traverse City, Mich., Otters forward Andrew Yogan scored a goal in the New York Rangers‘ 7-2 win against the Dallas Stars in the fifth-place game on Wednesday. The Rangers haven’t announced their roster for training camp.

Former Otters winger Luke Gazdic played for the Stars. Now he heads to Stars’ main camp this weekend in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Former Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus stopped 3o-of-34 shots in a 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the third-place game. Defenseman David Shields played for the St. Louis Blues. But he won’t join former Otters Brad Boyes and Carlo Colaiacovo at main camp.

In other NHL camp news, defenseman Tyler Hostetter will attend the Philadelphia Flyers‘ main camp, which begins Friday at The Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Vo0rhees, N.J. Hostetter signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers last September.

- Victor Fernandes

Former Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus stopped stopped 54-of-59 shots – 40-of-43 in regulation and 14-of-16 in a marathon shootout – to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday in the NHL Prospects Tournament at Center Ice Arena in Traverse City, Mich. The Lightning face the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

In other news from the NHL Prospects Tournament, Otters forward Andrew Yogan had no points but played a solid game in the New York Rangers‘ 1-0 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Rangers face the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Defenseman David Shields had no points in the St. Louis Blues‘ 4-1 loss to the Stars. The Blues, which had no points from former Otters winger Luke Gazdic, face the Red Wings on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

At the Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, Otters forward Greg McKegg was scoreless in the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. But check out this photo of former Otters winger Michael Liambas‘ fight in the game. Forward Shawn Szydlowski and the Ottawa Senators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 on Sunday.

Szydlowski and McKegg face off on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

- Victor Fernandes

Greg McKegg (Contributed/Toronto Maple Leafs)

Erie Otters forward Greg McKegg had a goal and assist in his Toronto Maple Leafs‘ debut, a 6-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night in the Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Read more by clicking the link and check out video of McKegg’s goal. McKegg and the Leafs face the Pittsburgh Penguins today at 7 p.m. Forward Shawn Szydlowski and the Ottawa Senators lost 5-3 to the Penguins. Ottawa and Chicago meet today at 2 p.m.

At the NHL Prospects Tournament at Center Ice Arena in Traverse City, Mich., Otters defenseman David Shields had two assists in the St. Louis Blues‘ 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Shields and the Blues face the Dallas Stars today at 1:30 p.m.

Former Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus was backup to Dustin Tokarski for the Lightning, which face the Detroit Red Wings today at 6 p.m. Former Otters winger Luke Gazdic had no points and a minus-1 rating in the Stars’ 6-1 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday.

Forward Andrew Yogan had no points and a minus-1 rating in the New York Rangers‘ 5-4 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Yogan and the Rangers face the Carolina Hurricanes today at 5:30 p.m.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters drafted Brady Austin in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection as a defenseman.

But he finished the 2009-10 season at forward.

Austin’s versatility led to increased ice time. Yet, defense remained his first choice. “I talked to the coaches and said that’s what I want to play this year,” Austin said before Thursday’s scrimmage at Tullio Arena. “That’s what I focused on all summer with my skating coach.”

Now he will get his wish. Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said Austin will return to defense for the 2010-11 season. He has defense this week at training camp.

Austin joins five defensemen in the rotation – Brett Cook, Mitch Gaulton, Derek Holden, Tyler Hostetter and David Shields – who have at least two full seasons of OHL experience. Bassin said the team will carry eight defensemen to start of the regular season. That leaves two open spots for players such as Adam Pelech, a 2010 second-round pick, and Evan Accettura.

* Looking sharp: The Otters have formed an expanded partnership with United Way, headlined by United Way Night on Oct. 16 at Tullio Arena, club officials announced at a news conference on Wednesday. The Otters will face the Ottawa 67′s wearing special gray sweaters, pants and socks with red, white and blue trim. The words “LIVE UNITED” appear on the lower back of the sweater.

Proceeds from ticket and jersey sales will benefit the United Way’s 2010 Campaign.

“Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow,” R.J. Zonna, United Way of Erie County’s senior vice president, said in a prepared statement.

The Otters will have a second specialty jersey night on Feb. 5 against the Windsor Spitfires to celebrate the 15-year-old franchise’s 1,000th game. The design will be unveiled at a later date, along with the list of Otters’ alumni attending the game.

* A different Gazdic: Mark Gazdic has worn his older brother Luke‘s Texas Stars helmet during training camp this week. “It feels cool,” said the younger Gazdic, who was able to wear it since Luke, who’s in the Dallas Stars‘ organization, will attend NHL training camp later this month.

But don’t expect him to play like his brother, the Otters’ former physical winger. There are few similarities between their styles. Mark, a defenseman and the Otters’ 10th-round pick in the 2009 OHL draft, prefers a finesse approach, since he’s smaller (6 feet, 170 pounds) than Luke, who’s listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 228 pounds.

“I’m more agile and I make good plays,” he said. Mark will play a physical game, as he proved in separate fights against fellow 2009 pick Johnny McGuire on Wednesday and veteran Brett Appio on Thursday. In contrast, Luke was one of the OHL’s most feared fighters.

“It’s not my style of game,” Mark said.

* Memorable experience: Goaltender Adam Wood experienced it all in his two-game trial by fire with the Otters last season.

On New Year’s Eve in St. Catharines, Ontario, the night then-No. 1 goaltender Jaroslav Janus signed with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, Wood learned he would start in his first OHL game 20 minutes before facing the Niagara IceDogs. He stopped 33-of-40 shots in an 8-7 win. Two nights later, he allowed five goals on 24 shots in his home debut against the Guelph Storm. Yet he still earned a 7-5 win. In all, Wood, a 2009 eighth-round pick, had a 2-0-0-0, record 6.00 goals-against average and .813 save percentage.

Now he’s ready for more. “I feel like I’m ready for more experience this year, more confidence,” Wood said. “I feel I can do it.”

Wood joins veteran Ramis Sadikov and 2009 fifth-round choice Chris Festarini as the remaining goaltenders in camp.

* News and notes: Bassin made no cuts following Thursday’s workouts, leaving the roster at 40 players. More cuts will be made on Friday. … Accettura left the ice during Thursday’s scrimmage with an apparent injury, but it wasn’t considered serious.

- Victor Fernandes