ANCASTER, Ontario – The Erie Otters’ past two first-round draft picks opened the preseason in grand fashion Friday night.
Stephen Harper, their top choice in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, scored two goals in a 3-2 win against Niagara at Morgan Firestone Arena. Connor McDavid, the high-profile No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, assisted on both goals in his Otters’ debut.
Their linemate, second-year winger Nick Betz, added an assist. Second-year center Jake Evans’ goal snapped a 2-2 tie 6 minutes, 20 seconds into the third period on an assist from rookie winger Hayden Hodgson.
Devin Williams stopped 12-of-14 shots in the first two periods. Keinan Brown followed with four saves in the third to earn the win.
The Otters continue the preseason Saturday at 7 p.m. against Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) at North Wentworth Arena in Flamborough, Ontario.

The Erie Otters cut 5 more players from training camp today, leaving the roster at 28 heading into tonight’s preseason opener against Niagara at Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster, Ontario.
The latest cuts included 2011 draft picks Sean Darroch and Justin Maiolino, who had brief stints with the Otters last season, and free agents Aidan Muir, Sebastian Stangherlin and Lucas Venuto.
Here’s a list of the remaining players in camp:

Veterans: RW Nick Betz, RW Connor Brown, G Keinan Brown, C Luke Cairns, LW Anthony Cortellessa, C Connor Crisp, D Troy Donnay, C Mitch Eisenberg, C Jake Evans, C Dane Fox (injured), D Nathan Glass, LW Stephen Harper, D Liam Maaskant, LW Mac McDonnell, D Jimmy McDowell, RW Johnny McGuire, RW Sondre Olden (expected to join the team Monday), D Adam Pelech, G Devin Williams, D/LW Travis Wood

Prospects: G Oscar Dansk (signed), D Justin Felker (agreed to terms), RW Hayden Hodgson (agreed to terms), C Blake Jones, D Artem Kuleshov (unsigned, expected to join the team Monday), C Connor McDavid (signed), D Patrick Murphy (signed), C Kyle Pettit (signed)

CAMP SCHEDULE
at Morgan Firestone Arena – Ancaster, Ontario
(On-ice practices and games on Olympic Pad; off-ice sessions on adjacent field)
Monday
4:30-5:15 p.m. – Players report
5:45-6:30 p.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Red)
6:30-7:40 p.m. – Practice (Team Blue)
7:50-9 p.m. – Practice (Team Red)
8-8:45 p.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Blue)

Tuesday
8:45-9:30 a.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Blue)
9:30-10:35 a.m. – Practice (Team Red)
10:45-11:50 a.m. – Practice (Team Blue)
11-11:45 a.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Red)
5-5:30 p.m. – Practice (Black Aces)
5:45-7:45 p.m. – Inter-squad game (Team Red vs. Team Blue)
6-6:30 p.m. – Off-ice workout (Black Aces)

Wednesday
8:45-9:30 a.m. – Off-ice workout (Black Aces)
9:30-11:50 a.m. – Inter-squad game (Team Red vs. Team Blue)
5-5:45 p.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Blue)
5-6:25 p..m – Practice (Team Red)
6:35-8 p.m. – Practice (Team Blue)
6:45-7:30 p.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Red)

Thursday
8:45-9:30 a.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Blue)
9:30-10:35 a.m. – Practice (Team Red)
10:45-11:50 a.m. – Practice (Team Blue)
11-11:45 a.m. – Off-ice workout (Team Red)
5-7:30 p.m. – Inter-squad game (Team Red vs. Team Blue)

Friday
9:30-11:30 a.m. – Practice (full team)
5:45 p.m. – Practice (Black Aces)
7 p.m. – Exhibition game vs. Niagara

Saturday
9:30-11:30 a.m. – Practice (full team)
7 p.m. – Exhibition game vs. Rouyn-Noranda (North Wentworth Arena – Flamborough, Ontario)
Note: All sessions are open to the public and free of charge; Black Aces – players not on roster for exhibition games

The Erie Otters’ bad luck with injuries has started earlier than usual this season.
Sherry Bassin, managing partner and general manager, confirmed today that fourth-year center Dane Fox suffered an apparent ankle injury in a swimming mishap this past weekend. Bassin said Fox hit his foot on a rock while jumping into a lake.
Bassin was unsure about the severity of the injury, but he feared Fox may have suffered a hairline fracture that could keep him off the ice for the next month. Fox won’t participate in training camp, which begins Aug. 27 at Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster, Ontario. Yet Bassin remains optimistic Fox will be ready in time for the start of the regular season Sept. 20 against Niagara.
“We’ll know better when all our medical people (evaluate him),” Bassin said.
Fox, 18, had 10 goals and 22 points in 28 games for the Otters after being acquired from London this past January. He has 35 goals and 83 points in 139 career OHL games.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters officially announced today that they will hold training camp at Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster, Ontario, during a news conference at the facility. Players report for camp Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. All on-ice sessions are open to the public and free of charge.
The Otters will end camp with their preseason opener Aug. 31 against Niagara at Firestone Arena. Tickets for the 7 p.m. game cost $10, and a portion of the proceeds will support the Rotary Splash Pad Project. The Otters also will face Rouyn-Noranda, of the QMJHL, in a preseason game Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at North Wentworth Arena in Flamborough, Ontario. The game that benefits the Skate the Dream program, which provides underprivileged children the chance to play ice hockey.
Tickets are $12 or $10 with a donation to the Flamborough Food Bank.

It appears the Erie Otters finally have a place to begin preparing for the 2012-13 OHL season.
A source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed today that the Otters will hold training camp at Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster, Ontario. The source said Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, will make the official announcement Thursday.
The source said the Otters will finish camp by playing their preseason opener Aug. 31 at Firestone Arena. They face Niagara in a 7 p.m. game.
The Otters cannot have their annual week-long camp at Erie Insurance Arena because of ongoing renovations at the downtown facility. The Otters held camp in Erie or Jamestown, N.Y., for the first 16 years of the franchise’s history. Bassin also considered the Ontario towns of Fort Erie and Newmarket, the source said, but ice availability in Ancaster was a key factor in Bassin’s decision. Players report to camp Aug. 27.
Bassin declined to comment Wednesday about the location for training camp. He spent the past few days in Lake Placid, N.Y., watching goaltender Oscar Dansk, the Otters’ first-round pick in the 2012 CHL Import Draft, play for his native Sweden’s junior national team at USA Hockey’s National Junior Evaluation Camp. The camp began this past Saturday and continues through this coming Saturday.
“We’re very impressed,” said Bassin, who was joined by Dave Brown, Otters assistant manager of hockey operations.
Bassin declined to comment further on Dansk, who remains unsigned. But a source said Bassin has been in contact with Dansk’s agent, Peter Wallen, of Alterno Management AB, Sports & Entertainment in Sweden. Bassin and Brown planned on leaving Lake Placid Wednesday to continue negotiations with other draft picks. “When we get back, we’re going to get that done,” Bassin said.

UPDATE: The Otters have scheduled a news conference for Thursday at 11a.m. at Firestone Arena. Bassin and Brown will be in attendance. Details for training camp and sites for exhibition games will be announced.

- Victor Fernandes