Tuesday, September 8, 2009

WHLers to NHL camps

Press Release

Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 138 WHL players are attending NHL training camps this season.

All of the 138 players on the list are eligible to return to the WHL for the 2009-10 season.

Of the 138 players attending NHL training camps, 85 were selected by NHL teams in the NHL Entry Draft while 53 were invited to NHL camps as free agents. In addition, 33 of the WHL players attending NHL training camps are signed to NHL entry-level contracts.

The defending WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets will see 12 players attend NHL training camps, which is the most of any WHL club. The Calgary Hitmen, and the Saskatoon Blades will each send 11 players to NHL camps while the Vancouver Giants, Lethbridge Hurricanes and 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup host Brandon Wheat Kings will all see 10 players attend NHL training camps.

All 22 WHL clubs will see at least one player attend an NHL training camp.

Each year, WHL graduates make up a significant percentage of players who play in the NHL. In 2008-09, WHL graduates accounted for over 20 per cent of all players who played at least one game in the NHL.

The following is a list of WHL players, by team, who will attend NHL training camps for the 2009-10 season:

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

No comments: