Let's Go Camping- CHL'ers in NHL Camps

Training camps for all 30 National Hockey League (NHL) teams have begun with the exhibition season facing off last Thursday night with a 5-4 Los Angeles Kings victory over the Anaheim Ducks. A game that saw former Lubbock Cotton King forward John Zeiler suit up for the Kings. Zeiler played with the Cotton Kings during the 2004-05 season.

More than a dozen former Central Hockey League (CHL) players are participating in various NHL camps including the CHL’s top goal scorer from last season, Arizona Sundog Brent Kelly. The scoring star finished the season with 42 goals and 53 assists ranking him third in the CHL in points. Kelly boasts 174 career games in the American Hockey League (AHL) and is currently skating in the Colorado Avalanche’s camp trying to earn recognition and a spot on the team.

Other former Sundogs joining Kelly in Avalanche camp are defenseman Michael Vernace and goaltender Mike Wall. Vernace played in 24 games with the Sundogs during his rookie season posting three goals and 11 assists. He also dressed in 30 games in the AHL with Albany last season. Wall is the only player to play in both the CHL and NHL last season. With the Sundogs, Wall posted a 6-3 record with a 2.20 goals against average. He also dressed in four games with the Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks going 2-2 with a 2.97 goals against average.

After a tremendous post season, former Laredo defenseman Neil Clark is skating in Detroit Red Wings camp. During the Bucks fourth straight trip to the Ray Miron President’s Cup finals, Clark scored six goals with six helpers and 76 penalty minutes in 21 games.

A collection of former CHL goaltenders are also trying to make their mark in NHL camps including Tyler Weiman in Avalanche camp, Dov Grumet-Morris in Nashville Predator’s camp and Miroslav Kopriva in Minnesota Wild camp. Weiman helped the Colorado Eagles win the President’s Cup in 2005 by having one of the single best regular seasons in CHL history. In 44 decisions, Weiman went 33-6-5 posting league records with eight shutouts, a 1.80 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. Grumet-Morris helped the Laredo Bucks win the 2006 President’s Cup finishing the regular season with an 18-5-2 record and a 2.03 goals against average. Kopriva saw action in the CHL with the Austin Ice Bats during the 2005-06 season posting a 12-3 record.

Other players in NHL camps that once were a part of the CHL fraternity are Hans Benson (Laredo 2004-06) with the St. Louis Blues, Chris Minard (San Angelo 2003-04) with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Wade Brookbank (Oklahoma City 1999-2001), David Gove (Laredo 2002-03) and Keith Aucoin (Memphis 2004-05) all in the Carolina Hurricanes camp and Brad Lukowich (Fort Worth 2004-05) who is a veteran of over 500 career NHL games and is currently participating in the Tampa Bay Lightning camp.

The CHL’s 544 regular season game schedule begins on Friday, October 19th with eight games scheduled.

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