(Photo: Melissa Kania)
FROM THE ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Eight players on the Traverse City roster spent last season in the Ontario Hockey League. Of those, six were drafted by the Sabres between 2012 and 2014, with the other two being invited to the camp as free agents.
From the 2012 NHL draft are center Justin Kea and defenseman Brady Austin. Kea, 20, spent last season with the Saginaw Spirit, where he had 49 points (22-27) and 97 penalty minutes in 58 games. He also saw one game of action with the Rochester Americans. Austin, 21, began last season with the Belleville Bulls (5 pts in 7 games) before he was traded to the London Knights. He spent the rest of the year in London playing with fellow Sabres prospect Zadorov. Austin had 28 points (8-20) and was a plus-49 in 60 games.
Coming out of the 2013 draft are right wingers Justin Bailey and Nicholas Baptiste. Bailey, 19, had 43 points (25-18) in 54 games with Kitchener last season. Baptiste, also 19, spent last season with the Sudbury Wolves, where he scored 45 goals and added 44 assists for 89 points in just 65 games.
Two players the Sabres drafted this June from the OHL will also be at Traverse City: Eric Cornel and Brendan Lemieux. Cornel, a center, spent last season with the Peterborough Petes. He had 25 goals and 37 assists for 62 points in 68 games. The Sabres picked him 44th overall.
Lemieux (LW) had 53 points (27-26) and 145 penalty minutes in 65 games with Barrie last season. The Sabres picked him up with the first pick in the second round of the NHL Draft.
Finally, a pair of invitees: Jared Walsh and Joseph Blandisi. Walsh is an 18-year-old defenseman who spent last season with Mississauga. The Toronto native had 21 points and 14 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Steelheads. He also appeared in six games with St. Michael’s of the OJHL.
Blandisi, 20, split last season between Ottawa and Barrie. The Vaughan native had 37 points in as many games with the 67s and also had 13 points in 10 games with the Colts.