APPERT EXCITED TO LEAD HIS FIRST DEVELOPMENT CAMP
Jul 13, 2022By Suzie Cool
It’s the middle of July and for the first time in three years the beautiful sounds of pucks clanking off the boards mid-summer was back at the LECOM Harborcenter for Buffalo Sabres Development Camp.
Which meant for Rochester Americans head coach Seth Appert, who is entering his third season behind the bench in the Flower City, that it was his first time being able to take part in the annual event and he was quite pleased with the overall effort after the first session of Day One. Especially the efforts of returning players like forwards Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka, Peyton Krebs and more that Appert has been coaching in Rochester over the last few seasons.
Appert was joined on the ice today by Amerks assistant coaches Michael Peca and Mike Weber, goaltending development coach Seamus Kotyk as well as player development coaches Nathan Paetsch and Tim Kennedy and skating coaches Nick Tuzzolino and Mike Ansell.
Bringing in the pool of talent that helped Rochester navigate its way to the North Division Finals of the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs isn’t just helpful for these prospects that have been in the organization, but more so for the new ones trying to figure out how to be a pro.
WATCH: SETH APPERT AFTER DAY ONE
“I think it probably helps the other guys the most,” stated Appert when asked how much it helps to have some of his Amerks crew out on the ice with the new slate of Sabres prospects. “That was an idea that Kevyn Adams and Jason Karmanos had, I thought it was a fabulous idea and I also think it's a credit to the quality of the men that we have in that crew. They want to be here instead of rolling their eyes and being like, ‘Really, I got to come back in the middle of summer and do this.’”
Quinn, who will be heading into his second full professional season next year in the Sabres organization, was so excited that he even gave Appert a call prior to camp to learn all about the new arrivals.
“Jack Quinn called me on our drive in and was asking me about the draft picks,” continued Appert when explaining the mindset of the returning players. “That's how engaged they are in the process and it's an opportunity for them, as young players in our organization, to have a leadership role. To show some of the new prospects the ropes.”
As this week focuses on the development of the future stars for the Buffalo pipeline, there’s a lot of returning players from Rochester. Forwards Linus Weissbach, Matej Pekar, Kohen Olischefski, Lukas Rousek, Krebs, Quinn and Peterka are all attending camp along with defensemen Mattias Samuelsson and Oskari Laaksonen. It’s a time that’ll be eye-opening for players to see what they need to continue to work on in the offseason prior to Prospect Challenge and Training Camp that’ll be here before we all know it.
WATCH: PEYTON KREBS AFTER DAY ONE
Taking a further look at the blue and gold rosters that will be taking the ice together over the next few days, they consist of eight first-round draft picks, including seven from the Sabres, six second-round and third-round picks and five players with NHL experience. Also highlighting the lineup are nine of Buffalo’s 11 picks from the 2022 NHL Draft just a week ago, which includes Sabres first-round pick (ninth overall) Matthew Savoie, who missed Day One with an upper-body injury.
However, as much as this week is focused on proving what these players can bring to the table, it’s still a time that’s meant for having fun and getting to know the other guys around you.
“There'll be some guest speakers, some from within the Sabres, and we’re going to the Bills facility at some point this week and there will be a nutrition class,” said Appert when asked what was planned off the ice for the three-day camp.
Appert then continued with, “You're trying to give them things both on the ice and off so they can take those things back to their teams they're with so they can continue to develop and progress throughout the season.”
With the first true day of Development Camp, there’s still a lot to look forward to in the week to come. The rest of the week’s schedule will look like this:
Thursday, July 14
Session One: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Session Two: 11 a.m.-noon
Friday, July 15
Session One: 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Sessions Two: 10:45-11:45 a.m.
Saturday, July 16
French Connection Tournament: 9:15 a.m. (Ticketed event)
The development camp will continue to consist of two practice sessions per day the next few days on July 14, and 15, all of which are free and open to the public. Saturday's French Connection Tournament is a ticketed event for Sabres Season-Ticket Members available on a first-come, first-served basis.