DAY ONE NOTEBOOK: NEARLY 30 PROSPECTS TAKE THE ICE AS DEVELOPMENT CAMP GETS UNDERWAY
Jul 1, 2024By Ryan J. Harr
Just two days after the Buffalo Sabres added eight more players to the organization’s prospects pool at the 2024 NHL Draft, the team’s youngsters took the ice at LECOM Harborcenter Monday afternoon for Day One of its annual Development Camp.
The four-day camp, now in its 10th year and sixth at Harborcenter, is designed to introduce prospective players to the Sabres’ playing system while providing them with the necessary tools and conditioning programs in order to be successful at hockey’s highest level.
Like years past, the roster for the annual camp features a balanced mix of young players, most of whom have been drafted by Buffalo in recent years, including all eight selected in this year’s draft over the weekend. Some have already turned pro, others are getting ready to make the jump to the professional ranks and a few will return to their respective college or junior teams in the fall. But the objective for all of them is the same: make an impression on the coaches and front office staff while improving their game and learning how to be a professional.
For many, Monday’s hour-long practice session served as an unofficial introduction to the organization. The players were divided up into two groups and were put through a series of drills that emphasized skill development and further exposed them to NHL rules. Most importantly, though, it was an opportunity to acclimatize themselves with the Sabres specific style of play and make a positive first impression on those who were watching nearby.
MAIR LEADS GROUP IN LEONE’S ABSENCE
Sabres’ director of player development, Adam Mair, led the on-ice instruction on Monday as Amerks head coach Michael Leone was unavailable at the start of the camp due to the birth of his first child.
Mair, who served as an assistant coach for Rochester during the 2020-21 COVID condensed season, was seemingly pleased with the overall effort after Day One, but like much of the front office staff, wants the players to work hard and evolve their game during the week-long camp.
Along with Mair, Amerks assistant coaches Nathan Paetsch and Vinny Prospal, both of whom are entering their second season in Rochester, were guiding the defensemen and forwards, respectively.
Sabres goaltending coach Seamus Kotyk, player development coaches Zach Redmond and Tim Kennedy also rounded out the staff to lead the group on the ice.
Chelsea Walkland, who was recently named head coach of Bishop Kearney's U19 Selects program, and Long Island University women’s ice hockey assistant coach Shelly Picard are both serving as guest coaches for the week.
Unlike in years past, only three campers spent time in Rochester in 2023-24 (Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Olivier Nadeau, Viktor Neuchev).
LITTLE PRO EXPERIENCE IN CAMP
Among the nearly 30 prospects comprising the camp’s roster, Neuchev is one of only three players who spent time in the Flower City last season. As a rookie, the Chelyabinsk, Russia, native enjoyed an up-and-down season, his first in North America, with the Amerks.
Neuchev led all Amerks rookies with 11 goals and 28 points in 57 games. Over his final 17 games of the regular season, which he had a shot in all but one game, he recorded four goals and five assists. Neuchev, who was deemed to have had the most impact on the team's success in his first season alongside fellow rookie Zach Metsa, tallied two assists in four postseason contests.
Fiddler-Schultz, who is appearing in his third Sabres’ Development Camp, skated in six games with the Amerks in 2023-24 and tallied his first-career AHL point on a goal versus Utica on Nov. 10, 2023. The forward, who signed a two-year AHL contract with Rochester prior to last season, also added 43 points (23+20) in 56 games with the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL).
Along with Fiddler-Schultz, Nadeau also spent part of his rookie season with Jacksonville, logging 24 points (12+12) in 41 games. The former fourth-round (97th overall) selection in the 2021 NHL Draft ranked second amongst all Icemen first-year players in goals, assists, and points. Nadeau recorded his first AHL point with a goal on Nov. 4, 2023, at Syracuse.
Goaltender Scott Ratzlaff joined the Amerks towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign in an unofficial capacity during the spring. Ratzlaff, Buffalo’s fifth-round selection in 2023 (141st overall), attended the session last summer.
LOOKING AT THE WEEK AHEAD
Days 2 and 3 of Development Camp feature on-ice sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and 11:00 a.m. Wednesday before the three-on-three competition, which will highlight the camp on Thursday, July 4 at 9:15 a.m. The on-ice sessions takes place in downtown Buffalo at LECOM Harborcenter throughout the week are free and open to the public.