Christmas in July!

DENVER, Col – Walking in to the Family Sports Center in Centennial Colorado on a 90 degree Colorado morning the first thing that hits you is the cooling promise of the fresh ice sheet, next you hear the screech of hockey skates, the clatter of sticks, and the thump of pucks against the sideboards. As more and more players come out on to the ice the sounds, sights, and smells of hockey belie the too hot day and take you forward to the upcoming season.
Twenty-nine invitees, including a few of the Avalanche new 2008 entree draftees, take the ice on the first day of skating drills. Second year players like T.J. Hensick and David Jones

who played for the NHL club for a part of the 2007-2008 hockey season are also enjoying the chance participate. Kelsey Tessier, the ebullient young center from New Brunswick who was drafted out of the QMJHL skates by with a permanent smile plastered on his face. In a later interview when asked to describe what it was like to play for the intense and volatile former Avalanche goalie, Patrick Roy, of the Quebec Remparts, Tessier went out of his way to praise his coach and team owner. “Patrick is all about winning. He is the best, the most determined motivator. He passes that desire and determination to win on to each of his players.” says Tessier, ” Roy will do anything to help his team win.” Tessier also had kind words about his stint in 2005-2006 in Colorado with the Midget AAA team, The Colorado Outlaws. “It was wonderful to play here in Colorado with the Outlaws,” he said, “The City of Westminster is a pretty city and the team support was great. It was a really good experience.” The personality of this young man coupled with his hard work and scoring touch bode well for overcoming his smaller stature. Look for Tessier to make some noise in the upcoming camps and maybe even surprise a few people with what he can accomplish. The state of Colorado is growing its hockey profile by leaps and bounds. The youth hockey and prep hockey teams are starting to produce some nice home-grown talent. One of the best of these local products is left winger, J.D. Corbin. Born in Littleton, Colorado and educated at Denver University, Corbin has also played quite a bit of hockey the past several years. He was a strong contributor to DU’s 2003- 2004 national Championship team. Despite the laundry list of injuries he incurred during his collegiate career he continued to play well for Denver University and received several academic awards. The hallmark of J.D. Corbin’s game, both in college and during his stint in the USNTDP, was his speed and excellent skating ability. Corbin broke his leg during a practice in October of 2006. He missed much of his senior season at DU recovering and rehabbing. When asked if he feels the leg is completely healed and his speed and skating are back to 100%, he responded in the affirmative.
“I am back to 100%, the leg feels great, I had some really good people working with me to get back to full strength and I still do some workouts to keep it strong,” Corbin stated. Smart players know their strengths and weaknesses and Corbin has a good idea what it will take to make this Avalanche team. J.D. says, “A lot of times teams have skill guys that play a certain position and if you match those skill sets you have a better chance to make a team.” Having a native Coloradoan on the Avalanche team would be very positive step for the continued growth of hockey in the state and J.D. Corbin would be a fine representative. Every since the retirement of Patrick Roy the Avalanche has sought a truly stellar goal tender who can be that one guy who steals games and wins when he has no business doing so. Each year the latest crop of goalies are studied and analyzed and picked apart, looking for the goalie who can be the next Roy. At 6’2″ and 190 lbs Cleveland Ohio native, Ian Keserich, has good size to go with his proven puck stopping skills. In addition to being a late round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2004 entry draft, Keserich also has another Colorado connection. He started the 2007-2008 season with the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League. His subsequent release by the Eagles allowed Keserich to sign with another CHL team, the Mississippi River Kings, where he posted an impressive 13-7-1 record. When asked to talk about his Developmental Camp experience and his aspirations for his career Keserich had this to say, “First, I have to work hard on my conditioning, this altitude takes getting used to!” Keserich plans to make every effort to play in the Avalanche system with the Johnstown Chiefs, the Lake Erie Monsters or the Avalanche, because as Keserich says, ” I am hockey player, this is my job, It is how I make a living…It’s the best job ever.” On the final day of camp all the hard work, drills, and conditioning exercises were put to use in a high scoring scrimmage. The two teams, Black and Grey, played two – twenty minute periods of hockey with line changes whistled for every 45 seconds. Team Black scored 8 goals to win the contest with the Greys scoring 6. Consensus first star of the scrimmage goes to 2008 fourth round draftee, Kelsey Tessier. His 4 goals secured the win for the black team. By the end of the development camp one thing appears certain, the Avalanche have restocked their prospect cupboard with some quality young talent and the rookie camp and preseason training camps will provide an entertaining competition for roster spots on the 2008-2009 Avalanche team. Contact the author at: terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com