Going camping
Four veteran members of the Owen Sound Attack are going camping with NHL teams this week.
With all 30 of the NHL’s main camps kicking off on Thursday, Sept. 18, Zach Nastasiuk, Chris Bigras, Kyle Platzer and Holden Cook were included on their respective squads’ rosters.
Nastasiuk was one of 66 players named to the Detroit Red Wings’ camp roster on Wednesday, Sept. 7 while Bigras was included in the 67 members of the Colorado Avalanche training camp.
Platzer rounded out the NHL drafted Owen Sound players attending camp by securing a spot at the Edmonton Oilers’ main camp thanks to a strong rookie camp.
Nastasiuk was Detroit’s 2nd round selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft while Bigras was picked 32nd overall by the Avalanche in the same draft and Platzer went in the 4th round to Edmonton.
Undrafted winger Holden Cook was asked to attend the Los Angeles Kings training camp on a free agent basis after a strong showing in the Kings’ rookie camp. Cook will be an overager this season and led the Attack with 57 points last year, including 28 goals.
Nastasiuk tallied 24 goals and 27 assists in 62 games played in the 2013-2014 season while Chris Bigras anchored the Attack defence while also notching 26 points of his own.
Platzer split last season between London and Owen Sound and tallied 22 goals and 14 assists over the course of the year.
With the three training camps set to run until the 1st weekend of October, Attack head coach Greg Ireland said that the absence of four key players provides an opportunity for the skaters still on Owen Sound’s roster.
“You get the ability to take a few more reps in practice. You get to go a little bit more and play in situations you might not usually get,” he said.
“We’ve still be doing some teaching, whether it’s powerplay or penalty, and maybe that player won’t get that opportunity initially, but when he does get called upon or does earn that extra ice then he’s a little more comfortable with the situation he’s in.”
Ireland also said that with the absence of Nastasiuk, Bigras, Platzer, and Cook, the players still in camp get a bit more one on one time with the coaches and have the opportunity to be more hands on.
“With a smaller group they can put some attention to details in their personal games in order to really take a step forward,” he said.
Owen Sound opens the 2014-2015 Ontario Hockey League season on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at home against the Kitchener Rangers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the J.D. MacArthur Arena and tickets can be purchased by visiting the DJ’s Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com or by calling (519) 371-7452.
