Bateman shoots for the Stars

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Dallas Stars opened their training camp on Wednesday morning at the brand-new American Airlines Centre in Dallas and for one aspiring rookie, centre Jeff Bateman, the mission is simple.
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"I know the guys I am up against, the positions they play and how they play," said Bateman, who will be attending his third camp with the Stars. "I´ve always watched my competition, ever since I was a kid. I´m going to go in there and take one of their jobs."
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Bateman, who was selected by Dallas in the fourth round of the 1999 NHL Draft, signed a three-year deal with the Stars just hours before the June 1 deadline and, if he doesn´t stick with the NHL team, he could find himself with the club´s American Hockey League affiliate in Utah or back in the Ontario Hockey League.
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"I´ll go to the Dallas camp and see what happens there," stated Bateman, who will be in his overage year if he returns to the OHL. "If I don´t make it, I´ll work my way down from there and try out at the Utah camp."
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Despite battling through injuries and a six game suspension, Bateman ended last season as the Battalion´s third leading scorer. The Belleville native scored 59 points (15 goals, 44 assists) in 53 games and was the team´s leading scorer in the post-season.
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"I´ve been going to the gym every day and skating every morning," Bateman said when asked how he´d spent his summer. "I´m been getting ready mentally and physically. This is my year to go in and play pro."
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Bateman was back in Brampton a few weeks ago at the Battalion training camp and he hit the ice for practice sessions with the team´s rookies and several of the returning veterans.
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"It´ll be a good team," offered Bateman, who scored 183 points in three seasons in Brampton. "The guys are a little younger than last year´s team, but any team Stan puts together will work hard and be a contender."
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