Jr. Blues Represented at Seven NHL Development Camps

Jun 25, 2019

Springfield, Illinois – The Springfield Jr. Blues have six players, current or alumni, on NHL development camp rosters. Development camps are not tryout camps, but rather are an opportunity for players to showcase their talents to that respective team. Draft picks from this year and previous years will be in attendance as well as invitees who have not been drafted yet. 

Henry Graham, a Manhattan, NY native, will be participating in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ development camp this week in Ohio. Henry played in two regular season games for the Jr. Blues at the end of the 2018-19 NAHL season and finished with a 1-0-0 GAA and .907 SV % after playing for Honeybaked U18 previously. Graham is one of eight players to have signed a tender with Springfield for the 2019-20 season. 

Tommy Nappier, the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, is in Pittsburgh to showcase his skills for the Penguins. The Ohio State goalie played for the Jr. Blues during the 2015-16 season before playing in the USHL for the Chicago Steel and the Omaha Lancers. The St. Louis, MO native just wrapped up his sophomore season for the Buckeyes, leading them to a regular season title behind a 12-4-3 record with a 1.86 GAA and .934 SV%. 

Kelly Klima, who played for the Jr. Blues with his brother Kevin during the 2014-15 season, will be at the Arizona Coyotes camp for the second year. The Tampa, FL native split this past season between the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) and the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL). In 27 ECHL games Klima put up 14 goals and 14 assists while adding 1 assist in 10 games in the AHL. 

Mike Robinson, a Bedford, NH native, will be in San Jose for the Sharks development camp. The 2015 3rd Round pick of the Sharks spent the last two seasons at the University of New Hampshire after playing for the Jr. Blues during the 2016-17 season. In 31 games for UNH this past season Robinson posted a 2.48 GAA and .915 SV%. It will be the fourth appearance for Robinson at the Sharks development camp. 

Devin Cooley, a goaltender at the University of Denver, will be participating in the Toronto Maple Leafs camp this month. The Los Gatos, CA native played here in Springfield during the 2016-17 season with fellow alumnus Mike Robinson. Devin had a solid season for the Pioneers this past season, compiling a 11-6-2 record with a 1.85 GAA and .934 SV%. 

Patrick Curry, who will be entering his senior season at Boston University, is currently participating at the St. Louis Blues development camp. The Schaumburg, IL native played for the Jr. Blues during the 2013-14 season before playing for Bloomington in the USHL for two seasons. This past season Curry put up 13 goals and 13 assists in 38 games for the Terriers.

The final Jr. Blues alumnus on an NHL development camp roster is University of Vermont goaltender Stefanos Lekkas , who is attending the Florida Panthers camp. The Elburn, IL native just finished up his third season with the Catamounts, posting a 2.27 GAA and .930 SV%. Lekkas played for the Jr. Blues during the 2013-14 season before joining the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. 

In addition to Jr. Blues alumni there are three players who played in the NAHL this past season who are also on development camp rosters. Jake Veri (Lone Star Brahmas), Trevor Smith (Northeast Generals), and Pavel Rotenberg (Brookings Blizzard) will also be attending camps this summer. Six NHL teams have yet to release development camp rosters, while the majority of league will be hosting their camps this week.