Penn State Hockey: Over A Dozen Nittany Lions Headed To NHL Development Camps

Several former and current Nittany Lions will head to various NHL Development Camps across the league in the next few weeks. The various camps announced their camp rosters following the completion of the NHL Draft this past weekend.

In terms of current Nittany Lions, Chase Berger, Erik Autio, Nate Sucese, Peyton Jones, Nikita Pavlychev, Brett Murray, Andrew Sturtz and Denis Smirnov will all head to development camps. Incoming freshmen Evan Barratt and Cole Hults will also participate.

Former players Zach Saar, Vince Pedrie and Kenny Brooks will also be heading to development camps across the league.

Pedrie who signed with the New York Rangers in March following the conclusion of his sophomore campaign and Saar who inked a deal with the Anaheim Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate the San Diego Gulls will each report to their respective camps this week.

After being drafted this past weekend Smirnov, Barratt and Hults will join their respective franchises the Avalanche, Blackhawks and Kings while Sucese will head to Nashville and Jones will travel to San Jose. Both Murray, who was drafted by Buffalo in 2016, and Autio will take place in the Sabres camp the second week of July.

Pavlychev, Berger and Sturtz round out the group as all three will head to Pittsburgh for the Penguins camp on Wednesday June 28 – Saturday July 1.

Finally Kenny Brooks will make the trip to his hometown Las Vegas to work out with the NHL’s newest franchise.