The Washington Capitals 2021-22 season is finally getting into gear. The first activity is the Capitals Rookie Camp, which begins this Saturday and continues through September 20. Invited prospects include recent draft picks and several undrafted free agents. 

The free agent invites this year include goaltender Ryan Bednard (78), right winger Matt Maggio (75), and defensemen Chaz Reddekopp (81), Patrick Holway (82) and Jake Massie (84).

Ryan Bednard, Goalie, #78

Bednard was born in Macomb Township, Michigan on March 31, 1997. The Florida Panthers originally drafted him in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted, he played three seasons at Bowling Green University and then turned professional, starting with the 2019-20 season.

Bednard appeared in 35 games with the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the 2020-21 season. He compiled a 20-6-8 record, a 2.43 goals-against average, and a .915 save percentage.

Bednard led all ECHL goaltenders in shutouts (4) and earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors three times. He also appeared in two games with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL last season, going 1-1-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

Bednard signed an AHL contract with the Hershey Bears on August 13, 2021. He is currently slated to play for the Bears this season.

Photo: Swamp Rabbits Website

Bears Sign Ryan Bednard to AHL Contract for 2021-22

Matt Maggio, Right Winger #75

Matt Maggio was born on November 25, 2002 in Windsor, Ontario.

During the 2019-20 season, he played with the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League, playing in 45 games, with three goals and 11 assists. He was expected to have a bigger role with the Spitfires, but was hampered by a case of mononucleosis.

With Covid-19 cancelling most of the games in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 2020-21 season, Maggio was loaned to SK Lejon of the Hockey Ettan League in Sweden. He scored three goals and had eight assists for 11 points in 19 games.

Mggio had hoped that by playing in Sweden, rather than waiting for the OHL season to start, it would better position him to get noticed by scouts for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but to no avail.

Photo: Bob Bellacicco / CTV Windsor

Windsor CTV News: Tecumseh Native Maggio Acquired by the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Star: Spitfires Look to Correct Error By Bringing Maggio Home
Windsor Star: Spitfires Maggio Follows Buddy Mailloux to Play in Sweden

Chaz Reddekopp, Defenseman #81

Reddekopp was born on January 1, 1997 in West Kelowna, British Columbia, and the Los Angeles Kings originally drafted him in the 7^th round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After finishing his junior hockey career, he played in three games at the AHL level in 2016-17. After that, he bounced between AHL and ECHL teams, including affiliates of the Los Angeles Kings (Ontario Reign, Manchester Monarchs) and San Jose Sharks (San Jose Barracudas, Orlando Solar Bears) as well as the Ft Wayne Comets and Allen Americans in the ECHL.

Last season Reddekopp played 13 games with the San Jose Barracudas in the AHL and 10 games with two different ECHL teams (Allen Americans and Orlando Solar Bears). He scored no goals for the Barracudas but had one assist in ECHL play.

Reddekopp signed a contract with the South Carolina Stingrays on September 8. Stingrays head coach Ryan Blair recently spoke about Reddekopp. “Chaz was a highly sought after target for us this summer. He is a big defenseman who takes a lot of pride in being a steady, shut down type player, and that’s exactly what we expect from him on a nightly basis. He is also a great skater and has the ability to be a solid puck mover for us.”

Photo: Los Angeles Kings

Stingrays Hockey: Stingrays Sign Defenseman Chaz Reddekopp

Patrick Holway, Defenseman #82

Holway was born on October 1, 1996 in Cohasset, Massachusetts. He played two seasons with Merrimack College, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Prior to transferring to Merrimack, he played two seasons with the University of Maine.

After he completed his 2020-21 season at Merrimack, he signed a Professional Tryout Contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL where played in six games.

The 2021-22 season will be his first full year as a professional hockey player. During 2020-21, he played in 18 games for Merrimack where he scored three goals and recorded six assists for nine points overall.

Holway signed a contract with the South Carolina Stingrays on August 23.

Photo: Merrimack College Athletics

Stingrays Hockey: Stingrays Sign Defenseman Patrick Holway
Merrimack Athletics/Mens Ice Hockey/Patrick Holway

Jake Massie, Defenseman #84

Massie was born on January 21, 1997 in St-Lazare, Quebec, and was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but was subsequently traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Massie played in the USHL in 2015-16 and then played three seasons at the University of Vermont. After the conclusion of his 2018-19 college season, he signed with the Florida Panthers as a free agent. During the 2019-20 season, he primarily played for the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, but also saw games with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

Massie spent the 2020-21 season with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the ECHL where he played 31 games and had three goals and eight assists for 11 points overall.

Massie signed a contract with the South Carolina Stingrays on August 19.

Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

University of Vermont Athletics/Mens Ice Hockey/Jake Massie
Stingrays Hockey: Stingrays Sign Defenseman Jake Massie

Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 18
1 p.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
1:20 p.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
Post-practice.: Media availability

Sunday, Sept. 19
10:10 a.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
10:30 a.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
Post-practice: Media availability

Monday, Sept. 20
1 p.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
1:15 p.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
Post-practice: Media availability

Tuesday, Sept. 21
Day Off

Wednesday, Sept. 22
NHL players physicals/testing- no media availability

Thursday, Sept. 23
2021 Caps Media Day, MedStar Capitals Iceplex

*All practice times and media availability sessions are approximate and subject to change.

By Diane Doyle