With the 2023 Washington Capitals rookie camp beginning on Saturday at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Here is an overarching guide as to what to expect this weekend and which players to keep an eye on during camp.
When & Where
- Sept. 16-19.
- First day at MedStar Capitals Iceplex
- 17th-19th at John McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis, Md.
- All sessions are free and open to the public
Schedule
- Saturday, Sept. 16 – Start of Capitals Rookie Camp
11:30 a.m. – Goalies on ice (MedStar Capitals Iceplex)
12-1:15 p.m. – Practice (MedStar Capitals Iceplex)
Post-practice – Media availability - Sunday, Sept. 17
9 a.m. – Goalies on ice (McMullen Hockey Arena)
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Practice (McMullen Hockey Arena)
Post-practice – Media availability - Monday, Sept. 18
9 a.m. – Goalies on ice (McMullen Hockey Arena)
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Practice (McMullen Hockey Arena)
Post-practice – Media availability - Tuesday, Sept. 19 – Final Day of Capitals Rookie Camp
9 a.m. – Goalies on ice (McMullen Hockey Arena)
9:30-10:45 a.m. – Practice (McMullen Hockey Arena)
Post-practice – Media availability
Participants
- 21 players, 11 forwards, six defensemen, four goaltenders, 12 Capitals draft picks.
Forwards
- Alexander Suzdalev, Andrew Cristall, Hendrix Lapierre, Patrick Thomas, Henrik Rybinski, Ryan Leibold, Ivan Miroschnichenko, Jake Karabela, Brett Hyland, Bogdan Trineyev, Ryan Hofer
Defensemen
- Vincent Iorio, Jon McDonald, Adam McCormick, Nick Leivermann, Spencer Meier, Connor Hall
Goaltenders
- Mitchell Gibson, Garin Bjorklund, Clay Stevenson, Antoine Keller
Drafted Caps
Andrew Cristall (2023, 2nd RD), Hendrix Lapierre (2020, 1st RD), Vincent Iorio (2021, 2nd RD), Ivan Miroshnichenko (2022, 1st RD), Alexander Suzdalev (2022, 3rd RD), Antoine Keller (2023, 7th RD), Patrick Thomas (2023, 4th RD), Brett Hyland (2023, 7th RD), Bogdan Trineyev (2020, 4th RD), Mitchell Gibson (2018, 4th RD), Garin Bjorklund (2020, 6th RD), Ryan Hofer (2022, 6th RD)
Players participating on an invite basis
Leivermann is coming off of a five-year stint with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native served as captain during his graduate season and had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 29 games, which was third on the team and first among defensemen. The soon-to-be 25-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Hershey Bears in late July. The 5-foot-11 rearguard was drafted in the seventh round by the Colorado Avalanche in 2017. Leivermann is an excellent two-way defenseman that blocks lots of shots and can play in any situation. He has an excellent shot and plays a physical game.
Similar to Leivermann, McDonald is also coming off a five-year college career and also served as the captain, but with the UMass-Lowell River Hawks. The 25-year-old set career highs across the board last season, ranking second on the team with 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) and was named to the Hockey East Third All-Star team. Before signing with the South Carolina Stingrays over the offseason, McDonald went to the Detroit Red Wings’ ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. He had three assists in 10 games.
An Ashburn, Va., native who trained at MedStar Capitals Iceplex growing up, Leibold’s goal is to work up the ladder in the organization and eventually play for the team he grew up watching. The former Washington Little Cap wrapped up his graduate season at Merrimack College, racking up 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 38 games. After his season finished, the 24-year-old forward signed with South Carolina and put up four points (one goal, three assists) in nine games.
RELATED: Ashburn, Virginia’s Ryan Leibold Is Enjoying Return To Where It All Began
Meier spent the last five seasons with the St. Cloud State Huskies, serving as captain for his final three years. The Sartell, Minn., native finished his collegiate career with 171 games played, which is the third-most in program history. The right-handed defensemen put up nine points (three goals, six assists) in 32 games and was the recipient of NCHC Sportsmanship Award for his dedication on and off the ice. Last year, he led the Huskies to an NCHC championship and in his freshman year they won the regular season title. Prior to playing college hockey, he was a Clark Cup champion with the Fargo Force of the USHL. Meier is currently unsigned.
Hall played college hockey, but not in the USA. Instead he played for the University of New Brunswick Reds of the USports league. Last year, the Reds won the USports University Cup Championship and Hall had four points in seven playoff games. The 6-foot-2 defensemen was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and is now with the Stingrays organization for the upcoming season. The 25-year-old played eight games for South Carolina last year and piled up four points (one goal, three assists). In 2019-20, he was named to the USports All-Rookie squad.
McCormick was teammates with Hall on the Reds for the past two seasons. The 23-year-old was named to the USports Second All-Star team, for the second year in a row, after putting up 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 26 games and also helped lead Brunswick to the USports University Cup Championship. His seven goals ranked first on the team among defensemen. In 2019-20, with the Cape Breton Eagles, the Woodstock, NB, native was awarded the Kevin Lowe Trophy, which is given to the best defensive defenseman in the league. McCormick is currently unsigned.
By Jacob Cheris
