With the NHL's Development Camps in full swing for most of the league, six UMass Lowell players earned invites to compete with the league's elite prospects. The group consists of
Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.),
Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.),
Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.),
Dmitry Sinitsyn (Moscow, Russia),
Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) and
Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.).
The Dallas Stars are hosting a pair of River Hawks in Carr and Sinitsyn. A junior, Carr established himself as an elite talent last season, finishing as the runner-up for Hockey East's Player of the Year award. The New England Hockey Writers Most Improved Player, he went 22-10-1 with a .928 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average.
The Stars own the rights to Sinitsyn after drafting the defenseman in the seventh round earlier this summer. The redshirt freshman joined UMass Lowell at midseason in 2011-12, but did not play in any contests. Prior to joining the River Hawks, he scored 31 points on 11 goals and 20 assists in 36 games played for the Dallas Stars U-16 team in the Tier I Elite League.
Hellebuyck will be in camp with Winnipeg after his selection in the fifth round by the Jets in the 2012 NHL Draft. The six-foot-four goaltender totaled a 26-21-5 record for the Odessa Jackalopes in the North American Hockey League last year. The incoming freshman collected a .930 sv% and 2.49 GAA with three shutouts en route to earning the league's Co-Goaltender of the Year honor.
The New York Islanders hosted Holmstrom in their annual camp. The junior forward appeared in all 38 UMass Lowell games while scoring 12 goals and eight assists, including three game-winners. Holmstrom also ranked second on the team with six power play tallies.
Wallin earned an invite to the Philadelphia Flyers' camp. Tied for seventh among UMass Lowell scorers, the sophomore potted eight goals and 17 assists during his explosive rookie season. Wallin was a three-time recipient of Hockey East's Rookie of the Week honor.
The reigning Hockey East Rookie of the Year, Wilson, will make his return to the Pittsburgh Penguins' Development Camp. A seventh round draft selection by the Penguins in 2011, Wilson scored 16 goals and 22 assists in an outstanding freshman season. The skilled left-winger scored the most points by a River Hawk rookie since Greg Bullock totaled 59 (24g, 35a) in 1993-94.
