This year will mark Columbus' 16th-straight appearance at the tournament. The Blue Jackets, who finished third last year, captured the tournament title in 2006, 2007, 2015 and 2016. This year's participating clubs will be divided into the following: TED LINDSAY DIVISION - Columbus, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues; and GORDIE HOWE DIVISION - Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers.
Practice sessions and tournament games will be held on the facility's two sheets of ice - David's Rink and West Rink - located at 1600 Chartwell Drive, Traverse City, Michigan, 49686 (Phone - 231/933-7465). The Blue Jackets' schedule includes:
Friday, Sept. 8
8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Practice (David's Rink)
3:30 p.m. vs. DALLAS (David's Rink)
Saturday, Sept. 9
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Practice (West Rink)
7:30 p.m. at MINNESOTA (West Rink) -
WATCH LIVESTREAM
Sunday, Sept. 10
1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Practice (West Rink)
Monday, Sept. 11
8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Practice (West Rink)
3 p.m. at ST. LOUIS (David's Rink) -
WATCH LIVESTREAM
Tuesday, Sept. 12
Game - Opponent, Time and Rink TBD
The Blue Jackets' rookie camp roster features 23 players, including six who were selected by the club via the NHL Draft. Leading the group of prospects will be two of the club's first round picks in the most recent NHL Drafts - 2015 first round pick Gabriel Carlsson (29th overall) and 2016 third overall selection Pierre-Luc Dubois. Other drafted players scheduled to participate in the tournament include: 2016 - Vitaly Abramov, Calvin Thurkauf; 2015 - Paul Bittner; 2014 - Ryan Collins.
The Blue Jackets rookies will be coached in Traverse City by John Madden, head coach of the Cleveland Monsters, the club's American Hockey League affiliate. He will be assisted by Monsters Assistant Coaches Steve McCarthy and Manny Legace, along with Blue Jackets Development Coaches Chris Clark, Gregory Campbell and Jarkko Ruutu.
Blue Jackets veterans and rookies will open the club's 17th training camp with medicals and fitness testing on Thursday, September 14 with the first day of on-ice workouts scheduled for the following day. The Blue Jackets open preseason play on Tuesday, September 19 when they host the Blackhawks at 7:00 p.m. at Nationwide Arena. The club will open the regular season on Friday, October 6 at home against the New York Islanders.
