Far from Portland, future Pirates tested

PACIFIC DIVISION SHOOTOUT

Anaheim's Pacific Division Shootout roster. Names in bold played for Pirates last season.

FORWARDS: Matt Auffrey, Matt Beleskey, Bobby Bolt, Ryan Carter, Colby Genoway, Shane Hynes, Tim Kraus, Tommy Maxwell, Drew Miller, Adam Perry, Bobby Ryan, Dirk Southern, Bryce Swan, Petteri Wirtanen, Myles Zimmer.

DEFENSEMEN: John deGray, Brett Festerling, Scott Fletcher, Brandan Mikkelson, Brian Salcido, Nathan Saunders, Brett Skinner, Clay Wilson

GOALTENDERS: J.P. Levasseur, David McKee, Joey Perricone

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Some future Portland Pirates are expected to get their first taste of pro hockey during the fourth annual Pacific Division Shootout in El Segundo, Calif.

The five-day tournament, which begins today, features prospects from the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks, the NHL affiliate of the Pirates.

"There's probably a dozen players who will have a chance to play (in Portland) or in Anaheim," said Pirates Coach Kevin Dineen, who will coach the Ducks' team in the tournament.

The Ducks will open training camp Sept. 15 in Anaheim, with players scheduled to report next Wednesday.

Anaheim's 26-man roster for the rookie tournament includes 15 players who competed in juniors last season and four who played for college teams.

"It gives them a chance to be seen by the scouts," Dineen said. "It gives them an idea of what we are looking for and an opportunity to show what they can do."

Only two members of the Anaheim team, defenseman Nate Saunders and right wing Shane Hynes, played in the tournament a year ago.

Bobby Ryan, the second pick behind Sidney Crosby in the 2005 draft, also was scheduled to play last season but couldn't because of an injury.

Last season, Hynes and Saunders were assigned to the Pirates, but a shoulder injury limited Saunders to 20 games in the regular season and nine in the playoffs, and a knee injury sidelined Hynes for all but 12 games of the regular season.

Ryan spent most of last season playing junior hockey for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League. Then he had a goal and seven assists while playing in all 19 playoff games for the Pirates.

The Anaheim squad also includes Adam Perry, a free agent who played at London in the OHL last season.

The younger brother of Corey Perry, the Ducks' first-round pick in the 2004 draft, he's one of about a dozen junior players on the rookie team. Most of them are expected to return to their junior teams after the tournament.

Right wing Colby Genoway, defenseman Brett Skinner and defenseman Clay Wilson will debut in an Anaheim uniform.

This summer the Ducks signed Genoway, who had 30 goals and 43 assists in 90 games with Hartford, as a free agent. Skinner, who played 65 games in the AHL at Manitoba, and Wilson, who played 60 games in the AHL at Grand Rapids, came in trades.

For the Shootout, the Kings' roster includes 10 players who suited up in the AHL last season for the Manchester Monarchs.

Goalie Jonathan Bernier, the first pick for Los Angeles in last June's NHL draft, also is scheduled to play. He spent the past two seasons with the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Coyotes' roster includes only one player who spent much time in the AHL last season. Matt Siones, a 6-foot, 215-pound defenseman, was a regular at San Antonio, the Coyotes' AHL affiliate.

The San Jose lineup includes six players who suited up for Cleveland in the AHL last season. This season that team is moving to Worcester, Mass.

Center Joe Pavelski, who had 20 goals and 30 assists for Wisconsin, the NCAA champion, will make his pro debut with the Sharks.

After three days of round-robin competition, the top two teams will play for the championship next Tuesday.

"We won last year and we won it the year before," Dineen said, "and we're going in to win again this year."

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