Da Costa Living: Why I'll Be At Conditioning Camp
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 3, 2010 11:47 PM PDT
in Arthur
16 comments
ARTHUR:
The Ducks are holding their Conditioning Camp next week, with practices open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, all starting at 6 p.m. at Anaheim Ice.
This is usually a good chance to see some prospects you haven't seen before, but I've actually seen most of the players on this year's roster. There are some I haven't seen live, but only a few I haven't seen at all, namely Kevin Lind, Chris Wagner, Tim Heed and Stephane Da Costa. Two things on that last name. First, he probably encompasses the ENTIRE reason I'll be attending this year's Conditioning Camp and second, he's not even a Duck. More after the jump...
Stephane Da Costa is one of two NCAA free agents attending this year's Conditioning Camp-- the other is Dartmouth's Evan Stephens --and if you've been following his college hockey career online, you're probably as excited as I am to get a look at him. The 5'11" native of Paris played in Sioux City of the USHL last year, but he found himself recruited by the Merrimack Warriors, a program that had gone down the toilet of late-- and I mean where Michelangelo keeps his nunchucks 'down the toilet' --to the tune of five last place finishes in Hockey East.
But Merrimack started making the headlines on Da Costa's back. In his second game, he became the first Warrior in history to post five goals, the first freshman Warrior to score a natural hat trick and the first to score a hat trick for the school in the last four years. He earned INCH Rookie of the Year honors, and as INCH notes of Da Costa's 16 goals and 29 assists, he had more dimes than Merrimack's leading scorer last year had points.
Da Costa has committed to returning to school next season, but I can't imagine his interest in Anaheim won't be piqued next week. He'll take the ice with three players (Nick Bonino, MacGregor Sharp, Dan Sexton) who made their NHL debut with the Ducks shortly after leaving the NCAA and can vouch for the Ducks commitment to playing college players. I hope we're on his mind all of next season.
I will probably be there Tuesday and Saturday night, so feel free to come by, say hello and talk hockey.
This year's Conditioning Camp roster:
| Player | Pos | How Acquired |
| Bonino, Nick | C | From San Jose |
| Bordson, Rob | LW | Signed as free agent |
| Brittain, Josh | RW | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Clark, Mat | D | 2009 Entry Draft |
| Cousineau, Marco | G | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Da Costa, Stephane | C | Free agent |
| Deschamps, Nicolas | C | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Etem, Emerson | RW | 2010 Entry Draft |
| Fowler, Cam | D | 2010 Entry Draft |
| Gardiner, Jake | D | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Heed, Tim | D | 2010 Entry Draft |
| Hegarty, Ryan | D | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Holland, Peter | C | 2009 Entry Draft |
| Lebler, Brian | RW | Signed as free agent |
| Lind, Kevin | D | 2010 Entry Draft |
| Macenauer, Maxime | C | 2007 Entry Draft |
| McCue, Matt | LW | Signed as free agent |
| McMillan, Brandon | C | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Mitera, Mark | D | 2006 Entry Draft |
| Newton, Jake | D | Signed as free agent |
| Palmieri, Kyle | RW | 2009 Entry Draft |
| Perlini, Brett | RW | 2010 Entry Draft |
| Pielmeier, Timo | G | From San Jose |
| Schultz, Justin | D | 2008 Entry Draft |
| Sexton, Dan | RW | Signed as free agent |
| Sharp, MacGregor | C | Signed as free agent |
| Smith-Pelly, Devante | RW | 2010 Entry Draft |
| Stephens, Evan | D | Free agent |
| Vaive, Justin | LW | 2007 Entry Draft |
| Valentine, Scott | D | 2009 Entry Draft |
| Wagner, Chris | RW | 2010 Entry Draft |
0 recs |
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it was cancelled last year and combined with camp, but I only remember the first day being crowded. It’s hard to to tell with these things. I assume Saturday will be crowded.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Looks like a good group going in to the camp. The Ducks defense for a couple years down the road are pretty much all (less Sbisa) going to be taking the ice. Should be great! Question for you guys… Any word on Lupul maybe being there? Robby (PhantomPretender) said that BM told fans that Lupul would start skating after July 4 when the young guys show up. I was assuming he meant this camp, but I haven’t heard any whispers about Lupul participating. And I’m not thinking in the scrimmages, but at least in the workouts and stuff.
Conditioning Camp is for prospects, rookies, etc. Veterans don’t usually attend. They combined training camp and rookie camp last year, but this year, you’ll have to wait until camp to see Loops.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
I remember reading Murray saying Lupul would be skating there too. My bet is the same as Jason’s, if he does attend, it’s only in the closed sessions, just to start skating again.
Depending how my week in Texas goes, I might be there Saturday. Gotta get my hooks in these future millionaires early enough…hahaha ;)
"I'm not a lady. I'm a DUCK!" - Connie Moreau, D2: Mighty Ducks
Writer for http://www.anaheimcalling.com
by Sticks.Gloves.Shirt on Jul 4, 2010 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
oh, my bad. It’s like the thousandth report anticipating Lupul skating, so I may have blocked it out. Traditionally, vets don’t attend, so if he shows up, it’d be a treat, but he’s not on the roster or scheduled to be there on any day as far as I know.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
At the Open House
Murray said he’d be skating when the kis report, but he didn’t really specify what that would entail. I too imagine this means he’ll probably be getting some work in away from the public.
by PhantomPretender on Jul 4, 2010 2:44 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Why are they waiting to sign him?
Hometown : Montreal
First language : French
This explains why this post is filled with spelling, syntax and grammar mistakes!
This is actually an opportunity for me to refer you to the College Hockey Inc. presentation at this year’s Ducks West Coast Prospects Camp. NCAA players are amateurs and cannot sign contracts. That goes for all the NCAA players at this year’s camp, whether the Ducks drafted them or not. They cannot sign a contract and return to school. Da Costa’s last year of draft eligibility was 2009, and he went undrafted, so the only way to get him is to sign him.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Sign him and make him play in Syracuse or Bakersfield?
Hometown : Montreal
First language : French
This explains why this post is filled with spelling, syntax and grammar mistakes!
huh? He won’t sign. He wants to go back to school. NCAA does not let its players sign contracts. If we signed Jake Gardiner or Justin Schultz, they couldn’t go back to Wisconsin. Do you get what I mean?
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, but I would leave school asap if I could go play pro hockey… I’m sure his development will be better in ECHL or AHL, then why slow down your potential if its nhl level… I get it that he couldnt return in NCAA, but I don’t get it why he wants to stay there…
Hometown : Montreal
First language : French
This explains why this post is filled with spelling, syntax and grammar mistakes!
Well, I don’t meant to be prejudice against the Canadian junior leagues, but a lot of kids who come to the USHL and look forward to playing college hockey actually want to go to college and be a part of college hockey traditions. Again, that’s not anything against players who go to the CHL, but the motivations of players who play college hockey is often to actually play it and to go to school, not just to develop.
He discusses his decision to absolutely come back next year at this YouTube clip, unfortunately in English, and he still thinks he needs time to get bigger and develop before going pro, but he also notes how he wants to win the Hockey East title. Again, I’m not trying to be disrespectful of CHL hockey, but to me, College isn’t just some development league, so what you said came off as a little disrespectful.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I should clarify that he came to the US at the suggestion of a family advisor after playing with the French national team, so his size could have factored into the advice to come to the USHL, but based on his comments that he’d still like to stay after a breakout year, I’m assuming getting an education and playing in a college setting was important to him, not that he’s a college hockey fan as I am.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Jul 4, 2010 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
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