Ottawa Senators Bizarrely Ivite 6-Foot-7 Club League Goon to Prospect Camp
Photo credit: Post Bulletin
The Ottawa Senators are no strangers to making questionable moves, routinely disregarding public opinion in favor of staying true to their vision. This reached a new height yesterday, however, when the team announced that they'd invited a former collegiate club-level defenseman to participate in their rookie camp in the hopes of him securing a contract with the organization.
Is this a new level of desparation for the Senators, or perhaps a sign that club hockey is becoming a more legit career path to the pros?
Senators Invite Club Player With NHL Blood to Rookie Camp
The Senators turned heads yesterday when news broke that they'd invited defenseman Braidan Simmons-Fischer to participate in their annual rookie camp.
The son of former NHLer Jiri Fischer, 6'7», 240 lbs defenseman Braidan Simmons-Fischer will be participating in the Ottawa Senators Rookie Camp & Prospects challenge from September 11-14.
Simmons-Fischer, who is the son of former NHLer Jiri Fischer, has had anything but a conventional path to this point. A single game pit-stop with the USNTDP U18 squad, two years of NCAA D1 hockey at St. Thomas, a transfer which saw him end up on one of the best collegiate club teams in the world at Adrian College, and a brief stint in the FPHL (a semi-pro league) to conclude last season.
The hulking defenseman has built a reputation on his relentless style of play and unforgiving physicality. Now, he'll try and translate that skill set to the next level.
ECHL Bound...Or More?
Simmons-Fischer is currently signed to a contract with the Allen Americans, Ottawa's ECHL affiliate, for this season. While it's not uncommon for ECHL players to receive invites to rookie camps, it is somewhat unheard of for a player with Simmons-Fischer's background to receive an invitation.
Not sure how many players with the FPHL on their resume get a look at a prospect camp. Fischer is on an ECHL deal with Allen, Ottawa's affiliate, this season.
Normally, the ECHL would be the final destination for a player with Simmons-Fischer's resume, but with how quickly he's climbed the ranks of professional hockey so far, we're not going to bet against his ability to impress the Senator's brass.
Who knows, maybe he'll earn himself a deal with Ottawa's AHL team. Maybe he'll prove that club hockey is a legitimate form of college hockey, and secure a chance to play in the best league in the world.
TRENDING NOW
