Former NAHLers attend Blues' Development Camp

Former North American Hockey League players Ryan Turek and Brian Schack participated in the St. Louis Blues' Development Camp last week, along with St. Louis Bandits coach-GM Jon Cooper and Southern Minnesota Express coach-GM Pat Cullen, who served as guest coaches.

The camp is a weeklong event consisting of drills and scrimmages amongst Blues' prospects, as well as player evaluations, off-ice testing and coaching seminars.

"It's great to see players who come through our league be invited to such prestigious events like this," said Cooper, who saw two of his players selected in June's NHL draft in forwards Pat Maroon and Trent Vogelhuber.

Turek, a fourth-round pick of the Blues in a 2006 draft, played for Cooper during the Bandits' inaugural 2003-04 season.  He was a member of Michigan State University's national championship team this past year.

A sophomore at the University of Minnesota, Schack spent the 2005-06 season with the Express.  Undrafted, Schack was invited to the camp by Andy Murray, head coach of the Blues and part owner of the Express.

"I think this says a lot about our league and the quality players we're producing and the recognition they're getting from the National Hockey League," said Cullen.