Columbus Blue Jackets to participate in annual NHL Prospects Tournament

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets will begin preparations for the 2018-19 National Hockey League season at the Annual NHL Prospect Tournament to be held from September 7-11 at the Center Ice Arena in Traverse City, Michigan. The 23 players participating in the tournament will undergo physicals prior to taking part in an on-ice practice session at the OhioHealth Ice Haus, the club's official practice facility at Nationwide Arena, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 6.
The on-ice session is free and open to the public. Media availability with the players will be held immediately following practice before the team departs for Traverse City.
This year will mark Columbus' 17th-straight appearance at the tournament. The Blue Jackets, who finished second last year, have captured the tournament title in 2006, 2007, 2014 and 2015. This year's participating clubs will be divided into the following: GORDIE HOWE DIVISION - Columbus, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues; and TED LINDSAY DIVISION - Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild 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. 7
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Practice (West Rink)
4 p.m. at CHICAGO (West Rink)
Saturday, Sept. 8
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Practice (West Rink)
3:30 p.m. at ST. LOUIS (West Rink)
Sunday, Sept. 9
10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Practice (David's Rink)
Monday, Sept. 10
10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Practice (David's Rink)
7 p.m. vs. CAROLINA (David's Rink)
Tuesday, Sept. 11
Game - Opponent, Time and Rink TBD
PURCHASE SINGLE-GAME TICKETS FOR THE 2018-19 SEASON
The Blue Jackets' rookie camp roster features 23 players, including five who were selected by the club via the NHL Draft. Leading the group of prospects will be two of the club's picks from the
2018 NHL Draft
- first round pick Liam Foudy (18th overall) and seventh round selection Trey Fix-Wolansky (204th overall). Other drafted players scheduled to participate in the tournament include: 2017 - Jonathan Davidsson; 2015 - Kevin Stenlund; 2014 - Ryan Collins. The roster also features five players who signed entry level contracts with the club: 2018 - Eric Robinson; 2017 - Maxime Fortier, Sam Vigneault, Matiss Kivlenieks; 2015 - Kole Sherwood.
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 Carey Krug along with Blue Jackets Development Coaches Chris Clark, Gregory Campbell and Jarkko Ruutu.
Blue Jackets veterans and rookies will open the club's 18th training camp with medicals and fitness testing on Thursday, September 13 with the first day of on-ice testing scheduled for the following day. The Blue Jackets open preseason play on Monday, September 17 when they host the Buffalo Sabres at 7:00 p.m. at Nationwide Arena. The club will open the regular season on Thursday, October 4 at the Detroit Red Wings.

NOTE: Roster subject to change