A ticket package to Pittsburgh’s home opener, an Evgeni Malkin jersey and three Sidney Crosby Fathead wall posters headline the memorabilia slated for the Erie Otters’ benefit for former forward Jason Baird.
The event, set for Aug. 19 from 7-9 p.m. at Warner Theatre, features memorabilia for raffles and an auction. Former Otter Michael Rupp, now with New Jersey, will provide four tickets to the Devils’ game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 11 at Mellon Arena. The package includes a meet-and-greet after the game. The Devils have donated a signed team stick and other items. The NHL Players Association has offered the Malkin jersey and Crosby posters. Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone, a former Penguin, plans to contribute, possibly a Lightning jersey, Rupp said. Rupp said former Otter Tim Connolly, now with Buffalo, plans to donate a Ryan Miller stick and a Thomas Vanek stick or jersey.
“I’ve contacted a lot of NHL players that are all chipping in and doing stuff,” Rupp said. “We’re trying to get something big here to help out Jason and his family.” Baird, who played for the Otters from 1997-2001, suffered serious burns over 60-65 percent of his body in a lawnmower explosion on July 17 in Austintown, Ohio. Proceeds from the event will help Baird’s family handle mounting medical expenses.
Rupp will join Otters alumni Connolly, Steve Valiquette (N.Y. Rangers) and Adam Munro (Syracuse – AHL) at the event. Former Otter Colin Pepperall also could attend, Rupp said. Other former Otters and current NHL players are possible headliners, too, Rupp said. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. They include a chance to win hockey door prizes. For more information, call the Otters at (814) 455-7779 or e-mail at mark@ottershockey.com.

– Victor Fernandes

Assistant/goaltending coach Peter Sidorkiewicz will return to the Erie Otters for the final year of his three-year contract. After the 2008-09 season remains unknown, he said Thursday. “I’m sure it will be year to year,” he said by telephone from his Oshawa, Ontario, home. “We’ll see how things go this year.”
Sidorkiewicz received job offers from a couple of undisclosed OHL clubs, he said. Those opportunities “just didn’t work out,” he said. “I’m going back to the Otters. I’d rather leave it at that.”
With former assistant Mike Stapleton’s departure to Sault Ste. Marie, Sidorkiewicz said he likely will add the defense to his goaltending duties.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters forward Ryan O’Reilly will represent Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 club at the upcoming 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament, Hockey Canada announced Wednesday. He was one of 22 players selected from a four-day camp in Calgary, Alberta, which ended Wednesday.
The tournament will be held from Tuesday through Aug. 16 in Piestany, Slovakia, and Breclav, Czech Republic. Canada begins Group B play Tuesday against Switzerland. They face Sweden on Wednesday and Slovakia on Aug. 14. Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and the United States are in Group A.
O’Reilly joins seven other OHL players on the Canadian roster – goaltender Bryce O’Hagan (Sault Ste. Marie), defensemen Ryan Ellis (Windsor) and Taylor Doherty (Kingston) and forwards Zack Kassian (Peterborough), Taylor Hall (Windsor), Casey Cizikas (Mississauga St. Michael’s) and Matthew Duchene (Brampton). Duchene will serve as captain. Kitchener coach Steve Spott will be an assistant coach.
In other Otters’ news, defenseman Kevin Clare, a fourth-round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has earned a spot with the United States National Development Program’s Under-17 team, according to USA Hockey's Web site.

Because of overwhelming demand, tickets to the Erie Otters’ benefit for former forward Jason Baird will begin selling on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Otters’ office (809 French Street). Tickets for the event, scheduled for Aug. 19 from 7-9 p.m. at Warner Theatre, cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under.
Baird, who played for the Otters from 1997-2001, suffered serious burns over 60-65 percent of his body in a lawnmower explosion on July 17 in Austintown, Ohio. Proceeds from the event will help Baird’s family handle mounting medical expenses. For those unable to attend, donations can be made through any of PNC Bank’s area locations. NHL players and Otters’ alumni Tim Connolly (Buffalo), Michael Rupp (New Jersey) and Steve Valiquette (N.Y. Rangers) will attend the event, as will former goaltender Adam Munro. Others also are expected to attend. For more information, call the Otters at (814) 455-7779 or e-mail at mark@ottershockey.com.

Peter Sidorkiewicz will return to the Erie Otters as an assistant coach for the 2008-09 OHL season, Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, confirmed Saturday. The announcement occurred one day after the Aug. 1 deadline Bassin imposed on Sidorkiewicz to make a decision.
“He’s still got a strong loyalty,” Bassin said shortly after learning Sidorkiewicz’ choice. “I give him credit. He looked at other opportunities. (After) everything he looked at, this one turned out to be the best opportunity for him.” Bassin declined to disclose details of those opportunities.
Sidorkiewicz declined comment earlier in the day, since he had another telephone conversation to conduct before finalizing his decision – a call that Bassin confirmed was with him. He also didn’t confirm or deny if he pursued other coaching positions. Sidorkiewicz, 45, who didn’t immediately return a telephone message late Saturday afternoon, has one year left on the three-year contract he signed as the new coach in June 2006. He was demoted to assistant when the club hired Robbie Ftorek on Oct. 29, 2007.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters begin their five-game 2008-09 preseason schedule on Aug. 30 against Niagara at Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, N.Y. The game concludes the club’s week-long training camp in Jamestown. Players report Aug. 25 and begin workouts on Aug. 26.
The Otters have one preseason game at Tullio Arena – Sept. 3 against Windsor. Then the Otters face London on Sept. 5-6, first at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, and then at St. Thomas Timken Centre in St. Thomas, Ontario. The schedule concludes Sept. 11 at Niagara in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Tickets for the game in Jamestown cost $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12 and $25 for a family pass (two adults and three children in sections 1, 2, 3, 21 and 22. They can be purchased on JSBIA’s Web site, www.jamestownsavingsbankicearena.com. Tickets for the Windsor game are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 years old and under. They begin selling on Aug. 19 at the Erie Civic Center box office and all Erie-area TicketMaster locations.

Otters’ preseason schedule
Aug. 30 – Erie vs. Niagara, 7 p.m. (Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena – Jamestown, N.Y.)
Sept. 3 – Erie vs. Windsor, 7 p.m. (Tullio Arena)
Sept. 5 – Erie at London, 7:30 p.m. (John Labatt Centre – London, Ontario)
Sept. 6 – Erie vs. London, 7 p.m. (St. Thomas Timken Centre – St. Thomas, Ontario)
Sept. 11 – Erie at Niagara, 7:30 p.m. (Gatorade Garden City Complex – St. Catharines, Ontario)

* On the clock: Sherry Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/general manager, has given assistant/goaltending coach Peter Sidorkiewicz an Aug. 1 deadline to decide if he will return next season. Sidorkiewicz has one year left on his three-year contract. But he can pursue other coaching opportunities closer to his Oshawa, Ontario, home, Bassin said. Oshawa, Kingston and Mississauga have openings. “We know if he comes back, he wants to come back,” Bassin said. If Sidorkiewicz doesn’t return, Bassin likely would hire two new coaches – one as coach Robbie Ftorek’s top assistant and the other as a goaltending coach.
* News and notes: Bassin said he hopes to trade suspended defenseman Frank Grzeszczak before training camp begins next month. The final off-season trading period begins Aug. 2. Bassin has received general inquiries from clubs. … Kyle Creasy’s tenure as head trainer has ended after one season. Club officials are interviewing potential replacements. … Forwards Luke Gazdic (Dallas) and Zack Torquato (Detroit) will join forward Justin Hodgman (Minnesota) at the NHL Prospects Tournament, set for Sept. 13-17 in Traverse City, Mich.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters will hold a fundraiser on Aug. 19 at Warner Theatre for former forward Jason Baird, who suffered serious burns over 60-65 percent of his body in a lawnmower explosion on July 17 in Austintown, Ohio. The benefit will be held from 7-9 p.m.
NHL players and Otters alumni Tim Connolly (Buffalo), Mike Rupp (New Jersey) and Steve Valiquette (N.Y. Rangers) will attend the event. Former Otters goaltender Adam Munro, who played for Syracuse (AHL) last season, also will appear. Brad Boyes (St. Louis), Chris Campoli (N.Y. Islanders) and Carlo Colaiacovo (Toronto) and others also could attend.
The event includes autograph and photo opportunities with players, memorabilia raffles and auction items. Former players could donate ticket packages to a game involving their NHL clubs and Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena next season, Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, said Friday. Rupp, who has taken an active role in the event, expects to donate a ticket package for New Jersey’s game in Pittsburgh on Oct. 11, Bassin said. That package could include passes to the Devils’ dressing room.
Tickets to the fundraiser are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. They include a chance to win hockey memorabilia door prizes. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Baird family to help with medical costs. Light snacks and a cash also will be available at the event. For more information, call the Otters’ office at (814) 455-7779 or e-mail at mark@ottershockey.com.

Erie Otters defenseman Mitch Gaulton, 18, will miss the entire 2008-09 OHL season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, said today.
The surgery consists of taking a tendon from the forearm to reconstruct a damaged elbow ligament, according to orthopedics.about.com. The procedure is named after the former Major League Baseball pitcher who underwent the career-saving surgery. In Gaulton’s case, a tendon from his right arm was used to reconstruct the ligament Gaulton injured when he dislocated his elbow in Owen Sound on Oct. 27.
Gaulton, who underwent surgery a few weeks ago, will need 14 months to rehabilitate, Bassin said. That means he wouldn’t be available until Sept. 2009. He played only five games after suffering the injury and 20 games overall last season.

– Victor Fernandes

* Hodgman update: Forward Justin Hodgman has signed an amateur tryout contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild during their recent development camp in St. Paul, Minn. The club holds his rights until Oct. 1, which means Hodgman can’t speak with any other clubs or attend any other training camps.
Hodgman will represent the Wild at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich., in September. With a strong showing, Hodgman could be invited to his first NHL main camp. Yet, he will report to Otters’ training camp on Aug. 25 at Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, N.Y.
* Better late than never: Left wing Luke Gazdic was unable to participate in full-contact workouts and take slap shots at the Stars’ development camp in Frisco, Texas, two weeks ago. He continues to rehabilitate a surgically repaired labrum in his shoulder. But he expects medical clearance in time for Otters’ camp and his first main camp with the Stars in September. “I’m extremely happy about that. It’s been a long haul here,” said Gazdic, who has undergone daily physiotherapy and workouts this summer.
* Kidd moving closer?: Defenseman Josh Kidd said “there’s been a little bit of conversation back and forth” about a professional contract between his agent and Los Angeles Kings’ officials. Unlike last summer, he was injury free for the Kings’ development camp in El Segundo, Calif., earlier this month.
He missed the 2007 camp while recovering from shoulder surgery, injured his groin at main camp and suffered a concussion before Manchester, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, began the playoffs last spring. He will attend main camp in September. “We’ll see what happens,” Kidd said.
* Toughest workouts ever: Hodgman has spent three days at Overkill Peak Potential Hockey Camp, a five-week camp run by Brian O’Reilly, father of Otters forward Ryan O’Reilly, in Varna, Ontario.
“I’ve never really trained this hard in my life,” Hodgman said Wednesday. “It’s a whole new aspect of training that I’ve never been introduced to. It takes a lot out of you, but it makes better players.”
The camp focuses on fast-paced, high-intensity workouts, Ryan O’Reilly said, including running hills, long-distance runs and balance drills done on beams. “It’s getting all the muscles you need for hockey, not just bodybuilding muscles,” said O’Reilly, who heads to Calgary, Alberta, next week for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team camp. “I can tell by skating that my fitness is ready to go and my body is ready to play again.” Right wing Shawn Szydlowski spent last week at the camp.
* Tough workouts, Part II: Center Greg McKegg, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has trained seven days a week this off-season. Here’s his weightlifting routine: Mondays (legs), Tuesdays (chest), Wednesdays (back), Thursdays (shoulders) and Fridays (legs). In between, he skates on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and runs on a track on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
* Around the rink: Right wing Nick Palmieri is attending New Jersey’s conditioning camp in Newark, N.J., this week. … The Otters held their latest off-season workouts in Welland, Ontario, last week.

– Victor Fernandes