Going on Vacation!!

With Free Agent news all but grinding to a halt, I will be heading to the beach with the family for a week. If any news would arise, either BEARS or Caps related, check out John Walton's blog(http://www.johnwaltonhockey.com/) or Tim Leone at http://www.pennlive.com/. In a few weeks I will be heading north to Central PA to catch up with some of the voice's of the East Division for the Annual AHL/East Division Golf & Poker outing. Should be fun again this year. Talk to all of you in a few weeks.

Development Camp Another Success

The 2009 Caps Summer Development Camp has come to an end. The Caps rookie draft picks, free agents and second year guys have completed another weeks worth of workouts and scrimmages.

Todays scrimmage was played in front of a packed house at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. For the second year in a row the main rink was "sold out". People were standing five and six people deep along the boards. The players have all metioned through various interviews this week, that they have been suprised by the amount of specatators showing up for the workouts. There is nothing like hockey in July.

All of the players will be heading home to take a few days off before getting back out in the weight room or on the ice to prepare for their upcoming seasons. Most assuradly these guys will be ready to go come training camp in September for the big club, or their Junior or college clubs. They can all however take away one thing from this week in suburban DC, Washington is a hockeytown that loves its team.

The Mayors Term has ended in Hershey

News out of Central PA today is that Dean Arsene has signed a one year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers/Springfield Falcons. Deano was the longest tenured BEAR and will most certainly be missed on and off the ice. Deano was offered a chance to compete for a spot in the NHL,which according to reports wasn't going to come from Washington. It's sad to see Deano move on but just like the rest of us he is chasing a dream.

Photo Courtesy of pennlive.com

Mark French named Head Coach of the BEARS

Mark French has been named the 23rd head coach in BEARS history today. French replaces Bob Woods who has promoted to Assistant Coach in Washington. Here is the release from John Walton: http://johnwaltonhockey.blogspot.com/2009/07/mark-french-named-head-coach-in.html

Caps Development Camp starts tomorrow

Here is a link to the list af scheduled attendee's to the Caps Development Camp:

http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=436606

Camp starts tomorrow at Kettler and all on ice workouts/scrimmages are open to the public. Make sure you stop by and check out the future of the organization.

Minker Moves on, Kane comes back

The last few days have been busy for Doug Yingst and the Bears. On Friday Grahm Mink signed a 2 year, 2-way deal with the Florida Panthers. Mink believes his best shot a getting back to the NHL comes in the Panthers organization and who can blame him for wanting to achieve the dream. His veteran leadership,both on and off the ice, will be missed in the BEARS locker room.

Twelve hours after Mink signed with the Panther/Amerks, Boyd Kane decided he wanted to come back to the BEARS. His veteran presence will surely help take some of the sting out of Minker's leaving.

http://www.pennlive.com/hersheybears/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/124737271219110.xml&coll=1//

http://www.pennlive.com/hersheybears/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/124728272448140.xml&coll=1

Both pictures courtesy of ahl.com