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Jr. T-Birds Training Camp 2022 instructors: Meet this year's pro, college instructors here

By Jr. T-Birds Staff, 07/25/22, 4:45PM EDT

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Co-Director John Leonard, who was recently acquired by the Nashville Predators (NHL), will be joined on the ice by an impressive group of professional and collegiate players, including:

Peter Crinella – Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL affiliate of St. Louis Blues), College of the Holy Cross (NCAA) (pictured)

Jake Gaudet – Cleveland Monsters (AHL affiliate of Columbus Blue Jackets), University of Massachusetts Amherst (NCAA)

Ryan Leonard – Boston College (NCAA), United States National Team

Jake Ryczek – Adirondack Thunder (ECHL affiliate of New Jersey Devils), Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Brian Scoville – Utica College (NCAA)

Brendan Nehmer – Stonehill College (NCAA)

Luka Maver – American International College (NCAA), Slovenia National Team

Directing our goalies at training camp will be Keith Petruzelli, a former Jr. Thunderbird.  Keith played his college hockey at Quinnipiac University, where he was a four year starter.  After Quinnipiac, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs and played with their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies this past season.  Keith will return to Toronto for next year.

Like in years past, the T-Birds Training Camp instructors will be joined by professional and collegiate coaches, who will appear as guests throughout the week and run sessions.  Stay tuned for those announcements and don’t forget to register at: https://www.juniorthunderbirds.com/trainingcamp    

More about our instructors below!

Peter Crinella: It is only fitting Peter will be back as an instructor for T-Birds Training Camp, after the forward played with the Springfield Thunderbirds’ AHL team this past season.  The Rifles and Pope Francis Prep product played his collegiate hockey at Holy Cross before turning pro, and after three seasons in the United States, will be playing for the Guildford Flames of the Elite Ice Hockey League in England for the 2022-2023 season.

 

Jake Gaudet:  A former teammate of Co-Director John Leonard at UMASS, Jake served as captain of the Minutemen his senior year.  Since graduating, the forward has played two seasons for the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  We are excited to welcome to native of Ontario, Canada to training camp this year. 

 

Ryan Leonard:  Another returning instructor, and former Rifles forward, Ryan is coming off a successful season for the United States National Team.  The Boston College commit and NHL prospect will return to the national team, before attending BC in the fall of 2023.

 

Jake Ryczek:  Jake returns to training camp after playing in his second professional season.  The defenseman played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Halifax Mooseheads, before turning pro.  He will return to the Adirondack Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, for the 2022-2023 season. 

 

Brian Scoville: Also a defenseman, Brian plays his collegiate hockey at Utica College.  The Agawam native played his junior hockey in the BCHL with the Langley Rivermen before heading to school, and will play his junior season this year.  

 

Brendan Nehmer:  Like other instructors, Brendan also represented the Rifles as a player before an instructor.  A former Pope Francis Prep standout, the forward now plays Division I hockey at Stonehill College and is entering his senior season. 

 

Luka Maver:  Luka will bring some international experience to training camp this year.  The Slovenian National Team member and AIC captain joins the staff for the first time this year.  A 4 year presence at forward for the Yellow Jackets, Luka is familiar with hockey in the 413 and looks to bring some European training methods to camp.