Florida Panthers to hold rookie camp, travel to Tampa Bay tournament

The Florida Panthers are getting back into the rookie tournament game as they will travel to the Tampa Bay area in September.

The Lightning will play host to a rookie tournament from September 18-21 at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.

The teams involved will be the Lightning, Panthers, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Panthers have not participated in a rookie tournament since hosting one in Coral Springs in 2016. The rookie tournament scheduled for 2017 in Estero, Fla., was canceled due to Hurricane Irma.

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Florida general manager Bill Zito said the Panthers will hold a rookie camp in Coral Springs starting Sept. 10 and running through the 14th. Then, the rookie team will travel to the Tampa area.

Information on whether or not fans will be admitted to the rookie camp or the rookie tournament has not been disclosed yet.

All four teams will play each other once over the four-day tournament.

Any skater or goaltender in each of the four organizations on an entry-level contract (or less), provided they are 24 or younger and have less than 20 games of NHL experience, are eligible to participate and exceptions may be permitted with prior approval from all teams.

Teams will dress 18 skaters and two goaltenders for each contest.

Games are regulation length with three 20-minute periods. A five-minute, three-on-three overtime period will determine a winner if games are tied after regulation. Games will conclude with a five-player-per-team shootout regardless of the final score.

A number of Florida’s young players will participate in the rookie camp and tournament including rookie goalie Spencer Knight who made his debut with the Panthers last season.

Others who are included in the roster mix include 2020 first-round pick Anton Lundell, 2018 first-round pick Grigori Denisenko as well as the likes of Matt Kiersted, Serron Noel and Max Gildon.

Florida Panthers rookie camp roster

Forwards

Eric Alarie, Karch Bachman, Henry Bowlby, Grigori Denisenko, Logan Hutsko, Anton Lundell, Justin Nachbaur, Serron Noel, Simon Pinard, Cole Schwindt, Justin Sourdif, Connor Trenholm, Trevor Wong.  

Defensemen 

Frédéric Brunet, Robert Calisti, Max Gildon, Braden Hache, Matt Kiersted, Jacob LeGuerrier, John Ludvig, Evan Nause.

Goaltenders 

Olivier Adam, Tye Austin, Spencer Knight 

Game Schedule