Darren Calabrese
This was the last many hockey fans saw of Michael Liambas, the former Erie Otters winger who was booted from the OHL midway through last season after an ugly hit on 16-year-old Kitchener Rangers defenceman Ben Fanelli:
Today, the Leafs released their list of players attending rookie camp, and in a decision that is sure to be a little bit controversial, Liambas's name is on it.
After leaving the OHL, Liambas signed with the Bloomington PrairieThunder of the IHL in December of 2009, and he was given another five-game suspension there for an illegal hit.
As you can see from his hockeydb entry, Liambas isn't much of a point producer (although he did play some defence for Erie), and at 5-foot-9, he'll likely be hard-pressed to make an impact as a grinder at even the AHL level. Leafs GM Brian Burke, however, reached out to him soon after his OHL suspension and has been offering him a chance to join the Marlies ever since.
Given that back story, I imagine he makes the team.
As for everyone else who will be at the tournament in London starting Saturday, Maple Leafs Hot Stove has a rundown of 10 players to watch.
Here's the full roster:
FORWARDS Sam Carrick Andrew Crescenzi Jerry D'Amigo Jamie Devane Brayden Irwin Nazem Kadri Mike Liambas Greg McKegg Dale Mitchell Marcel Mueller Josh Nicholls Sondre Olden Bradley Ross Kenny Ryan Mikhail Stefanovich
DEFENCE
Keith Aulie Jesse Blacker Erik Burgdoerfer Dave Cowan Marc-Andre Dorion Simon Gysbers Korbinian Holzer Dallas Jackson Drew Paris Barron Smith
GOALIES
Andrew Engelage Jussi Rynnas Ben Scrivens