TROY, N.Y. – A number of National Hockey League (NHL) teams open their summer development camps this week and three current Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes have been chosen to take part. Draft choices Todd Burgess and Will Reilly were invited to Arizona Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins camps, while Linden Marshall worked out with the Chicago Blackhawks.
A junior forward from Phoenix, Ariz., Burgess was in Coyotes camp for the third consecutive year after being drafted in the fourth round (103rd overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 34 games for the Engineers last season, collecting a goal and 11 assists for 12 points. He had five power play assists and was assessed seven penalties for 22 minutes after sitting out his freshman season due to injury.
Reilly, a junior blueliner out of Toronto, Ont., was in his second summer camp with the Penguins, after being taken in the seventh round (217th overall) in 2017. Playing in all 37 games for RPI in 2017-18, he scored seven goals and added six assists for 13 points. His seven goals were tied for the team lead in tallies by defensemen. Picking up three goals and one assist on the man advantage, he blocked 30 shots at the defensive end and was assessed 12 penalties for 24 minutes. Through 72 career games, he has nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points.
A sophomore goaltender from Victoria, B.C., Marshall took part in his second development camp last week after receiving an invite from Chicago, after attending Vancouver Canucks camp in 2017. He led the Engineers in nearly every category last year, including games played (29), games started (28), wins (5), goals against average (3.17), save percentage (.904), saves (828), minutes (1665:36) and shutouts (1).
The various camps give players, both drafted and free agents, a chance to work out and play in front of professional scouts and coaches across North America.
Rensselaer opens its 2018-19 schedule with an exhibition game against Prince Edward Island on October 7 at the Houston Field House (5pm). The Engineers then begin their regular season schedule at UMass Amherst on October 12 (7pm).
