Victoria Royals forwards Brandon Magee and Austin Carroll showed enough during their 2011-12 Western Hockey League campaigns to be invited to NHL prospect camps in July.
After both 18-year-old forwards were not drafted by NHL teams, they went to the camps as free agents.
"It was a very good learning experience,'' said the pesky Magee on Tuesday, who went to the Edmonton Oilers' camp. "I had the opportunity to skate with some AHL players and the NHL's No. 1 pick [Nail Yakupov]. It was good to see that I could keep up with those guys and fit in.''
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Magee had 23 goals and 24 assists last season. Magee and Carroll are at the Royals' main camp, which concludes tonight with the 7 p.m. intrasquad game at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Admission is by donation with all the proceeds going to Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan.
Other Royals attending NHL prospect camps were Steven Hodges, drafted by the Florida Panthers and Logan Nelson, a draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres.
"I don't know if I would have been invited to the Oilers' rookie camp but it doesn't look like they will be having one,'' said Magee. "There is a good chance that there will be an NHL lockout and the season will probably start a few months late.
"I'm happy to be back here and playing hockey at a high tempo again. My goal is to have a good year and then hopefully be selected in next year's NHL draft.''
The Phoenix Coyotes liked what they saw in Carroll's big body (6-foot-3 and 215 pounds) and invited him to their prospects camp in Glendale, Arizona.
"That was an awesome experience,'' said Carroll. "I had the opportunity to meet the coaches and to see what the NHL is all about. I was playing against some big, experienced players and the tempo of the camp was very quick.''
Carroll came to the Royals last year after a season with the Coquitlam Express in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League. In 62 games with the Royals, Carroll had eight goals and 12 assists.
"I think what people like about my game is that I'm a big forward who likes to do the dirty work,'' said Carroll. "I like hitting and grinding it out in the corners. Now I just have to show everyone that I have the talent to score some more goals.
"I'm excited to be back with the team. I will do whatever it takes to be a benefit to this team as it is all about winning.''
The Royals reduced their roster to 64 players on Tuesday - six goaltenders, 22 defencemen and 36 forwards. The goaltenders still in camp are Keith Hamilton, Coleman Vollrath, Patrik Polivka, Evan Smith, Jared Rathjen and Michael Herringer.
The Royals have six exhibition games scheduled, with the first one on Thursday in Kamloops against the Blazers. On Friday, the Royals will meet the Kelowna Rockets in Maple Ridge. The only home exhibition game is Sept. 15 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Vancouver Giants. Game time is 2 p.m.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Royals are bringing back $1 hot dogs, popcorn and pop for tonight's intrasquad game. Vouchers for the concession items can be downloaded and printed from www.thezone.fm and
www.theq.fm.
