White, Tkachuk headline rookie tournament Sens roster

Colin White, Brady Tkachuk and the Christian brothers — Wolanin and Jaros — will highlight the Ottawa Senators roster for an NHL rookie tournament in Laval, Que., from Sept. 7 to 9.

The 27 Senators prospects will play counterparts from the Montreal Canadiens Sept. 7 followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs Sept. 8.

Both games will be played at Place Bell in Laval.

Troy Mann, who replaced Kurt Kleinendorst as coach of the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League in the summer, will serve as head coach for Senators rookies.

The players will hold a practice at the Bell Sensplex Sept. 6, then travel to Laval.

It should be one of the most competitive rookie teams ever assembled by the Senators, who have made no secret of their intention to rebuild around younger talent.

Tkachuk, drafted fourth overall in June, will be bidding to become the first Ottawa draft pick to step directly onto the regular season roster spot in the same season since forward Radek Bonk did that in 1994.

There is some NHL experience in the group.

White scored two goals and added four assists in 21 games with Ottawa last season. Fellow forwards Filip Chlapik, Logan Brown and Alex Formenton also played NHL games in 2017-18 and will push for jobs.

Wolanin made an impressive debut on the Senators defence late last season after leaving the University of North Dakota. Jaros played two games with Ottawa and 44 with Belleville.

Highly touted goaltender Filip Gustavsson, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deal for centre Derick Brassard before the trade deadline, is also on the Senators’ rookie tournament roster.

SENATORS ROOKIE TOURNAMENT ROSTER

Goaltenders: Filip Gustavsson; Jordan Hollett; Kevin Mandolese. Defencemen: Jonathan Aspirot; Charles-Edouard D’Astous; Macoy Erkamps; Christian Jaros; Maxime Lajoie; Brady Lyle; Nicolas Mattinen; Chase Stewart; Christian Wolanin. Forwards: Drake Batherson; Logan Brown; Luka Burzan; Filip Chlapik; Alex Formenton; Parker Kelly; Boston Leier; Aaron Luchuk; Robert Lynch; Gregor MacLeod; Ryan Scarfo; Jordan Stallard; Andrew Sturtz; Brady Tkachuk; Colin White.

ROOKIE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Sept. 7: MTL vs. OTT, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 8: OTT vs. TOR, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 9: MTL vs. TOR, 3 p.m.

All games at Place Bell in Laval, Que.