Cuylle not expected at Petes training camp opening
Petes have no plans to trade him; Cuylle has yet to consent to a meeting with team officials
Will Cuylle will not be present when the Peterborough Petes training camp opens on Monday.
The Petes brass has not been able to secure a meeting with their first-round draft pick or his family since they selected him third overall in April’s OHL draft, confirmed Petes GM Mike Oke.
Cuylle is standing by his predraft stance that he wouldn’t report to Peterborough if they selected him.
The Petes hoped hiring new head coach Rob Wilson might lead Cuylle to reconsider. Wilson and Oke have been in regular contact with Cuylle’s adviser Jeff Jackson of the Orr Hockey Group and while they feel those talks, the latest within the last two weeks, have been productive Cuylle has not consented to a meeting.
“Rob wanted to provide a little background on himself and how he plans to develop our players and our team play so they get a better sense of what he’s all about,” Oke said.
“I think Rob has made a positive impression but at this point they still have some reservations.”
Since being drafted the sixfoot-three, 190-pound left wing from the Toronto Marlboros minor midgets has committed to attend Penn State University in two years.
Jackson did not return phone or email requests for interviews or information on where Cuylle plans to play this season. He is listed on the pre-season roster of the OJHL’s North York Rangers where he played some games last season as an affiliated player.
Wilson said he’s had some positive conversations with Jackson and remains hopeful he’ll get a chance to present his case to the Cuylle family.
“I still believe we will get a sit-down but at this stage I don’t foresee him being here Monday,” Wilson said.
Bob Gainey, recently appointed as a special adviser to the Petes, has also been involved in discussions, Oke said.
Feeling Cuylle was the best player available and having passed on players in some past drafts, the Petes took a stand this year that they were going to take the best player available.
The Petes can trade Cuylle prior to Sept. 15 or during a window before the January trade deadline and also receive a compensatory fifth-overall selection in the 2019 draft. They could also let Cuylle re-enter the draft next spring and receive the compensation pick.
Oke said the team has no plans to trade Cuylle at this stage and has not engaged in talks with other teams about Cuylle.
“We’ve maintained right from the day we drafted Will that we wanted to show him and his family all of the benefits of playing in Peterborough to grow and develop as a player, as a person and as a student,” Oke said.
“We have a great academic team. A great strength and conditioning team at Hybrid Fitness. With the changes Rob has implemented with his coaching plan I think it’s an exciting time. I know when Rob has conveyed that plan to the returning players It’s been met with a great degree of excitement. It seems the players have been filtering into town earlier than they have in the past and I think a lot of it is due in large part to they want to get going.“
Also not attending camp will be Petes third-round draft pick Jack Bar who committed to Harvard University prior to the draft. The Petes have signed three of their draft picks, Cameron Butler, Tye Austin and Shawn Spearing, as well as CHL Import Draft selections Liam Kirk and Erik Cermak.
Camp opens with fitness testing Monday afternoon at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.
On-ice scrimmages will be held in morning and evening sessions Tuesday and Wednesday at the Memorial Centre.
The annual Maroon and White Game is 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.
NOTE: The Petes have named a video coach and assistant athletic trainer. See story on Page
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