67's cut 20 from camp

By BRUCE GARRIOCH, Ottawa Sun

The 67’s can get down to work now.

As they prepare to open the pre-season Sunday against the Kingston Frontenacs, 2 p.m. at the K-Rock Centre, the 67’s sent 20 players packing Saturday, after three days of scrimmages.

With 14 forwards — including nine returnees from last year — six defencemen and three goalies, the 67’s will likely only make one more move before they open the season on Sept. 24 in Sault Ste. Marie.

“The pace really picked up here in the last scrimmage,” said 67’s coach Chris Byrne Saturday. “Some of the veterans who were off to a slow start really picked it up and we’re ready for the next step. We’re keeping the guys we like and that are going to fit in with us.”

While goalies Peter Mzazek and Chris Perugini will split the duties in Kingston, the club also kept local goalie Francis Dupuis. He’ll likely get some action when Mzazek attends Detroit’s camp.

Up front, the 67’s held onto import selection Robert Farmer, Nicholas Foglia, Remi Giftopolous, 2010 No. 4 selection Cosmo Fantana and injured No. 1 pick Sean Monahan, who won’t return for three weeks.

Defencemen Cody Ceci, Marc-Anthony Zanetti, Ryan Hanes and Travis Gibbons will return. Newcomers Ryan Shipley and Taylor Fielding — both selected in Round 2 last spring — have secured spots.

Tyler Toffoli (Los Angeles), Thomas Nesbitt (New Jersey), Ryan Martindale (Edmonton), Zanetti (Detroit) and Mzazek (Detroit) leave for NHL camps next week.

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So there you have it. I'm surprised they didn't hang onto a few more while the NHL-hopefuls are at their rookie camps.