Gryba shines in rookie tournament

Former Terrier defenseman Eric Gryba, now in Ottawa Senators’ rookie camp, opened some eyes with a pair of goals and solid defensive play at the Toronto Maple Leaf Rookie Tournament in London, Ont. His first goal came in the tournament opener against the Penguins— and his BU teammate and roommate Brian Strait—in a 5-3 loss. According to SilverSevenSens.com:

Eric Gryba: Okay, maybe not a guy you were initially looking to hear about, but someone who Bryan Murray is high on, and who scored a sick goal: Pinched in and called for a pass at the opposition blue line, faked out the defender, and rifled a shot far-side past [former Northeastern University goalie Brad] Thiessen.

Gryba scored again in the Sens’ game two 7-3 win over the Blackhawk rookies. In the third tournament game, a 3-2 Senators’ win, the blueliner from Saskatoon handled himself well in a fight with a Leafs’ forward (photo).

Gryba, who played six games for AHL Binghamton last Spring, had been named the hardest working player at Senators development camp in July.

►The other two blueliners who concluded their BU careers last March, Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen, are in Avs rookie camp (as is Zach Cohen) , where Hockeywriters.com assessed their chances to make the organization’s NHL roster. (See video clip of both scoring against Maine in a HE playoff game). According to Hockeysfuture.com, Shattenkirk is the Avs’ #1 prospect while Colby Cohen is #6.

►In TSN's annual survey of top 2011 draft prospects by 10 NHL scouts, freshman defenseman Adam Clendening was ranked #9. Fellow freshman Matt Nieto also received several votes.

►Mike McMahon of the Warrior RinkRat blog continues his Hockey East preview with a look at UMass-Lowell.