Traverse City Prospects Tournament: Free Agent Invites

We're less than a month away from the Traverse City Prospect Tournament, held every year in Traverse City, Michigan. The roster that the Jackets send is generally the same as the prospect development camp roster. (Devo camp took place eariler this summer) There are no college players at the tournament though, given the NCAA rules.

We'll be looking at various aspects of this tournament leading up to early September, and today I want to give a quick blurb on some of the free agents that were extended an invite to the tournament by the Jackets:

G Jason Missiaen, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Source: Peterborough Examiner

Missiaen is a guy who I remember because of a piece on TSN last season (or was it the year before?) where they were discussing Habs training camp. Missiaen was notable because he is an absolute monster- 6-8, 200 is what Hockey DB has him listed as. GM Scott Howson has done well to re-stock the goaltending depth in the organization, but if Missiaen can perform well in this tournament, he may earn a contract (likely an AHL/ECHL pact) and act as third goalie for the Falcons.

F Marek Hrivik, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Source: Canada East Times and Transcript

We've known about Hrivik for a while now, but it's been confirmed by the above article. Hrivik was the highest scoring non-overage forward for a powerhouse Wildcats team last season. I am extremely excited to see what he can do in Traverse City, adding another skilled European forward to the prospect pool certainly wouldn't hurt.

C Ted Stephens, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Source: Canada East Times and Transcript

I don't remember much of Stephens when the Cats were in town facing my Mooseheads, but I did a quick search on him- here's a blurb from Moncton-Wildcats.com:

Ted Stephens is an offensive centre with excellent passing and puckhandling skills. He sees the ice well and is good on faceoffs. In 2007 he led his team to a second place finish in the BC provincial championships and finished tied in team scoring at the Canada Winter Games ( which were held in his hometown of Whitehorse) with 5 points and one shootout goal. In 2006 he was a member of Team  Yukon, winners of the Gold Ulu at the Arctic Winter Games. Ted is the first Yukoner to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Works for me. It's cool that he's from the Yukon, if nothing else.

Nick Czinder, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Source: The Windsor Star

Czinder could be interesting- a big guy who is making the jump from the USHL to Canadian junior. He's in the same league as a Tom Sestito, so it may be worth watching this guy.

Justin Feser, Tr-City Americans (WHL)
Source: NHL.com

The source is dicy, because it isn't exactly an article, but chances are Feser will be at Traverse City. He's an undersized, high scoring Western boy. There's a lot of those out there, it's up to Feser to make a mark.

Thanks to Sam for gathering info!