Ellerby rejoins Blazers

From The Daily News of Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 . . .

It had been a long time since the Kamloops Blazers had all hands on deck for
a practice.
In fact, prior to Wednesday, it hadn’t happened since late in the 2006-07
regular season.
But the WHL team had its entire roster on the ice for yesterday’s practice
at Interior Savings Centre.
Yes, defenceman Keaton Ellerby — have skates, will travel — is back in town
and will be in the lineup Friday when the Blazers open the regular season
against the visiting Chilliwack Bruins.
Ellerby, selected 10th overall by Florida in the NHL’s 2007 draft, left the
Panthers in Saskatoon and arrived in Kamloops in time to skate with the
Blazers.
He played in one NHL game — a 3-0 victory over the Flames in Calgary on
Sunday — and watched two others, including Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout victory
over the Flames in Saskatoon. He was informed late Tuesday night that he
would be returning to Kamloops, rather than going on to Chicago for a game
tonight with the Blackhawks.
Before leaving, Ellerby met with Jacques Martin, the Panthers’ general
manager and head coach, and Duane Sutter, the director of player
development.
“They said they were very pleased and very excited with the way I was
handling myself in practice and the way I played,” Ellerby said. “They
didn’t have enough good things to say. I was happy and encouraged.”
Ellerby was glad to get back and to be able to catch his breath. He has been
on the move since well before June’s NHL draft.
“It was a very busy summer,” he admitted. “Going to the (NHL scouting)
combine, the draft, the Canada-Russia thing . . . I’ve been all over the
place. It’s been hectic but I’m ready for the season and I’m glad to be
here.”
The last time Ellerby wasn’t living out of a suitcase was over a month ago,
although he did enjoy a couple of days at home in Calgary before joining
Team Canada for the series with Russia.
“I’m going to be glad to not see an airplane again for a while,” he said.
With Ellerby back, the Blazers will ice a defensive corps as solid and as
deep as any in the WHL. At practice, he was paired with Ryan White, Victor
Bartley skated alongside sophomore Jordan Rowley, and Ryan Bender was with
freshman Darcy Huisman. Kurt Torbohm, another rookie, was the seventh
defenceman and saw time on one power-play unit.
Ellerby, who is going into his fourth season here, sees himself being more
of a leader this season.
“Being a fourth year guy . . . leading with my play on the ice,” he said.
“Create energy and play the way I play — physical and kind of mean — and
keep the puck out of our end.”
The one thing he learned with Team Canada and again with Florida is the
importance of playing within himself. Last season, Ellerby got into trouble
when he tried to do too much, something that led to his being benched for
one late-season game.
“Just keep it simple,” he said. “Play like I did in Russia and when I was
with the Panthers. I didn’t try to step out of my element. I just played
within myself and it worked out awesome.”
JUST NOTES: D Mark Schneider, who suffered a wrist injury prior to training
camp, is to have his cast removed Tuesday. If everything continues to
progress, he could be ready to play Oct. 12 when the Blazers open a
four-game U.S. road swing in Everett. . . . Chilliwack has assigned G Lucas
Gore, 17, of Kamloops to the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. Gore was one of three
goaltenders with the Bruins, who have chosen to go with veteran Matt
Esposito, 18, and freshman Mark Friesen, 17. . . . C Mark Santorelli, one
of the Bruins’ big guns, was returned by the Nashville Predators yesterday.
. . . The Vancouver Giants got three players back from pro camps — RW Michal
Repik (Florida), RW Spencer Machacek (Atlanta) and D Jonathan Blum
(Nashville).