Former CC defenseman competes for job with Avalanche

CENTENNIAL -- Former Colorado College defenseman Brandon Straub’s improbable hockey journey has taken another turn.

Straub, a Colorado Springs native who transferred to CC as a sophomore, was one of 28 players invited to the Colorado Avalanche rookie camp Saturday at South Suburban Family Sports Center.

“It’s a little surreal,” Straub said. “I grew up playing amateur hockey in this same rink. I grew up always going to Avalanche games. I thought about it the whole way driving up from the Springs. I’m just excited.”

Straub, who graduated in May, is one of eight rookie camp participants and the only defenseman signed to an amateur tryout contract, which means his expenses during the four days are covered by the organization. Those eight, including recent Denver graduate J.D. Corbin of Littleton, are seeking professional contracts.

At the conclusion of rookie camp Tuesday, Straub will either get a day-by-day stint at Avalanche training camp, which starts Friday, or he will be sent to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Cleveland, the Lake Erie Monsters. There, Straub would encounter a similar situation, where he would compete in training camp for a spot on the roster or be sent to the Johnstown (Pa.) Chiefs, the Avalanche’s East Coast Hockey League affiliate.

After 45 minutes of drills — run by coach Joel Quenneville, assistants Jacques Cloutier and Tony Granato and goaltending coach Jeff Hackett — the next 75 minutes were devoted to scrimmaging, with the coaches and Avalanche personnel watching from a platform in a corner of the rink.

With only nine defensemen in the camp, Straub had plenty of ice time to show his skills. He was paired first with defenseman Kevin Montgomery and then with Nigel Williams, both of whom left college hockey last season for Canadian major-junior hockey and are among the Avalanche’s top prospects.

“The biggest thing for me is not trying to do too much,” Straub said. “There were a few times where I should have played it a little safer.”

Straub drew cheers from the 80 fans in attendance when he and defenseman Mitch Love got into a scuffle at the end of the second period. At the buzzer, Love checked Straub hard from behind and the two began exchanging blows. Straub dropped his gloves — hockey sign language for “Let’s go” — but Love backed away.

“I was a little nervous, but I hope I was able to make a good first impression,” Straub said.