When the Toronto Maple Leafs released their list of 25 players set to take part in this year's rookie tournament in Oshawa, there were plenty of familiar names to fans of the team.
Draft picks including Brad Ross, Jerry D'Amigo, Sondre Olden, Jesse Blacker and 2011 first round pick Stuart Percy, to name a few. There were also those who had spent time with the Marlies this past season, including Andrew Crescenzi, Jake Gardiner and Greg McKegg.
Also on the list however were seven walk-on players that Leaf fans may not be familiar with. In an effort to shed light on who these players are, here's info on the seven prospects who will be attending the tournament on a tryout.
Forwards
Mitchell Heard - 6'2", 180 lbs, Shoots: L, 19-years old
In his second season with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League during the 2010-11 campaign, Heard registered 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in 66 games. The Bowmanville, Ontario native finished fifth on the Whalers in assists and points.
Heard also attended the Leafs' prospect camp, which took place in July at the Mastercard Centre in Etobicoke.
Kyle Neuber - 6'2", 215 lbs, Shoots: R, 22-years old
Neuber was originally selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round (197th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The London, Ontario native played in 15 games for the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League last season, collecting one assist with 45 penalty minutes.
The gritty 22-year old forward split time with the OHL's Mississauga St. Mike's Majors and Sarnia Sting during his junior career. In four seasons of major junior, Neuber registered 18 goals and 13 assists for 31 points in 199 games with 526 penalty minutes.
Defence
Garrett Clarke - 6'0, 197 lbs, Shoots: L, 18-years old
Clarke split time between the Halifax Mooseheads, Shawinigan Cataractes and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL last season. In a combined 57 games, Clarke collected six goals and 23 assists for 29 points.
The Windsor, Nova Scotia native had a plus/minus rating of minus nine with Halifax and minus four with Shawinigan before turning it around and finishing the season with a plus nine with Acadie-Bathurst.
Dave Cowan - 6'4", 205 lbs, Shoots: R, 25-years old
At 6'4", Cowan is be tied for tallest player on the Leafs' rookie team with fellow defenceman Mike Schwindt. He will however lead the way in one category, as at 25-years of age, Cowan is the oldest player on the team.
The Calgary, Alberta native missed all of last season with a shoulder injury that he suffered in the first game of last year's tournament against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Cowan was signed to play with ECHL's Reading Royals last season, but that did not pan out due to the injury. During the 2009-10 season, Cowan collected a goal and five assists in 30 games with Robert Morris University. He also played one game that season for the AHL's Norfolk Admirals.
Mike Schwindt - 6'4", 215 lbs, Shoots: R, 19-years old
The Mount Forest, Ontario native spent last season with the OHL's Niagara Ice Dogs, his third year with the club.
Schwindt finished the year with eleven assists and 61 penalty minutes in 68 regular season games. The towering defenceman also finished the season with a plus/minus rating of 22, which was third best among blue liners on the team behind Jesse Graham and Boston Bruins first round pick Dougie Hamilton, who had a rating of 35.
Matt Stanisz - 6'1", 200 lbs, Shoots: L, 21-years old
A teammate of Leafs defensive prospect Jesse Blacker with the Owen Sound Attack, Stanisz finished the 2010-11 season with 12 goals and 31 assists for a total of 43 points in 61 regular season games.
Stanisz was also a key contributor in the Attack's OHL Championship run, registering a goal and 14 assists in 22 playoff games. The Burlington, Ontario native also had an assist during the 2011 Memorial Cup Tournament.
Denny Urban - 5'10", 170 lbs, Shoots: R, 23-years old
The 5'10" Urban is the only defenceman on the Leafs rookie roster under six feet tall, and is the shortest player on the squad behind the 5'11" Jerry D'Amigo.
Urban had eight goals and 32 assists for a total of 40 points in 35 games with Robert Morris University last season. The Pittsburgh native then went on and finished the season with the Reading Royals, registering three goals and six assists in 14 regular season games.
Follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @KenBeckett 
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»