[MissTeeks]

Veterans excited to see Bennett, Gaudreau up close

http://flames.nhl.com/club/m_news.htm?id=730940

CALGARY, AB -- Penticton is a long way from Calgary, but that didn't stop the buzz Sam Bennett and Johnny Gaudreau put together at the Young Stars Classic. It's reached training camp.

And current members of the Calgary Flames are looking forward to seeing what the duo can do up close.

“Obviously there’s a lot of buzz around about those two guys and rightfully so,” Mason Raymond said. “They’re great hockey players and doing some good things. They’re here fighting for jobs just like the rest of us. It’s fun. We’re out there competing and if you get the chance to play with them, you enjoy it and you relish it.”

The pair’s portfolio has plenty of potential teammates interested.

“I’m curious,” captain Mark Giordano said. “I’ve seen Johnny play a little bit at the end of last year. You can see right away the skill set that he has. With Bennett, I haven’t really been on the ice with him so I’m excited to see him and a lot of our other young guys too.”

Other members of the team won’t have to wait long to catch a glimpse of either Bennett or Gaudreau.

They will skate as the on-ice portion of Flames training camp gets underway Friday at WinSport as both vie for a spot on Calgary’s roster in their first spin at main camp.

“I’ll see it out there on the ice at some point, right?” Raymond said. “Him and Sam, they’ve deserved everything they’ve got like much of every guy that’s here right now.

"That’s what camp is all about. You get here and get amongst the guys and you’re out here competing.”