The info below is from the team, which is opting to hold a prospect camp for fans instead of a draft party on Friday night for the first round of the draft. The camp, which will likely feature all of the picks from the 2009 draft class including the second overall, will be free and open to the public from July 8-15.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they will introduce their top draft picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft to fans on Saturday, July 11 during its 2009 Tampa Bay Lightning Young Guns Camp, a prospects camp, to be held July 8-15 at the St. Pete Times Forum.  The team will hold a fan festival on Saturday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m. to present its top draft selections while holding a scrimmage and super skills competition between prospects.  The entire camp, including the festival, scrimmage, super skills competition and all practices, are free and open to the public.  Practice times will be available at http://www.tampabayligthtning.com. 

“We are excited to be able to offer Lightning fans this opportunity so quickly after making our 2009 draft selections,” said Brad Lott, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We haven’t hosted a camp like this before, but we relish the opportunity to get our best young prospects, including this year’s top picks, in front of our fans.”

The Lightning’s top draft picks are expected to participate in the camp and meet fans through the week. During the camp there will be various exclusive meet and greet opportunities with players and autograph sessions with camp participants, coaches and management.  Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos, Head Coach Rick Tocchet, Owner Oren Koules and Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton will be on hand. The event will offer a “select-a-seat” which will allow fans to choose their seat locations for next season. Ticket packages start at $79. Food and beverage specials as well as games on the plaza will also be available to fans in attendance.

The 2009 Tampa Bay Lightning Young Guns Camp is the perfect opportunity for Lightning fans to see some of the brightest young talent in hockey. Players will include some familiar faces from the 2008-09 season, such as Steve Downie, Paul Szczechura, Ty Wishart, Vladimir Mihalik, Kevin Quick and Riku Helenius. Another highlight of the event will be goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who backstopped Team Canada to the 2009 World Junior Championship, as he prepares to begin his professional career. Former Lightning draft picks Dana Tyrell, Mitch Fadden, Luke Witkowski, James Wright and Mark Barberio to name a few, will also participate.

Beyond the Blue Line, the Lightning’s summer-long meet and greet series, will take place during the camp on Thursday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 14 from 6-8 p.m.  Those who would like to RSVP for Beyond the Blue Line should call 813-301-6800.

For more information and a complete schedule of events fans should visit www.tampabaylightning.com. 

Tentative 2009 Tampa Bay Lightning Young Guns Camp Roster (not including 2009 draft picks)

Player                 Pos.    Shoot/Catch     Height Weight Age   2008-09 Team
Helenius, Riku         G       L               6’3       205     21     Tampa Bay (NHL)/ Norfolk (AHL)/ Miss (ECHL)

Tokarski, Dustin       G       L               5’11     185     19     Spokane (WHL)

Mountain, Bryan       G       L               5’9       175     21     Portage (MJHL)

Barberio, Mark         D       L               6’0       201     19     Moncton (QMJHL)

Gustafsson, Erik       D       L               5’10     180     20     Univ. of Northern Michigan (CCHA)

Jackson, Scott         D       L               6’4       215     22     Norfolk (AHL)/ Mis (ECHL)

Mihalik, Vladimir       D       L               6’7       222     22     Tampa Bay (NHL)/ Norfolk (AHL)

Quick, Kevin           D       L               6’0       175     21     Tampa Bay (NHL)/ Norfolk (AHL)/ Aug (ECHL)

Wishart, Ty             D       L               6’4       205     21     Tampa Bay (NHL)/ Norfolk (AHL)

Witkowski, Luke       D       R               6’0       200     19     Fargo (USHL)

Courtnall, Justin       LW     L               6’3       185     19     Victoria (BCHL)

De Coste, Kyle         RW     R               6’2       190     19     Sault Ste Marie/ Brampton (OHL)

Downie, Steve         RW     R               5’10     195     22     Tampa-Philadelphia (NHL)/ Nfk-Phl (AHL)

Fadden, Mitch         C       L               6’0       175     21     Tri-Cities/ Lethbridge (WHL)

Grant, Tommy         LW     L               6’2       190     22     Univ. of Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA)

Harju, Johan           LW     L               6’3       209     23     Lulea (SweE)

Kazionov, Denis       LW     L               6’2       185     21     Mlada (CzeE)/ Khabarovsk (KHL)

Kazionov, Dimitri       F       L               6’3       198     25     Kazan (KHL)

Killorn, Alexander       C       L               6’0       185     18     Harvard (ECAC)

Lawrence, Chris       RW     R               6’4       217     22     Norfolk (AHL)/ Aug-Miss (ECHL)

Marshall, Matt         C/ RW   R               6’1       172     20     Vermont (HE)

Read, Matt             RW     R               5’10     179     23     Bemidji State University (CHA)

Simek, Juraj           LW     L               6’1       189     22     Norfolk (AHL)

Szczechura, Paul       C       R               5’11     175     23     Tampa Bay (NHL)/ Norfolk (AHL)

Tyrell, Dana           LW     L               5’11     180     20     Prince George (WHL)

Wright, James         C       L               6’2       180     19     Vancouver (WHL)