This was the last many hockey fans saw of Michael Liambas, the former Erie Otters winger who was booted from the OHL midway through last season after an ugly hit on 16-year-old Kitchener Rangers defenceman Ben Fanelli:
Today, the Leafs released their list of players attending rookie camp, and in a decision that is sure to be a little bit controversial, Liambas's name is on it.
After leaving the OHL, Liambas signed with the Bloomington PrairieThunder of the IHL in December of 2009, and he was given another five-game suspension there for an illegal hit.
As you can see from his hockeydb entry, Liambas isn't much of a point producer (although he did play some defence for Erie), and at 5-foot-9, he'll likely be hard-pressed to make an impact as a grinder at even the AHL level. Leafs GM Brian Burke, however, reached out to him soon after his OHL suspension and has been offering him a chance to join the Marlies ever since.
Given that back story, I imagine he makes the team.
As for everyone else who will be at the tournament in London starting Saturday, Maple Leafs Hot Stove has a rundown of 10 players to watch.
Here's the full roster:
FORWARDS
Sam Carrick
Andrew Crescenzi
Jerry D’Amigo
Jamie Devane
Brayden Irwin
Nazem Kadri
Mike Liambas
Greg McKegg
Dale Mitchell
Marcel Mueller
Josh Nicholls
Sondre Olden
Bradley Ross
Kenny Ryan
Mikhail Stefanovich
DEFENCE
Keith Aulie
Jesse Blacker
Erik Burgdoerfer
Dave Cowan
Marc-Andre Dorion
Simon Gysbers
Korbinian Holzer
Dallas Jackson
Drew Paris
Barron Smith
GOALIES
Andrew Engelage
Jussi Rynnas
Ben Scrivens
