Prospect Camp- Open to the public day.

Today’s mini camp, the only one that was open to the general public was fun, exciting and left much to be desired. That may be the most confusing sentence iv written but let me explain. Fans arrived at 5 AM and continued to show up throughout the morning before and as the isles staff handed out the wrist bands to get into Ice Works, then were left to wait another hour and half to get in. So as I caught up with some old friends who I haven’t seen since the end of the season a lady apparently fainted from overheating while waiting outside. This was the only really bad part of the day besides the fact they snuck Tavares out the back door, so all the fans who had come out to meet him and get autographs went home without his. Now that I have quickly vented lets get down to Tavares’s first skate in front of a packed house of Islanders fans. Well it was less than impressive. Tavares who played a few shifts really wasn’t the offensive power house that fans have come to expect out of him. Tavares did blend into the background and at times I had to ask my friend Larry where’s Tavares? But understandably we have to cut this 18 year old kid some slack since he’s just that, an 18 year old kid. Also adding that this was a mini camp scrimmage and a time to learn the new system for the team he will be playing with next season. In the media scrum following today’s camp when one reporter asked what Tavares needs to work on he responded by saying “everything…….you can never be a perfect player.”

In other news from today a lot people were impressed by the “bulkier” Josh bailey who did extremely well in the face off circle including in several match ups against Tavares, also scored a goal in today’s scrimmage. Josh who had experienced much of what Tavares is going through (minus the constant media attention) has been showing john around long Island and forging a friendship to help ease his transition.

Although I didn’t get to meet Tavares or get on TV it was a fun time and wish the camp had been open more than once. Ill have pics up on the Islanders Crazy flickr, maybe myspace and probably on this site by tomorrow.