All Habs News: Wednesday August 3, 2011

Happy Birthday!! All Habs community: tell us! NHL: Dominic Moore, Jordan Leopold, Ryan Carter

►Habs at Team Canada U-18: Development camp opened Tuesday in Edmonton for 47 of the best junior players in the world. They will be competing for 22 roster spots that will comprise Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Montreal Canadiens organization has three prospects at camp, forwards Brendan Gallagher, Michael Bournival and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu.

The development camp runs through Sunday under the direction of head coach Don Hay.

►Walter takes top job with baby Flames: Former Montreal Canadiens gritty winger Ryan Walter was named President of the Abbotsford Heat, the AHL-affiliate of the Calgary Flames. Walter retired from the game in 1993 after playing 15 years in the NHL, nine of those with the Habs. Walter won a Stanley Cup as a member of the 1986 Canadiens.

After leaving hockey, Walter went on to become a colour commentator, actor and motivational speaker.

►Arena deal dead in Long Island: It wasn’t even close. A referendum which would have authorized a $400 million dollar loan for the construction of a new arena for the New York Islanders (and baseball stadium) was soundly defeated by overburdened area taxpayers.  Many considered this vote as the last chance to keep the Islanders put — their lease expires at Nassau Coliseum in 2015.

The speculation has already started about the next location of the Islanders — from Brooklyn to Quebec City.  Predictably, Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that his goal is to keep the Isles where they are — but we know how believable similar rhetoric has been about the situation in Phoenix.