Back from vacation ... (updated)

I'm back after several days off. You'd think that this would be the dog days when it comes to college hockey news, but it never really stops. Here are a few nuggets:

The St. Louis Blues will hold their pro orientation camp for prospects this week and two current Minnesota State players are attending, Blues draft pick Andy Sackrison and free agent Rylan Galiardi. Both will be MSU juniors this fall. The camp runs Thursday through Sunday near St. Louis. MSU recruit Tyler Elbrecht is also attending the camp. The defenseman played for St. Louis of the NAHL last season.

The Philadelphia Flyers began their prospect camp Tuesday in Voorhees, N.J., and the weeklong camp also features two players with MSU ties, current Flyers player Jon Kalinski and MSU junior defenseman Channing Boe. Kalinski played 12 games for the Flyers last season, his first year as a pro, and 46 games with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, which is also in Philadelphia. It's good to see Boe is recovering from the broken leg that ended his season last winter.

UPDATE: Justin Jokinen, who will be a sophomore, is skating in the Buffalo Sabres prospect camp this week.

From the how'd-I-miss-this? file ... MSU got a commitment from defenseman Evan Mosey of the NAHL's Wenatchee Wild, the team that ex-Mav Ryan McKelvie helps coach. Looks like a versatile player, as the Illinois native played forward for most of the season before switching to D, where he spent the playoffs. He said he plans on playing defense in college.

Ex-Maverick Brian Kilburg turned pro recently, signing with the ECHL's Ontario Reign, a California-based team that's an affliliate of the Los Angeles Kings. A little Q&A with Kilburg from a blogger who covers the Reign can be found here.

Some more ex-Mavericks are scheduled to be in Mankato next week for a youth-hockey camp put on by the MSU coaching staff. The camp is expected to feature Tim Jackman, Andy Hedlund, Ryan Carter and Shane Joseph.

Speaking of camps, MSU goalie coach Des Christopher and his business, The Goalie Club, are holding a goaltending school at All Seasons Arena in Mankato this week. The camp includes several goalies from around southern Minnesota.

Of course, the big news was the WCHA's expansion, as Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji State will be making it a 12-team league in 2010. Since MSU plays these schools every year, their schedule won't be drastically different. Here are some thoughts from Tuesday's Free Press.