Camp ends with a 4v4 tournament
The Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up their annual summer prospect development camp with a 4v4 tournament between the three camp teams. Team Stevens ended up coming out on top by taking down Team Johnston in the final. The Big Artie’s defeated Team Patrick 4-0 earlier in the day.
That’s a wrap!
Team Stevens takes home the Michel Briere Cup in the 4-on-4 tournament at Development Camp. pic.twitter.com/BvuqJ9BZ1E
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 7, 2025
For posterity’s sake here were the teams:
2025 Development Camp is underway for the Penguins! The boys will be skating at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex through July 7.
Here are the teams ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L6OZA6Hr3n
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) July 3, 2025
Despite being on the losing end today, Will Horcoff was once again all the rage. While once again urging not to assign too much importance to summer hockey against a large part of non-drafted invitee competition, it’s only fine and natural to recognize a strong week for the somewhat controversial first round pick.
A full Will Horcoff shift with two strong rushes, a scoring chance and a great pass to end it that Oliver Tulk couldn’t convert on. pic.twitter.com/JhZPd299IJ
— Jeff Middleton (@jjmid04) July 7, 2025
This week won’t be make or break anything for his future, but it’s never a bad thing to see some encouraging signs from a young prospect that is showing a little more than some vocal critics disparaged (of course, many without really seeing live, so..)
Will Horcoff makes it 3-2 Johnston. Winner moves onto the final. pic.twitter.com/jeK1ojkCFL
— Did the Pens Win? (@DidPengWin) July 7, 2025
The other first round picks had their moments in the sun on the day too, as you would expect. Bill Zonnon scored a goal after a nice shift, Ben Kindel netted one in a shootout.
Tom Kostopolous, the team’s head of player development praised a player we thought was praise-worthy too this week in Joona Vaisanen. Vaisanen was just a sixth round pick in 2024 but served as a captain of one of the teams and finished up a strong 2024-25 (..or did he start his 2025-26 year out on a right note?)
Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos listed defenseman Joona Vaisanen as one of his standouts from camp.
“I think we all know and expected a lot, and he didn’t disappoint. I thought he looked really good out there and captained his team to the win, so it was good.”
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) July 7, 2025
Cruz Lucius registered a goal in the game (as we mentioned yesterday on his shot/pass bias show this week, look how the pass to the wide open player is never considered) and another in the shootout to have a good day.
Kostopolous ended the week happy and pointing out the investments being made from the top levels of the team have put a priority and focus on his area of development as the Pens gear up to try and turn as many of these young players into NHL players within the next handful of years.
Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos (1/2): “My development staff is fantastic. I feel like the LA Dodgers. I got a lineup of overly qualified people that I can use to send out to visit our prospects, that I can use in Wheeling, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh.”
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) July 7, 2025
Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos (2/2): “I think ownership and management has built out a ton of resources available to players that can only help them. If the players are willing to use that… that’s where we’re seeing growth with some of the players.”
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) July 7, 2025
The hot days of summer are a world away from the traditional NHL season, just as many of these players have miles to go in their respective journeys to get there too. The summer camp is always one about planting seeds for the future and seeing the organization get acclimated and begin to bring along as many youngsters as they can to meet them down the line when the weather is cooler and the spotlight is bigger.