The Dallas Stars' 2006 Summer Development Camp opened this past Monday (July 24) and among the 40 or so top prospects taking part in the week-long event is University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore defenseman Matt Niskanen, who the National Hockey League club selected with their first round pick in the 2005 Entry Draft (28th overall choice), and center Matt McKnight (9th round and 280th selection in 2004).

Last winter, the 6-0, 190-pound Niskanen became the first rookie in seven years to lead all Bulldog defensemen in scoring. He finished the season with one goal (vs. Yale University on Nov. 26) and 13 assists for 14 points while skating a regular shift in 38 of the team's 40 games. Niskanen, a native of Mountain Iron, Minn., bypassed the Florida College Hockey Classic in late December to strut his stuff for the U.S. at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in British Columbia. He was credited with at least one point in all three games of the Bulldogs's WCHA playoff conquest of two-time defending NCAA champion Denver (he had one assist each night) -- the only UMD skater to do so.

McKnight, a junior from Halkirk, Alberta, established career highs for goals (nine, including five on the power play), assists (16) and points (25) in 2005-06 while placing third on the 2005-06 Bulldog scoring charts. McKnight, one of seven Bulldogs to receive ice times in all 40 games last season, served as an alternate team captain for the month of November.

Among the other participants taking part this week at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Frisco, Texas, is forward Marty Sertich, the 2005 Hobey Baker Award winner from Colorado College, defenseman Mark Fistric, Dallas' first round draft pick (No. 28 overall) in 2004 and Trevor and Tyler Ludwig, twin sons of former Stars' defenseman Craig Ludwig.