Justin Lies may not have been picked in last week’s NHL draft, but he’s already got a chance to impress an NHL franchise.
Lies was one of 24 forwards invited to the development camp for the Vegas Golden Knights. The camps, which are held by most teams shortly after the draft and before training camps or preseason, are meant to spotlight the team’s drafted prospects and possible future signees.
The camp runs from July 11-16 at the City National Arena in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin South, Nevada, the Golden Knights’ practice facility and team’s headquarters.
Lies was undrafted but was announced as a camp attendee by Vegas July 9. Lies and others have been split into two teams - Red and White - will be participating in a series of practices early in the week, along with a trio of joint scrimmages July 14, 15 and 16.
Lies had an up-and-down season with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants this year, finishing the year with 16 points in 50 games. The highs included taking down the top-ranked Everett Silvertips in the first round of the playoffs and scoring a goal and being interviewed during a game broadcast nationally on TSN - the lows included missing a month of action with an injury and going a month without picking up a single point.
Growing up, Lies played with Flin Flon Minor Hockey programs, as well as the Norman Wolves U15 AAA team. He and his younger brother Joey, also from Flin Flon and a prospect of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, hold most of the Wolves' scoring records - both also captained the Wolves. Lies moved from Flin Flon at age 14 to play at Winnipeg's Rink Hockey Academy and played for Manitoba at the 2018 Canada Winter Games.
