Half dozen Blues hopefuls return to junior

The St. Louis Blues made its first cut of the pre-season, returning six players — five forwards and a goaltender, to their respective junior teams Wednesday (Sept. 23).

Samuel Blais – Selected in the Sixth Round (176th Overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Blues; Blais is a 19-year-old forward from Quebec who will return to the Victoriaville Tigres who have already begun its season in teh QMJHL. It will be Blais’ third season with the club.

Liam Dunda  – Dundas was Selected by the Blues in the Sixth Round (176th Overall) of the 2015 Entry Draft this past summer and the 18-year-old forward will return for his third season in the OHL and second with the Owen Sound Attack.

Glenn Gawdin – An 18-year-old forward from British Columbia, and selected by the Blues in the Fourth Round (116th Overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Gawdin will return for a third full season with the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL.

Adam Musil – Another 18-year-old forward, Musil is a British Columbia native selected by the Blues in in the Fourth Round (94th Overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He will return for a third full season with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL.

C.J. Yakimowicz – A 19-year-old forward from Pennsylvania, Yakimowicz was selected by the Blues in the Sixth Round (172nd Overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He leaves camp and heads back for a third season with the London Knights of the OHL.

Luke Opilka – A great summer continues for this 18-year-old native of St. Louis. After performing on the National U-18 Select Team at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament, Opilka played in the Prospects Tournament at Traverse City last week and then got time on the Scottrade Center with some of the players he grew up watching. Now, he can focus on his second season with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL.