Two of Ottawa's top young defensive prospects, Jared Cowen and Patrick Wiercioch, were among the two dozen or so NHL players getting some pre-training camp skating in at the Bell Sensplex on Thursday.

While there were some veterans, such as newly signed defenceman Sergei Gonchar, most were rookies like Cowen and Wiercioch, trying to get a bit of a headstart.

They'll need it. The competition to win a spot on Ottawa's blue-line this season will be tough.