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By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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PITTSBURGH – When rookie defenseman Brian Strait stepped onto the Mellon Arena ice on Sunday for his first NHL training camp, he saw something that made him realize the magnitude of the situation.

Fans.

A few thousand of them crowded into the seats to watch the defending Stanley Cup champions in their first day of training camp.

“I’ve never practiced in front of 3,500 fans in my life,” said last year’s captain of the Boston University Terriers. “It’s pretty interesting going out there and hearing them start roaring when (Marc-Andre) Fleury came on the ice.”

Strait signed a three-year entry level deal after spending the last three seasons playing college hockey at Boston University. During his first day of practice at the professional level, Strait was partnered on the blueline with Ben Lovejoy and handled himself pretty well.

The biggest thing he learned on Sunday – aside from the fan support at the NHL level – is the hard work it takes to reach the top.

“It was a tough practice. You see the work ethic the NHL guys bring everyday and you just try to emulate that,” Strait said. “Being in an NHL camp with the Stanley Cup champions is the epitome of being a professional hockey player. These are all great guys to learn from and this will help me down the road.”

Although Lovejoy is considered the front-runner for the seventh defense spot on Pittsburgh’s roster, Strait is on the radar and could see significant time this season as top-four blueliner in Wilkes-Barre.

No matter where he winds up, Strait said he will use the opportunity to develop his game. He described his role as a “defensive defenseman” who is responsible in his own end and works hard to clear pucks out to the forwards.

“I just hope to have a good first pro season. I don’t know where I’m going to be, but I think it’s going to help me in my development,” Strait said. “I want to play in the NHL someday and whether that day comes sooner or later I don’t know. I’m just enjoying the ride right now.”

Training Camp Notebook

• Paul Bissonnette participated in Sunday’s practice and put his recently-healed wrist to the test. Paired with Sidney Crosby in a breakaway drill, Bissonnette feathered a nice pass to Crosby for an easy goal. He also showed no hesitation in handling the puck and made some impressive moves in the offensive zone. “It felt fine and there were no problems,” Bissonnette said after practice.

• Players were divided into three groups for Sunday’s practice. Team A was scheduled to take the ice first at 9 a.m., but someone else beat them to the clean sheet. Head coach Dan Bylsma was the first person to hit the ice 15 minutes before the start of practice. He skated a few laps and joked with excited fans that lined the Mellon Arena glass, something he continued to do throughout practice. “You’re at the boards and they’re cheering for something and you kind of want to give them a Max Talbot,” Bylsma said. “It’s great to have the fans here and it’s amazing to see them screaming and running down to the glass for three hours of practice. It adds to the excitement.”

• Crosby and Alex Goligoski weren’t afraid to play physical against each other as they battled for pucks at the end of Sunday’s practice. Byslma wasn’t surprised by the competitive nature of the two players. “This wasn’t the first training camp that they’ve gotten into a battle down low,” he said.