Defensemen Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi of the Stanley Cup champion Penguins today were invited to USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp Aug. 17-20 in suburban Chicago.

Neither defenseman has played in an Olympics. Scuderi is scheduled to become an NHL unrestricted free agent tomorrow.

Although participation in the minicamp doesn't guarantee a spot on the American team for the Winter Games next February in Vancouver, USA Hockey officials have said the camp is something more advanced than a tryout.

Also invited were winger Ryan Malone, a former Penguin who grew up in Upper St. Clair, and defenseman Ryan Whitney, who spent his career with the Penguins before being traded to Anaheim in February.

Hockey Canada is expected any day to announce an invitation list to its minicamp, Aug. 24-28 in Calgary. Penguins center Sidney Crosby is expected to be invited, and there is at least a reasonable chance goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will join him.