I thought the weekend went very well for the most part. On Friday, after the practice with our team, I did the off-ice testing that the camp provided for all the participants. It was very cool to get to go into the varsity weight lifting room at DU. I didn't really know what to expect from the NHL Combine Testing that we were going to go through, but I was pretty sure I was in good shape going into the camp. They measured our weight, height, wingspan, and body fat. Then, we did certain exercises to the rhythm of a metronome: we had to bench press 150 pounds, do sit ups, and push ups to the metronome, and if we were off rhythm, they would not count any of the exercises any more. On a few of the exercises, I was told that I got the highest anyone else in the whole camp had gotten so far, so I was pretty excited even though I completed the testing on the first day of the camp. After those exercises, we tested long jump, vertical jump, and medicine ball toss. It was an interesting test, and I'm excited to see how I stack up against the other kids at the camp and even against other NHL players who completed the test.
I thought I played solid in the games. I tried to play smart and aggressive, but I also always tried to play with great positioning and support my defense partner. I was hitting people, and I made some very good defensive plays. I made some good passes out of the defensive zone, but I know I was a little rusty with my decision making. At times, I would hesitate, and then the safe play would not be an option anymore. I made a few bad turnovers, but I thought for the most part that I played well. I was competing hard, working hard, and I always tried to make a difference whenever I stepped on the ice. Unfortunately, not everyone thought I played well. I did not make the All-Star game on Monday afternoon, which I thought I definitely should've made. I thought I was the best defenseman on my team by far, and my parents did as well, but 2 other younger defensemen on my team made the All-Star game in front of me. Maybe my parents are looking through rose-colored glasses, but I don't think they are that biased when it comes to watching me. Anyway, I didn't make the All-Star game when I thought I should have. It could've been because of my age--maybe they were looking for younger players--or it could've been because my coach for the weekend, who was my coach when I was in New Mexico, truly didn't believe I played well enough to be in the All-Star game, and he didn't recommend me. I don't know what happened, but I just have to take it in stride and let it fuel me to work even harder.
I think this weekend was worthwhile, no matter if I made the All-Star game or not. I got some good exposure, and I got to listen to a few really good seminars about college hockey. My dad and I listened in on a seminar by the general manager and head coach of the Chicago Steel in the USHL. He said either you can play hockey, or you can't play hockey. It's as simple as that. And if you can play hockey, then the right people will find you if you market yourself in the best way possible. Then, we listened in on a seminar by the assistant coach at Denver University about playing Division I college hockey and the importance of academics. He said it's critically important to have good grades because they will open up so many more doors for you than if you're just an average student. Well, I already have that side of things taken care of...He also said that you need to be patient in this process. Playing junior hockey is a very unique process that takes time. Almost every college hockey player these days plays junior hockey. There is a very small percentage of world-class hockey players who come into college as true freshmen. Playing junior hockey is part of the process; it takes time, it's frustrating at times, but the bottom line is that most college hockey players play juniors. Afterwards, I introduced myself to him, told him a little about myself, my grades, and my test scores. He said I need to stay patient because with my grades, I should have a lot of opportunity because there is a very small pool of hockey players with the smarts and the ability to pay to go to school at some of the top-end Division I and Division III schools in the country.
At the end of the day, I was heavily disappointed that I didn't make the All-Star game at this showcase, but it's the first All-Star game at a junior camp that I have not made, which I think is pretty uncommon. I made the All-Star games at the Indiana camp, the Bismarck camps last year, and the Bismarck camp this year. Failure is part of the process for everyone. I just have to let it drive me to be better and make myself work harder to achieve my goals.
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